I read the first DemonWars trade about five minutes before diving into this second series, so all the details were fresh in my mind, but as it turns out, Ciencin has delivered a wonderfully accessible new mini-series anyway. Two of the characters carry over from the previous series, but the setting, the conflict and much of the cast is all new, making it as good a jumping-on point as the trade is for those curious about the DemonWars series. Another thing that has changed is the artwork, and while I thought Wagner's art on the first series was solid, Tocchini and Holdredge are more impressive, with some impressive combat scenes and imaginative design for the arabian-influenced setting of the story.
One thing that strikes me in reading DemonWars is that the protagonist, a loner type ranger named Andacanavar, isn't really all that interesting to me as a character. The Aragorn-esque brooding loner is not generally my type of character. However, he's interesting enough to hang a tale on, and Salvatore's setting has gripped my interest much more strongly in this second series. I'm a fan of the arabian-influenced settings, whether it's in a videogame like Diablo II or a comic such as this one. It's clear once again that Salvatore is a world-builder from the role-playing fiction tradition, as he introduces some new "classes" in this one, the priests of Chez and the monk-like Jhesta Tul. There's a gaming supplement coming for DemonWars, and I can easily see how this setting will fit into the D&D realm, although there are enough differences to make it interesting.
Ciencin had a pretty good cast of characters for his first mini-series, but so far, I like this one better. The delineation between good guy and bad guy seems a little more clear-cut this time out, but it's still not black and white. Andacanavar is certainly rude and hostile for a hero, Yatol Murgan is charismatic for a villain and I'm quite sure that the deceptive lovers Sagara and Ketsuo are more than they seem. Speaking of, Ketsuo's first appearance in this mini-series is a blast, with a martial arts sequence and a level of bad-assed-ness (yeah, I just made that up) that impresses and reminds me of the spectacular martial arts sequence in Way of the Rat.
Which brings me to the artwork, which impressed me quite a bit. Greg Tocchini is a new name to me, but it's one I'll be looking for in the future. His design for the elaborate arabian clothes and backdrops is impressive, but it's in the action sequences where he really shines. The double-page splash of Andacanavar soaring out a window after arrogantly challenging a talented warrior is terrific, and the fast-paced and exciting martial arts and attempted assassination by Ketsuo are a lot of fun to watch. I'm always impressed by an artist who can convey so much movement on the static page.
Though I enjoyed the first DemonWars story, it is Eye For An Eye that has really grabbed my attention. It has an intriguing cast of characters, a well-realized setting and just enough recognizable elements to make any fantasy fan feel at home.
