PELLUCIDAR: ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #2 – Review

In PELLUCIDAR: ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #2, available from American Mythology on October 6th, 2021, Gretchen von Harben finds herself stranded on a remote island where she must use her wits to survive against giant crabs, talking gorillas, and backstabbing hunters.

The Details

• Written By: Mike Wolfer
• Art By: Miriana Puglia
• Colors By: Arhtur Hesli
• Letters By: Natalie Jane
• Cover Art By: Miriana Puglia, Arhtur Hesli
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: October 6, 2021

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Was It Good?

This series is turning out to be everything you could possibly hope it would be. Gretchen von Harben is a standout character possessing many of the best qualities of Indiana Jones without coming across as a cut-rate clone. In other words, Gretchen is a smart, fearless, likable character that deserves her own adventure series every month, and that assessment is completely due to Wolfer’s spot-on writing.

There are two character developments that make this comic work as a satisfying read. First, Gretchen von Harben is a relatable hero in every sense of the word. She’s not afraid to pull her pistol when the situation calls for it, but she uses her wits to get herself out of sticky situations. Gretchen isn’t a brawler with the strength of ten men who’s an unbelievable fighter. Gretchen is a believable character, and her believability is the foundation of her relatability.

Second, Wolfer has done something few creators (or Publishers) are willing to do these days. He’s created a villain you want to hate. Nadok, the human hunter loyal to the crab-like Kratalaks, is a conniving liar who takes every opportunity to betray Gretchen and her allies for his own motives. To be fair, there’s room for Nadok to either turn things around or be revealed to be misguided, but until then, Wolfer’s given readers a character you love to hate and can’t wait to see get his comeuppance.

I call out those two characters specifically because they reflect opposite ends of the good/evil spectrum. When put together in the same story, it amps up the tension and drama exponentially. The best villains are always ones that have traits that are the polar opposite of the hero, and this is one of those stories.

On top of the great drama and character work is Puglia’s stellar art. Puglia captures the feel of the early adventure serials with a fresh twist. It’s a prime example of taking something dated and old-fashioned and giving it new life. This series is some of Puglia’s best work and possibly the best art of any American Mythology title out right now.

What’s It About?

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

To find out how Gretchen von Harben wound up on this strange island, first read our PELLUCIDAR: ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #1 review.

When we last left our hero, Gretchen von Harben had washed up on an island after her plane crashed. With barely time to catch a breath, Gretchen is confronted by a giant crab-like creature called a Krek. Ready to defend herself with nothing more than a pistol, a Sagoth (a large, intelligent gorilla) attacks the Krek and the unlikely duo kill the creature. Surprisingly, Gretchen is able to communicate with the Sagoth, named Omlot, to thank him for his assistance. The two decide to eat the Krek for lack of available food.

Shortly after the meal, Omlot and Gretchen are approached by a hunter named Nadok who means to capture them because killing a Krek is a crime. Soon, the crab-like Kratalaks arrive to take Gretchen and Omlot into custody for trial. Despite their best efforts to explain the killing was self-defense, Nadok intentionally spins the story as a “witness” to get himself into the good graces of his Kratalak overlords.

Gretchen and Omlot are taken to the Kratalak stronghold for trial. There, they learn the humans working in the area are captured slaves, and Gretchen secretly intends to free them with the help of one of the trusted slaves, Toran. We conclude the issue with the trial going better than expected, the revelation that Toran has some aquatic allies, and a few more reasons to not like Nadok.

Final Thoughts

PELLUCIDAR: ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #2 is the spiritual successor to Indiana Jones with the main hero that’s equal parts brains and courage. The crab monsters look intimidating, and Puglia manages to find a way to make them look outlandish and dangerous at the same time. This is another strong entry in the ERB Universe.

Score: 9/10