Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The first issue of ‘Medieval’ by Neil Kleid is so entertaining, it obviously sets up high hopes for the second one. And look at that glorious cover art for the issue – protagonist Danny Landau, walking away with swagger with a bloodied baseball bat, while a pile of dead soldiers, probably butchered by him, lie behind him. The cover makes an action-horror fan like me hope for an unforgettable massacre, something that could compete with the gore and grit of comic books like ‘The Walking Dead’. Unfortunately, the panels don’t live up to the cover’s promise.
That said, ‘Medieval’ continues to be intriguing, with the focus of this issue being Danny’s reluctant trip to King Arthur’s court. He is a baseball fan and plumber from 21st century, stuck in medieval England, living a recklessly bold life while he helps run a tavern. He has built a good new life for himself, taught the locals how to play his favorite sport (baseball), but he simply wants to go back to the future, to be with his beloved girlfriend Gina.
Issue #1 ended with a wacky twist – Gina is shown to be in Medieval England too, and in a wilder twist, she isn’t some struggling peasant girl trapped in the past, but someone eminent in the King’s court! It was this climactic cliffhanger which really makes a reader excited about upcoming chapters, since Gina finds out Danny is in the same timeline too.
Issue #2 opens with Danny getting a new baseball bat forged for him, one that can double as a weapon capable of bludgeoning his opponents to death. And since I’ve already referenced ‘The Walking Dead’, the bat immediately brings to mind Negan’s iconic weapon from the zombie-horror series. But well, Danny is no Negan, he is a just a brash baseball fan, with rage issues, and a romantic heart.
The focus of the second chapter is on Danny being invited to King Arthur’s court, although he has little interest in indulging royalty. However, when he spots a comical phrase on a Knight’s shield, something that could’ve only been written by someone who doesn’t belong to medieval England, he begins to hope someone might have an answer to his time-travel problems.
While the Gina twist felt exciting at first, now I am beginning to think maybe Danny’s romance shouldn’t have become a primary theme so quickly. Instead, some more comedic struggles of the American plumber in Medieval Europe would’ve been more fun.
The artwork continues to be engaging, colorful, and vivid. although it would’ve been better if the pages were laden with more illustrations that weren’t packed with dialogues or narration.
With just 30 pages to work with, this issue doesn’t have a whole lot going on beyond Danny unleashing violent tantrums across its panels. Even at the King’s court, he causes absolute chaos, but the chapter never quite reaches the level of shock or memorability that the striking cover art promises.
The closing cliffhanger once again circles back to Danny’s girlfriend Gina, who is also stranded in medieval times, though this reveal no longer lands as a genuine surprise. At this stage, it’s hard to tell where the series is headed next. Still, despite its uneven beats, the comic remains intriguing enough to warrant sticking around.
Rating: 3 on 5. ‘Medieval’ is also on Kindle Unlimited.
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