Written by: Marc Legendre
Illustrations: Fabio Bono
Coloring: Dimitri Fogolin
Publisher: Standaard Uitgeverij
De Rode Ridder #252 De Hellemond – Comic Book Review
Even though there have only been two issues since the overhaul of one of Belgium’s classic comic book series, we’ve become well adjusted to the red knight and his revamped holy quest. Last time Johan was able to free Allis from Malfrat’s evil clutches. While the evildoer was out for the count, it was quite clear he would resurface rather soon, but we did not expect him to throw his tantrums during this issue. Nonetheless, Johan is still doing his best to bring the chosen girl, Allis, to Merlin, but first they’ll have to deal with a terribly rough sea, that has caused the deaths of many, and with Malfrat on their tails, the waves will not be their only concern.
Truth be told, while this issue will hold many action packed sequences, we can’t elaborate that much about the plot, as we would pretty much spoil everything. Johan and Allis are still trying to reach Merlin, but to do so, in the quickest way possible, they’ll have to cross rough waters, and a place called the ‘hellmouth’. Even though Johan was warned by Koos, the fisherman that they paid to traverse the seas, that taking the shortest route would expose them to great danger, Johan pressed him to go on. Nonetheless, they reach the legendary dangerous spot, and they didn’t expect to find something so magical.
In the meantime Malfrat is already back up and running, determined to take out the red knight and his protégé. To do so, he pays the owner of a giant ship, who was supposed to transport Johan and Allis’ belongings. Then again, money is what makes the world go round.
With the rather short span of these albums it’s only natural that the pace is very fast. You’ll be thrown from one conflict to another, while the bigger picture is slowly being painted, making sure you’re not treated to separate adventures, but a big one with many different events. Marc Legendre knows how to tell an interesting tale, and while not that much of the main plot is unfolded in this issue, we’re curious to see how things will turn out for the likeable duo and their new fearsome nemesis.
Fabio Bono once again does a formidable job to impress us with his illustrations. Even though some illustrations might lose their focus on some smaller details, it’s often the sceneries that tend to overshadow these small snippets when this happens. Overall things remain fairly gritty, albeit with the necessary appeal to add an extra layer to the already exciting atmosphere of the issue. New sceneries, outside of the typical countryside are clearly no challenge for Fabio, and with the coloring by Dimitro Fogolin, things have a very typical, but welcome, American comic book vibe.
Conclusion
De Rode Ridder #252 De Hellemond is an unexpectedly exciting album after expecting a short break from what transpired during the previous two issues. Instead we get a rather action packed, very adult album that shows that Allis is slowly growing on the scruffy knight. Nonetheless, while we enjoy these short issues of this modern version of ‘De Rode Ridder’, we hope they will become a bit lengthier over time. That being said, beautiful ‘wenches’, gritty action and an exciting story seems to be the new motto of the series, and we like it.
De Rode Ridder #252 De Hellemond - Comic Book Review,
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