Review: Assassin’s Creed: Templars #3
“Just a prick from a prick.” – Fiery Crow.
Synopsis:
Black cross has got a lead, After a long time of searching for one. This lead will bring him from shadows into light and in the great world of Shanghai’s foremost amusement complex. He’s dodging bullets and risking his life to discover the truth. It’s then that he realizes he’s not alone! It’s April of 1927 and our hero is being chased by the green gang. Black Cross is leaping through the air in a great action packed sequence at the beginning of this issue. He comes face to face with a giant called Fiery Crow. Black Cross is captured and brought to the leader of the gang “Big-eared” Du Yuesheng.
The Creative Team:
Van Lente opens this issue with a bang as we see a major battle ensue. The Black Cross winds up in a game of cat and mouse with the leader of the gang. The gang leader feigns disappointment that he captured Black Cross because he says he doesn’t have the information that he wants. Black Cross counters that he let himself get caught to find out what information the gang leader has. Before we get that information we cut to Roo whose in the middle of making a movie. She takes a break then heads to her trailer where she’s confronted by Darius. A great middle chapter which promises a bigger set up in the next issue.
Calero knows how to evoke emotion from shadow and contrast and we see the Black Cross with no fear but rage as he is attacked by the green gang and then subdued by Fiery Crow. The entire issue is dark and foreboding and I’m sure Calero was chosen to draw this issue because of his history with horror and dark comics like Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart. His ability to foreshadow characters and introduce them with limited lighting makes him a good choice for this title and how the story eerily unfolds.
The Cover:
Cover A is right on target as we see The Black Cross standing sideways with his fedora and dark cloak, cape flapping in the breeze. He looks like a cross between DC’s Phantom Stranger and The Shadow. He’s flinging a dagger at an unseen assailant. This draws the reader in making them wonder who he is attacking, you’ll have to buy the book to find out. The Black Cross has an intense look in his eye and you know he’s tough as nails and isn’t going to back down, win or lose.
In Conclusion:
This is a very pivotal issue as the Black Cross finally comes face to face with the leader of the green gang. He’s coming closer to discovering what they’re all about and how to prevent them from taking over. The sub-plot with Roo is developing nicely as well as she’s asked why she spared a certain persons life. I’m not going to give it away but the set up for both looks like it will lead us into a promising fourth issue. It’s definitely an intriguing read.
Assassin’s Creed: Templars #3
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Art: Dennis Calero
Letters: Richard Starkings
Colors: Dennis Calero
Publisher: Titan Comics
Publication date: June 15, 2016
About the Author
Kevin Given Kevin Given has studied with "Longridge Writers Group" and "Writer's Boot Camp" a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the "Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter" franchise which includes 2 novels and 8 comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of "Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter" #1 and "Files of Karl Vincent" #1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series "Dracula Rising" (working title) and developing "Foul Blood" into comic book form.
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