[Spoilers]
Previously on Nottingham Kings Ransom
When we last left Nottingham: Kings Ransom, Blackthorn’s Saracen captive Aya had saved him and Robin from the vengeful Harald. It was he who was letting the French know the direction they were going. Thus allowing the French to be forever on their heels and whittling down their numbers. Not to mention taking the silver intended to ransom King Richard.
A Possibility
Without that money, the Sheriff didn’t see how they could hope to retrieve the King. But Aya told them there could be a way to rescue the King WITHOUT the ransom. She believed she knew where the King might be held. She would lead them there…provided they removed her shackles.
Nobles Beware
Back in Nottingham, Marian and the remaining Merry Men were taking out the nobles in a very public way. There was no mistaking that the nobles were being targeted. All apart of Marian’s grand scheme that even Little John had no knowledge of.
King Richard and the Jews
Back with Robin and the Sheriff, Aya leads them to where a secret tunnel is found. Naturally, neither Locksley nor Blackthorne fully trust the Saracen. But they had reached the point where they had no other options. As they journeyed, Everard told Aya the tale of when the newly crowned King Richard had a number of Jews who had come to offer the new King gifts. This was customary when a new king was crowned. The King had them stripped and flogged.
The Holocaust
Upon seeing this violence against the Jews, others in the Kingdom felt this gave them carte blanche to act the same way. Soon the violence spread throughout England. Blackthorne’s Mother was killed during this violence which was called the Holocaust. Aya, upon hearing this, wondered why Blackthorne would have any interest in saving the man who had caused the problem, resulting in the death of his Mother. Blackthorne somehow remained hopeful that the ill’s of England might be assuaged with the return of the Lionheart.
Into the Tunnels
As they neared the city where King Richard was presumably held, Robin wondered why it was necessary to mix in with the refuse of people. Aya explained that the best way to be unnoticed by the city guard was to mix with those who they deemed less than human. However, once she got them into the tunnels, her knowledge (she claimed) came to an end. It would be up to Robin and Everard to locate the King.
Finding the Lionheart
That information came when they found a guard and Blackthorne purposely let him see them. He ran off immediately to warn the other guards while Locksley and Blackthorne followed him. Leading them right to where Richard was being held. They took out the guards and Robin and the Sheriff supported the King in their attempt to escape. That was the plan anyway.
Betrayal, Part 1
Aya had other ambitions as she brandished her knife and went toward Richard. Everard rushed to meet her, telling Robin to take the King and go. They clashed with ferocity, Everard dismayed by the betrayal after he had saved her life. But to Aya, the Hashashin (the assassin), the Sheriff was begging to be made a fool of. She would have been rude not to accept.
They continued to battle, both giving as good as they received until the German troops arrived, realizing that the King had been taken. They surrounded Aya leaving Everard the opportunity to escape. But he swore his business with the assassin was not complete. Believing their paths would cross again one day.
Marian’s Scheme Continues
Back in Nottingham, Marian was still playing the part of the invalid, at least as far as Sir Guy of Gisbourne knew. However, she was playing them for the fools they were. While under that guise, she also knew that she could leave no stone unturned. No possible witness that knew too much. Thus she took an opportune moment to kill Mutch, the young man who had begged to be considered a member of the Merry Men. At least his dream had come true…if only for a short time before he died. Her plans were still in place. To whatever conclusion she had in mind.
Betrayal, Part 2
After escaping the guards, The Sheriff reunited with Robin and the King outside the city. The King acknowledges what Everard had done but he also remarked how close the Saracen had come to killing him. Regardless, Richard told him that as grateful as he was for his assistance, his word had already been given to one to whom he owed far more.
However, he would reward Blackthorne by not letting him live long enough to see what would become of Nottingham. With that, Robin rammed his sword through Blackthorne’s back, making him aware that he NEVER liked him. Even before their many conflicts. Why? Because he considered him a wicked and ineffectual greedy jew, as he prepared to deliver a killing blow.
Thoughts
This was easily the most powerful and unexpected issue of the volume. It goes without saying, treachery reigns supreme in Nottingham. Writer David Hazan pulled out ALL the stops to make readers go “Oh Shit! Toward the end, it was like watching The Departed with everyone getting shot between the eyes. Although, it shouldn’t come as a total shock between Robin and the Sheriff. Regardless of everything, they would NEVER see entirely eye to eye. Which Robin made sure of by stabbing Everard in the back…literally.
The real surprise was that King Richard was obviously ok with the whole thing. He certainly is not the Lionheart that fans might be familiar with in other versions of the Robin Hood story. Which, of course, is the beauty of the Nottingham saga as realized by Hazan and Volk.
Artwork
Just when you might think you’ve seen the best of Shane Connery Volk, he pushes the envelope even farther. In this issue, he excels beyond anything he has done before with an extremely powerful assault on the eyes and the senses. Depicting the violence and blood of combat with emotional, gritty gravitas. You almost feel the exersion of Blackthorne and Aya in their battle and the almost shock of the same when Robin strikes him in the back. Powerful stuff. Makes you wonder how they will top this one. Knowing Hazan and Volk, they somehow will.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
