TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #6, from Mad Cave Studios on 7/26/23, introduces readers to Ysolda Mercadier – a mercenary hired to capture Blackthorne on behalf of a vengeful Lord.
The Details
- Written by: Magdalene Visaggio
- Art by: Victor Santos
- Colors by: Victor Santos
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Victor Santos
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 26, 2023
Is It Good?
TALES FROM NOTTINGHAM #6 brings the spin-off series of one-shots to a close with a perplexing tale about a new character who has nothing to do with the main series, seems weirdly out of place, and ends with a cliffhanger that isn’t going anywhere. In a series of largely enriching tales that enhance Nottingham, this comic is an odd miss.
Contrary to the rest of the series, Magdalene Visaggio’s script centers on a new character, Ysolda Mercadier – a trans-woman mercenary hired to capture Everard Blackthorne in a time before he became Sheriff of Nottingham. The hiring Lord, Simon de Senlis, wants Blackthrone out of revenge for killing Simon’s brother during a fight.
Before we get too far into it, you may wonder how we know Ysolda is a trans-woman and why this new character was invented in a series that previously focused on the existing Nottingham characters. On the latter point, no clue. On the former point, Visaggio uses the other characters to bring up Ysolda’s identity multiple times for no apparent reason. That doesn’t necessarily make Ysolda a bad creation, but the identity questions pull you out of the scenes because they come out of nowhere.
What’s great about this issue? More Blackthorne outside of the Robin Hood legend is a good thing. This story gives readers a broader taste of Blackthorne’s shrewdness and his ability to use his detecting skills to work his way out of a bad situation.
What’s not so great about this issue? The story falls short on two fronts. First, Visaggio’s premise about a vengeful lord and a double-cross scenario works well enough, but the final page ends on a cliffhanger that doesn’t fit the current Nottingham story and won’t be concluded because there is no issue #7. Why set up a cliffhanger that goes nowhere?
Second, Ysolda’s personality sits wildly out of place for the context and culture of Nottingham lore, specifically in her manner of speech. She frequently uses modern turns of phrases and cracks jokes that hint at knowledge of the modern world, and it makes her come off as a 4th-wall-breaking imp rather than a clever mercenary. You get the impression Visaggio tried to create the Nottingham version of Deadpool, and it just doesn’t work.
How’s the art? Admittedly, Victor Santos’s style is an acquired taste, but it gets the job done. Oversized heads, hands, and eyes mark every character, but Santos makes good use of shadow and off-kilter panel angles to keep the visuals interesting.
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 snarky, petite woman accompanying a man in chains to meet Simon de Denlis at his castle. After a bizarrely detailed introduction, the woman, Ysolda Mercadier, has arrived to deliver her bounty, Everard Blackthorne to Simon. Simon is happy to have Blackthorne at his mercy to avenge his brother’s death by Blackthorne’s hand.
Later, Blackthorne offers a solution to his problem that may be too good for Simon to pass up. During the ship voyage back to England, Blackthorne overheard the mercenaries discussing a second bounty to kill Simon after delivering Blackthrone. The second bounty came from a traitor inside Simon’s castle. Reluctantly Simon accepts Blackthorne’s help to find the traitor in exchange for a stay of execution.
We conclude the issue with stealth, secret meetings, and double-crosses.
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 #6 ends the otherwise steller tie-in series with a puzzling tale about an early conflict between Blackthorne and a vengeful lord. The new character introduced, Ysolda Mercadier, doesn’t fit the setting for multiple reasons, and the final issue ends on a pointless cliffhanger.
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