The enemy is more understood, but the good guys are crumbling in The Hunger and the Dusk. The original fantasy series continues to excite with familiar roles like bards and orcs, but also with a fresh take and a rich set of characters. The sixth issue is out this week and it follows Tara after she quit the human-led Last Man Standing crew to head home. We know orcs and humans need to combine forces to beat the Vangol, but it’s not looking good for them.
Tara has always seemed quite special. She’s a healer with incredible power and grace but has decided to head home after dealing with war-hungry men who rush into battle. This issue opens with Tara heading home on her trusty oxen as the captions detail how the path we walk is a fickle beast. This issue is about how we change as we make our way in this world, often unclear what our paths are or where they’ll lead, especially since we’re not the same by the time we meet our destinations.
The captions do well to set up a flashback to when Tara was just a kid, betrothed to a boy named Troth who will later marry another because he must keep the peace as king. Writer G. Willow Wilson uses the flashback to further flesh out Tara when she was more innocent. It’s a genuine look at an endearing kid who speaks her mind and does as she pleases. A harsh difference to the tired woman who is all alone.
Tara is on her own now.
Credit: IDW
In the final pages, we get a bit of action thrown in as Tara must defend herself from robbers. It’s an intense scene, especially how Chris Wildgoose renders her powers. Tara is clearly incredibly powerful and likely a great weapon against the Vangol. Wildgoose frames the action expertly, with a scratch feeling far more deadly as Tara defends herself. Wildgoose also continues to render the world beautifully. Giant broken statues, stairs that go nowhere, and a land that is drying up are all vividly drawn and well thought out.
The meat and potatoes of this issue are about Tara and Troth. The scene with them as kids, and also later when he becomes king, helps show a tragic love broken up by tradition and duty. By the end, Tara has more responsibility than ever, and the captions suggest her relationship with Troth will play a big part when the story continues.
The larger story remains pretty static, though, with the focus on these characters. We’re six issues in and it’s unclear what the Vangol’s main plan is, or how dissent within the Orc’s ranks will matter. A map or a general reminder of what key players are doing would help establish stakes and status quo at the very least as we wait for villains and heroes to make their moves.
With The Hunger and the Dusk returning in the summer, I think most will be eager to see what Tara will do with her newfound information. The story continues to feel a bit slow, but the probing of its characters feels rich and the world lived in.
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