GVN Talking Comics Review: Mad Cave Studios ‘Tales from Nottingham’ Issue 1

With two volumes in their collection, I have made it no secret that I am a huge fan of David Hazan and Shane Connery Volk’s Mad Cave Nottingham series. They have taken the often-told tales of Robin Hood and the denizens of Nottingham and wove an intriguing and mesmerizing narrative. It comes as no coincidence that both volumes have found their way into our best of 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Now, the creative team behind the popular series has taken the initiative to fill in some of the background behind their ever-expanding narrative in Tales from Nottingham. Starting with a character that they introduced in the 2nd volume, Nottingham: King’s Ransom, Aya the Hashashin.

Jerusalem, 1192

The story begins with the tale of Conrad de Montferrat, the elected Crusader King of Jerusalem. He was chosen with the support of his cousins, Duke Leopold V of Austria and King Phillip II of France. Conrad was given the title over Guy de Lusignan, who had the support of Richard the Lionheart. Unfortunately, his good fortune would be short lived as he was accosted and killed by two assassins. All for the want of a meal. The story is told that one of the two assassins was captured, while the other was killed in an attempt to escape. That is the story. The reality might lay in another direction.

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Flashback – Syria 1191

But for every character story, there is an origin. In the case of the two assassins, it began in the Nusayriyah Mountains in Syria. There, Aya is being led along with a number of different people. When they reach their destination, their lives will forever change. If they have the faith and are willing to put in the work necessary. It is here that Aya meets Hamza. They are both there to learn the ways of the Hashashin. And through their many trials and tribulations, they learn the skills necessary to fulfill their tasks as assassins. They also become friends and soon, lovers. Doing their best to conceal their relationship from their mentor.

The Present – 1192

Aya awakes to find herself bandaged, her eyes covered and in the dark in more ways than one. She was the Assassin assumed dead after the killing of Conrad de Montferrat. However, she had survived and was now in an Hashashin safe house. She asked her mentor what had become of her fellow assassin, Hazma. He tells her that he had been captured in the attempt. But she should rest. The important thing was they had fulfilled their mission. The Crusader King was dead. As for Hazma, all Hashashin train for the possibility of capture. To attempt to rescue him would sacrifice more than what would be gained. Not that it mattered to Aya.

A Rescue Attempt

Sure enough, soon Aya was scaling the cliffs that led to the Tower of David where Hazma was being held. She was in no condition to attempt this rescue, but she pressed on. Her injuries slowing her and making a stealthy approach difficult. However, a 50% healthy Hashashin was more than a match for totally healthy and poorly trained prison guards. Soon, after dispatching the men who stood between her and Hazma, she saw him in his cell. He was gravely wounded, and his face showed the torture he had undergone.

Duty VS Love

But instead of being pleased to see her, he told her she should not be there. It was as their mentor had warned him. There would be a time when he must choose between his duty and love. That time had come. But she could make it easier for him if she were to leave. He begged her to go, to let him go with the knowledge that SHE was safe. Aya at first refused to leave. If he could not make the choice, she would. However, the guards were already alerted to her presence. There would be no way for her to escape while carrying or assisting Hazma. She reluctantly obeyed his wishes and left.

Questions

Upon her return, she questioned Al Mualim about what this all was about. He knew that Hazma would not go with her. She also realized that their mentor had obviously known about her relationship with Hazma. Why did he let her go? Why did he not forbid it? Al Mualim answered with a question of his own. Would she have listened to him had he told her not to go? Aya knew the answer to that question. As did he. But she must learn it for herself. In the end, they had accomplished their mission.

The Lionheart

As for Hazma, as much as he was trained to withstand torture, he was just a man. Eventually, he told his captives who had hired the Hashashin to kill Conrad. He revealed it was the Lionheart himself. Later, in an act of vengeance, Duke Leopold V of Austria captured King Richard after he was shipwrecked. He then passed him along to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI.

That Time is Not Yet Here

As for Aya, her heart was heavy, but her duty remained. She was Hashashin and there were missions to perform. She would have faith that “Allah would keep her alive as long as life is good for her and cause her to die when death was a better fate.” It would seem that time is not yet here.

Thoughts

When it was announced that there would be some new background stories from the Nottingham series, I was all in. Especially when Hazan and Connery Volk introduced Aya in the recently concluded volume. I was intrigued by the character and the way that Hazan worked with the interplay between her and Sheriff Everard Blackthorne. With the new books in the works, I had hoped Aya would be featured at some point. I didn’t have to wait long.

Right from the first issue, we get some welcome insight into the character and what made her the way she is. Along the way we see she fights fiercely and loves much the same. It also came as no surprise to find out that even at less than peak performance, she can still kick ass. All of that makes Tales from Nottingham, Issue 1 a winner and a great start. I look forward to the future issues and the opportunity to see other talented creators try their hand in Hazan and Connery Volks Nottingham playground. It should be fun.

Mad Cave Studios Tales from Nottingham, Issue 1 by David Hazan, Shane Connery Volk, Luca Romano and Justin Birch is available now on Mad Cave’s Subscription site.