NOTTINGHAM #9, from Mad Cave Studios on July 20th, 2022, concludes the rescue of King Richard from Rome with a shocking revelation about Blackthorne’s lineage and the deadly price he’ll pay for it.
The Details
- Written by: David Hazan
- Art by: Shane Connery Volk
- Colors by: Luca Romano
- Letters by: Justin Birch
- Cover art by: Shane Connery Volk
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 20, 2022
Is It Good?
NOTTINGHAM #9 starts as a slow burn, giving readers a history lesson about the difficulties of being a Jew in England at this point in history, but when the issue hits the midpoint, the twists and turns crank the slow burn up to a roaring fire of intrigue and action.
The bright spot of this issue is the rapid-fire succession of wow moments Hazan crafts to upend everything you thought you knew about where this story is going. Without spoiling the issue, it’s fair to say no character is safe from the sword. As mentioned above, the light history lesson is a slow burn compared to the high bar for intrigue and danger set in the series so far, but the lesson is informative and sets the stage for one of the wow moments later.
That said, the minor down point is how long it takes for the story to get going in the first half. It helps to intersperse the history lesson with a fast-paced albeit inconsequential conflict with Marian, but Marian’s troubles only serve as a minor distraction that doesn’t move the story forward.
Volk’s art keeps getting better and better in this series, buoyed by Romano’s colors. The linework is more refined than in the previous issues, the action is more raucous, and Romano’s highlights and feathering are excellent.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
First, find out how Blackthorne, Hood, and their stowaway were the only ones to reach Rome in our NOTTINGHAM #8 review.
We begin with Gisbourne and his men riding to Marian Fitzwalter’s manor estate. Unbeknownst to them, the Merry Men have already killed some guards and quickly prepare to “greet” Gisbourne.
Meanwhile, Hood, Blackthorne, and their captive stowaway make their way through Rome’s Jewish quarter to travel unnoticed. As they walk, they discuss the recent decree by the Cardinal to segregate Jews and restrict intermarrying between Jews and Christians. Blackthorne recounts how discrimination affected his family and how King Richard, the man he’s come to rescue, is responsible for some of the hatred.
We conclude the issue with tunnels rats, human rats, and kingly decrees.
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Final Thoughts
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NOTTINGHAM #9 is another banger of an issue in a banger of a series. The first half mixes mild action with cultural history for a slow start, but once the issue hits the midpoint, the creators pummel you with one surprise after another.
Related Information
Is Nottingham a real city?
Yes, Nottingham is a real city in the center of England. Before becoming incorporated as a city, Nottingham began as a settlement in 1068. Nottingham was chartered as a city in 1897 in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England, located approximately 110 miles northwest of London, England.
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