SOLOMON KANE: THE SERPENT RING #3, by Titan Comics on 6/4/25, enters the Kingdom of Ndongo to find the Serpent Ring and its secret treasure, but Solomon must battle threats from within and without.
Credits:
- Writer: Patrick Zircher
- Artist: Patrick Zircher
- Colorist: Patrick Zircher, Pete Pantazis
- Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover Artist: Alex Horley (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: June 4, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of SOLOMON KANE: THE SERPENT RING #3:
Recap:
When we last left the man in black in Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring #2, Solomon Kane presented the serpentine artifact to Abram Bensaid and his daughter, Diamanta. Diamanta cleverly deduced that the real artifact lay inside, so she smashed the artifact, uncovering a map leading to the fabled Serpent Ring and its treasures. Rolando and Nico barged in on the discovery, but instead of fighting to the death for the map, they offered an alliance to support and defend an exploration journey to Africa. The issue ended with the team arriving in Ndongo to meet Father Goncallo, not realizing that the Father was an imposter.
Plot Analysis:
In Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring #3, the explorers embark on the next leg of their journey, but the toll is high. First, the team snakes their way down the rivers on a skiff. They’re attacked by local tribesmen, losing at least one man before the skirmish ends. Next, the team arrives at Fr. Goncallo’s burnt-down missionary to rest and reconnoiter. As the team travels further inward, Diamanta is increasingly disturbed by Rolando and Nico’s advances, but it’s clear her heart is interested in Solomon.
Their next stop on the journey is a great mass of vertical stones as a waypoint. During the nightly encampment, the team is attacked by the Set Cult’s lizard men. During the fight, the imposter Goncallo is revealed and killed, but two lizard men kidnap Abramo. Also, Solomon is bitten by a poisonous viper.
The issue ends with Solomon remaining behind as he fights the ravages of venom coursing through his body. Meanwhile, the team moves on to reach the circular pyramid where the treasure and Diamanta’s father are held.
First Impressions:
Patrick Zircher’s tale of woe is a solid read but a slow burn. Zircher improves on the previous issues by focusing on the journey and lightening up on the density of the material, so it feels like you get a rich, full experience, even if the energy is subdued.
Artwork and Presentation:
Patrick Zircher’s artwork is exquisite. There’s no other way to say it that wouldn’t understate the quality of the visuals. Zircher put his heart and soul into drawing the reader into the heart of Africa with vivid backdrops, methodically designed characters, and cinematic scenes.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
At the heart of every story is a journey. Patrick Zircher’s adventure takes the reader by the hand and gives them a journey fraught with danger, the supernatural, tension, and even a bit of romance. In every way possible, Zircher gives you a novel’s worth of storytelling in a single issue.
The Negatives:
But for the brief bits of action, the pace, urgency, and energy feel flat. The characters move from one point to the next, encountering obstacles along the way, but there’s no clear sense of what’s at stake. Further, the tension that should come from urgency is lacking because the entire journey is taking a “We get there when we get there” approach to the adventure. It would help greatly if the importance of the ring were clearer and if there was an organic reason to get to it first.
Big Picture:
Historical Context:
Robert E. Howard was famous for blending history and reality with fiction to give his stories an air of authenticity. Patrick Zircher does the same here by sending Solomon Kane into the kingdom of Ndongo, but did you know Ndongo is a real place? “Ndongo” refers to a historical African kingdom of the Mbundu people, located in present-day Angola, established around 1500. The kingdom was initially centered in the highlands between the Cuanza and Lucala rivers, expanding westward to the Atlantic coast and south of the Cuanza.
Final Thoughts:
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SOLOMON KANE: THE SERPENT RING #3 embarks on a deadly mission in Africa where Solomon and his crew are beset by warring tribes and lizard men. Patrick Zircher’s tale and art are exquisitely detailed and cinematically refined. That said, the stakes and urgency could use more attention.
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