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It was amazing! I returned from a trip to the comic shop with not one,
not two, but THREE series I had never read as possible review fodder. I
suppose I should be careful saying that, or else I'll find myself writing
three reviews... YIKES! Now that I've given the editor evil ideas...
Sleeping Dragons #1, written by Kevin Mason, illustrated by Alex Szewczuk,
and published by Amaze Ink (a division of Slave Labor Graphics), was the best
of the five comics I read this month. The story, neatly wrapped in a single
issue, is cute, enjoyable, and well-written. The art has a simple quality to
it that fits well with the story. Szewczuk draws the townsfolk of Ravenslocke
like real people. He puts enough detail in hair, facial expressions, and
surroundings to keep the art from being cartoony, but doesn't get bogged down
in muscles or putting too much detail into the clothing of the simple peasants.
The story centers around Ravenslocke, a small town on the brink of famine.
Salvation seems imminent when a knight of the Order of Meggido rides into town
and tells the villagers about the slumbering dragon under nearby Sky Mountain,
and the treasure horde it jealously guards. Certainly, with that treasure, the
village could last through the famine, no matter how long it lasted! The brave
and strong of Ravenslocke agree to go with the knight. Only a young man by the
name of Muley (or Muley the Coward, as most call him) doubts the intelligence
of going on such a mission. The villagers ignore him and go off with the knight...
Unfortunately, meeting their demise under Sky Mountain.
As one would expect, the dragon is annoyed by having it's nap interrupted
and retaliates by burning part of the village. The local mage Solomon suggests
a summoning ritual, to draw the dragon back to the village, where he will siphon
its power and weaken it enough for the villagers to finish it off (with pitchforks,
in true villager fashion!). Once again, only Muley protests the idea, and the
plans go through. Does it work? If I told you, I'd ruin the story! Suffice it
to say that the story plays out to teach the benefits of not always going with
the obvious solution, and to listen to your own voice even when others scoff.
While this issue was a single, self-contained story, future issues promise
a 2-part story about another knight of Meggido. Given the high quality of this
first story, I feel that this will be worth picking up when it comes out.
In my book, Sleeping Dragons joins the limited ranks of good fantasy comics.
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