SLEEPING DRAGONS #5
"Becca's Scarecrow, Act IV: The Magic and the Storm"
Recommended (7/10)
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Slave Labor Graphics
Writers: Kevin Mason & Bob Richardson
Pencils: Alex Szewczuk
Inks: Alex Szewczuk & Craig Taillefer
Price: $2.95 US |
"Becca's Scarecrow" comes to a close, and the odd title for the story arc finally makes some sense. Mason has crafted a wonderfully touching fantasy tale, and with the Lord of the Rings movie on the way, I'd say there's a strong chance that the genre is about to make a big comeback. Comics enthusiasts don't have a lot of choice when it comes to this genre, but even in a limited field, Sleeping Dragons stands out as an excellent choice.
Philip Escaladine, a Knight of the Order of Meggido, is all that stands between the City of Gan and an army of Crough monsters led by a fire-breathing ogre named Bron. As a throng of archers -- including Philip's one true love, Rebecca -- watches helplessly, Philip fights Bron, but he is just a man, while Bron is a benemoth of brute strength and black magic.
Given the simplicity of his style, Szewczuk does a great job of bringing the unusual setting to life. He also captures a strong sense of detail in Philip's armor. The Crough come off as a little too cute, but it's a minor glitch in an otherwise strong look. Far more distracting were the letters. They didn't flow well, and the font just didn't seem to be in keeping with the tone of the story.
Though flowery, Philip and Rebecca's exchanges struck me as lovely and genuine. In a short time, Mason convinces the reader of the bond that's formed between these two young warriors. I also enjoyed seeing 'Becca's bonds with her family. Mason has created some strong characters for this story arc, which was much stronger than the self-contained debut issue.
I'm impressed with Mason's return to the rhyming narrative with the story's conclusion, but after a while, it gets a bit grating. The rhyme scheme and occasionally awkward meter (or deviation from it) robs the characters of a believable sound. Still, it does lend the story an epic feel, and it was nice to see the story-within-the-story motif come 'round again.
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