Review by Ian Keogh

The Ballad of Two Wolves is Bartosz Sztybor’s third Witcher graphic novel, and his first to feature supporting characters from the novels as the minstrel Dandelion accompanies Geralt from the start. Any story featuring the confident Dandelion is going to be a lighter in tone, which is just as well after the heavy emotional atmosphere of Witch’s Lament.

Geralt is once again broke, so Dandelion suggest literally singing his praises as a method of advertising his capabilities. It’s not the only modern day process Sztybor imports to the Witcher’s era, as the buying of cheap property and regeneration is another theme, enabling the presence of the undesirable Hogge Sisters whose policies are pricing locals out of the area. Some wouldn’t sell, though, and that’s when a werewolf began terrorising the community.

Having introduced the scenario, Sztybor then greatly complicates it. As in his previous story, there are contradictory accounts, and it comes down to whom Geralt believes. Dandelion’s presence is to complicate things further through impulsive behaviour, and to conceive on the spot ballads about their situation.

Artist Miki Montlló is new to the series and brings very European sensibilities of full figures in full backgrounds, decorative when possible and otherwise plain, with a facility for character design. That becomes even more apparent midway through when Sztybor discloses what he’s been waving in our faces all along: that he’s been toying with fairy tales. Limiting the colours to a muted palette with bright red the exception now serves a purpose.

The Ballad of Two Wolves isn’t just a convenient title, but a broad hint of what’s coming. Sztybor keeps the mystery bubbling, but possibly a little too long for a four chapter story. The compensation is the entire cast being interesting, which is why a Hercule Poirot style of finale with everyone gathered in the same room plays out so successfully. Sztybor’s next visit with Geralt is Wild Animals.