By Steve Rogers • 12/28/09

HERCULES: THE KNIVES OF KUSH #5 (5 of 5)

Writer STEVE MOORE

Artist CRIS BOLSON and MANUEL & LEONARDO SILVA

Colorist DOUG SIROIS and CLIFF CRAMP

Letterer TODD KLEIN

28 pages, FC, $2.99

Warning: Contains Spoilers

This is the fifth installment of the five book run of Hercules: The Knives of Kush. The son of Zeus and his companions have been in the midst of an Egyptian civil war. A powerful sorcerer named Khadis, and an upstart to Egypt’s throne, Amenmessu, are leading the war against the house of Seti II. Plus there is a traitor in this house that must be found and there is no telling where the trail will lead.

This has all the elements that make a conclusion an exciting read. All the pieces are in place and the writer Steve Moore dives straight into the action. The issue opens with Hercules waking up from complete unconsciousness in the center of the battlefield. Then the fun begins!

It is this pacing that I found so enjoyable. Subplots are woven into major conclusions so as not to disrupt the flow. Plus the layout works perfect for this story. Plot elements are discussed in small panels that over lay the large central panel. It is a technique often used, but here it creates a true effect on the reader by drawing focus into the large action panel in the middle of the page.

The artwork of Cris Bolson, Manuel Silva and Leonardo Silva are perfect for this type of story. An example is the body types which are fitting for the tale. The only truly larger than life person is Hercules himself, which visually shows off his legendary status. The coloring of Doug Sirois and Cliff Cramp match the artist’s world view; clean, reality based, and not lost in detail. The artwork made this an excitingly enjoyable read where others might have taken a different approach and lost their readers by showing off their skills in minutia.

Also, the book treats its conclusions with enough drama without falling into camp. One important way they accomplish this is the wonderful effect of body posturing. The power and intensity of the heroes, the regret and shame of the villains, are all conveyed fantastically, to the point that one could even remove the dialogue.

Finishing the story, the war ends, the traitor is discovered and we are shocked at who it is (no spoiler). Then as we expect, want, and yes, demand, the heroes are thanked, rewarded for their service, and leave for whatever else the gods will throw at them. Which, I for one, can not wait to find out.

 

 

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