In any big epic fantasy, you've almost got to have a dragon. For Sojourn, that story came sooner rather than later, and it had been my favorite story in the book until the current story among the winged people of Ankhara knocked it off that pedestal. At any rate, though, this stands out as a strong second chapter in the story of Arwyn and Gareth, and it features quite possibly the most spectacular looking dragon that has ever been seen in comics. This story is a turning point in many respects, as Arwyn goes from stubborn resistance to the quest to a more reluctant heroine stance, and it's made clear that without Ayden's Bow, the fight against Mordath can't succeed, but it's also a chance to show off what Greg Land can do, and that's pretty impressive as well.
I have to admit that I sometimes find Sojourn a little predictable in its plotting. The revelation of the Dragon's true identity wasn't much of a surprise, and the actions that Mordath, Arwyn and Gareth take in this story are consistent with their character enough to be easily foreseen. However, that also speaks to strong characterization, and Marz does shake up the formula a little as this story goes on, with a surprising injury to Arwyn that alters her character considerably (if temporarily). It's shaken up even more in the next story, but that's for the review of volume three.
This story is driven by Arwyn's quest for revenge so far, and Marz talks in the interview at the back of the trade about how being a father and husband makes it easy to relate to Arwyn's anger. I'm just an expectant father at this point, but I can relate as well, and I think Marz has created a fairly universal drive for his protagonist. The story, however, is requiring her to grow beyond her immediate needs and become a hero to save the world, not just avenge her losses, and that element of the story arc takes place throughout this story in small doses, whether it's being convinced to run from Mordath's forces or the more specific change of heart and redefinition that takes place in the June Brigman-illustrated Chapter 12.
While Arwyn is still the center of the story, and Gareth gets his role as narrator as always, this is really the story of the dragon. Much of the time, Marz lets Greg Land do the heavy lifting in establishing this character, whether it's the beautiful form it takes on early on or the awe-inspiring true form that we see a lot throughout the issue. I am not exaggerating when I say awe-inspiring, by the way. The same sense of cool that I got when I saw the Balrog on screen in Fellowship of the Rings follows the dragon in this story, especially in the scenes where it demonstrates its power in double-page spreads or in battle against Mordath. Land has always been impressive, but he has outdone himself on the work in these issues. In fact, the art throughout is great, whether it's Land or guest artists Stuart Immonen and June Brigman, and the colors are, as always, bright and well-realized.
There's something to be said for the arguments that Sojourn is sometimes a bit familiar, reminiscent of the archetypal fantasy epics like Lord of the Rings or the more modern novels of Robert Jordan and R.A. Salvatore that it inspired. However, Marz has melded a classic premise with very believable characters and a story that feels like it's really driving somewhere, and Greg Land, Drew Geraci and the rest have made that story sit up and dance for the audience.
