Kaya #29 // Review
Varia. The Fox trusts Kaya’s half-brother. The Fox might have more faith in him than she does. It’s not for lack of respect, though. Kaya’s become a bit of a pessimist. It’s not difficult to see why. They’re dealing with a slave mine ruled over by a robot empire. Things aren’t exactly looking good. Varie The Fox and Kaya are going to have to have a few words if they’re going to lead a revolt of theslaves in the mine in Kaya #29. Writer/artist Wes Craig continues an engrissung fantasy adventure with brisk pacing and cleverly-rendered action.
The snow gently falls before the revolt warrior girl and warrior fox discuss matters that get right to the heart of everything as they march off into a very dangerous battle with clanking metal robots. It’s going to be a sudden attack in the dark amist the falling snow. If the robots can be said to be taken by surprise, they certainly might be, but there’s still a great deal of danger as they well overpower a couple warriors and a bunch of slaves. There’s a real danger for very real death, but the freeedom that could be gained just might be worth the risk.
Craig has decided to narrowly focus this particular issue almost entirely on the revolt and the lead-up to it. It’s not a bad decision. The story has a chance to play-out without a lot of excessive dialogue. Craig allows his art to do much of the storytelling once the battle really gets going. It’s an approach that works. All to often a writer might feel the need to add-in some kind of somber narration of some sort in the midst of a battle or throw-n a whole bunch of expository dialogue. Thankfully, Craig lts the artwork deliver almost everything.
Craig certainly HAS decided on a very sharp visua framing to this particular battle. An evening fight in snowfall has a visceral impact that isn’t attempted nearly often enough in action films or videos or comics. There’s something reallyimmersive about that particular atmosphere that serves to amplifythe intensity of any conflict. What’s more: Craig has a sharp eye for delivering the impact of the action with quick slices and shots that go for somepretty impressive framing in well-laid out pages. Wordie’s colors give the action a dreamy, vivid feel that amplifies it all to grand effect.
It’s the fourth part of “Kaya and Slave Mine 7.” The story hits a major turning point as the saga continues. The romantic notions of fantsy feel as moving as ever, but the overall sense of heroism seems to be echoing out of the heart of a storytelling tradition that feels like a copy of a copt of a copy. That’snot necessarily a bad thing. It’s a fun dynamic that resonates on the page quite effectively. The action moves across the page with delicious efficiency without lingering in them ind too long. Then it vanishes like a dream for another 30 days just as vivid as before with another dreamy bit of excitement. Fun stuff.
