Knights vs. Samurai #1 might have saved the “samurai” part of its title for the last page, but Knights vs. Samurai #2 wastes no time getting to the fight. The battle between Charles Ward’s forces and the mysterious Samurai takes up the majority of the issue. and it’s pretty damn epic, especially considering the forces that both sides bring to the table.
On Charles’ side, there’s a giant, a cleric who can summon mystical shields, and a legion of skilled warriors. On the samurai’s side, they also have a spellcaster – but their advantage lie in the terrain, which allows them to have the literal and metaphorical high ground. It all climaxes in a two-page spread that is beautifully drawn by Fede Mele; the clash of steel and blades feels pretty damn epic, especially with Ulises Arreola’s colors painting the background in a blood-red haze.
Mele also draws comparisons and distinctions between Charles and the lead samurai, Okashira. Charles looks like the typical “knight in shining armor”, thanks to his shining silver armor. But while Okashira looks demonic thanks to his midnight black armor – which includes a frightening face mask – he’s willing to meet Charles on the battlefield and offer him a chance to surrender. But Charles doesn’t speak Japanese, and therefore cannot understand him.
This is a distinction that I’m glad David Dastmalchian (with the assistance of Theresa Matsuura) has made in his script. The language barrier is a major factor in the fight between knights and samurai; even if they have things in common, they can’t communicate – which leads to the common language of violence. Not since Shogun have I seen somebody actually utilize this for dramatic purpose, and use it well.
Image Comics
Dastmalchian also introduces a few twists into the narrative. As one of the knights points out, the samurai are less like savages and more like a coordinated force, which throws their entire mission into question. It also means that future issues of Knights vs. Samurai can dig into some deep themes, especially given the historical context in which it takes place. Don’t get me wrong, I love sword fights and dragons, but the fact that Dastmalchian is willing to dig deeper makes this a comic worth reading.
Knights vs. Samurai #2 doesn’t just deliver a hell of a fight scene, it also sows the seeds for a deeper conflict. This year has had some great comics, and this is shaping up to be one of them.
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