Orphan And The Five Beasts #2 - Dark Horse Comics

ORPHAN AND THE FIVE BEASTS No. 2, April 2021

Providing a somewhat detailed backstory to “the dreaded bandit leader that used to be a hero”, as well as subsequently establishing Orphan Mo as Thunderthighs’ unlikely successor, there is clearly much more to James Stokoe’s Issue Two of “Orphan And The Five Beasts” than the comic simply being a publication-long portrayal of oriental-flavoured pugilism. Yet whilst such welcome additions to this book’s plot definitely help break-up the Canadian author’s detailed depiction of the brave warrior tackling the dreaded “Two Trees Bearing Heaven” fighting style, it is her lengthy and gratuitously violent confrontation with the gigantic bearded villain which will debatably long linger within its audience’s mind’s eye. 

Indeed, considering that the storyline’s “first of the Beasts” is brutally bisected and disembowelled by a blinding series of blade blows, skewered through the legs with a pair of throwing spears and then later grotesquely torn asunder by rampaging horses, it is probably hard for any perusing bibliophile to imagine what other ghastly physical misdemeanour this title could possibly contain; “Hahaha!! Thought cutting me in half would slow me down, huh?! Thought you could stop Thunderthighs?!? You just cut off the dead weight, fool!”

Perhaps therefore it is this twenty-two page periodical’s intriguing premise that the “mountain bandits” actually thought their titanic boss was just a dislikeable “punk who crushed all of our horses”, that proves a much more palatable plot-thread. The titular character’s embarrassed shock at becoming the head of such a motley band of brigands is well-penned, and subsequently shows just how much the emaciated thieves loathed the “force of destruction that threatens all life in the valley with his indestructible legs" when they willingly aid Mo in the final stages of her battle against him.

Of course all this over-the-top wanton bloodshed is stunningly pencilled by this comic’s creator in his rather recognisable ‘frenetic, hyper-detailed style’, and must have taken an eternity to illustrate considering the sheer mass of gristle-splattered entrails on show. However, by the time Mo has finally killed the seemingly invincible monstrosity of an outlaw, the persistent panels presenting endless glimpses of torn arteries, sausage-like intestines and busted internal organs is arguably going to prove all too much for even the most dedicated of Gorehounds.

Script, Art, Letters, and Cover: James Stokoe

Orphan And The Five Beasts #1 - Dark Horse Comics

ORPHAN AND THE FIVE BEASTS No. 1, March 2021

Enthusiastically described by “Dark Horse Comics” as “a brand-new Kung-Fu epic”, James Stokoe’s script for Issue One of “Orphan And The Five Beasts” certainly seems to live up to its publisher’s promise considering the book’s “ultra-detailed fantasy imagery” and classic tale of oriental revenge. Indeed, considering that this book is packed full of far eastern mysticism, plenty of Samurai-era shenanigans and some seriously sense-shattering sword-fighting, its arguably hard to imagine why the twenty-three page periodical peddled so poorly in March 2021 that it was apparently only the eighty-second best-selling comic of the month.

Happily however, those bibliophiles fortunate enough to have picked up a copy should quickly have been beguiled by the Canadian author’s classic take on a village elder foolishly empowering a group of unworthy warriors with the supernatural abilities to defeat an all-conquering common foe, and then witnessing them treacherously misuse his teachings afterwards for their own benefits. Dying within a body-sized clay jar of boiling water, the old master’s highly-detailed flashback sequence is superbly penned, and does a splendid job of setting Orphan Mo on the path of their elder’s redemption; “Its hooks have sunk deep into the valley, spreading rot and spiritual pestilence… Ahead of you, demons walk the Earth. Go, and become an emissary for Hell!”

Equally as entertaining though, has to be the subsequent scintillating skirmish between the spiritualist’s protégé and a band of raiders who unwisely intercept a cart of monks taking much-needed goods to aid a local village. Quietly unassuming, this mini-series’ main protagonist dynamically defeats the cowardly thieves with a virtuoso performance in non-lethal close-combat, and provides this publication with a strong cliff-hanger when the young woman suddenly confronts the well-named traitor, Thunderthighs, at the temple the black-hearted bandit has usurped as his headquarters.

In addition to his enthralling writing, Stokoe’s artwork is also first-rate, with the illustrator’s knack for “over-the-top violence” creating some truly-fascinating panels which are well worth a reader spending plenty of time poring over. This attention to detail is particularly noteworthy during the brigands' aforementioned unsuccessful attempt to spirit away the amicable Abbot’s wares for their boss’s personal pleasure, as James imbues every weapon strike with an incredible sense of blinding speed and physical vitality.

Script, Art, Letters, and Cover: James Stokoe