TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #2, from Mad Cave Studios on March 8th, 2023, explores a sordid tale about the infamous Monsieur Reynard and how he first came to Sheriff Blackthorne’s unwanted attention.
The Details
- Written by: Anna Everts
- Art by: Gabriel Serra
- Colors by: Josh Jensen
- Letters by: Justin Birch
- Cover art by: Gabriel Serra
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 8, 2023
Is It Good?
TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #2 is good. Very good, in fact, but it’s not great for one particular reason we’ll get to in a minute.
Continuing on from the stellar first issue, this title collects a series of one-shots designed to explore the backstory of specific supporting characters from the magnificent Nottingham series. This time Mad Cave turns its blood-soaked eye toward Monsieur Reynard and his murderous ways.
Anna Everts’s script about Reynard’s penchant for wanton violence is well-done with a setup that establishes Reynard as a local legend of infamy. He kills, steals, and commits all sorts of heinous acts simply because he can, and that makes him one of the most dangerous men in the kingdom – a killer without a conscience.
Everts’s story is well-paced and well-structured with excellent dialog, a strong handle on Sheriff Blackthorne’s personality, and a keen understanding of the evil men do by way of Reynard. This story feels like it fits comfortably in the world constructed by David Hazan, and you could see how Everts’s characterization of Reynard provides depth to his appearance in the main series.
The difference between a very good issue and a great issue lies in the art by Gabriel Serra. There’s nothing technically wrong with Serra’s style. The line work is clean, the formwork is excellent, and Josh Jensen’s coloring is equally good. However, comparisons between Serra’s work here and Shane Connery Volk’s style on the main title are unavoidable, so on that point, Serra’s work just doesn’t live up to the original.
Yes, yes. Every comic should stand on its own merit, but Volk’s unique style is so much a part of what made Nottingham a success in the first place, it’s hard not to draw comparisons. Again, Serra’s art style is very good, but Volk’s distinctive vision for Nottingham is missed.
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 Sheriff Blackthrone accompanying Lord Gisborne on a hunt in the Royal woods. The party encounters a dead Hart killed by a poacher. Gisborne orders Blackthoren to find the poacher since the crime is punishable by death.
Sheriff Blackthorne, along with Sir Alan Dale, begins a search of nearby houses to find the culprit. Eventually, the locals name a notorious bandit and killer named Monsieur Reynard as the one Blackthorne seeks. The Reynard family has an earned reputation for creating havoc on a whim, and the Sheriff prepares himself to expect trouble. When Blackthorne and Dale approach the Reynard house, trouble they find.
We conclude the issue with fallen trees, fallen bodies, and fallen chains.
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 #2 delivers an excellent one-shot about the infamous Monsieur Reynard and his first encounter with Sheriff Blackthorne. Everts’s interpretation of the Nottingham world is spot-on, and Serra’s art is very good.
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