BARBARIC: BORN IN BLOOD #1 / Script by MICHAEL MORECI/ Art by NATHAN GOODEN / Color by FABIANA MARQUES / Letters by JIM CAMPBELL / Published by VAULT COMICS

For years, Owen was a bastard’s bastard. That changed when a curse bound him to a magical axe. Beyond being able to speak (but only to Owen), Axe could also only be wielded in the name of a righteous cause. This turned Owen into an unwilling soldier in the war against evil and an enabler of Axe’s drinking habit, as he becomes drunk on blood.

Thankfully, this is not a battle Owen fights alone, ever since the witch Soren joined him in his travels. If nothing else, she too can hear Axe’s voice, for some reason. There is also Steel, an old comrade in arms, who is only slightly more bloodthirsty since becoming a vampire. Together, they hunt the vile Gladius. However, a new side quest is about to distract them. One involving a villain with ties to Owen’s past and the barbarian clans of the North.

Regular readers of KabOOOOOm are likely already familiar with Vault Comics’ series Barbaric. Ever since the series premiered in June 2021, it has been a favorite of fantasy fans everywhere, including this critic. There are many reasons for this, boiling down to it just being that good!

While possessing a satirical edge, Barbaric also plays out as a traditional sword-and-sorcery epic. This has won the series a well-deserved fan following, from those who like mature fantasy and immature humor mixed together. The scripts of Michael Moreci lovingly mock the genre conventions, even as he cranks the metaphorical volume to 13 in utilizing them. The artwork of Nathan Gooden, likewise, is bloody and bloody hilarious.

If you have not had the joy of reading Barbaric before, this is the perfect place to begin. This issue starts with a recap of the story thus far, enabling canny readers to jump in with this issue before, inevitably, going back to pick up the first three TPs and the spin-off, Queen of Swords. If you enjoy high adventure and low comedy, give Barbaric: Born In Blood a try!

Barbaric: Born In Blood #1 releases on May 1, 2024.