Dark Souls: Mother of Mourning #2 is written by George Mann and published by Titan Comics. Artwork is by Maan House, colours by Steve Canon and letters by AndWorld Design’s Jame. Main cover art (left) is by Raymond Gay.
Dark Souls: Mother of Mourning #2 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Arriving at the Mausoleum of Galth, Lucadeus, Grathin and Stenn set about their search for the soul of their blessed Mother of Lilies. But this cursed place will not surrender its treasures willingly, and hollows – the restless undead – gather to strike from the shadows, led by an all-too-familiar face.
Review
The latest entry into the Dark Souls mythos gets a significant boost in quality with #2, both adding elements which were lacking from the debut issue while improving what was already stellar from the out-set.
The art from Maan House continues to impress. As with the first issue, the almost baroque levels of contrast between light and shade are used to great effect. I love the frequent use of what appears to be a stippling effect, which makes the shadows look textured and granular, as if the darkness were a physical substance coughed up from the rotting earth.
Unburdened by lengthy exposition, part 2 of this four-part saga barrels along at a comfortable pace, Mann’s action-packed plot working in tandem with House’s streaking line work to give a real sense of momentum. This is the word that popped into my head as I flipped through these pages.
Though mostly set in a graveyard entirely occupied by the dead, not one panel feels stagnant. Glowing red eyes pop from sunken features; capes flow in the wind as knights charge into battle; bodies are dragged through the mud in a speeding blur. This is all captured with a visceral energy that is a joy to follow, looking every bit like the storyboard of a confidently choreographed action film.
The story itself follows our three Knights of the Order of Mourning, as they arrive at the Mausoleum of Galth – the supposed location of their holy Mother’s soul – guided by a mysterious speaking crow.
While plot isn’t the star of this issue, a surprise appearance from a lost member of the Order kicks off our first real conflict of the story, acting as the catalyst for a physical showdown as well as a clash of ideals.
Our main antagonist – a nefarious deity (or demon) Merlowrax – is made known for the first time, worshipped by the fallen Knights of Mourning. Here we see a popular Dark Souls theme subtly implemented, where Lucadeus and co must decide to follow the path of their fallen brothers – letting the fire fade and living on in darkness as undead vassals – or fight to preserve the light, at great risk to themselves.
How they handle this decision leads to some beautifully drawn combat, as well as some significant consequences for our heroes – that I won’t spoil here – which give the story a welcome helping of emotional weight.
The mortality of these protagonists is painstakingly apparent throughout the tale, and the looming confrontation with Merlowrax is loaded with tension, as we’ve now come to see that the Knights of the Order of Mourning are far from invulnerable.
If I had one – particularly nerdy – nitpick, it would be that hollows are frequently referred to as the “dead”, not the undead, and are treated essentially as zombies to be “laid to rest”. This might contradict what a lot of Dark Souls fans know of hollows, which are canonically immortal, undead humans who resurrect, time and again, after dying.
But as Dark Souls lore has always been famously cryptic, and frequently left open to interpretation, I’m mostly willing to let this gripe slide. That said, some dialogue from a mysterious crow explaining the lifecycle of hollows in this timeline wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Verdict
While I still find our main characters a little bland in personality, and the representation of hollows seems a little off at times, it’s undeniable that this issue more than delivers on the promise of its setting, and anyone looking to scratch a Dark Souls itch could do far worse than this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
