#madcavecomics

Knights of the Golden Sun #2 Mad Cave Studios 2018 Written by Mark London Illustrated by Mauricio Villarreal Lettered by Andrew S. Zea      Previously in Knights of the Golden Sun:      With Father falling silent and abandoning Providence, 400 years of solitude fell upon us. Now, his throne is in jeopardy and it’s up to the Archangels to defend it. For this reason, Archangel Michael attempts to persuade his fallen brethren, Lucifer, to reunite him and the flock. Meanwhile, Archangel Gabrielle realises that Michael is about to make a grave mistake and commands Archangel Raphael to watch over him. Gabrielle’s doubts were well founded and Raphael arrived in time to save Michael from Lucifer’s fatal blow. However, none of them were prepared for the arrival of Azrael and massive bolt of lightning…..       This issue strengthens my belief that Mark has emerged as a writer whom you need to know. This will be the year that he makes his mark, pun intended, and you should be fully aware of this fact. Now in any form of storytelling the author is going to make their mark on it and the way we see the Archangel’s being gender-swapped is something I can understand but to see so many makes me wonder what Mark has against men at the same time. This is just my mind, and it’s comics so we see the desire to make strong female characters who can also be sexy.  Though men can be shown that way as well,  yeah i like men so i can't help myself lol.       The opening here is utterly fantastic and we are introduced to new characters whom we really don’t know much about and yet what is shown leaves the reader with that desire to know more. The only issue I have is Eleazar, and some people and or angels, and his appearance. This is digitally done it’s obvious so that his face is so bizarre and never seems to be the same in two panels is somewhat disconcerting. Though that door geez Louise, Mary and Josephine is some intricate, stunningly gorgeous work! Also whether that is a painting or an actual view of that tree is again such a freakin wow moment.       Alright so in Babylon where Alexander, who isn’t as Great as he thinks, and the ever seductive and manipulative Azrael take the story to the next level. Here is what I love about all this, the layers of storytelling, the structure of the book and it’s overall flow have this feel of realness to it. In essence making this an alternate history kind of story, one where the Archangel’s have come to play since Father went out of town for an extended vacation. The characterisation and the attitudes we see here as mere mortals are used like pawns on the chessboard if no other reason than to have something to do is showcased extremely well.     I mentioned it before and I will again the people that we see need work. Mauricio eeds to work on anatomy, proportions and faces definitely faces! More so where men are concerned which again I don’t understand but I am not he so. Yet these backgrounds are effin amazing they take your breath away. Uriel at that mountain seeing the city of Babylon from the multiple angles and the attention to detail that’s put into is at times mesmerising. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a solid eye for storytelling. Mauricio has talent and strong eye for detail it’s just the human form that needs a bit more practice and tightening up. ​     As we see some of Azrael’s plans unfolding we begin to see more and more of not only how crazy she is but how cleverly devious she is as well. Mark is writing this with an innate understanding of this world, this era and of religion, which is NEVER used as something to preach, and he’s more than capable of making this as thrilling as anything else you have in your pull.