I had trouble procuring The Bequest #2, as Diamond shorted my local comic shop (LCS) two weeks running. I saw it in another shop, so I figured it would eventually arrive. But either it sold out right away, or my LCS ordered fewer copies than the first issue, because I never saw it there.
Eventually, I checked it out at another shop. The cover didn't attract me like the first issue had. Nor did it feature a dragon. I also think that the darker colors didn't show off well in the shop.
Doing a casual flip-through, I was also put off by a few things, such as the characters just lounging around, hanging out in bars, or fighting with a bouncer. Nor did this issue feature any back-end extras, such as the bonus character sheets in issue #1.
Still, I had enjoyed The Bequest #1. I had enjoyed writer Tim Seeley's run on Bloodshot. I had enjoyed a series titled The Infinite Adventures of Jonas Quantum drawn by Freddie Williams II several years ago. So in the end, I bought The Bequest #2 from my non-local comic shop, and took it home.
The excitement starts right away, as an old woman is awakened by noises. Marshall Dillon gives each utterance a different appearance. This makes sense when we realize that the woman keeps a collection of creatures in her castle.
Unfortunately, the woman faces a worse threat than the ire of her hungry animals. In comparison to the organic appearance of the sound effects in the previous panel, the all-too-regular POK POK POKs exploding out of Freddie Williams' panel suggest that something foreign to the realm of Tangea is occurring.
Ah yes. Orcs with guns. Every animal-keeper's worst nightmare. But why would they kill an old woman? Or did the orcs storm her castle for another reason?
In The Bequest #1, four renegade adventurers were conscripted to guard our world against those who use magic to transport themselves between Earth and Tangea. Lacking a threat, Billi Uft-Imp and Warlock Garthodd may not make the best use of their time. But Jerril of the Rose uses his abilities to learn about this strange land called Chicago.
He's surprised that he can entertain a child merely by summoning a spark of light, or the odd card behind the child's ear. Apparently, she doesn't need a fireball or a wraith to be delighted!
I don't know if colorist Jeremy Colwell darkened the interior of the Ferris Wheel, or if Freddie Williams inked it in. Whatever the case, I find the way Jeremy colored the scene--with the bright lights, the fading colors in the background, and gradations of blue in the sky--tremendously appealing.
Tim Seeley indulges in a lot of humor in The Bequest #2. After spending her evening listening to a woman playing the blues, Sharmae discovers that the beer the bar serves doesn't agree with her. Her conversation after the show, as the musician takes a break between sets, is delightful.
I also liked this exchange between Billi Uft-Imp and Relikiquarfex. The latter usually goes by Relik, and should the need arise, can transform into a red dragon.
Also, after years serving as a guardian on Earth, he's still fascinated by the lyrics of the song "Puff the Magic Dragon."
Relik and his new helpers face two dangers in The Bequest #2. One comes from the creature featured on the cover. It's somehow traveled to Chicago from Tangea, and is preying on those who venture into the underground.
The second danger comes from the one-eyed monk Epoch Craev, along with renegade caster Diedree Dohl, and his followers. They don't belong here, and they intend mischief. Perhaps worse.
There's a lot going on in The Bequest #2, even if the issue seems to get off to a rocky start, and at times feels like a middle chapter. Freddie Williams II and Jeremy Colwell create very appealing scenes. Tim Seeley's story, artfully transcribed by letterer Marshall Dillon, makes me even more intrigued to continue on with this series.
The series features coarse language that may turn off some readers. The mature tone of The Bequest may warrant parental supervision for younger readers. But if you're intrigued by the direction of this series from Aftershock Comics, with its back-and-forth between Earth and Tangea, and its mixture of magic with the mundane, you may want to pick up The Bequest #2 and give it a try.
The Bequest #3 comes out today. As you can see, Relik returns to the cover in full-on dragon mode. I need to know what will happen to Relik, Sharmae, Billi, Jerril, and Warlock Garthodd in issue #3. Have I fallen under the spell of The Bequest?
Time will tell...
Dragon Dave
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