Oni Press’ new fantasy anthology EC Cruel Kingdom was a hit right out of the gate, but can it sustain its quality with its second issue out this week? EC Comics has gained new life via a sci-fi and a horror anthology, but how is its fantasy-focused anthology? Considering the first issue had a lot more sci-fi in its fantasy stories than expected, note that this week’s issue is 100% fantasy stories, which may be a step up.
EC Cruel Kingdom #2 features three tales, all ten pages long. The first takes the fantasy trope of a magical sword literally, the second features the burning of witches, and the third reveals the price of being king. All three tales offer a twist, with some going for more gore and others a bit of comedy.
The first tale is “A Rare Immunity” by Chris Condon and PJ Holden. The story opens on a wartorn exterior outside of a castle. A conqueror has taken the castle and a sword, which gives you “immunity” in battle. Before being told of the downsides of such a blade, he lops off the enemy’s head and goes about his day. Clearly hellbent on bloodlust, the conqueror is seen through an excellent montage killing goblins and enemies of all sorts. Eventually, he takes some serious damage and decides to head home.
The question is, how much damage can one take before they’re even recognizable? It’s a hard truth the conqueror must learn the hard way when his people witness what he’s become. Holden maximizes the twist with some gruesome gore that’ll have you gagging in a good way.
Who is the masked…person!?
Credit: Oni
Next story up is “Hammer of Witches” by Steve Niles and Andrea Mutti. The art has a painterly quality that adds a supernatural touch, opening on a mystery forest. A woman is deemed a witch but is soon rescued by a masked figure. For all intents and purposes, she seems innocent, but another tasty twist is in store for readers by the end of the tale.
This story feels a little longwinded, taking up precious pages to get to the twist. It leaves you wanting and could have turned in a different direction to give the reader more.
Last but not least is “The Seat of Power” by Cameron Chittock and David Lapham. It opens with two princes in courtly clothing playing chess. We learn through their conversation that the king is hidden away, and nobody knows why. One clearly wants to find out what has happened to their father so he can take power, but is it really worth it?
Mutti draws their back-and-forth banter well, keeping you close to their thinking. A few twists and turns show the true mettle of the characters, and we get a satisfying reveal of what it means to be king. Be careful what you wish for.
EC Cruel Kingdom #2 refines its fantasy-focused approach, delivering an entertaining anthology with creative twists, though inconsistent pacing in some stories prevents it from fully reaching its potential.
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