SOLOMON KANE: THE SERPENT RING part 2: Deliver Us into Evil
São Manços mission, Jesuit ministry up the Kwanza River, Kingdom of Ndongo, Africa.
Jesuit priest Father Goncallo is writing to his provincial superior, Leonel Florencio, about Mbondu's ghastly discovery: the skull of a Serpent Man (straight from the King Kull tales). Sha-Kabet, priestess of Set appears on his doorstep. She demands that the cranium be returned to her.
Sha-Kabet introduces Father Goncallo to his evil double/twin. Father Goncallo tries an Exorcism Prayer on the diabolical duo, this flatters the sorceress so much that she incinerates Goncallo with his own oil lamp.
Ghetto Vecchio, Republic of Venice.
Diamanta and her father, Abramo Bensaid learn from a maimed Kane that Paolo Laurenti (Abramo's brother by marriage) has "passed on". Solomon keeps mum about the specifics.
Abramo tells the Puritan about the ancient and accursed Serpent Ring of sorcerer Thoth-Amon.
Flashback begins: Birgu aka Città Vittoriosa, Malta.
The Aragonese, Rolando Zarza (thorny shrub in Spanish), a Knight of Malta, has brought in scholar Abramo Bensaid and brother-in-law, Paolo Laurenti to examine his discovery.
The brothers descend into a temple and find a carcanet/necklace from the African Kingdom of Ndongo and a mural depicting a Serpent Ring.
Waiting outside, the disgraceful Zarza discreetly eliminates a prying Knight of Malta.
Flashback ends.
Ghetto Vecchio, Republic of Venice.
Abramo notices that the Set statuette is not a relic, it is actually only a few months old.
Daughter Diamanta decides to shatter the statuette, she finds a map hidden inside.
Zarza and Nico Cassani arrive on the scene to grab the map. Solomon jumps on Zarza, Diamanta threatens to burn the map and Cassani points his pistol at Diamanta.
Zarza proposes that they all should try to find the fabled Serpent Ring of Set TOGETHER. Solomon, still struggling with guilt for accidentally killing Paolo, agrees to join the party.
São Manços mission, Kingdom of Ndongo, Africa.
The mission is no more, burned to the ground. Mbondu is looking for Dahami and young Yebu. The fake Father Goncallo lies to Mbondu that they have both been murdered by the Ndongo. We then see in a flashback that the killer was actually Goncallo's evil twin.
The fake Father Goncallo wants to go down river to the Kwanza River station. He needs new supplies and to send a letter to Lisbon, the Capital of Portugal.
Strait of Gibraltar.
Kane and his band of rogues are aboard The Espírito. Diamanta talks to Kane about her Gentile mother abandoning her and her father, she also complains about sea sickness. Solomon suggests that she should eat less.
Fort São Sebastião de Xama in Shama, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast).
Kane wants to free some slaves, Zarza advises against it.
Zarza starts a Tavern fight; Cassani, Solomon, Diamanta and Abramo join in.
Kwanza River station, Kingdom of Ndongo, Africa.
It is fifty-three days later, Kane and company have arrived at the mouth of the Cuanza.
We learn that during the trip, Diamanta stayed in her cabin and that her door was marked by her father with the word "Gevurah (the strength, the power to subdue/restraint our desires/urges)".
The fake Father Goncallo and Mbondu welcome Zarza, Cassani, Abramo, Diamanta and Kane to the Kingdom of Ndongo.
À suivre.
What I did like:
A possible Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli) cameo on the penultimate page.
Sha-Kabet is lit! We need an action figure of her, tout de suite.
Always the pious hypocrite and curious about the Set statuette, Kane sins by concealing the truth.
“Baruch dayan ha'emet” means “Blessed is the true judge”.
Suleiman the Magnificent mentioned.
John the Merciful mentioned.
The Knights Hospitaller mentioned.
Philip II of Spain mentioned.
"Mad as a March hare" idiom appears.
Fortuna goddess of fortune in Roman mythology mentioned.
"The vine is a gift". Puritans drinking alcohol is accurate.
Elmina Castle in Ghana mentioned.
A red river hog appears.
Pope Pius V mentioned.
Boudica, British national warrior-queen mentioned.
Polydore Vergil's history of England, the Anglica Historia mentioned.
Christopher Columbus mentioned.
Archaeologist Jeffrey Shanks talks Red Shadows and The Shadow Kingdom.
Women appear on two of the covers!
Fantastic variant covers by Ivan Gil, Rafael Kayanan and Nicola Scott.
A healthy dose of humour throughout the issue.
What I did not like:
Where's the Golem? It should be kicking some serious Yiggseth tail by now!
Pazuzu's well known connection to Conan is left unexplored.
Like with the first issue, this second issue needed more Sha-Kabet.
The Birgu flashback recounts an incident that was not witnessed by Abramo.
Not one panel is dedicated to The Phoenix on the Sword or The Haunter of the Ring.
Father Goncallo's evil twin is revealed much too soon!
Abramo and Paolo rappel better than Batman and Robin. Doubtful.
N'Longa, the fan favourite African shaman is still MIA.
Patch keeps it much too chaste. This is a MATURE READERS book after all.
No letters page!
No advert for Shaun Hamill's upcoming novel: Solomon Kane: Suffer The Witch!
No "From the creator of Conan the Barbarian" on the cover to attract more readers.
I give it a 9/10. Patrick Zircher's stupendous passion project should be at the top of your pull list! This impressive mini-series has to be paving the way for a new ongoing Solomon Kane series. Do not miss out, seek it out! Support Patch, the Sword of Vengeance, Heroic Signatures & Titan Comics.
