REVIEW: 'Barbaric' #2 by Michael Moreci, Nathan Gooden, and Addison Duke

Soren's backstory is revealed. Along with Owen and Axe, the three may have underestimated what they're up against when they storm the abbey. This year's biggest hit continues!

BARBARIC #2

Writer: Michael Moreci

Artist: Nathan Gooden, Addison Duke

Letters: Jim Campbell

Publisher: Vault Comics

Release Date: July 28, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

More blood! More mayhem! More monsters! Will Owen storm the abbey with Soren the witch? Will axe get drunk on blood? Yes! And you're going to love it.

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

'Barbaric' #1 burst onto the scene with a refreshingly meta and funny sword and sorcery adventure debut that became an instant fan-favorite. It was like seeing 'Big Trouble in Little China' for the first time. A cursed barbarian is forced to "do good" no matter what and is guided by a blood-drunk talking axe. The chemistry was undeniable, the action bloody, and it set this odd couple on the path to join forces with Soren, a necromancer, for a supernatural adventure. It was a perfect storm of creative juju. 

The question was could Michael Moreci, Nathan Gooden, and Addison Duke keep up the quality, the tone, the pace, the humor, the action. The answer is yes for the most part. It's just as good as the first issue but in a different way. Moreci slows things down a bit in order to get to know Soren better with some backstory reveals. The art by Gooden and Duke is the first thing you'll notice because it's so well composed and colored. Every line is flawless, the colors tend to range from warm to muted depending on the setting. A pile of dead corpses garners a different hue than a lively tavern full of patrons. There's a cinematic eye to Gooden's designs and Duke finds the perfect shade for any situation. Jim Campbell's lettering and sound effects all combine to add layers to the action making everything look and sound suspenseful. 

The issue is really framed in Soren's backstory and how her powers, much like Owen's curse, are a burden of her own. There's a connection there between them bound by these supernatural forces that make them different. Both with curses they'd rather not have. Now, with a demonic presence in town and Soren's betrayal at the hands of the monks, she sought help from it's time to swing that chatty axe at some ghostly demons. 

'Barbaric' #2 shifts gear a little to flesh out Soren's story with some flashbacks. The action and humor remain as this motley crew faces a terrifying supernatural threat. It's all wrapped in first-rate art with a giant cliffhanger for good measure. This year's biggest debut keeps up the momentum with a stellar follow-up.