Mad Cave Studios
Release Date: April 10, 2024
Spoiler Alert
When Meabh wants to leave the Adventurer’s Guild, not everyone from that club is happy. In the opening pages, what’s suggested is that there’s only one person who is sympathetic. And when the tale picks up some years later in the comic book, When The Blood Has Dried, it seems the others are not happy and want to take her down. The reason is unknown, and I’m keyed into this mystery written by Gary Moloney and drawn by Daniel Romero Ulloa.
The opening pages set the tone about what this organisation does. They are not what readers may think, and that’s enough to get me curious since what’s presented is a world ruled by what seems to be a mediaeval version of a “biker gang.” By the time I learn more about this group, I think what’s happening in this first issue is setting up a fantasy version of John Wick.
When the story flash forwards to years later, this woman has forged a new life. She’s settled in, and the locals from Carraig an Bhun accept her as one of their own. She runs The Lough Inn and is its barkeep too. But after word spreads on the street that the vagabond Guild will set up shop, she’s fearful about what can get when former friends come visiting.
And when the world takes inspiration from fantasy and spaghetti westerns (along with naming conventions that may be Welsh), I knew this combination is one I had to check out. It may well also belong in the same world as this publisher’s flagship title, Nottingham, too.
Until the next issue, what’s offered in this introduction suggests Meabh was not proud of her previous occupation. The artwork is fantastic because I can feel the emotions lift off the pages. If this lead is indeed that worried, she’ll have to dispose of these hunters. But if she plans on doing something else, I can’t even guess. While magic commonly exists in most fantasy worlds, it’s a cheap way to deal with problems, and I’ll just have to wait for the next issue to find out how Meabh will deal with the situation.
4 Stars out of 5
