GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A CLASH OF KINGS (VOL. 2) #12, available from Dynamite Comics on April 14th, 2021, begins the devastating ocean battle for King’s Landing. Only the devastating, green destruction of Wildfire will decide the final outcome.
The Details
- Written By: Landry Q. Walker
- Art By: Mel Rubi
- Colors By: Ivan Nunes
- Letters By: Tom Napolitano
- Cover Art By: Mike Miller
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: April 14, 2021
Was It Good?
It’s a tough read. Not because the story is bad in any way but because it’s extremely dense and wordy. Page after page is filled with caption boxes and word balloons crowding out the art to get from point A to point B in the story.
The point of a comic adaptation is to simplify and condense the books. It would be a stretch to say this issue is simplified or condensed in any way.
The art, especially during the ship battle is as visually engaging and interesting as it can be. Ship battles, by their very nature, are not high-speed. Therefore, it’s a net positive that the art team managed to portray a ship battle in a small amount of space that felt big, explosive, and interesting.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Catch all the intrigue that got us to this point in our GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A CLASH OF KINGS (VOL. 2) #11 review before you read on.
Reports have come in that the enemy fleet is approaching King’s Landing. Joffrey dons his armor and rides out with his men to rendezvous with Tyrion near the shore.
Sansa Stark remains behind to await the outcome of the battle with the king’s guards and Cersei Lannister. As they wait together in the main hall, Cersei imparts wisdom about what to expect if the city should be breached. Sansa believes true knights, the men standing guard over them, would give their lives to protect them. Cersei knows better and warns the guards will turn on them if it looks like the battle is lost.
Their conversation gives Sansa a cynical lesson in the nature of chivalry on paper versus reality.
Davos leads the invading armada into the river mouth that leads to King’s Landing. He senses a trap but can’t figure out what Tyrion is up to. As the armada crosses the river mouth, flanked by two small towers, a great chain is pulled taut to prevent escape and the ships are instantly beset by arrows, flaming pitch, and boulders. tossed from catapults.
Davos does his best to engage the king’s ships and make landfall to get his soldiers onshore. When it seems his naval maneuverings are working, a new ship, the Swordfish, is spotted drifting towards them leaking a green liquid from its sides.
Before Davos can complete his invasion, the world explodes in chaos.
How Does It End?
Wildfire is the worst fire. The Hound has had enough. And Tyrion refuses to look back.
Final Thoughts
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A CLASH OF KINGS (VOL. 2) #12, available from Dynamite Comics on April 14th, 2021, does its level best to capture one of the most explosive moments in Game of Thrones canon. For its part, the art is very good, and despite the overly dense wording, the story captures the milestone moment well.
Score: 7/10
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