ROBYN HOOD: HEARTS OF DARKNESS, from Zenescope Entertainment on May 11th, 2022, sees the hunters become the hunted when Robyn Hood pays Mystere a visit in New Orleans only to find an obsessed killer has both in his sights.
The Details
- Written By: Joe Brusha
- Art By: Ismael Canales
- Colors By: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Art By: Al Barrionuevo
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Release Date: May 11, 2022
Was It Good?
ROBYN HOOD: HEARTS OF DARKNESS is a straight-up “find the killer before he finds you” action-adventure starring two of Zenescope’s most popular heroes. Brusha lays out the entire backstory of Reichhardt Fuchs as a man on a mission to kill anyone or anything touched by Darkness, a common attribute across most of the titles. The backstory sets the stage for Fuchs’s upbringing and gives readers a crystal clear picture of his motivations. When you can understand what motivates a character, hero or villain, you can understand their actions and what makes them someone to fear or admire.
The plot is straightforward with only a minor blind spot or two we’ll cover in a minute. Fuchs and his daughter, Red Viper, use Robyn’s arrival in New Orleans as an opportunity to eliminate her, Talisman, and Myster in short order. Robyn shows off her prowess as a hand-to-hand fighter, and Myster demonstrates how much her powers have grown in the last year. However, Brusha does a fine job setting up cat-and-mouse shenanigans to keep the heroes (and the readers) on their toes until the final battle in a nearby nature park. The pacing is excellent, the dialog is organic, and the conclusion is complete albeit not wholly satisfying.
The down point in the writing is the very last page. An event happens that concludes the conflict, but it feels cut short. Technically, the ending stops the battle, but there should have been another page to wrap the scenario up.
The art is typically good Zenescope house style. That’s a compliment as Zenescope’s house style is better than most other publishers put out on their best day. The character designs are excellent, the coloring is outstanding, and the panel composition is solid. If you’re looking for a nitpick, you’ll find it in the overall lack of dramatic lighting. The issue is almost too bright in spots and could be helped with bold shadows.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Robyn Hood reminiscing about her recent adventures and how those experiences have changed her in multiple ways. She’s on a flight to New Orleans to pay her friend, Mystere, a visit. After she arrives, the pair visit Talisman in the hospital as he recovers from a recent battle.
When Robyn and Mystere exit the hospital, a red-cloaked figure is spotted entering the window to Talisman’s room. It’s Red viper, Fuch’s daughter and disciple in Fuch’s war to rid the world of anything infected by Darkness. Robyn and Mystere race back to the room just in time to stop Talisman’s assassination. A battle begins that spills outside and up to the hospital roof where Fuchs is waiting.
The fight ends in a draw and a retreat. Robyn and Mystere had back to Myster’s place to regroup, but they find a note goading them to come to a nearby park for a final confrontation. We conclude the battle with more flashbacks, hesitation, and death.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
ROBYN HOOD: HEARTS OF DARKNESS is a solid issue to give Zenescope’s more well-known characters a reason to team up against a common foe. The villain’s motivations are clear and fraught with emotional depth, the action is excellent, and the pacing keeps the energy up all the way through.
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