There are no bad guys, not really.
Edginton explores an important concept in this, his first issue and, appropriately, a key jumping-on point for the series. The writer points out that nobody considers himself or herself evil. Motivations vary, but self-perception is usually that one is doing what s/he believes is right (right for whom is a different matter). By taking this approach, Edginton brings depth to not one, but two of the title's chief antagonists, and in the process, he offers up what is easily the strongest issue of Sojourn I've had the pleasure to read.
Arwyn finds herself the prisoner of Bohr, the leader of the trolls dispatched by Mordath to put an end to the vengeful archer's quest for the Five Fragments of Arden's Arrow. As the horned brute and his men escort the bound heroine back to Mordath's castle, he shares with her the history of his people, of how they were oppressed by man, and how the human Mordath came to them as a savior. Bohr's story is interrupted, though, by the appearance of a particularly bloodthirsty threat.
Greg Land's artwork is everything one might expect it to be. Remarkably detailed and realistic, it nevertheless captures the exotic nature of the characters and the setting with seeming ease. I was particularly impressed with the expressiveness he instills in Bohr. He brings humanity to the character and better enables the reader to understand him as a result. Ponsor's colors bring added texture and depth to the world in which Land's figures live and die as well.
Given the promotional nature of the cover price, Edginton provides an appropriately accessible script for new readers, conveying the simple fantasy quest plot that's at the heart of the book. Mind you, the expositional nature of his work here isn't overt; he's woven the background into the dialogue quite seamlessly.
The most impressive aspect of Edginton's debut efforts on this title is his exploration of two of the villains: Bohr and Mordath. We get to know the latter through the history and perceptions provided by the former, and those elements transform the antagonists from one-dimensional baddies into men whose attitudes and motives have been understandably molded by the cruelty to which they've been subjected. It's something they now have in common with the main character, Arwyn, whose sole purpose in this series from the start is to exact revenge for the cruelty dealt to her, namely, the slaughter of her family.
