“Remembrance” (part 2)

With increased monster attacks and rumors of the return of the Four Blades, the Magic Council enacts a curfew for the Magical Realm and sets barriers between the Mortal and Magic Realms. Meanwhile, while attempting to convince Batty Bartholomew to share the secrets of the original Four Blades with them, Sabrina and Llandra discover magical artifacts aboard the hidden mystery ship.

With the political season upon us, it’s hard not to read some commentary on real world events into the Council’s arguments concerning Realm security and individual freedoms, but because it grows out of story elements Tania Del Rio has been dealing with since the early issues of her run, it doesn’t feel forced or didactic. In a subtle and entertaining way, she’s inviting readers to do some thinking about a serious topic.

Politics aside, Del Rio takes the time this issue to focus a bit on the Llandra-Sabrina dynamic. Starting out as a best friend/sounding board, then becoming a rival, and now returning to the BFF role, the “green” witch’s levelheadedness balances Sabrina’s impulsiveness, while her courage is a match for her friend’s. It’s also Llandra’s willingness to test her abilities in new ways that allows the girls to find a new way into the Magic Realm. In a scene that would be right at home in the Alan Moore's version of Swamp Thing, Llandra proves that Sabrina isn’t the only witch worth keeping an eye on.

In a very welcome development, readers also get some time with Queen Seles, the Mcguffin of the entire Four Blades’ plot. Shinji and Sabrina hold the Queen responsible for the Realm’s dying magic, but Batty and the original Blades have an unshakable loyalty towards her. The short, but well-paced, scene she appears in in this issue shows readers her sorrow, fear, anger, and courage. While it doesn’t answer any of the riddles surrounding her, it does give readers a glimpse of her character. With her appearance and that of the hidden ship, I’m beginning to think the two part peek into Salem the cat’s past in issues #93 -- 94 are even more important to the overall plot than I thought at first.

That brings up an important point about Del Rio’s writing. Thought a long-running storyline is coming to a head and plotlines from about twenty issues are being drawing on, the second part of “Remembrance” is still accessible to the casual reader. The main points and relationships are made clear through the dialog and art and there is a distinct action and conclusion. The reader doesn’t feel cheated by an issue that’s completely made of subplots she doesn’t understand.

Lindsay Cibos handles the art chores, filling in so Del Rio can get caught up after a move. As noted previously, her style is a good match for Del Rio’s. There’s no jarring change in the look of the book. That being said, Cibos’s characters look a little rounder and younger. And that youngness plays against the story at this point. Sabrina has had some life lessons and gained experience the hard way, and Del Rio has shown us that through her appearance. But here Sabrina’s looking very innocent and untouched. Cute. In fact the three panel sequence showing her peeking around a doorframe before beginning to create a magical portal is absolutely adorable. It has the feel of a little kid showing off a new trick. But that’s not what’s needed here. Sabrina needs to look experienced.

On the other hand, Cibos does some beautiful work with the expressions. The Seles’ scene derives almost its entire power from the way the Queen is looking at any moment and Cibos doesn’t disappoint. The eyes widen in fear, narrow in anger, and soften in contemplation. The two panel sequence showing Llandra and her boyfriend reuniting is also stunning. There’s the first glad moment of togetherness and then they pull back to question one another with soft, hurt expressions.

Again, Jason Jensen does a beautiful job with the colors – almost color-coding each location so readers know where they are at a glance. The Magic Realm is rich with blues and greens. Scenes set in the Queen’s palace are heavy on the brown and gold while the backgrounds of the mortal realm have a light, less developed look to them. The pale yellow and brown is almost bland, giving silent commentary on the fact that nothing of importance is happening there at the moment.

With a cover that brings to mind the Aladdin lyrics “A whole new world/a new fantastic point of view” and a story where “every turn a surprise/every moment red-letter,” the second part of “Remembrance” is another solid chapter in the Sabrina saga.

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