Who doesn’t love gladiator stories? Often the highlight of any Roman story. Visceral, violent and exciting. Men fighting each other for freedom, or just to satisfy their bloodlust. However, it is one area sadly lacking in comics. You’ve got vikings with Northlanders, but no real good gladiator stories. Enter Secundus, a gladiator named thus because he always fights two.
The story starts on Secundus’ final battle. If he wins today, he is free. His first fight is readily dispatched, but it is the second that throws him for a loop. Instead of a normal sword-fighting gladiator, it’s a magician. One as crafty as they come. Secundus’ final battle will be anything other than run of the mill. It will put all of his talents and strengths to the test. For an issue that is largely action, the story is quite solid. Kept me very interested and on the edge of my seat. The action looks very solid and is well scripted. You expect to see gladiators fighting, and this issue does deliver on that promise.
A couple of issues, mostly with the art. Secundus and one of the other main characters look quite alike, to the point where it’s difficult to tell who’s who. Also, the swords look like they’re made of wood. It took me a bit to realize they’re not fighting with training weapons. These issues don’t make it a bad comic by any means, but they are distracting.
Secundus fills a niche. There are a serious lack of gladiator comics and while this one has a few flaws, it’s still well worth reading. It’s fun and has good story. I’m eager for Part 2. Hopefully this will go someplace epic. Secundus Part 1 can be downloaded from Comixology here for $2.99.
3.5/5
