I gamble as if I’m living my life. I go to everything every time and hope for the best.
There’s a good reason why I’m not rich.
But Cullen Bunn and AC Zamudio are obviously far smarter players than me. Because after an adequate debut issue for Arcana Royale, the duo achieved a proper mix of luck and Grit to bring this little game back to their favor.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
Previously at Arcana Royale, I met Hudson Tremaine, a card shark who took part in the most serious game of her life at Arcanos Mysterinos. And thanks to a problem-ending assault from another player, Corvin, Hudson learns how serious Mysterinos is to this mystical player Cabal. Don’t you want to go all the way every time, as it could reconstruct reality itself?
Certainly, the core gimmick here was “a little too thin” in my own words, but the Arcana Royale had an actual hum in question #1. The book felt a vivid dizziness in its scope/naturalness, and Hudson was an interesting enough lead in this “strange and multifaceted world.” The problem was that Arcana Royale had to build a gimmick and care about the real stakes of the game. And it just did it with some important decisions in question #2.
One is art (along with Zamudio, colourist Bill Crabtree and Letterer Josh Reed). The monster-centric roster of other players is not at all surprising, but in question #2 the team reached a familiar sense of design and general aesthetics. So, yeah, goat head dealers aren’t exactly novel, but I already feel a connection to the kind of stories and ideas that visual decisions represent. (Essentially John Constantine comes across a story from the basement, which is a very good thing.) There is also a massive, semi-muting sock monkey who plays the game.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
But even more wise, the book has made several decisions to better root themselves in the real world, like it featured shots of the Las Vegas Strip and shots of groups performing at abandoned aquariums. These little things bring home the subtle and effective use of magic and show that the game is very realistic and can be played around our own universe. Dear readers are an exciting prospect of bringing it into the home in a very realistic way.
And to further enhance that immersion, we have got more characters to support us to round out this world. One such number is the former winner of Arcanos Mystenos. A semi-forgiving man who bloated with toes and toes the line between reality and fear in a way that promotes the core theme of this issue. The man’s introduction also embraces us in the larger context and stakes of the game. Not only the aforementioned reality formation award, but also the great results that accompany Arcanos Mysterinos.
I won’t reveal the small turn of the novel, but I think it’s an example of not only adding a mountain of drama to the minutes, but also making Arcana Royale marry its premise/story more effectively with the visual. So it’s a bloated man, a certain act of violence that really starts to break down. It’s where charm and magic meet an ugly world, in that space we feel 1) the true importance of Hudson gambling, and 2) how they may not be the winner, just a changeable level of loss/losing. In it, the Arcana Royale reaches the eerie and level of eerieness, as intended by its gimmick.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
On the other hand, if you’re not too keen on seeing a bloated man, question #2 also introduces a dreamy lease. Reese, the card player himself, will help save the rescue after Hudson and prepare him for the next round of play. Is he a terrible love interest? You are Beccia, and its simple but effective device feels like a great way to further root Hudson’s work in a relevant way. At the same time, Reese is another trick in the book, and his dream boat face may be a trick or commentary on the ugly nature of the world and what happens when we gamble so much humanity for the possibility of change. (And, although not, he works for better, happier people.) Either way, his presence feels like a shot of the arms of this story.
But even though Reese’s whimsical vibe permeates things, Hudson is still the star of the book. For one thing, seeing her bloody, hurtful face gives rise to a sense of sympathy, and also reminds me of the effective combination of true grit and pure despair. But more than having all the moxies in the world, Hudson has a book intro moment that successfully encapsulates many of the “themes” of Arcana Royale #2.
Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
Specifically, we get a sense of what she has lost, what she wants to do, and the dangers of her journey. It all goes back to family drama and loss, and Hudson’s nightmare in this issue takes up the idea of something warm and relevant that breaks down into the terrifying (a solid visual similarity of death, loss, suffering, and why it’s not worth a bet).
But if there’s nothing else, it gives us a proper emotional spark and a reason for more care. It’s more important to Arcana Royale than its gimmicks, as it tries to become a powerful story of beating the world that beats the world that lives in you every time. There’s still work to do, but there are already more reasons to care about and feel afraid of Hudson’s chances.
As already established, I am not a gambling expert. But if I know one thing about these kinds of games, it means that your chances could lay a little luck and dash with one or two Chatspas. For Hudson and Arcana Royale, some proper character work, a bit of fear, and an infusion of familiarity made all the difference. It’s not lunch and lunch between #1 and #2, but it’s already clear that Arcana Royale is ready to play for Keeps.
And with two issues still occurring, it will be this extremely thoughtfulness and strength to secure all the biggest jackpots.
“Arcana Royale” #2 bust new tricks to jump more winning ways
Arcana Royale #2
After an almost solid debut, “Arcana Royale” makes a huge, bold decision to connect, fear, engage and connect with readers for a second-hand victory.
The new characters really help us crush and flesh out this supernatural spin in our world.
The art and character design here is agitated/unsettled, but completely strategic.
Our lead, Hudson, sees her struggles on her journey, so she feels more approachable.
The game is not finished yet. We hope that “Arcana Royale” can be added to our own pot.
