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Sir Charles and the rest of the knights struggle while being imprisoned by the Samurai. It’s clear that they wish to use the Knights as force of their own, but against who…or what? As tempers flair and division seeps into both groups, forces with alternate plans awaken something destructive in hopes of squashing everyone in their path. It’s Knights vs Samurai vs certain doom!
- Story by David Dastmalchian
- Art by Federico Mele
- Colors by Ulises Arreola
- Letters by AndWorld Design
- Creative Director Todd McFarlane
- Consultant Thersa Matsuura
- Editor-in-Chief Thomas Healy
Knights vs Samurai Continues to Impress
Knights vs Samurai has been one of the comics that is quietly been on a fantastic run. With some intriguing character development, amazing world building, and phenomenal artwork, Knights vs Samurai feels like the complete package. In issue three we somehow take all of this to the next level and I’m so very hooked this story.
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Issue three starts with Sir Charles and his team imprisoned in the Samurai camp after the events of the epic battle in issue two. Things seem dire for them and tempers flare as they start to accept certain death. Charles is still keeping his mind sharp, looking for a way out.
How did the Samurai capture the Knights?!
A Cultural Gap Between the Knights vs Samurai Give Evil the Advantage
A meeting between the two leaders brings Charles to the realization that something bigger is at work here, but the language barrier is too difficult to overcome and the two of them can’t quite come to a total understanding.
We then get a glimpse at the traitorous players at work to take them all down poking the proverbial “bear”. What proceeds is a night of terror and death as a great evil is unleashed upon the Samurai camp. When the knights are freed from their cages thanks to a little “magic”, Charles and his men will have to fight through the language barrier to make it clear to the Samurai that he is willing to help.
Knights vs Samurai Explores The Human Element
David Dastmalchian is firing on all cylinders right now. He has all the tools sharpened to make this story run in a fascinating and efficient way. The cultural gaps between these two warrior groups aren’t as deep as one may think, providing a sense of honor and understanding between the them. The language gap however keeps them guessing and unsure of the others goals. That makes for an easy way to keep them off balance and in danger. The stakes stay higher as they stay divided.
Each character stands out in wonderful way. The Knights in-particular have a very diverse group of “misfits” that work well together. The Samurai bring a sense of order amongst the chaos. It’s the group of underhanded foes that work behind the scenes to keep the plot moving. I love that they are this unseen force at the moment. It creates a great dynamic between the titular groups and moves the pace at a steady rhythm without a big load of exposition.
Peace or War Makes for Great Art
What Fede Mele and Ulises Arreola do with the artwork in this book is a sight to see. In issue three we have less action and more character interaction. This allows for them to focus more on set pieces and setting the scenes for what’s to come. Fede masters his depth of field here with some really great panels of close ups and wide shots, giving us a true feeling of the scale of things. Arreola keeps things cool, dark, and grounded throughout most of the issue. This lulls us into a sense of peace yet uncertainty until the biggest piece on the chess board is activated. When violence and mayhem ensue, everything brightens up with red and orange and a sort of terrifying luminance.
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Everything Points to 9.5/10
This really was a fantastic issue that didn’t have to be action packed from beginning to end. We got a chance to let these characters breath and develop, showing us more of their philosophy and emotions. As David continues to build up this characters and start to maybe merge them into allies, I can begin to see how well they will fit together no matter their differences. Artwork continues to impress, even in a peaceful issue full of conversation and deliberations. When the fireworks finally do hit, it’s a real treat!
