Review by Ian Keogh

Ogrest is an ogre, still mentally young, but transformed into a vast powerful creature by a dragon’s egg. Upset at the disappearance of mother figure Dathura, he’s chosen to ally himself with some possibly dangerous people who say they can track her down.

Following the events of Volume 2 it’s a while before creator Mig returns to Ogrest himself, instead circling around the cast built up over the previous volumes. Given Otomai is the cover star it’s fitting an entire chapter considers Ogrest’s somewhat distant and preoccupied father, looking at his own upbringing neglecting duties in favour of scientific exploration. He’s just about to discover Ogrest is gone.

When Ogrest finally puts in an appearance he’s being gifted a new suit of armour and coached to take part in a contest. Mig has expanded the cast considerably over two previous volumes, and continues to do so here, connected with the complex struggles for power he’s set up. Central to this is the powerful Echo, whom we now learn has a merciless shapeshifting servant.

As has been the case in previous volumes, Mig sifts in chapters of continuing stories seemingly unconnected with the main events. Chapters of Otomai’s youth fit the pattern, taking some surprising turns, and it seems Trumbo the Iop’s death in the previous volume doesn’t prevent the continuation of his story. What seemed without purpose, a charming creative break for Mig, eventually ties into the main story.

The big event, though, is a tournament where the children of the gods who would topple their parents have surrogates fight on their behalf, and into which Ogrest has been unknowingly co-opted. Before the tournament begins there’s much political plotting in which Mig discloses assorted friendships and enmities. It’s all elegantly drawn, and while the castle surroundings allow for simplicity, Mig doesn’t take that route, filling every nook and cranny with decorations.

You’ll wait a fair while for the tournament to start, but that’s because it’s necessary to know the various allegiances. It’s cleverly played because Mig actually has Ogrest so near Dathura, but without either recognising the other, and we see the other contestants in action because it’s inevitable Ogrest will be coming up against some of them. Mig devises a creative assortment of combatants with multiple talents.

Ogrest is an extremely unpredictable series and Mig is very creative, so while it might be predicted that everything’s gone wrong by the end given the clashing personalities, exactly how will surprise. Not as much as Otomai’s story does, though, giving the background to much of what’s happened to date. Going into Volume 4, Ogrest is in fine form.