THE TIGER’S TONGUE #2, from Mad Cave Studios on August 10th, 2022, walks the complicated line between fact and faith when the first trial between Aridani and Kelindi begins.
The Details
- Written by: Olivia Stephens
- Art by: Diansakhu Banton-Perry, Bex Glendining
- Colors by: Bex Glendining
- Letters by: Joamette Gil
- Cover art by: Odera Igbokwe
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 10, 2022
Is It Good?
We praised issue #1 for its complex premise of two sisters suddenly tasked with competing against each other for the crown when one was the assumed heir apparent. In THE TIGER’S TONGUE #2, the competition begins, and the line between what everyone “wants” and what Fate has decided becomes less clear. If nothing else, this issue gets high marks for not choosing the easy or predictable path.
As with issue #1, the central premise is the strongest point of this issue. Aridani and Kelindi begin their first trial, and by every common-sense measure, Kelindi is the most likely to win. Fate, however, has other plans. This issue is a strong example of the type of supernatural influence most commonly seen in the Bible where a higher power uses the least of us, against conventional wisdom, to achieve something great. This issue isn’t a Biblical story, but the plot exemplifies many of the same characteristics of a Biblical parable in a unique, fresh setting.
The issue ends at the end of the first trial. Rather than keeping the outcome simple, Stephens layers in comments from the sisters and the attending crowd to keep readers on their toes about what happens next. The way the trial ends and the way the crowd reacts to the outcome firmly place doubt in the mind of the sisters (and the reader) about what should be the right outcome. The doubt Williams infuses into the story forces the reader to question every assumption which keeps the story unpredictable.
The art in this issue is serviceable. Banton-Perry and Glendining get the job done by sketching out each scene and character adequately. This is not terrible art, nor is it great art.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Catch up on the nature of these sisters and the shocking moment their lives changed in our THE TIGER’S TONGUE #1 review.
We begin moments after the details of the prophecy are announced. Kelindi, the assumed heir to the throne, is incensed with her father for keeping the prophecy a secret. Aridani wants her sister to have the crown and begs to be excused from the trials. Despite their respective protests, the trials proceed out of honor and respect for the tigers.
The first trial is a test of wits and skill as the sisters are tasked with finding an ancient battlefield to retrieve a special tiger’s tooth. Aridani has little tracking skills or physical prowess, so she must rely on Karion the tiger to help her navigate the forest. Meanwhile, Kelindi easily follows the provided map. When both sisters reach their final destination, their paths take different turns. We conclude the issue with a vision, a victory that’s not completely well-received, and a gift.
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Final Thoughts
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THE TIGER’S TONGUE #2‘s complex themes of Fate versus practicality make this comic and intriguing parable in the same vain as many Biblical stories. The emotions, assumptions, and complications of the trials keep the story wholly unpredictable, but the art is serviceable at best.
Related Information
How many tigers are left in the world?
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as of 2022, “an estimated 3,900 tigers remain in the wild.” The largest population pockets are found in “India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia, and China.” This number does not include tigers kept in private captivity, zoos, or nature preserves across the world.
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