Solomon Kane - Volume 01 Issue 03

My Rating

“Blades Of The Brotherhood”

Young Jack should have slain Sir George Banway during the duel that morning. The windswept English beach would have been as good a place as any for that rat scoundrel to meet his maker. Unfortunately, the local magistrate ended the contest according to law when Jack Hollinster drew first blood. Now, as a full moon rises above the Cliffs of Dover, Jack discovers that Banway has struck back. His beloved Mary Garwin has been kidnapped!

In a frantic rage, Jack Hollinster races toward the Banway Estate to rescue the woman he loves. What the young Englishman does not know is that Sir George has entered into an alliance with a band of savage pirates led by the devil incarnate—a ruthless cutthroat named Captain Fishhawk. His reputation for murder and savagery upon the high seas is legendary, and his Brotherhood of Buccaneers has no intention of leaving England empty-handed.

Yet something far more dangerous stalks the moonlit moors tonight. A grim Puritan dressed in black has followed the trail of these murderous sea dogs back to his native England. His pistols are loaded, his rapier is sharp, and vengeance burns within his soul. A man guided by God Himself has joined the hunt. Solomon Kane has returned!

Can Jack Hollinster rescue Mary before Fishhawk and his crew set sail for parts unknown? Why has Solomon Kane tracked the Brotherhood of Buccaneers all the way to England? And what evil deeds has the pirate Jonas Hardraker committed against Kane and his friends? Collect the series to find out!

Review

Solomon Kane #3 takes a noticeable detour from the monsters, demons, and supernatural horrors I normally associate with the Puritan adventurer. Instead, we get a good old-fashioned Gothic swashbuckler filled with pirates, kidnapped maidens, swordplay, and revenge. There may not be some ancient horror lurking in the shadows, but Captain Fishhawk and his Brotherhood of Buccaneers provide enough human evil to keep Kane’s pistols loaded.

I’m still not a huge fan of Bret Blevins’ artwork. His style doesn’t always capture the dark, brooding atmosphere I want from a Solomon Kane story. That said, for a Marvel comic published in 1985, the artwork is serviceable and certainly doesn’t ruin the adventure. There are some solid action sequences here, especially when the story embraces its swashbuckling roots.

Overall, this issue feels more like an old pirate adventure than a traditional Solomon Kane horror tale. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Kane works surprisingly well in this type of story, especially when revenge and wicked men are involved. It may not be one of my favorites from the series, but there is still plenty here to enjoy. I give Solomon Kane #3 a solid three out of five stars.