For Danny Landau, life hits harder than Aaron Judge in July. An innocent date with Gina Rabinowitz is going fine until a moment in time changes everything. Landau is hit by a baseball while in the stands at Yankees Stadium. When he wakes up, he is far from the Bronx.
Landau is now in the times of King Arthur.
How he got there is a mystery. It’s also the furthest of his immediate problems.
MEDIEVAL #2 by Neil Kleid & Alex Cormack (Comixology Originals) continues to chronicle “A New York Baseball Fan in King Arthur’s Court”.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the chaos ensuing now.
MEDIEVAL #2 by Neil Kleid & Alex Cormack (Comixology Originals)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Kleid continues to mix brash humor with a growing drama within this chapter It results in a more layered presentation. Seeing Landau upgrade his weaponry is a fun moment. The good times end when Knights from Arthur’s court arrive. The clash of personalities results in awkward moments and better dialogue. Who knew “soap” would be so vital at this stage?
Once calmer heads prevail, the story peels back more of its mystery. This moves the story into a new trajectory. Landau showcases more than his tough personality at this stage. Readers watch as he starts buying into possibilities. Anyone wondering if the fighting would slow has their answer dropped with a big exclamation point. Pacing speeds events up with a game-changing interaction. This leads into a solid closing act. Landau has made some enemies before with Boston fans. Judging by the closing page, that would be a walk in the park compared to the mess he’s in now. A fin tale never the less.
Cormack opens up events with a quirky look at Landau’s new weaponry. It’s a steady beginning as the story moves into its’ intended direction. The art plays off the humor extremely well. Seeing messages for Bar soap on shields expresses the fun being had here. As business picks up, so does Landau’s rage. The panels hone in on this aspect before peeling back more secrets.
With his new journey, Landau’s wonder of Camelot can’t be denied. The panels show his overwhelming shock. Readers know this doesn’t last forever as his venture into town is met with hostility. A bloody half panel doesn’t hide his true nature. Panels become more unstable as the fighting continues. Only when a certain supporting character debuts does the mood changes. Landau’s expressions convey the happiness he finds. It doesn’t come without issue. The final panel shows Landau is in more trouble than guessed. It’s a strong panel to conclude with but it pushes excitement for what’s next. Readers can’t ask for much better than that.
FINAL GRADE: 8.7
Danny Landau’s journey into mischief leads into slow tears in his mystery’s foundation. Kleid’s writing brings the drama and dark humor. Cormack constructs a more grounded look into what drives this fantasy tale. Put together and “Medieval” will lock in readers for the long haul.
Let me know your thoughts on Medieval #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!