I feel like a comic called Eternal Warrior which prominently features sword/hand-to-hand combat as plot points shouldn't be this good a comic it should be lowest common denominator stuff, gratuitous to the point of camp-ness in its focus on fighting; and yet Eternal Warrior is none of those things. Which isn't to say it doesn't live up to its title: the main character Gilad is 6000 years old, doesn't age and writer Greg Pak works all of the story possibilities that a man who has lived so long could have experienced, and there is a lot of violence with at least two big fight scenes appearing in each comic in the series so far. But Eternal Warrior is also really well structured with each of the issues in the series so far doing a lot to establish character, story, and tone. In the present day, Gilad and his estranged daughter Xaran are still at odds with one another, Gilad not forgiving her for killing his son, while a mysterious group called the Sword of the Wild have followed her to Gilad's hut in the African savannah who are they, what do they want, and can they fight worth a damn knowing they're going up against a guy called the Eternal Warrior? And why do animals turn feral in the presence of this group? Meanwhile, via flashbacks to 1877 Oklahoma, we learn about Gilad's former profession before he "retired" working for the Earth as its protector alongside a Geomancer called Buck McHenry, possibly the most frontier-esque name a man could have who, despite working outdoors, somehow also manages not to be tanned. The two carry out the Earth's bidding, killing certain people at certain times to ensure an obscure desire for the planet is fulfilled. The enormously talented Clayton Craine joins Trevor Hairsine on art duties in this issue, drawing the 1877 sections in a beautiful painted style, reminiscent of old Western paperback covers, while Hairsine draws the present-day sequences in his usual starkly inked style. Craine and colourist Brian Reber make some interesting choices in their section, which is exuberantly bright and colourful with the scene set in rural Oklahoma in the middle of a bright, sunny day, juxtaposed with the dark savagery Gilad and Buck witness the American bluecoats doing to the Native Americans. Hairsine and Reber on the present-day sequence make good use of moonlight as these scenes are set at night in an unlit countryside. Either way, the art is simply fantastic and you're treated to some wonderful nature scenes amidst the visceral carnage of the fighting.
Greg Pak continues to impress with his writing on the series. His portrayal of Gilad as the guy who got out of the game but keeps being dragged back in could be played for knowing laughs, or at least a sense of narrative jadedness, but Pak deals with the premise with complete seriousness, which I think was the right move with this story. Gilad's relationship with Xaran is also nicely antagonistic with the two disliking one another but still bound by blood to tolerate each other. This issue also highlights their similarities with Gilad and Xaran both being natural fighters at their most alive when killing, their only difference being Gilad's dislike of his area of expertise. Pak throws in some interesting new plot points in this issue like the character of Buck and their employer, the Earth is that literally the planet, or a spiritual manifestation of it? We don't know yet but I can't wait to find out. Also, the introduction of Buck and Xaran's appearance makes the possibility of more Eternals more than likely so it's going to be interesting to see who else will show up next. There's also talk of a war brewing, and the appearance of the Sword of the Wild and the monstrous animals all enriches the mystery at the heart of the series. Eternal Warrior #2 is an excellent follow-up to a superb first issue. While not as intense, it develops the story and the characters really well and is an excellent read. Brilliant writing from Pak, even better art from Craine and Hairsine, if you want to read an entertaining and engaging action comic, check out Eternal Warrior.
Published by Valiant Comics, Eternal Warrior #2 by Greg Pak, Trevor Hairsine, and Clayton Craine is out now