THE KARMAN BLADE #2 (IMAGE COMICS)
Anatta’s perilous journey to defeat Kalu continues as he’s brought before the legendary and disgraced False King.
It’s time to dive into the second issue of this psychedelic, fantasy epic from Darcy Van Poelgeest, Ian Bertram ,Matt Hollingsworth & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Image Comics).
The Karmen Blade #2 from Darcy Van Poelgeest, Ian Bertram ,Matt Hollingsworth & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Image Comics).
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Anatta is not the first. We learn as much in the second issue of The Karman Blade, with the introduction of The False King. Destined, like Anatta, to defeat Kalu, he instead chose to save his family when given an ultimatum. This choice came at a steep cost: he was disgraced by the people who followed him, and in the end, he still lost his wife and son due to Kalu’s machinations.
And now it begins again with Anatta.
Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram’s psychedelic fantasy epic is not unlike others you’ve read or watched, but what sets this story apart is its unyielding intensity from start to finish. That, and the art and colors are just freaking gorgeous, man.
There are few moments of peace here, and when they happen, like Anatta being given shelter by some of the indigenous creatures of the land. It really hits home how much this world is suffering under Kalu’s rule. It’s thick, unbearable, and you begin to question if Anatta can pull it off. He can barely stand in most pages.
One of this series’ more underrated strengths is its deceptively breezy pacing. The dialogue and captions are Shakespearean, so it was a bit of a challenge for me to parse. Good thing Otsmane- Elhaou’s lettering makes reading it so fun. No wonder he’s everywhere; that guy does great work.
As horrible as this world is, I can stare at Ian Bertram’s creation of it for hours. Highly detailed, stylized art straight out of the Tradd Moore School of Psychedelia, only nastier and a bit more grounded in reality, as ironic as that sounds. Anatta is a boy in a world of giants, gods, and creatures, and Bertram’s art gives you that exact sense of scale.
His designs for tried-and-true fantasy characters we’re aware of are unique and unsettling. The Weeping Witches gotta go; I don’t ever want to see them in real life, in my dreams, whatever.
FINAL GRADE: 8.9
The Karman Blade #2 is another fantasy epic we’ve seen time and time again. But the narrative, with its twists, turns, and Shakesperean prose, and some of the most gorgeous artwork and colors currently going, this is one that has set itself apart from the rest.
We’re about to enter The Kingdom of Kalu.
if you're reading it, Let me know your thoughts on The Karmen Blade #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!