TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #1, from Mad Cave studios on February 1st, 2023, is the first in a series of standalone tales, spinning out of the top-rated Nottingham series. This time, we learn the heartbreaking circumstances behind Aya the Assassin’s history.
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
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: February 1, 2023
Is It Good?
Yes. This is the right way to expand a “universe.” Nottingham is a hit series for a good reason. It takes a classic story and twists it just enough to seem new while keeping the familiar elements intact. Now, with TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #1, David Hazan takes that concept one step further by exploring corners of the original series with interesting, well-written, standalone stories that give the original Nottingham series more texture and depth.
Aya, the main character of this tale, plays a crucial role in Nottingham, but we know precious little about her… until now. Hazan spins a dramatic and mature tale about a young woman trained to be a perfect killer but forced to make a heartbreaking personal choice when a mission ends badly.
The range of emotions on display in this tale is complex and nuanced, Hazan’s knack for creating memorable characters carries over beautifully from the main series, and the ending feels satisfying while leaving the door open to explore more of Aya’s history. In short, Aya’s backstory is done well enough to stand on its own, and it serves equally well as an enhancement to the original series.
Shane Connery Volk continues the art duties here from the original series, and he’s one of the few artists we’ve encountered that’s gotten progressively better over time. The inky line work is certainly stylized, but it works here by adding an atmospheric weight to every shadow and curve. The character designs are engaging, and Romano’s coloring is gorgeous.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a brief prologue explaining the brief rise and faster fall of the elected King of Jerusalem, Conrad. When Conrad became dangerously close to cementing his Kingship, he was murdered by a pair of expert assassins. One of those assassins is Aya, whom we met in the Nottingham series.
Unfortunately, the assassins don’t get away cleanly. Aya was “killed,” and her partner, Hamza was captured. We learn the heartbreaking path their connected fates take and how those paths lead Aya to become the ruthless killer she was always meant to become.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #1 is a stunning, standalone tale about one of the lesser-known characters from the original Nottingham series. The writing execution is excellent, the story is memorable, and the art is spellbinding.
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