Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 5 of 6

Issue 5
February 2007
Written by Monte Cook

The Iron Mage is a legendary figure in the realm of Ptolus, an enigmatic character who works for his own interests and sides with whomever he likes. This concerns Sheva Callister, who has temporarily allied herself with him as she continues her unwinding quest to recover a brooch and to extract revenge on the mysterious figure who set her up and killed her ghostly partner. But is the Iron Mage truly on her side. or does he have some hidden agenda?

The issue beings with the Iron Mage still asking for the book from Sheva (man, does he look different) while the Hound runs amok in the compound below. The Iron Mage states that he believes the Hound is there for the book. He explains to Sheva that the Book of Whispering Souls, which she hopes can help her ghost friend Parnell, is actually also a Hound that has been trapped into book form. They watch as Kervis Killraven charges at the creature on horseback. The Iron Mage joins her after warning Sheva he will be back for the book. Not wishing to give it over, Sheva begins to sneak away and instead finds Gattara Vladaam doing the same. Sheva confronts her and states she knows the Vladaam's wish for her hungersword. Because she does not want his help, Killraven leaves the Hound to the Iron Mage and returns inside where she encounters a dazed Sheva who had been fighting Gattara. With ease, Killraven is able to subdue Sheva and take the Book. She then contemplates killing the Iron Mage while he is distracted fighting the Hound.

Acting on this impulse, Killraven knocks the Iron Mage down and gloats a bit before going for the killing blow. Sheva, however, steps in and strikes at Killraven long enough for Iron Mage to recover some senses. He uses a spell and Killraven and her stallion disappear. While the two contemplate what to do, the Hound seems to slink off, as does Gattara. She doesn't leave empty-handed, though, since she was able to swipe Sheva's hungersword when Killraven had Sheva winded. The issue ends with Gattara gloating over the sword.

Curious. Apparenly, Caanan White returned for the issue and one can easily tell from the first page that a different artist was working on this title. The Iron Mage looked NOTHING like he did in the previous issue (say, perhaps an hour before hand) and neither did Killraven. Sheva and Gattara stayed the same. Now, I could care less about Killraven, but when the Iron Mage was introduced, I really liked his look and demeanor. It seemed like both of those were thrown out for the fifth issue. The change was jarring to say the least. As for the rest of the issue, a couple of other small things. The Hound, who seemed unabashedly evil and headstrong (which I figured) became a puppy when Killraven apparently knocked out Iron Mage. It also made no moves to take back the book while Iron Mage and Sheva contemplated what to do with it at the end. Another quick drastic change I found not good. Finally, Gattara made off with the hungersword way too easily. I think the most interesting part of the issue was when Iron Mage revealed that the Book of Whispering Souls was actually another Hound bound to the book. Otherwise, art withstanding, I found the issue below average. A steady decline in the book is frightening and I can only hope the finally issue will go out with a bang and not a whimper.

Score: 2 / 5