This review originally appeared on Goodreads on July 11, 2011.

Solomon Kane Volume 2: Death's Black Riders

By Various – Dark Horse Books – October 19, 2010

Review by Robin Marx

Much like the first, this second volume in Dark Horse's original comic adaptation of Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane stories was a mixed bag.

The Mario Guevara artwork is strong, and the Mike Mignola cover is eye-catching, but the story side is a little weak. Most of the volume is a much-expanded adaptation of a brief REH story fragment. A comic rendition of “Rattle of Bones” (one of my favorite Solomon Kane stories) is incorporated into the middle of the Death's Black Riders tale, but it felt rushed, making an already concise yarn into a “blink and you'll miss it” affair.

This volume closes with a short called “All the Damned Souls at Sea,” but the ugly caricature-style Guy Davis artwork ruins what could be an otherwise interesting story.

The characterization of Solomon Kane wasn't bad, and his visual portrayal is quite similar to what I envision when reading the original stories, but I would've liked to have seen more of the seething hatred driving Kane in his battle against evil. There are hints of it, which suggests that the writers do understand the character, but I want more.

While I may seem rather critical, this seems like a series still finding its footing, and the comic's crew do more things right than wrong. I look forward to future volumes.

★★★☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #ComicReview #Fantasy #SwordAndSorcery #SolomonKane #TheChroniclesOfSolomonKane

This review originally appeared on Goodreads on August 7, 2011.

The Chronicles Of Solomon Kane

By Various – Dark Horse – December 8, 2009

Review by Robin Marx

This volume collects a two volume series called “The Mark of Kane” and a later six issue miniseries called “The Sword of Solomon Kane.”

Despite scripts by Roy Thomas, the former is a little on the cheesy side, but I was pleasantly surprised by the “Sword of Solomon Kane” series. With only six issues to work with, I found it baffling that they spent time making a few original stories (one called The Prophet was particularly sleight and disappointing, despite excellent Mike Mignola artwork) rather than sticking with adaptations of the original Robert E. Howard short stories, but the comic versions of “Red Shadows,” “Hills of the Dead,” and “Wings in the Night” were well done.

The highlight of this volume was the characterization, however. While the authors of the current Dark Horse series seem to be struggling with how to present Kane, the staff of this old Marvel comic got him right. Dour, vengeful, and above all driven.

While I wouldn't recommend this volume as an introduction to the adventures of Solomon Kane, it's certainly worth a look for those already familiar with the character.

★★★☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #ComicReview #SwordAndSorcery #SolomonKane #TheChroniclesOfSolomonKane