Last Time in Nottingham
The decisive moment had arrived for the citizens of Nottingham. King Richard’s army and Robin of Locksley were poised at the city gates. Regardless of whether they stormed in or were allowed entry, Nottingham’s people would confront the fury of Richard’s troops. Bearing this in mind, the Sheriff endeavored to unite the city guard with the Merry Men to protect the city. Despite their past conflicts, now was not the time to address them. They would need to fight as one if any hope of survival would be realized.
Protecting the People
However, that was only half the battle. The Sheriff had to ensure the safety of those who were unable to fight. Friar Tuck played a crucial role here. Everard entrusted the friar with the duty of safeguarding the people and leading them away from danger. Tuck owed him, and Blackthorne believed that the friar might be the only person still worthy of his trust. The Sheriff’s hesitance to rely on others was noticeable these days. Past experiences had made it hard for him to place his faith in others. But he had little other choice. Once those plans were set in motion, he needed to confer again with Marian. Speaking of those he did not trust; he knew leaving Marian to her own devices would not bode well for him or the people of Nottingham.
Richard Blames Robin
Outside the gates, the King’s patience had run out. Exhausted by the continuous delays and obstacles that seemed to thwart him at every turn, Richard placed most of the blame on Robin. He was tasked with ensuring a smooth return to Nottingham by convincing the people that Guy of Gisborne and Prince John were the true causes of their woes. Instead, it was Richard who bore the brunt of their anger. Compounding the issue, Robin had allowed Everard Blackthorne, a mere commoner, to outmaneuver him repeatedly. The time had come for the Lionheart to assert his authority and rectify the chaos left in Robin’s wake. The command to march on Nottinghamshire was issued.
“We are Nottingham”
Inside the city, the Sheriff asked Marian if everything was in preparation. He wondered because he didn’t see anyone at their post, ready to defend the city. Marian explained that they were waiting for their leader. While not an orator, Everard said what he could to inspire his troops, reminding them that they are what makes Nottingham what it is. They may be outnumbered and outmatched as far as weaponry is concerned, but they do not have to win this confrontation. They just needed to make the invaders hurt, to question whether the assault was worth it. And to remind them that “WE ARE NOTTINGHAM!”
The Fight for Nottingham
The battle begins, as bloody and fierce as anticipated with enemies scaling the wall. The defenders of the wall strive valiantly, but the odds are as dire as the Sheriff had dreaded. In the fray, Blackthorne is toppled from the precipice by a soldier who had reached the top. As another soldier prepares to strike the Sheriff down, Marian, who also left the castle, steps in, thrusting her sword into the assailant. She aids the Sheriff to stand, and he commands her to signal the retreat into the castle, while their archers employ crossbows to cover the withdrawal.
A Challenge
It is then that Robin thunders his horse through the line, hitting Everard with an arrow. The Sheriff tells Marian to go as he breaks off the arrow, staggering to his feet once again. As he heads to the gate, Robin tries to goad Blackthorne into a one-on-one fight for Nottingham. Similar to his fight with Little John. The Sheriff continues to slowly move toward the gate, refusing to take the bait. It was a lesson he had learned in previous confrontations with Robin and others like him. Why would he ever trust an outlaw, as he shut the gate behind him. As the door closed, the King offers those inside one more chance. If they open the gates and give him entrance, he will reward them with quick painless deaths. If not, he they will face death without mercy. (Wow, great choices). He gave them until dawn to decide.
A Chance
As far as Everard was concerned, if the King really wanted to take the city, he would just do it. No time reprieve would be offered. That meant to the Sheriff that the King and his army were licking their wounds. They were scared. That afforded them a chance. He asked Marian about the “secret” tunnels under the city. She was aware of them but so was Robin. Taking the people through them, if they could even clear them, would likely be a death sentence. But Blackthorne thought the possible rewards outweighed the risks. He told Marian to get started on the task. In the meantime, he asked Friar Tuck for some water.
Betrayal of Faith
Tuck offered the water to the parched Sheriff and in a few moments, Everard started to feel woozy. He asked Tuck what he had done. As far as the friar was concerned, he was doing what the Sheriff had wanted from him. He put the welfare of the people above all else, including Everard Blackthorne. Once again, the Sheriff had been betrayed by someone he thought he could trust. As much as it might have stung, he knew as his consciousness faded that those who would suffer most would be the people of Nottingham.
Thoughts
This issue was fire from beginning to end. David Hazan’s narrative allows us to witness Sheriff Everard Blackthorne at his finest, and at his lowest. Although Blackthorne has always been a man of action, he rarely assumed the role of command, especially not of a large army. He saw himself more as a devoted foot soldier, ready to execute any assigned task. Leading when necessary. Nevertheless, when he decided to return to Nottingham, he was compelled to embrace leadership. And despite not seeing himself as a great speaker, he managed to motivate his troops to face what seemed like an impossible challenge, all while leading by example. More proof that he was not like others who lead from the back of a battle.
The Weakness of Faith
However, he also was undone by his weakness of continuing to place “faith” in those around him. Whether it be the King, Robin, and now Friar Tuck, Everard’s back must be sore from all those willing to stick a knife in it. Even the supposedly pious Friar Tuck. It remains to be seen whether Tuck’s actions will prove to be beneficial for their situation. It certainly wasn’t for the Sheriff.
Meant to Tell This Saga
It has been proven time and time again that the team of Hazan and Connery Volk were meant to tell this saga. Issue 14 is just more justification of that belief. For while the storyline is filled with drama, action and the intrigue that Nottingham is known for, it doesn’t work if the art doesn’t meet those expectations head on. Volk has never failed to pull out all the stops to deliver each and every issue. This one in particular as Hazan has given him another perfect playground for his talents. Battle scenes in their bloody, and gritty best and better still, opportunities to show the tension and resolve on the character’s faces. Especially when all seems lost. Another winning issue.
Mad Cave Studios Nottingham #14 by David Hazan, Shane Connery Volk, Luca Romano and Justin Birch is available now at your local comic shop or where great books are sold.
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.