Clearly, I wrote some of the Crossgen titles off too early. While I enjoyed Scion volume one, the second volume builds on the story and really gets rolling, and by the time I was midway through this volume, I found that I couldn't put it down until the end. Marz introduces a few twists into the story of two families at war that shifts alliances considerably, and he also doesn't let down with the action sequences. The latter are helped by the artwork of the various artists, who all turn in grand, sweeping artwork that befits the epic style of the story, and of course by the always-impressive Crossgen colors.
One of my misconceptions about all of the Crossgen titles (and I still hold this as a truism for a couple of them) is that they move forward at something of a glacial pace. It's hard to fairly judge such a thing in trade format, where six months worth of story is collected, but Scion at least cannot be accused of standing still. The first volume started a war, killed a major supporting character and sent the lead character on a dificult journey, but the second one introduces regicide, strife within the royal family and focuses even more on the struggle to free a long-enslaved people.
In the midst of these epic events, the characters begin to come into sharper focus, and I think this is probably some of Marz's finest work in comics, period. Ethan could easily be an angsty cliche, troubled by his newfound power or the danger he's brought to the kingdom, but while he obviously carries some guilt from his role in these events, he also has a determination and a kind soul that is clear to see. His loyalty to Skink and obvious sympathy for the underground is an interesting contrast to the fury he carries for Bron. On the flipside, Marz does a pretty effective job of making Bron a despicable villain without turning him into a cartoon. His frustration with his father, and his inability to understand why he might not be fit for the throne, give him a real reason to act the way he does, even if it is basically psychotic and evil behavior.
Another element of Scion that I wasn't so sure of at the beginning was the use of the sigil, but I'm starting to enjoy Ethan's unusual and not completely understood power. Even though the actual presence of "continuity" elements like the First and the actual sigil are some of my least-favorite elements about the Crossgen shared universe, the use of a mysterious mark of power or a secret war of ancient powers behind the war make for interesting touches to the story. Certainly the role of Skink and Mai Shen in this trade raises a few eyebrows, as they each help the lead characters (protagonist and antagonist) achieve their goals, but always with an eye on a larger goal that is kept hidden from the readers. The presence of these godlike mystical beings helps to build on the epic fantasy atmosphere of the story.
Also helping considerably in that regard is the artwork. The art in this volume is actually strong enough that it improves on the already impressive art from the first. Guest art from George Perez is stunning, and a fill-in issue by Andrea Di Vito is also quite beautiful, but it's the work by Cheung, Hillsman, Rodriguez and Ponsor that makes each chapter a feast for the eyes. Intricately designed armor and fantasy wardrobes, impressive fantasy beasts such as Bron's mount and some particularly explosive energy effects are all beautifully rendered, and Cheung also doesn't skimp on the tough guys or sexy girls. There's also some great atmosphere, especially the rain-soaked night of Ethan's assault or the warm red glow of the prison chamber underneath the castle.
It should be noted that this is a Traveler edition, which means it's in the smaller, "manga" or "Oni" size. Crossgen has done a terrific job of shrinking down the material, making it more affordable and portable, without losing the beautiful color and production work done on their books. Greg McElhatton focuses on the virtues of the Traveler in one of his recent columns, and I agree with pretty much everything he has to say HERE.
