Review: Red Thorn #13 - Mobile Edition

DC Comics
Review: Red Thorn #13
By Philip Schweier
December 29, 2016 - 11:09

DC Comics
Writer(s): David Baillie
Penciller(s): Meghan Hetrick, Ryan Kelly
Inker(s): Meghan Hetrick, Ryan Kelly
Colourist(s): Nick Filardi
Letterer(s): Todd Klein
Cover Artist(s): Choong Yoon

I’m so confused. This comic book appears to be the end of a story arc, as Red Thorn is defeated in final battle by a longtime nemesis whose name I never did catch. Said nemesis is aided and abetted by another Red Thorn from an alternate reality, and we also witness the fates of a handful of supporting characters – some seem to live in a Medieval world, others in contemporary times, often switching back and forth at the whim of the artist.

I can’t say I care for the narrative style of the illustrations. On page one, Red Thorn and his opponent appear to be battling within a castle. Suddenly on page two, their outside on a battlefield. Then back to castle. And when Red Thorn is about to have his head sliced off, he is suddenly on the floor, impaled by a spear. Scenes shift, settings change, with no rhyme or reason. Is it magic? I truthfully don’t know.

The book as a whole was somewhat disappointing. When I realized it was a sword & sorcery story, I was was pleased. I haven’t read a good one in a long time – and I still haven’t.

The artwork is by two separate artists, who seem to switch off on who draws which portion. I’m uncertain who drew what, but the earlier pages are rather clean, while later pages by the same artists have a slightly less polished look to them. Intervening pages by the other artist are of a consistently quality in a style that is much more effective. I would have preferred to see the entire book done by this artist, whomever it might be.