BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #2 – Review

In BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #2, available from Mad Cave Studios on August 4th, 2021, the origin of Myrthalen’s betrayal is revealed, and Natharien visits the Oracle to find the next King.

The Details

• Written By: Mark London
• Art By: Michael Camelo
• Colors By: Tekino, Ricardo Castillo
• Letters By: Miguel A. Zapata
• Cover Art By: Michael Camelo
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: August 4, 2021

Was It Good?

Well, it was okay.

This is what you would call a character-building issue where the reader is given lots of backstory on one or more characters to get a fuller sense of who they are and where they’ve been. Therefore, there’s not much forward progress on the main plot of this volume, but you gain a greater appreciation for each character as a setup for the story going forward.

That said, there’s more talking than doing in this issue, so set your expectations accordingly.

As with his other Mad Cave titles such as Honor and Curse and Knights of the Golden Sun, London knows how to build out intricate worlds with a small army of characters, each with a distinct voice. Battlecats is no exception. You get a real feel for a vast and complete world, filled with characters that are emotionally complex.

As much as this title is a spiritual successor to Thundercats (sorry, Cartoon Network), and shares many of the same sword & sorcery trappings with Conan the Barbarian, the depth of character development here is much more mature and intelligent.

To be fair, it’s not all praise. While you get a lot of information about some of the characters, the story felt a little long. It’s unclear if the issue needed a little trimming on some scenes or if the pacing needed a jolt, but I was checking the page count around page 20. That’s usually a tip that the issue isn’t quite holding my attention.

The art, similar to every title London writes, is the best stuff Mad Cave puts out. Camelo’s character and costume designs are top-notch, the shading and coloring work on the panel scenery is outstanding, and the overall execution is just plain excellent.

Overall, this is a beautiful-looking issue that covers emotionally deep character building for several players. With a few tweaks on the pacing/scene trimming, this is one of the best books of the week.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

To catch up with the Battlecats in their current state, first read our BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #1 review.

The issue is broken up into at least 5 major pieces.

First, we get a flashback scene showing the final break between Natharien and his daughter, Myrthalen. As an advisor to the King, Natharien is set on upholding the values of the Lion god. Myrthalen, driven by a lust for power, leaves to seek her own path by making an alliance with the Lizard god.

Kelthan heads back to the White Marsh Islands to reconnect with his past and re-center himself. Along the way, his boat crosses paths with what appears to be an abandoned ship, but when he climbs aboard to offer help, he finds a small group of Lizard god acolytes has killed and eaten the crew. A fight for survival follows.

Meanwhile, Natharien makes ready to visit the Oracle for answers about who should be the next King. Fearing for his safety, Artain goes with him to act as a bodyguard. As they depart we get an extended scene with Kaleera agonizing about Artain’s departure. On the same trip, Natharien tells a very detailed story about Artain’s birth and what the symbol on his mother’s arm meant.

We conclude the issue with Natharien and Artain visiting the Oracle for some good, and surprising, news.

Final Thoughts

BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #2 is a fine example of world- and character-building with rich backstories. The art is some of the best Mad Cave is putting out, and the setup promises big things for what comes next.

Score: 8/10