Review – Gogor #2 (Image Comics)

Publisher: Image Comics
Created by: Ken Garing
Release Date: 12^th June 2019

Among the floating islands of Altara, GOGOR has awakened. Rising from the earth, a pure force of nature… The Domus don’t know what’s about to hit them! Not realising they’re too late, and fearing that Armano is close to releasing Gogor from his slumber, the Domus Lordship dispatches General Magus and his reptilian assassin to track down Armano and recover the scroll. Armano meanwhile must follow Gogor through the bogs to find the sorceress Tetra Hedron.

This series is so much fun, and Ken Garing delivers another issue that is full of action and wit; fantastic and fantastical characters and stunningly vibrant artwork.

We get to see Gogor in all his glory this issue, and he’s fabulous. He’s a mop-headed, snaggletoothed cross between The Hulk & Swamp Thing with seemingly none of the latter’s erudition. He’s very much in the “Hulk smash” category of elemental beings, and it’s a joy watching him literally tie his enemies in knots and hurl them over the edge of the island.

Garing excels at creating a high fantasy setting that is fascinating to examine without being pretentious or overly detailed. The characters and creatures that inhabit Altara, are all unique, and have their own quirks and peculiarities that really draw you into this high fantasy tale. The landscapes (yes I’m going to bore you about plants and buildings and swamps again) are superb. The highlight of this issue, for me, was the depiction of the bog. Giant vegetation, dwarfing even the mighty Gogor, giving a sense of a huge world whilst at the same time conveying a dark, cloying claustrophobia (think Dagobar in Empire Strikes Back meets Flash Gordon’s Arboria). The dwellers of Bogwell are also really cool, and their dwelling inside what I believe are giant fungi are a great touch.

With the developments of this issue, the Bogwellians (is that the right word?) and their history lesson, the new challenge in Armano’s quest, and the introduction of the latest antagonists in the form of General Magus and Amphax, I can’t help but think that this could be the movie that Robert E Howard and Jim Henson never made. There is so much going on in the two issues we’ve had so far, so many themes and tropes and nods to other works that you really need to sit down and read them a couple of times just so you can give yourself a pat on the back when you get the reference.

I’m going to stop gushing now and simply say that this is a fantastic, high fantasy series that doesn’t take itself too seriously whilst still managing to deliver something new, fun and intriguing.

Rating: 4/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK]