The first Solomon Kane comic book series in 15 years is coming to comic shops on March 26 and it should be right up the alley of historical fiction fans. Written and drawn by Patrick Zircher, who has proven time and time again he’s great at action and, with Conan the Barbarian, capturing different times and places, Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring reads like a rare thing. Not only set in a much more dangerous time, it also takes readers to beautiful places like the Barbary Coast, across Southern Europe, and through the canals of Venice. It’s as good as adventure comics can be with a heavy does of pulpy historical underpinnings.
Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring #1 opens in the kingdom of Ndongo, Africa. A white traveler gets caught up in a war between two tribes and narrowly escapes with his life. In tow is an artifact of great importance, which through pirate battles eventually lands in the hands of Kane. Over a series of pages, Zircher has given the McGuffin a story of its own with many lives lost before its even reached its intended party. That raises the stakes for it and for Kane’s adventure.
Something evident throughout this read is the historical accuracy and research done to get everything right. From clothing to locations, you’re transported to this very real past. Cultural elements like Kane’s religion, or a Jewish mystic in Venice who deals with racism, add layers to a dangerous world.
Nice shot!
Credit: Titan
Similar to a good James Bond yarn, Zircher has stuffed this issue with plenty of cool action and adventure elements. There’s the pretty girls who are smarter than most think, and the intense action scenes where Kane is severely outnumbered. Tucked away amongst the realism is a supernatural threat that should aptly test Kane’s belief in God.
Zircher’s art is highly detailed, with a European style in the layout structure. Backgrounds are always highly rendered putting you in the locations, be it Africa or Venice. Possibly the most electric sequence in the issue takes place between two boats filled with sea dog pirates. Kane’s place in the scrum is aptly detailed in the captions and the action is intense. You just don’t get comic book visuals like this every day.
Speaking of captions, the issue uses them heavily at times, giving the read an older, more classic feel. The opening in particular is heavy on the captions, though it gives the start a pulpy feel that suits the setting and adventure theme. With all the setup, Kane ends up being in the issue far less than you might imagine. The pieces are in place, however, and I’m excited to see where this adventure takes him.
Patrick Zircher delivers a visually stunning and historically rich adventure in Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring #1, blending pulpy action with deep world-building. While the heavy exposition and limited focus on Kane may deter some, the series sets up a promising, thrilling journey filled with historical detail, supernatural intrigue, and intense action.
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