THE WITCHER: OF FLESH AND FLAME #3 REVIEW
Summary: More deaths in Ofier heralds a dark turn for Geralt.
4
Unexpected developments
Geralt and Hatun Radeyah work closely together to find a way to defeat the dark curse that has taken over Ofier. However, time is running out as more unexplained deaths plague the city.
This issue begins in the king’s chamber, where we see Dandelion serenading a small crowd of people. His performance is interrupted by an otherworldly moaning, which is quickly dismissed by the king. Meanwhile, Geralt is in another chamber being healed by Radeyah after the sword fight with the crown assassin, Maraal. Their conversation is interrupted by the same eerie moaning, which prompts Geralt to investigate. Upon leaving the chamber, they are encountered by the horrifying sight of a mortally wounded concubine. She utters a name before passing away, revealing that the creature that attacked her was in fact a Djinnah, also known as a Djinn. Geralt is familiar with these dangerous and unpredictable creatures, and quickly gets to work collecting sewant mushrooms, so that he may begin a binding ceremony. With the help of Radeyah, he embarks on the final stage of his quest, however, not is all as it seems and he quickly discovers that no one can be trusted in Ofier.
The overall sense mystery just rose a few notches in this issue. There were also some interesting developments that unfolded, revealing a new ulterior motive for one of the characters. I’m deliberately being a bit ambiguous here, as I don’t want to reveal the main plot twist, but what I will say was that I kind of saw this one coming. I’m curious to see how this will all play out for Geralt, as things aren’t looking terribly great for him. Let’s just say, he’s in a bit of a bad situation.
I also want to talk about the great banter we see between Geralt and Radeyah. These two clearly have chemistry, and their flirtatious exchanges remind me a lot of the Geralt we see in the books. There is an almost playful tone here, and it works really well with their developing character dynamic. I get the sense that Aleksandra Motyka has done her homework, so as to fully capture the subtle nuances of Geralt. Good job!
The art by Marianna Strychowska is full of energy. There is a lot of action and sword fighting in this issue, and Strychowska does a wonderful job at capturing the fluid sense of movement in an effortless way. I love seeing Geralt fight monsters, and he fights some pretty epic ones in this issue. I’m really keen to see some more magic and sorcerer action as well, as we only get a small glimpse of what Radeyah is capable of…perhaps she is holding back for a reason? Finally, I also love the engaging and emotive expressions, especially from Geralt and Dandelion. From a raised eyebrow, to a cheeky smirk, it feels like Strychowska captures the true nature of these guys. The colouring by Lauren Affe is moody and atmospheric, heightening the ominous tone of the narrative. There are moments of vibrant colour, especially during the fight sequences, which is visually striking and effective in reinforcing the feeling of danger.
Overall, I’m loving this little jaunt in Ofier, even if it is just a brief vacay. Whist we do get some answers, there as still a lot of unanswered questions looming in the periphery. Looking forward to the next and final issue.
I’m giving this issue 4 out of 5 stars!
COMIC DETAILS
CREATIVE TEAM: Aleksandra Motyka, Marianna Strychowska and Lauren Affe
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
GENRE: High Fantasy
PUBLICATION DATE: February 20, 2019
REVIEWER: Dana Folkard
About the Author
Dana Folkard An absolute nerd with a passion for all things sci-fi! Lover of comics, coffee and Geralt of Rivia. Mother of Dragons!
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