Review by Frank Plowright
Before striking gold with Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard submitted stories about Solomon Kane, a late 16th century wanderer fortified by his Puritan beliefs slaying the horrors he encountered. He’s a strong character with a considerable purpose, which makes it all the more puzzling that his appearances in comics, whether adaptations or original stories, have been generally disappointing. Patrick Zircher, though, bucks that trend.
The art immediately impresses, rich and detailed, the storytelling impeccable and the period diligently conveyed. One stunning page follows another, Kane’s black garb distinctive in any setting, and those settings are stunning, while there’s real personality to people’s expressions.
As the story opens, for once Kane is uncharacteristically uncertain. He’s among pirates attacking Spanish ships, and he justifies the matter to himself via characterising the conflict in terms of opposing religious ideologies and the instructions of the queen. That, though, is just the narrative prod to have him acquire an object to be transported to Venice, then a city state where the Jewish community is an issue, while Africa also features as Zircher feeds different religious beliefs into his story, although perhaps misses a trick via Kane’s tolerance. One quest leads to another with well planted foreshadowing indicating previously unknown horrors. A good aspect is that the ultimate goal is a treasure each searcher has a different reason for wanting.
Under other hands Kane himself has been a one-note personality, a grim purveyor of God’s justice according to his beliefs, but Zircher supplies greater nuance and an occasional sense of wonder alongside temptation. Kane’s aware of danger within the party he accompanies, but not of what awaits. That’s largely held back for the ending, as Zircher prioritises the cast’s motivations and interactions, ensuring there’s both ideological disagreement and a necessity for a disparate bunch to remain together.
Some may feel the balance errs a little too much toward conversation with the action minimised, but the dramatic scenes are varied and well choreographed. Other than that minor comment, The Serpent Ring is a great adventure beautifully drawn, and looking down from a great height on any previous Solomon Kane graphic novels.
