Bottom line: Dragon Prince #3 trades action for intrigue by slowing the pace enough to answer our burning questions.
Dragon Prince #3
Created By: Ron Marz
Writers: Ron Marz
Artists: Lee Moder
Colors: Blond
Cover: Jeff Johnson, Brad Peterson
Top Cow | 32pg. | Color | $2.99 US | Limited Series
Premise: Aaron Chiang has learned the truth of his heritage – he’s the last of the dragons, which have been hunted to extinction by a secret society of wizards called the Magi. Only Aaron’s mother stands between him and the Dragon Hunters…but she might very well be far more than she appears.
Review: In Dragon Prince #3 Marz takes the time to stop and smell the roses. Okay, perhaps not literally, but the rocket pace of the first two books is traded for some explanations as to what is going on in Aaron’s strange life. The last time we saw Aaron, he was in deep, having just been discovered by the Dragon Hunters who had been pursuing him. Even though Aaron’s mom tried the best to protect him with her still unexplained powers, both of them are bested. The next page unfolds in a dank dungeon, with Aaron’s mom chained to a wall and our little protagonist nowhere in sight.
Aaron finds himself in a bit more accommodating situation. He sits unchained in a large stone room, alone until one of the bare-chested Dragon Hunters beckons for him to follow out a previously locked door. Aaron refuses at first, but when he is propositioned with never seeing his mother again, he caves. As the odd couple walks the empty corridors, Aaron inquires how his watchful companion became a Dragon Hunter. Turns out it is not an easy process, and unfortunately for Aaron, all who survive the initiation don’t take their job lightly.
Before too long Aaron reaches their destination - the office of Madigan, who is the leader of the Magi. After formal introductions, Aaron questions why they have not killed him yet, and Madigan uses the opportunity to plant seeds of doubt in Aaron’s head. He attempts to convince Aaron that his mother was misleading him to thinking ill of the Magi, and assures Aaron that they would never harm him. After gaining a fraction of trust, Madigan goes on to explain to Aaron that dragons are inherently “a covetous and evil species.” Aaron protests that he is not evil, to which Madigan agrees. However, he lectures to Aaron that he will become evil, and quickly propositions a way to save him from himself with some sort of cure. Aaron seems intrigued by the idea of being a normal boy, but refuses to make any decisions until he can consult his mother. The request irritates Madigan to no end, and he banishes Aaron to his room to sleep on it.
As they exit the room, Aaron makes a break for it, transforming into his dragon counterpart in the process. The remaining pages unfold through a bit of welcome action, several good laughs and more than one revelation. I feel safe in saying that you won’t see the last frame coming.
Even though Dragon Prince #3 slowed down to a near crawl – which was needed to an extent – it was still thoroughly enjoyable. The pacing allowed for Aaron’s personality to shine through, and you can’t help but feel a little proud of him for holding his own against those who are sworn to kill his kind.
Dragon Prince #3 is in stores now. If you have been following Marz’s limited series, you would be doing yourself a disservice to miss this one.
December 5th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Loved it! And yes, the last panel was awesome!
December 5th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
That looks awesome!