Queen of Swords Volume 1 marks the second comic I’ve reviewed from Vault Comics. I like how pulpy and action-packed their fare tends to be, though I’m starting to notice a pattern. Their comics are much shorter than I would like and tend to end on cliffhangers. This is unfortunate since Queen of Swords Volume 1 ends just as things were starting to get really good.
One thing I didn’t realize about Queen of Swords is that it’s part of the larger Barbaric series, which I haven’t read. So there were definitely times I was a little perplexed by what was happening, such as why Ka the assassin disdains Serra the witch quite so much. Or why it appears that barbarian lass Deadheart isn’t entirely alive anymore. Nor am I entirely sure how or why she grabbed a cranky, talking sword named Ga’Bar, though I’m glad she did. That surly bastard provides a lot of the unexpected humor present in the tale.
It’s clear from the get-go that the group doesn’t really trust each other. Regardless, they’re teaming up to grab a magic-dampening orb to deal with someone named Doxon. Though there is action that moves the main story forward, and some fun battles, the bulk of Queen of Swords is told through flashbacks. And I think it’s fair to say that Serra is the main character, at least in this story arc.
Through some of these flashbacks, we learn not just Serra’s past, but the nature of magic in this world. Most people aren’t born with magic and instead have to access it through dark rituals and dirty deeds (and the occasional demonic orgy). Serra was enjoying her newfound magical might until things got too dark, even for her. So she fled her coven, and along with it, her sister. But unfortunately for Serra, physical distance wasn’t enough to keep her sister out of her thoughts (literally).
In another flashback, we learn that Serra has joined this quest to make amends to someone named Soren. She’s a beautiful, mysterious brunette that appears to have been born with magic. She can see through glamours and annihilate people with a word. The problem is, she’s not in control of this massive power. Worse, it seems apparent that Serra’s sister wants Soren for her own nefarious ends.
There are a couple of great fight scenes in Queen of Swords, one involving some feisty undead pirates and another creature called Xeken. The easiest way to describe them is they look like medieval ancestors to the Xenomorphs of Alien fame. These battles are frenetic and full of good characterization and lots of chopped-off bits and bobs. Deadheart is a force of nature, with her bitchy sword condescending to her the entire time she uses him to rend limbs from her foes. Ka is also dangerous with her smaller blades, but Serra is the surprise and can transform into a dangerous entity when the mood strikes her.
It seems like the quest is going well until Serra realizes the orb they seek is in a glamoured town, and that some orcs have found it before them. Then the not-so-jolly green giants leap into a roving magical dimension called the Pestilent Lands, which Doxon uses to travel great distances with ease. And did I mention Doxon is Serra’s naughty sister?
While I did enjoy my time with Queen of Swords Volume 1, I really lament that things ended so abruptly. I really wanted to see what made the Pestilent Lands so dangerous and get a better grasp of what happened to Soren that Serra feels the need to make amends. Despite all that, it’s a solid fantasy adventure that is sure to appeal to fans of Conan and Dungeons & Dragons.
