GVN Talking Comics Review: Mad Cave Studios ‘Nottingham’ #11 By David Hazan And Shane Connery Volk – “Continuing to raise the bar…”

Last Time in Nottingham…

When we last left “Nottingham Prime,” Sheriff Everard Blackthorne had an opportunity to leave his past behind and start anew. However, upon learning that King Richard and Robin Hood had plans to “teach Nottingham a lesson,” he decided he could not walk away. Despite his many past sins, he felt a strong allegiance to Nottingham and its people. Thus, he once again made his way to the place he called home.

Nottingham had changed significantly since he had left. Marian had taken advantage of the chaos caused by both Robin and him leaving and had taken control of the city. Many people, including the Sheriff himself, had underestimated her. However, Everard believed that for Nottingham to survive, it would need both the Merry Men and the City guard to defend the city. Especially with the King and Robin’s army bearing down upon them. Nevertheless, uniting such opposing forces would be a difficult task.

This was proven quickly as when Blackthorne attempted to talk to the remnants of the guard, the Merry Men attacked. The sheriff fought valiantly as always but couldn’t overcome the numbers against him. Not to mention being reminded of a lesson he should have known by now: You can’t seem to trust anyone.

A Parley with Marian

Soon, Everard was face to face with Marian. And while she questioned why he had returned; she always knew he was a glutton for punishment. His arrival only proved that. Still, she did miss their banter. Once again, the Sheriff tried to explain the need for the Merry Men and the Guard to join forces to defend against Richard’s approaching army. But Marian thought that the inevitable battle would be aimed at Prince John first. He attempted to dissuade her of that notion. The King’s army had enough soldiers to amass a two-pronged attack. And while she may believe that they had enough provisions to wait out a long siege, especially over the winter, she was wrong about one thing. What she thought was snow falling from the sky was instead ashes.

These facts made Marian pause. She needed to ascertain the gravity of their position. Marian directed Little John to send scouts out to find out where and what the King and Robin were up to. She also made clear that IF the King were to arrive in Nottingham, only SHE would negotiate with him. As for the Sheriff, he was to be put in the dungeon along with the Monk and Sir Guy. Well…make that ONE of them.

Thoughts

Through the first two volumes of Nottingham and the additional Tales from Nottingham, one thing has been made clear. The creative team behind Nottingham put their all into each volume. Continuing to raise the bar each time and bringing their unique spin on the familiar tale of Robin Hood. All the while focusing on a character that has gotten short shrift in most adaptations: The Sheriff of Nottingham.

In the lore of Mad Cave’s Nottingham, Sheriff Everard Blackthorne is a hard man to kill. But his allegiance to Nottingham and its people induces him to make unhealthy choices. At least where his well-being is concerned. Over the course of the saga, it is this steadfastness that writer David Hazan has engrained in the character that has made him such a sympathetic figure. Much different from the many other adaptations of the Sheriff in other literary sources. You can’t help but root for the guy. Which has NEVER happened in any other Robin Hood tale that I have read.

At the start of this third and climatic volume, once again Everard let’s his heart…his soft spot for Nottingham and its people put him in harm’s way. And what does that get him? Beat up, locked up and facing death…again. You have to admire his consistency though. With war burning down toward the city, what is a Sheriff to do? We have four more issues to find out. I have no doubt Hazan, and the creative team of artist extraordinaire Shane Connery Volk, colorist Luca Romano and master of letters Justin Birch will finish off the Nottingham story with the same energetic verve they started it with. I look forward to it.