HOAN OF ORCS #3, from Blood Moon Comics on 6/28/23, finds Hoan discovering there are grave consequences for freeing the old dwarf. Meanwhile, the Queen of the orcs is willing to sacrifice anything to keep her crown… including her own son.
The Details
- Written by: Nahuel Sb
- Art by: Nahuel Sb
- Colors by: Nahuel Sb
- Letters by: Nahuel Sb
- Cover art by: Nahuel Sb
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: June 28, 2023
Is It Good?
HOAN OF ORCS #3 amps up the tension and the character-building when word of Hoan’s exploits spreads, putting her in an increasingly dangerous place. Nahuel Sb sets a high bar for drama and mature themes in a fantasy setting, but the issue doesn’t move very far in the plot department.
When last we left Hoan and her ragtag band of allies, they managed to survive a visit to the erratic Queen’s castle, and Hoan decided to set free a dwarf prisoner during her escape. Now, word of the dwarf’s release in the name of ending hostilities is causing anger, confusion, and a partial awakening to the prospect of peace among allies and enemies. Meanwhile, Hoan’s actions reap positive and negative consequences.
Nahuel Sb’s fantasy twist on the Joan of Arc legend pays off its own dividends by creating a rich, nuanced, complex drama about the nature of war and the challenge of choosing peace. Hoan begins to come into her own as a crusader determined to end hostilities, even if the right choice is the most dangerous. Nahuel Sb’s mature character development strikes an impressive chord in this issue.
That said, readers looking for more energy and forward momentum in the plot may find this issue lacking. It’s clear Nahuel Sb is taking a measured pace with this story, choosing small but impactful moments to make the issue memorable. If you get enough engagement out of those small moments, this issue is more than enough. Anyone else who prefers a little more excitement in their fantasy epics may have to hold on a little longer.
How’s the art? Good, but not great. Nahuel Sb’s stylized take on character designs and action is certainly unique, but the broad, loose brush strokes frequently lose clarity over what you’re seeing. For example, there’s a scene where Hoan knocks something off her forehead, but you can’t tell exactly what she does, how she does it, or what part of her anatomy comes off. Style at the expense of clarity is a no-no.
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 HOAN OF ORCS #2 review to find out how Hoan got tangled up with a dwarf prisoner.
We begin with Hoan explaining to her fellow Orcs that she was the one who freed the dwarf. The news sends her allies into a rage, but before they can kill her, the dwarf arrives at the camp with the King’s still-living body. The orcs decide to return the King to the Queen’s palace, but Hoan refuses to go fearing death.
Later, the King is returned to the castle, but the Queen is secretly angry that the King survived to retain a hold over the kingdom. The Queen inflicts a “Blood Throat” ritual by stabbing the orc in the chest, leaving enough time for him to retrieve Hoan before he dies.
The orc makes it back to camp, but Hoan removes the dagger and decides to meet the Queen alone. We conclude the issue with near-death experiences, torture, and confrontation.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
HOAN OF ORCS #3 is a rich, nuanced, mature issue that builds and elevated Hoan’s legend among her allies and enemies. The character- and world-development aspects of this issue are excellent, but the pacing for the arc has slowed quite a bit, and the art tends to favor style over clarity.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.