In THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT: FEARLESS #2, available from American Mythology on March 17, 2021, Bowen struggles to stay alive after his capture by the gorilla-like Alu when more deadly threats emerge from the jungle.
The Details
- Written By: Mike Wolfer
- Art By: Fritz Casas
- Colors By: Periya Pillai
- Letters By: Natalie Jane
- Cover Art By: Roy Allan Martinez, Periya Pillai
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: March 17, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes, it was very good.
Brains over brawn. Mind over muscle. This is what separates modern man from the prehistoric creatures of the ancient world. This second issue in the series underscores that advantage by placing Bowen in incredibly dangerous situations (yes, more than one) and using his wits long enough to survive.
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There’s still a fair bit of action with beasts and enemies alike to keep your attention all the way through, so the highlight of the issue is the merger of both smarts and action. This is good, solid storytelling.
Likewise, the art pays homage to the pulp style of the early twentieth century but keeps a modern sense of color and panel layout. The creative team did a great job with the visuals to complement the writing and make the story that much better.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We pick up after the events of the last issue with Lys and Co-tan confronted by See-ta, the Galu Goddess riding a large dinosaur, and Bowen held hostage by the savage Alu.
You can get caught up first by reading our THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT: FEARLESS #1 review.
Bowen is taken to a pseudo-tiger pit where his Alu captors coerce him into showing them how he uses his “boom stick” aka his rifle to kill. They push Bowen into the pit where a baby brontosaur is tied up as bait. Before long, a hungry sabretooth tiger is attracted by the baby’s calls for help, and Bowen is forced to use his rifle to defend himself and the baby from becoming cat food.
Fortunately (or not), the sound of gunfire attracts a tribe of Band-lu hunters. These men are more evolved than the gorilla-like Alu, but they can be just as dangerous. The Band-lu want the magic secret of the “boom stick” as well, and Bowen uses his rough knowledge of the Band-lu language to explain the Alu who threw him in the pit will steal the magic, too.
What’s deceptively clever about this series of events is how Bowen makes calculated decisions to pit one enemy against the other by setting himself up as the prize. If he can get the Band-lu to fight the Alu, they may fail to notice if he tries to escape. It’s mind over muscle in its most effective form.
Meanwhile, Lys and Co-tan are confronted by See-ta for invading her territory. Overwhelmed by the urgency to help rescue Bowe, Lys runs for it and Co-tan follows close behind. Honestly, See-ta’s entrance in this issue was a bit anticlimactic. Given how impressive her entrance was at the end of issue #1, she made herself out to be a dangerous force to be reckoned with. In this issue, her dinosaur is either too slow or too docile to stop Lys in any way, so it was a bit of a letdown.
Back to Bowen. The Band-lu and Alu engage in an all-out brawl to claim Bowen’s magic for themselves. Eventually, only a few tribesmen are still alive when the Band-lu leader turns his murderous attention towards Bowen. But before the leader can deliver a killing blow, Lys arrives to stop the leader dead with a pistol shot.
We conclude the issue with reunions, warning, and a “what the…?!?” cliffhanger.
How Does It End?
The baby find its mother. Bowen, Co-tan, and Lys are given a warning. Lys takes flight.
Final Thoughts
THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT: FEARLESS #2 has smart, strategic writing and excellent pulp-style art to keep this series on a high note. And the out-of-nowhere cliffhanger builds high curiosity for what comes next.
Score: 9/10
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