In NOTTINGHAM #4, available from Mad Cave Studios on June 9th, 2021, Sheriff Blackthorne prepares a tournament to lure the Merry Men into the open, but he quickly learns the gold prize is not what the Merry Men are after.
The Details
- Written By: David Hazan
- Art By: Shane Connery Volk
- Colors By: Luca Romano
- Letters By: Joamette Gil
- Cover Art By: Shane Connery Volk
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 9, 2021
Was It Good?
It was excellent!
The unique strength of this series is the gritty and visceral approach to conflict and rebellion. The basic components of the Robin Hood legend are present, but this version is more grim and impactful with each encounter between the Sheriff and the Merry Men.
What makes this series more interesting is the slight twist of making the Sheriff a reluctant protagonist. He may not be a hero in the traditional sense, but he’s definitely a hard-boiled lawman rather than a corrupt lackey of Prince John.
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The art is dirty. You can practically smell the mud and blood with every battle.
For this issue, the story takes a twisted turn at the end (consistent with the series), but where it shines is in the taut, tense battle that takes up a majority of the issue. This issue is perhaps the most exciting of the series so far.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Sheriff Blackthorne discussing the risks of a tournament-as-a-trap with Guy of Gisbourne. Sir Guy is confident in the trap. Sheriff Blackthorne is not convinced but follows his orders.
A month later, the tournament begins. By the way, we knew this was coming, but if you didn’t, read our NOTTINGHAM #3 review to get caught up.
Sheriff Blackthorne had already discovered one of the killers from the Merry Men was left-handed, so he spends his time looking for lefties who do well with a weapon. When the archery portion gets underway, the tournament gets cut short by a full assault by the Merry Men on the proceedings.
Little John takes the stage to address the frantic crowd and declare England is sick. Prince John and his ilk are the disease that must be purged.
Suddenly, a small army of masked Merry Men emerges from every corner of the tournament field to go after Sir Guy and all the nobles in his tent. It’s then that Sir Guy is made aware of his mistake. The Merry Men did not come for irresistible gold. The Merry Men came because they knew Sir guy and his lackeys would be gathered in one place to be wiped out.
What’s great about the initial scenes of the ambush is the nuanced change from the source material. Instead of Robin Hood outfoxing the nobles, Hood and the Merry Men turn a trap for the Merry Men into a trap for the nobles. It’s a small difference, but it makes the outcome more dangerous.
Sheriff Blackthorne gathers his guards and evacuates the nobles as quickly as possible back to the castle and safety. With every step, more Merry Men assault their defensive circle. With every panel, the Merry Men’s numbers grow like a swarm of wasps as the Sheriff’s small group retreats.
Soon, even Maid Marian and the noles are forced to take up arms against the assault. They eventually make it back to the castle with heavy casualties when a keen observation from the Sheriff adds a new wrinkle to their defenses.
We conclude the issue with a castle under siege.
How Does It End?
The Sheriff makes a surprise arrest. The Hood stands proud. The siege has just begun.
Final Thoughts
NOTTINGHAM #4 continues to impress with a taut, dramatic, gritty story of rebellion mixed with a hard-boiled crime drama. The writing is smart, and the art doesn’t pull any punches.
Score: 9.5/10
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