Last Time
When we last visited Nature’s Labyrinth, the final 7 contestants were wandering in the maze, trying to escape and earn their freedom from their past crimes and the riches beyond description for winning (at least that is what they believe). I say 7 because the 8th contestant decided to test the rules of the game right at the start by trying to remove his monitoring harness. This led to an unfortunate bit of falling apart for Chet Fisher (AKA The Lure), courtesy of the harness. Thus 8 became 7.
Now all of the players are off and making their way as best they can. Not that it matters to those that run the maze. As far as they are concerned, these are the dregs of humanity. If none of them survive, it would be one less burden on the population. But continue they must, and it will not be easy. Considering the traps laid out and that the maze changes as they proceed. Such is the way of Nature’s Labyrinth.
The Shield and The Terror
Jane (The Shield) and Nasir Sarafin (The Terror) have just run into a dead end on their navigation of the maze. But this is only due to the manipulations of those in control. They are eventually led down a narrow path, following the prospective breadcrumbs the controllers have forced them to follow. This requires a leap over some spikes. Jane makes the leap, just getting over the expanse. Now, Nassir must also make this leap of faith. But unlike Jane, he doubts he can make it and decides to turn back. At least until the contrary harness warns him that going backward is prohibited.
Leap of Faith
Considering what happened to the last person who declined the harness warning, Nassir made the leap. Fortunately, Jane was there to steady him as he made it across. They found themselves near a campfire that the remaining 5 members had gathered at. The first checkpoint. Everyone had made it to that point. As they discussed what they would do now, their guide, Pancho the Instruction Cat chimed in on their phones. Although it was difficult for Jane to tell as she had broken her screen somewhere between running through the maze and jumping the spike pit.
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Weapons and a Choice
Pancho congratulated them for making it that far and informed them that they were getting a drone package drop-off. Inside each package was a weapon. A weapon that “they needed to embrace their inner nature.” A weapon that would allow each of them to live up to and “earn their namesake and be their WORST selves.”
In addition, they were given some more insight into the contest. It was a kill or be killed scenario in a race to the finish. They could team up if they want or not. But one way or the other, they should get to the task at hand. “Get busy killing or get busy dying.” The choice in the end, was theirs. Nice!
“That Escalated Quickly”
After hearing this pronouncement, Jane tried to calm them all down. But Armando Martinez (AKA The Dose) thought he had it all figured out. He had the only gun amongst the group so as far as HE was concerned, that made HIM in charge. At least until Sonny Khan (AKA The Sword) decided to use his newly received blade to cut off Armando’s argument at the neck. 7 was now 6 and it was escalating quickly.
Jane, who realized what was happening, grabbed Nassir and took off. There would be no stopping what was happening. The smart thing to do was make their escape as quickly as possible. But as they headed through the deep overgrowth, their paths were being tracked by the game’s controllers. There were no secrets from those who ran Nature’s Labyrinth.
Don’t Stop to Smell the Flowers
As for Nassir, he could not get over Khan so readily killing Martinez. But Jane prodded him on. As they paused to get their breaths and examine the plant life, the plants exuded a poisonous gas that made them a bit out of it. Which was unfortunate because an unknown assailant had arrived while they were trying to get their senses about them.
Meanwhile, Alexi Babin (AKA the Flame) was wondering through the maze alone. He paused however when he heard what seemed like a child’s voice. Stopping to investigate, he had no idea what or who he was about to find. Not the best of circumstances here in the Labyrinth.
An Unknown Assailant
Back with Jane and Nassir, their new visitor approached with bad intentions, singling out Jane as he pretty much assumed that Nassir was no real threat. The ensuing fight was brutal with no quarters given. But when Jane seemed to be getting the worst of it, Nassir attempted to intervene. At least until their unknown assailant grabbed him by the throat. But just as when he was about to crush Nassir’s windpipe, he heard a scream from close by. He immediately left to check on what was going on. Jane, not willing to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, told Nassir they should leave. Before their attacker comes back.
The Next Checkpoint
As they scrambled on, Jane realized during her fight that an elevated heart rate seemed to counteract the gas. So, if they keep moving, they should be safe from the plants. After climbing up to get a lay of the land, they eventually came upon the next checkpoint. Pancho appeared again on a widescreen stationed there. He informed them that they now had three choices of destinations. Each with plusses and minuses, but they should decide in a hurry, because “The Sword” was in pursuit.
Sympathy Can Kill You
As they considered each path and what the possible consequences for each might be, Alexi came staggering into the checkpoint. He was bleeding from his face and asking for help. Apparently, he found the “child” he searched for and was rewarded by being bitten. As he crawled, asking for assistance, Jane was naturally skeptical. NOTHING was as it seemed in the Labyrinth, and they had already seen that their fellow contestants were not above killing someone.
Nassir, however, took pity on the wounded man and wanted to help. He almost got fried by the flame thrower that the “Flame” was given. After that, Jane had had enough of Alexi. She jumped at him and once again, Jane found herself battling a fierce fighter. However, when Alexi turned his attention on Nassir, Jane threw her knife at him, missing but hitting the monitor. She then forced Alexi’s head against the broken screen and dragged his face down it. Ravaging his face and putting him out of the fight.
Who is JANE?
But rather than being grateful, Nassir (the so-called Terror) was upset about the way that Jane finished the fight. She explained that Alexi Babin was an international terrorist and arsonist. None of which seemed to assuage Nassir. All he wanted to know was if Alexi was a “Terrorist,” who or WHAT the hell was Jane? Next time let the “Terror” fend for himself, Jane.
Thoughts
Only two issues in and the stakes have already reached a fever pitch. Once the guidelines of kill or be killed was revealed, the “true nature” of the “flourishing” came out. Writer Zac Thompson built up a pile of explosives and lit the fuse with dramatic results already in the second issue. However, Thompson also deepened the intrigue. Mainly, what EXACTLY did Nassir Sarafin DO to earn the moniker of “The Terror.” Because at this point, he hasn’t done anything but let Jane do most of the fighting and then complain how she accomplished it.
Inner Jack Nicholson
Jane should channel her inner Jack Nicholson and tell Sarafin: “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said, “thank you” and went on your way,”
However, Nassir isn’t wrong to wonder about Jane’s story. It is apparent she knows more about what is going on than any of the others, including what THEIR stories are. Which no doubt will be revealed in the coming issues. Needless to say, I am hooked. Bring on Issue 3.
Artwork
Of course, none of this works so well if the art isn’t up to the task. No worries on that front. Artist Bayleigh Underwood brings Zac’s story to life with powerful and energetic strokes along with gritty combat that just looks like it hurts. It’s not every day you see a man’s face dragged across shards of a monitor screen. Combine that with some unique panel placement and Bayleigh has Zac covered in this series.
Mad Cave Studios Nature’s Labyrinth Issue 2 by Zac Thompson, Bayleigh Underwood, Warnia Sahadewa and Rus Wooton drops on December 14th. It can be found on Mad Cave’s Subscription Site here.

Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first 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 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.