Vault Comics’ Barbaric: Axe to Grind has been one of the wildest series to date, boasting action, comedy, and a whole lot of cursing. Issue three — by writer Michael Moreci, artist Nathan Gooden, colorist Addison Duke, and letterer Jim Campbell — marks the end of Book Two, which centers on Owen hunting down the orc Gladius. While it does conclude the story arc, it also might be the most unexpected and shocking installment of Barbaric yet.
Picking up immediately after the events of Barbaric: Axe to Grind #2, Steel is ready to make a pack of unlucky orcs pay for messing with him. At the same time, Owen, Axe, and Soren are on the way to find Gladius. Yet, something doesn’t sit right here. Owen admits to Soren that he was warned to stop pursuing the hideous orc. As expected, Owen doesn’t listen to anyone and charges ahead into battle. However, he comes to regret his actions by the end of the issue — which is a major shocker and changes the status quo.
In Barbaric: Axe to Grind #3, Moreci is in fine form. There’s a lot happening in this issue, but it never feels rushed or overstuffed with info dumps. No matter the seriousness or gravity of the panel, the writer keeps the narrative tight and focused and always finds the opportunity to include a belly-aching quip from Axe. It’s been said before, and it should be emphasized again: Axe is the greatest supporting character here, as the cheeky magical weapon steals the show whenever it appears. While the series is about the curse, there’s no doubt more people would want to be cursed too, if they could have their own Axe as a companion and pseudo-friend.
Gooden, Duke, and Campbell are unleashed in this issue, too. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the most action-packed installment of Book Two, as the creative team gets to flex their muscles. Every page packs a powerful punch combining high fantasy and bloody action in an irresistible combination.
Gooden’s pencils and inks lay the blueprint of what can only be described as The Lord of the Rings meets Conan the Barbarian, with a guest appearance from Deadpool. Duke continues to establish a coloring style that will become synonymous with the Barbaric series. Naturally, with all the action on display, Campbell has the task of capturing all the sound effects and the various speaking styles of the different characters and creatures. The lettering, though, makes a massive difference here as it makes sense of the chaos and adds to the reader’s overall experience.
Barbaric: Axe to Grind #3 doesn’t play around here. The issue ends on a completely unexpected note and sets new (and high) stakes for future storylines, which will have readers eagerly anticipating the future and wondering more about the fate of Owen. When it comes to extreme originality and fully committing to the most outlandish ideas, Barbaric is the one series that never disappoints.
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