What works so well about Daniel Freedman and CROM’s Birdking is that it manages to blend the familiar escapist elements of fantasy fiction – quests, kingdoms, warring factions and magic – with the stunning world-building originality of CROM’s distinctive artwork and character designs. We’ve covered the series previously at Broken Frontier with a review of Volume 1 and an interview with the creative team prior to Volume 2.
After Volume 2 our protagonist Bianca, a former blacksmith’s apprentice, had journeyed across this world on a mission to the fabled city of Atlas with the threat of the forces of Aghul, the evil ruler of the realm, ever present. On the way she accidentally resurrected the mythical former monarch of the land, the Birdking, who may have some mysterious links to Bianca. Their adventures took a turn for the worse though in the last volume, though, with the apparent demise of Birdking.
Volume 3 continues to reveal more about the environment and history of these lands as Bianca finally reaches Atlas and the radiant presence of the All-Father. There she enters a society that feels like something of a paradise compared to the outside. But the rules and strictures of this civilisation hint at something less benign, and when Bianca is tasked with discovering the secrets behind the first spark of life she finds herself drawn into the more sinister realities of the city. And, meanwhile, what of the Birdking himself…?
This third book of a projected four is where reader investment in the secrets and mysteries of the previous two volumes really start to pay off, as plot threads and character arcs start to be drawn together. When I interviewed Freedman and CROM about Birdking at the end of 2023 we spoke then about the decision to tell the story in 100-page graphic novel-style instalments rather than in serial comic style bursts. At that time Freedman said that single issue pacing would have been to the detriment of the story and that “Birdking is designed as a single long-form graphic novel that we are releasing in four volumes as we complete them.” It’s the correct decision as there’s just too much to take in and follow here had the tale been cut down into bite-sized 20-odd page parts.
Once again CROM’s art steals the show though. And it’s not simply in his character/city/artefact/world design brilliance. What really strikes the reader in Volume 3 is his visual characterisation – Bianca’s reactions in this issue’s more emotional beats for example – and his panel-to-panel pacing. Near silent sequences of Bianca’s blacksmithing work or the epic action/fight sequences in the latter part of the book (that we can say so little about without ruining surprises for the reader.)
This has been an epic adventure so far as we have explored this land alongside Bianca. The conclusion when it comes feels like it’s going to be something special to behold.
Daniel Freedman (W), CROM (A) • Dark Horse Comics, $19.99
Review by Andy Oliver
CROM is a guest artist at the Gosh! Comics and Broken Frontier Drink and Draw IN-PERSON on Friday, August 1st. Details here. (Poster below by Mark Stafford)
