BORN OF BLOOD #3, from Merc Magazine on Kickstarter, finds Giaris and Leonidas struggling with their newfound partnership – on and off the battlefield. Meanwhile, King Cleomenes’s past decisions come back to haunt his daughter.
The Details
- Written by: Dolan Waddick
- Art by: Carlos Beccaria
- Colors by: Sebastian Gonzalez
- Letters by: Joel Rodriguez
- Cover art by: John Royle (cover A)
- Cover price: $5.00 (estimated)
- Release date: TBD
Is It Good?
BORN OF BLOOD #3 takes the historical fiction epic to the next level with bloody action, high stakes, and possibly a little romance in the growing legend of Princess Giaris. For an indie project, this title continues to impress as one of the better sword & sandal titles on the market.
The highlight of Waddick’s script is the intricate Game-of-Thrones-style machinations between rival kingdoms and leaders intermingled with Giaris’s journey as a warrior and leader of the Spartan people. That’s a mouthful, but it’s really just a fancy way of saying you get a lot of story on multiple levels in a single issue, and the pieces fit together well.
The minor down point is the rough, incomplete explanation of the root of the conflict between Sparta and the Klepthes. We know (from issue #2) the Klepthes approached King Cleomenes for land as a reward for assistance in the past. When the King refused, the Klepthes emissaries kidnapped and eventually killed the King, instigating a battle that wiped out the Klepthes envoy. Now, the Klepthes have returned for revenge, but the conflict is spiraling into a tit-for-tat where it’s not quite clear who’s in the wrong and why. The machinations between warring kingdoms can get complicated, but some clarification would help in this case.
Story aside, the art in this issue is outstanding. The line work is richly detailed, the colors and shading give every character depth and weight, and the action scenes are filled with gritty, bloody power. Again, this is one of the best sword & sandal comics on the market, and that’s due just as much to the art as the writing.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BORN OF BLOOD #2 review to find out how Giaris and Leonidas became reluctant allies.
We begin with Giaris and Leonidas fighting on the battlefield against their latest enemies. Through the fight, we hear Giaris’s motivating thoughts about ensuring Leonidas stays alive as a symbol of stability for the Spartan people. Unfortunately, Leonidas is receiving counsel from somebody close to Giaris. Somebody who is not concerned with Giaris’s long-term survival.
Later, the Spartan army rests from the day’s battle, but their rest is disturbed by assassins sent to kidnap Giaris and Leonidas. The forces of Klepthes have returned to seek revenge for King Cleomenes broken pact.
We conclude the issue with broken promises, broken bones, and broken floors.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BORN OF BLOOD #3 turns up the heat on the intrigue between warring nations and the battlefield. The character interactions are complex and nuanced, the art explodes with raw, gritty, bloody power, and the (literal) cliffhanger will have you coming back for more.
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