Fire and Ice #5 // Review
Darkwolf is being asked why he's not dead. And, honestly, it's a very valid question. But gentlemen asking him the question was there that day. The creature that had attacked him had burned a gaping hole right in his chest. That's not something that you just survived. Darkwolf doesn't necessarily have a really clear answer. “I’ll die when my time comes,” he says. “Not yet.” he's going to have a lot of explaining to do. But not to anyone in particular. And there's a lot more going on inFire and Ice #5. Writer Bill Willingham and artist Leonard Manco reach the penultimate chapter of their tribute to the old Ralph Bakshi movie inspired by the work of legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta.
Elsewhere Larn is returning to his people. They thought he was dead too. He tells them that he nearly was. On more than one occasion. These are a little bit more forthcoming than Darkwolf with information about his adventures. He'd nearly lost his life on more than one occasion and that makes his perseverance all the more miraculous. But it's going to take a lot more if he's going to be able to survive the final conflict which awaits.
The primal connection between mystical forces of fire and ice really feels like it could be an interesting dynamic to explore. As it is, the conflict isn't centered on in a way that feels particularly primal, though. It is a simple sword and sorcery fantasy conflict between two different forces. As a result, it ends up, feeling relatively weak. There is a powerful sense of old school fantasy that feels really vivid in the way of the story meets the page. However, it lacks the kind of intensity, but would make it terribly memorable.
Manco does a brilliant job of bringing the Frazetta-inspired visuals to the page. Manco’s style remains remarkably compatible with Francetta’s. There are quite a few establishing shots of different characters that really feel like they can serve as initial studies for really in depth painted posters. The action feels sweeping and dynamic. In the background and architectural features are quite breathtaking in places. It all feels quite well executed on a visual level. There's quite a lot going on that is admirable. The visual momentum of the art just doesn't feel like it generates enough energy on its own.
In a way, Fire and Ice has been kind of a beautifully weird retro series. The entire run really feels like it could have been presented in an early issue of.Heavy Metal. The art style feels perfectly at home with that early 1980s fantasy fuel. The type of thing that would feel very high-end and epic on a page of that magazine. It almost feels like a cow that never really quite got made. And so as a result, it seems kind of weird to have it come out now. Not unpleasant. Just weird. Because it doesn't quite fit on the comics rack today the way it is.
