scene can throw up visual peculiarities, but this is a drawing - the artist can choose precisely what point of action to capture. Why go for one that looks so odd when a couple of seconds before or after the ‘snapshot’ would retain the sense of movement but also look less weird? I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by having all these books thrown at me for reviewing. It’s like sending the caviar back because it was poorly stacked on the toast. In this volume considerably more time and effort is given over to developing the plot than the characters, and I found my interest waning because of it. It would be one thing if the plot elements started to become clearer but, for instance, the relationship of the druids to the mystery is no more expanded upon than the origins of the ‘clawed
ones’ or the reason behind the attacks. A couple of theories are vaguely tossed about, but no answers solidify. Darwin is becoming less and less appealing as a protagonist; not so much a feisty investigator as a sullen and arrogant brute, throwing his weight around. Of course there are certain reasons behind this and the reveal at the end sheds a great deal of light on his recent behaviour. If anything though, more questions are raised. Either the characters need to be seriously developed in the next volume or more answers need to be given to the central mystery, otherwise I can see the readership tiring of this murky tale - a great shame after such a promising beginning.
Geek Syndicate
fore I started writing these reviews I just knew Tin-Tin and Asterix The Gaul. Whilst I hold Hergé, Goscinny and Uderzo dear to my childhood heart, neither title could compare with the thrill power of 2000AD, or the narrative might of Marvel and DC. Now, having seen much more of the scope and quality available through publishers like Cinebook I found myself less impressed by Darwin’s Diaries Vol. 2. I realise I’ve been a little harsh here. Over all it is a pretty good book, and it maintains both the artistic and narrative quality of volume 1. Unfortunately it just cannot compare to the likes of The Scorpion, XIII, Long John Silver and Largo Winch.
I do have to wonder now whether my enthusiasm for Volume 1 was, at least in part, due to the novelty of foreign comics to me at the time. Be-
Dion Winton-Polak
Rating:
G G G GG
77