Review by Ian Keogh
Geralt survives a supernatural attack in the woods on the way to Novigrad, and once there finds he’s less than welcome. Before matters take too nasty a turn, though, he’s helped by an old friend who has a problem of his own.
Of Flesh and Flame is written by Aleksandra Motyka, who has experience writing for Geralt’s appearances in games, so she’s familiar with his generally dour and cautious character. Here she has him do a friend a favour only to buy himself a whole lot of unwanted trouble when Dandelion turns up. A favourite supporting character in Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, this is his first appearance in the comics, and he almost takes over. Poet, minstrel and lover, Dandelion never really considers anything beyond the immediate future, and his lack of awareness regarding consequences pulls Geralt into the bigger plot.
The problem for both characters are they’re drawn to a society based on Arabic communities of the old world where neither is welcome. The opulence is change of pace from Geralt’s usual basic surroundings, and drawn very decoratively by Marianna Strychowska who’s also good at supplying personality, although her people can be a little posed. It’s a surprise, therefore, that the monsters she designs are far looser and very menacing.
That bigger plot opens up well, and Motyka disguises the threat well, although it will be a “Doh!” moment for anyone who doesn’t figure it out before the revelation. She also makes the effort to ensure those whose first language is not that of Geralt and Dandelion are given slightly formal and awkward speech patterns, which is a nice touch, although sometimes a little too Yoda. Also good is the way a mystery that seems solved still has some way to run.
Right at the end Geralt briefly returns to the darkness that’s characterised his comic appearances to date, and indeed will do in the following Fading Memories, and while a definite change of pace, the cast and circumstances provide an entertaining story. It’s collected with the following two Witcher appearances as the second Witcher Omnibus in paperback, or Library Edition in hardcover. Dandelion is next seen in The Ballad of Two Wolves.
