Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The dashing Flynn and the cynical former priest Pierre, the protagonists of No Saints Nor Poets, are always up for transport jobs aboard their gondola, as long as the pay is good of course. The second issue of Iolanda Zanfardino’s fantasy series picks up right where Issue #1 left off, with the duo facing an unexpected twist: their latest “cargo” isn’t an object at all, but a wealthy human.
“So where’s the precious cargo we’re supposed to deliver?” Pierre asks on the last page of ‘No Saints Nor Poets’ issue one.
“And bring back without even the tiniest scratch, remember. I am undoubtedly precious cargo!” responds a person draped in bright purple robes, as if finishing Pierre’s thought. The entry is dramatic, comical, and totally unexpected.
Naturally, the main focus of ‘No Saints Nor Poets’ issue #2 is how Pierre and Flynn handle their unexpected new “cargo”, with the two quickly divided over what to do next. Pierre wants to ditch the client altogether, arguing they’re not “escorts” for spoiled noblemen while Flynn points out the job pays well, enough to match an entire month’s worth of deliveries.
As a reminder, the story is set in the fictional city of Serena, where the wealthy live within a walled, protected zone, while everyone else (including Pierre and Flynn) survives in the so-called “flooded district,” an area constantly on the verge of drowning and teeming with wild beasts in the waters. This stark divide makes class inequality a major theme in ‘No Saints Nor Poets’.
The issue offers welcome flashbacks showing how Flynn, once a petty thief, first met Pierre, who at the time was an upright priest serving at a massive church, much before the ‘great flood’ changed their world as they knew it. Iolanda Zanfardino neatly weaves these glimpses of the past into the present storyline, where the pair once again encounters monsters in the sea, while still dealing with their differences over their questionable new client.
Issue #2 of ‘No Saints Nor Poets’ introduces a noticeable visual shift with Martina Belli stepping in as the new artist. The style moves toward a more traditional comic aesthetic, it is less dynamic than Eliza Romboli’s work in the opening chapter, still lively. Where the first issue’s artwork had a breezy, playful energy, the second issue feels more measured and deliberate.
Even though Pierre serves as narrator in some parts of this issue, it’s Flynn’s energetic, and cheekily flirtatious personality that shines best. He loves to takes ricks and is always eager to make the maximum out of the minimum. However, Pierre on the other hand is more cautious, weary, leading to significant moral clash between the two towards the end of this issue of ‘No Saints Nor Poets’.
The climactic pages bring some tension between the lead duo, although it’s quite uncertain what turn the story will take in the next chapter. Overall, it’s an entertaining follow-up.
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