BARBARIC: THE LONG DEATH, ISSUES #1-2 Advanced Review

Publisher: Vault Comics

Release Date for Issue #2: Feb 18

Cover Price: $6.99

Publisher's Solicit: Wha--you didn’t think we’d come back? BARBARIC loves you! AXE LOVES YOU! And he’s giving you his heart, in the form of THE LONG DEATH #1. Our heroes slaughter their way ever closer to the answers to their big questions. Owen learns all about his curse; Soren learns about her curse; Axe gets drunk. The consequences are…BARBARIC.

Writer: Michael Moreci

Artist: Nathan Gooden

Colorist: Fabiana Marques

Letterer: Jim Campbell

WHAT IS IT? For half a decade now Moreci and Gooden have been bringing us these adventures of an unwilling hero and his foul-mouthed axe. Like the demon child of Groo and Conan the Barbarian, Barbaric is a perfect blend of magic, mayhem and mirth.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Vault's Barbaric books have been coming out in three-book volumes for a few years now, with some one-shots and spinoff titles thrown in the mix as well. Because of that our hero Owen the Barbarian has accumulated a significant backstory and a full cast of supporting characters. This time he is teamed up with the witch Soren and a fawn named Toro, who's lost memories may hold the secrets behind the curse Owen is under. In search of Toro's memories they slaughter their way through Soren's childhood homeland, face off against witches and gods, and enter a cave filled with familiar foes, including another potty-mouthed weapon!

WHAT WORKS? Moreci consistently achieves an almost alchemical balance between humor, drama and outlandish violence throughout the Barbaric books, and it is on display again here. Gallows humor has never been more entertaining. Nathan Gooden's art is exactly what the story needs. His thick lines and solid characters give a brutal, grounded feel to the pages, with exaggerated expressions and over-the-top kinetic action scenes that perfectly pay off the bloody intent of the script. Fabiana Marques had a tough act to follow last year when she took over from Addison Duke, who had done brilliant color work on the first three volumes. She did great work on Barbaric: Born in Blood, and continues to shine here, especially in her interpretation of magical energies. Very few books are improved by their lettering as much as Barbaric is. Jim Campbell has found a look in this series that is distinct and perfectly appropriate to the tone. His unique font and bubble choices for Axe and a number of other characters feel organic, but add texture and to dialogue and scenes.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK? If you have been reading Barbaric from the beginning, The Long Death pays off that dedication. This book has more cameos than a Marvel movie from Phase 4. But if you are not already invested in the Barbaric story this volume will likely feel like going to Endgame in the theater without having seen any of the movies that went before it. Partly because of all the characters, there is a LOT to keep track of, and a lot to pay off with just one issue left in this miniseries. I'm confident Moreci will sort it all out for us, but the story so far does seem pretty crowded.

WHY SHOULD I READ IT? For fans of sword and sorcery Barbaric is one of the best options currently on the market. Moreci and Gooden have been reliably delivering one great story (3 issues usually) every year, and Barbaric now boasts a rich fantasy world, a large cast of thoroughly entertaining characters, and all the blood and humor you could want. That said, while this fifth volume of Barbaric is shaping up to be a classic, if you are new to the world of Owen the Barbarian and his talking Axe track down Barbaric Vol 1: Murderable Offenses and start there.

HOW DO I BUY IT?

Click one of these: Vault Website: https://vaultcomics.com/products/barbaric-long-death

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