If you dig worldbuilding and fantasy, you should be reading The Hunger and the Dusk. G. Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose are some of the best creators in comics right now, and they opened their series with a lot of tantalizing twists in the genre. The second issue is out this week as humans and orcs are now working together, but only because there is a threat to them both that they can no longer ignore.
Along with further world-building, a key element of this issue is relationships. We get to see characters bond as they trek through the land as threats loom. Tara Icemane is an orc and a healer who has joined the Last Man Standing troop, who we get to meet in this issue. As she learns their names and gets to know them, she bonds with Commander Callum Battlechild over their people giving up on them, more or less. They are orphans and have found themselves connecting as they discover the threat is attacking on multiple sides.
That threat leads to battle, which Wildgoose pulls off splendidly. The kinetic action and blood flying look great, and the battle sequence reminds us the threat is far superior. These creators have longer limbs, are faster, and take more than one warrior to defeat in combat.
Get to know the Last Men Standing.
Credit: IDW
Meanwhile, Troth Icemane and Faran Stoneback are betrothed on a quest in the snowy mountains. They’re both not quite keen on becoming a couple, but they bond a bit through their adventure in this issue. Wilson’s dialogue is fantastic, drawing us into their lived experience while organically having them connect. This leads to a nice wolf hunt sequence that Wildgoose again captures well. The scale of the wolves is clear, and the danger is very present.
Dungeons and Dragons fans will adore a moment a bard has in this issue. You might know all the best songs, but what happens when an orc joins your party and every song has a bit about how terrible and evil they are? It’s also nice to see a character admit bards are pretty useless, which will likely be proven wrong in time.
Regarding stakes, I’m still trying to get my bearings. It’s unclear how many enemies there are or how dire it is for the orcs and humans. We’re told it’s bad, but the majority of the series has focused on character rather than zooming out to show maps or other means of explaining how bad things are. We know only a few enemies can take out large groups, but it’s hard to gauge the danger level at this stage.
Colors by Msassyk are also great with a keen sense of the time of day. The opening has a warm glow to the sky, reminding us it’s the morning, while when the battle gets intense, the atmosphere is red and yellow as if the sky is on fire. There’s a nice sense of realism with hues, be it in skin tones or environments, creating a more realistic feel.
The Hunger and the Dusk #2 continues to flesh out its characters in a fantasy world well worth exploring. Fans of fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons will love this series as it leans into fantasy tropes while fleshing out meaningful and complex characters.
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