Take one part Conan, one part Wolverine, mix well and separate out the claws, and you've whipped up a big batch of Kade. Unfortunately, this recipe makes for a rather bland dish. Mind you, I'm not terribly partial to barbarian stories, so this book had that going against it from the start when it came to this particular reader. Kade's generic qualities aren't the biggest liability, though. While the creators endeavor for a professional-looking product, some inconsistent artwork and intrusive lettering make for some distracting visuals as well.
A child bred for the express purpose of becoming a malevolent Dark Lord of the Order of the Black Sun instead prowls the countryside looking to destroy the evil order... and to kill its corrupt leader, Apollyon. Kade's unique ability -- his curse? -- to feel no pain will no doubt aid him in his quest. First, though, he needs information in order to achieve his mission, but what he's reluctant to accept is help... especially if it stems from the hand of one he sees as an enemy.
Penciller Eduardo Garcia is clearly influenced by the style of such Hispanic artists as Humberto Ramos, Francisco Herrerra and Paco Medina; the latter even contributes this issue's cover. While the exaggerated quality of that approach would certainly suit this subject matter, the problem here is that the art is terribly inconsistent. Ravyn rarely looks the same from page to page, for example, and in some instances, seems to shift form from panel to panel. To the creators' credit, though, is the high quality of the colors here, and I have to admit that the simplicity of the title character's design is striking.
The same can't be said of the plot. It's accessible, sure, but it's unfortunately formulaic and familiar. Warrior embarks on a journey with revenge as the ultimate destination. The villain has killed those dear to the hero, but the villain also represents a key element of the hero's past and heritage.
One element that did strike me as somewhat novel was the protagonist's inability to feel pain. The writer is careful, though, to point out that he's not impervious to harm, just to feeling it. The script points out that it's both an advantage and disadvantage all at once.
