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The Sword #2
The Sword, Vol. 2: Water
Dara brighton has discovered more information about the three powerful strangers who murdered her family. Armed with this knowledge and the mystical sword, her first order of business is to find the one who murdered her sister and make him pay.
152 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 10, 2021
Dara and her friends are on the run and out for revenge.
Well, sort of. Dara's friends are wanted by nefarious forces in the government, on the lam, and just trying to keep up with Dara while she goes on a quest to kill the god that murdered her sister.
Also. Is incest still incest between gods?
Hmmm. Yes, and ewwww.
Still not a huge fan of the plastic-y looking art, but I'm interested to see how all of this pans out.
Well, sort of. Dara's friends are wanted by nefarious forces in the government, on the lam, and just trying to keep up with Dara while she goes on a quest to kill the god that murdered her sister.
Also. Is incest still incest between gods?
Hmmm. Yes, and ewwww.
Still not a huge fan of the plastic-y looking art, but I'm interested to see how all of this pans out.
November 25, 2020
Fantastic continuation of the story, this time focussing on the hunt for Zakros (the water controlling brother) who turns out to be quite the piece of work .
As before I wouldn't want to spoil the ride, already looking forward to the next volume and some of the answers it will hopefully bring!
As before I wouldn't want to spoil the ride, already looking forward to the next volume and some of the answers it will hopefully bring!
March 4, 2015
After reading volume 2, I'm not really interested in continuing with this series. I usually like revenge stories, but this one left me cold. It was Alex + Ada, Volume 1 that got me interested in the Luna brothers, and I think I'll just stick with that series and let this one go.
July 7, 2016
3.25 Stars.
Volume 1: Fire gave us all the background necessary for the story: the introduction of the characters, the mythology, the relationships. The storytelling and the art presented an interesting, fresh story, but this time, like we expected after the last page and illustration, The Sword becomes a revenge story and even though revenge stories can be fun and exciting... that's the biggest weakness of Volume 2: Water. The action and violence are great, but the confrontation takes most of the volume so the narrative gets weaker and in the end there's nothing spectacular in this trade.
The story suffers a lot this time, not only because the Luna Brothers wanted to make the battle shine instead of adding to the plot, but because in the first issue, the one where Dara and her companions must find ways to search for Zakros, the convenient event of finding this family and how they later turn to trust her... it is all very silly and disappointing from the start.
When the hunt and fight begins though, it is interesting how and when the flashbacks from Dara's and Zakros's life are presented. We get to see a lot from the relationship between Dara and her sister and, to me, the flashbacks never interrupt the story, but add a bit of the emotion that the whole volume lacks. Just as the memories of Zakros and her sister, those gave an insight to how these godlike characters act and see themselves and the struggle of them living among humans and behaving as one. It is not enough to say that these flashbacks add to the plot, but it was a welcoming pause in the long battle between Zakros and Dara.
Although I think this battle was too long, I have to say that it was exciting, easy to follow and it was really original. It is a supernatural battle full with inventive violent ways. It is bloody and fun to read, but not as engaging as I was hoping because, well...you already know how it's going to end.
Overall, this volume was a big step down from the first one. I will be continuing the story, I just hope that the next two volumes won't be as focused on the revenge/action aspect and can provide more of the story. Dara can be a great protagonist and the mythology introduced in Fire can be so interesting to explore. At least, I know for sure that the remaining siblings are more interesting than Zakros, so those battles will be much more exciting to read.
Volume 1: Fire gave us all the background necessary for the story: the introduction of the characters, the mythology, the relationships. The storytelling and the art presented an interesting, fresh story, but this time, like we expected after the last page and illustration, The Sword becomes a revenge story and even though revenge stories can be fun and exciting... that's the biggest weakness of Volume 2: Water. The action and violence are great, but the confrontation takes most of the volume so the narrative gets weaker and in the end there's nothing spectacular in this trade.
The story suffers a lot this time, not only because the Luna Brothers wanted to make the battle shine instead of adding to the plot, but because in the first issue, the one where Dara and her companions must find ways to search for Zakros, the convenient event of finding this family and how they later turn to trust her... it is all very silly and disappointing from the start.
When the hunt and fight begins though, it is interesting how and when the flashbacks from Dara's and Zakros's life are presented. We get to see a lot from the relationship between Dara and her sister and, to me, the flashbacks never interrupt the story, but add a bit of the emotion that the whole volume lacks. Just as the memories of Zakros and her sister, those gave an insight to how these godlike characters act and see themselves and the struggle of them living among humans and behaving as one. It is not enough to say that these flashbacks add to the plot, but it was a welcoming pause in the long battle between Zakros and Dara.
Although I think this battle was too long, I have to say that it was exciting, easy to follow and it was really original. It is a supernatural battle full with inventive violent ways. It is bloody and fun to read, but not as engaging as I was hoping because, well...you already know how it's going to end.
Overall, this volume was a big step down from the first one. I will be continuing the story, I just hope that the next two volumes won't be as focused on the revenge/action aspect and can provide more of the story. Dara can be a great protagonist and the mythology introduced in Fire can be so interesting to explore. At least, I know for sure that the remaining siblings are more interesting than Zakros, so those battles will be much more exciting to read.
December 29, 2018
The three refugees, Dara, her friend Julie, and the guy who knows it all, Justin, are going to meet Zakros. And once the battle between Dara and him begin, I love looking at every panel. The fight was so cool!
I am really intrigued to know how the trio will find the other two gods and what these battles will look like. One thought I had after we got to know the three gods better is that maybe Malia is going to be a much different opponent than Zakros and Knossos who absolutely hate humans. Will she even fight Dara? Or will she reason with her? What will Dara say when she finds Malia?
This second book definitely wants me to read the third and fourth right away.
I am really intrigued to know how the trio will find the other two gods and what these battles will look like. One thought I had after we got to know the three gods better is that maybe Malia is going to be a much different opponent than Zakros and Knossos who absolutely hate humans. Will she even fight Dara? Or will she reason with her? What will Dara say when she finds Malia?
This second book definitely wants me to read the third and fourth right away.
October 14, 2024
The chase is on. The new sword bearer is going to finish what her father never did, take down the siblings of power. This was an improvement on the first. The art is the same passable fare. There are some pretty great moments interspersed between the dumb stuff. I mean, you'd think a 4,000 year old being would have enough training to just pop this new sword bearer...even with the sword. He did a couple smart things, but not enough in the end. I like the part where her legs get cut off and she almost heals over from touching the sword and decides she has to rip off that new skin, put the legs next to her, THEN heal. This saving grace from a flashback of her new paralysis days and feeling helpless. On to the next. I'll see this through, even if it is semi-mediocre.
March 26, 2019
Loving this series so far! love the story line and anxious to read more about this background story.
March 22, 2017
New to comics. Started with Saga (ga ga over it), and now The Sword. I like this series so far. I already know where this is going and how it will pan out. There is no mystery, but the story is good, regardless. I'm not a big fan of the graphics tho.
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November 28, 2012As the title suggests, Volume 2 is the story of Dara exacting her revenge on the water sibling, Zakros. Dara and co travel to the Bahamas, after learning via Demetrios' stories that Zakros is holed up there. It doesn't take long before Dara and Zakros go face to face, culiminating in a showdown that can only be described as epic. Two words: ICE FORTRESS. Dara and Zakros wreak havoc across town, leaving a pile of bodies and limbs in their wake, before Dara eventually plunges her sword into Zakros' chest.
This is all juxtaposed against emotional flashbacks from Dara and Zakros' past. In Dara's flashbacks, we see more of her tumultuous relationship with her late sister, Andrea. We see a tender side to Andrea in fighting off Dara's bullies, in contrast to scenes where Andrea refuses to help Dara, in the initial weeks following her accident. Zakros' flashbacks are a little less heartwrenching, essentially telling the tale of a centuries-old unrequired incestuous love.
I absolutely adored Volume 1: Fire, and I absolutely adored Volume 2: Water, but for completely different reasons. Fire set up the backstory and mythology, literally providing the fuel for Dara to go on her mission of vengeance. Water is where the story kicks into gear, and we see Dara go into Kill-Bill-bride-mode, avenging her family's death.
I mentioned in my review of Fire that this series lends itself beautifully to being adapted for film or TV. The same is true in Water, with battle scenes that I would just kill to see on the screen. We have cars being crushed and telekinetically thrown across the street, people literally having the water squeezed out of them, waves upon waves of razor sharp ice boomerangs and spears, and FISTS MADE OUT OF WATER. This is all capped off by a final stand on a goddamn ice fortress, surrounded by mist and icy cold pouring rain. If that's not epic, I don't know what is.
I enjoyed the contrast of the literally 'cold' action scenes against the warm family flashbacks. It added a depth to Dara during those scenes - instead of just being some crazy bitch on the rampage, those flashbacks helped to give context to her actions. They helped us to understand exactly what she was avenging when she came to her family's deaths, to understand what exactly it was that she was missing most about them. It just made it that much cooler when Dara plunged her sword through Zakros' chest in Andrea's honour.
Zakros' flashbacks were also pretty interesting. As far as I can see, there are two possible reasons for randomly including the incest storyline. 1) To make the reader loathe Zakros, to further justify Dara killing him. Or 2) To make the reader question the amorality of incest as being a social construct, and whether it could really be considered 'wrong' in their case (especially given their weird birth circumstances). Either way, it was certainly interesting! I was intrigued by the fact that all three siblings think humans to be pathetic, but Malia has adopted some of their ways of thinking, and has a fair bit more respect for them than Zakros.
Oh, and before I forget - I failed to mention something vital in my review of Volume 1: Fire! If you like gore at all, PICK UP THIS GODDAMN SERIES. It's not just piles of indiscernible blood and goo, we have severed jaws, exploding eyeballs, razor sharp ice boomerangs opening the people like meatsacks, and severed limbs! It's incredibly shocking, incredibly violent, incredibly gross, and yet it doesn't ever stoop to the level of dumb slasher flick.
Overall: I frakking love this series. It manages to balance gore, revenge, heartache, demigods and bloody ice fortresses while still staying intelligent and compelling. I just want to devour this series, so it's a shame that it's only 24 issues long!
This is all juxtaposed against emotional flashbacks from Dara and Zakros' past. In Dara's flashbacks, we see more of her tumultuous relationship with her late sister, Andrea. We see a tender side to Andrea in fighting off Dara's bullies, in contrast to scenes where Andrea refuses to help Dara, in the initial weeks following her accident. Zakros' flashbacks are a little less heartwrenching, essentially telling the tale of a centuries-old unrequired incestuous love.
I absolutely adored Volume 1: Fire, and I absolutely adored Volume 2: Water, but for completely different reasons. Fire set up the backstory and mythology, literally providing the fuel for Dara to go on her mission of vengeance. Water is where the story kicks into gear, and we see Dara go into Kill-Bill-bride-mode, avenging her family's death.
I mentioned in my review of Fire that this series lends itself beautifully to being adapted for film or TV. The same is true in Water, with battle scenes that I would just kill to see on the screen. We have cars being crushed and telekinetically thrown across the street, people literally having the water squeezed out of them, waves upon waves of razor sharp ice boomerangs and spears, and FISTS MADE OUT OF WATER. This is all capped off by a final stand on a goddamn ice fortress, surrounded by mist and icy cold pouring rain. If that's not epic, I don't know what is.
I enjoyed the contrast of the literally 'cold' action scenes against the warm family flashbacks. It added a depth to Dara during those scenes - instead of just being some crazy bitch on the rampage, those flashbacks helped to give context to her actions. They helped us to understand exactly what she was avenging when she came to her family's deaths, to understand what exactly it was that she was missing most about them. It just made it that much cooler when Dara plunged her sword through Zakros' chest in Andrea's honour.
Zakros' flashbacks were also pretty interesting. As far as I can see, there are two possible reasons for randomly including the incest storyline. 1) To make the reader loathe Zakros, to further justify Dara killing him. Or 2) To make the reader question the amorality of incest as being a social construct, and whether it could really be considered 'wrong' in their case (especially given their weird birth circumstances). Either way, it was certainly interesting! I was intrigued by the fact that all three siblings think humans to be pathetic, but Malia has adopted some of their ways of thinking, and has a fair bit more respect for them than Zakros.
Oh, and before I forget - I failed to mention something vital in my review of Volume 1: Fire! If you like gore at all, PICK UP THIS GODDAMN SERIES. It's not just piles of indiscernible blood and goo, we have severed jaws, exploding eyeballs, razor sharp ice boomerangs opening the people like meatsacks, and severed limbs! It's incredibly shocking, incredibly violent, incredibly gross, and yet it doesn't ever stoop to the level of dumb slasher flick.
Overall: I frakking love this series. It manages to balance gore, revenge, heartache, demigods and bloody ice fortresses while still staying intelligent and compelling. I just want to devour this series, so it's a shame that it's only 24 issues long!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2019
The flashbacks are even better than the main story. While the latter focuses on a manhunt and spectacular battle that puts the X-Men's Iceman to shame, the former is and emotional look on family relations and the hardships of a paraplegic. It's so rare that I find it hard to put a comic down, but this one is certainly one of those few page-turners. Also did anyone notice how, on the cover, it almost looks like the sword is coming out of Zakros's pants? That was a poor choice for a layout.
Dara wants to kill the trio who murdered her family, but they are in hiding. Dara is joined by Julie and Jason on the road to the Bahamas where Zakron was often found by Demetrios in his stories.
Dara wants to kill the trio who murdered her family, but they are in hiding. Dara is joined by Julie and Jason on the road to the Bahamas where Zakron was often found by Demetrios in his stories.
April 21, 2013
I originally picked up this comic up because Blair Butler (Attack of the Show) recommended it. While the story is descent (3.5 stars, maybe 4), the art was not my cup of tea. Everybody looks ambiguously gendered and they remind me of the people in those, "In case of an emergency" pamphlets you may find in airplanes. Faces have no depth nor any real defining characteristics. The only way I can tell characters apart is from their hair color and hair style. That being said, Jonathan Luna (the illustrator) does something I haven't seen before. He makes you feel like you are viewing the events in person by making the foreground and background blurry like when you are focusing on a specific person or item.
I'm writing this at like midnight, so forgive me for the bad punctuation, and the fragment and run on sentences. And I'm too lazy to come back and fix them. Well honestly, I probably couldn't fix them anyways.
I'm writing this at like midnight, so forgive me for the bad punctuation, and the fragment and run on sentences. And I'm too lazy to come back and fix them. Well honestly, I probably couldn't fix them anyways.
November 15, 2015
Violent. And relatively simple. Actually the violence was pretty impressive and imaginative. It was definitely and interesting way of using powers of water versus sword. And unlike many comics, it was pretty easy to follow. There was less to this entire book then the previous one. But the art and writing was still good enough. And the flashbacks were good as well. 3.5 of 5.
May 9, 2015
This is kind of too simplistic, but it's a fun and easy read. I'll probably go and finish out the series but if you're looking for more than a revenge story, I don't think this is it.
April 23, 2025
This is a pretty bad series so far. The main character is completely unlikable and her friends are not great either (or particularly useful) . They’re like sidekicks without actually kicking anything on the side or anywhere else.
I can guess the main character will loose the sword and get captured in every single volume. It’s almost to painful to know that im most likely right. Basically its the same story written 4 times in 4 different elements.
like if “the last airbender” was made for adults and really, really (like really really) sucked.
3✨
I can guess the main character will loose the sword and get captured in every single volume. It’s almost to painful to know that im most likely right. Basically its the same story written 4 times in 4 different elements.
like if “the last airbender” was made for adults and really, really (like really really) sucked.
3✨
April 7, 2018
So the first part of Dara's quest for put vengeance for her family is at an end. In this issue, it's the one that killed her sister Andrea. In the comic we also got to see her relationship with her sister in a non-liner direction. Along with Zakros and his creepy relationship with his sister and how much he likes his brother.
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March 21, 2023A sword and sorcery in modern times
This was another great volume of The Sword. I first read the 1st volume and couldn't put it down and went to the second one which was just as good. Building on a modern day Sword & Sorcery tale. Now it's time to read Vol 3
This was another great volume of The Sword. I first read the 1st volume and couldn't put it down and went to the second one which was just as good. Building on a modern day Sword & Sorcery tale. Now it's time to read Vol 3
December 20, 2017
Amazing. It's like someone took the Puppet Master Halloween episode of ATLA and gave it a fuckload of steroids
May 20, 2018
Great comic!
September 3, 2020
Who, the water fight was really good. Looking forward to Earth and Air.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2022
Well damn, if you ever wanted to see what the water bending in avatar could do with a R rating you get that here
September 23, 2015
Dara Brighton is on the run from the authorities and on the trail of the three siblings who killed her parents and sister. Her best friend Julie and random funeral goer Justin are along for the ride since they are accomplices to her escape from killing some would-be kidnappers in the last issue. Justin was a student of Dara's dad who remembered fantastic stories the father told in his college class: a man named Demetrios lived 4000 years ago on the island of Crete. Four siblings showed up with miraculous elemental powers and demanded control of the island. One brother, Phaistos, wanted total control so the other three plotted against him. They created a sword that could kill him and would grant the wielder superhuman powers. They gave the sword to Demetrios who did the job. Then Demetrios turned on them (since the sword would kill them too) and forced them to live in hiding for thousands of years. In later stories, one of the siblings used to hang out in the Bahamas a lot. So Dara heads there with Justin and Julie to find him. After a long trip from Washington, D.C., to the Bahamas, and several days of fruitless searching, she finds the man and they have a massive fight.
I like the overall expanding story, with more information given about the history of the siblings. But the plot runs on lots of coincidences and contrivances. When Dara and friends make it to Miami they can't afford a regular ferry ticket but they happen to meet a family that's going over on their private yacht. The family eventually recognizes her as that crazy woman from TV that killed her family and a bunch of other people, but just in time some pirates attack the yacht. Dara is able to subdue the pirates and they escape, suddenly making the family trusting and helpful. The final battle is very exciting and over-the-top in a good way, so I am going to stick around to see what's going to happen in the next volume.
Parental advisory--like the first issue, this has a lot of violence, including hacked limbs and torsos, along with some foul language and an unlikely sexual relationship (with just a little backside nudity and discussion).
I like the overall expanding story, with more information given about the history of the siblings. But the plot runs on lots of coincidences and contrivances. When Dara and friends make it to Miami they can't afford a regular ferry ticket but they happen to meet a family that's going over on their private yacht. The family eventually recognizes her as that crazy woman from TV that killed her family and a bunch of other people, but just in time some pirates attack the yacht. Dara is able to subdue the pirates and they escape, suddenly making the family trusting and helpful. The final battle is very exciting and over-the-top in a good way, so I am going to stick around to see what's going to happen in the next volume.
Parental advisory--like the first issue, this has a lot of violence, including hacked limbs and torsos, along with some foul language and an unlikely sexual relationship (with just a little backside nudity and discussion).
March 2, 2016
This book is just as good as the others. It captures the readers attention and continues to add new twist and turns. In this book the Dara takes on one of the brothers with super powers. He controls water so he had a pretty big advantage on Dara. But in the end the good guy always prevails.
If this book happened to have an extra chapter I believe in the end she would have found out that she could die if she does not touch the sword for to long. Also it could an amazing plot twist. An example is there being a fifth sibling the the power siblings. If that was to happen it would probably be a female and she would have metal bending powers. A lot could happen in one chapter but it's what you really make of it.
If this book happened to have an extra chapter I believe in the end she would have found out that she could die if she does not touch the sword for to long. Also it could an amazing plot twist. An example is there being a fifth sibling the the power siblings. If that was to happen it would probably be a female and she would have metal bending powers. A lot could happen in one chapter but it's what you really make of it.
November 18, 2011
This installation was a bit of a letdown after the exciting first chapter set the bar so high. However, it's still definitely readable and more original than most stuff out there.
I must say I was disappointed by Dara Brighton's response when the god-brother challenged the ethics of the human race.
To his query,
"Who punishes your kind for exterminating rats or slaughtering cows to make your cheeseburgers? Do you not abuse? Enslave? Kill?"
She replies,
“Those are animals. They’re not the same as people."
Dara, you're supposed to be a champion of the oppressed. Defending the dominant paradigm is sooo pre-all powerful sword ownership.
I must say I was disappointed by Dara Brighton's response when the god-brother challenged the ethics of the human race.
To his query,
"Who punishes your kind for exterminating rats or slaughtering cows to make your cheeseburgers? Do you not abuse? Enslave? Kill?"
She replies,
“Those are animals. They’re not the same as people."
Dara, you're supposed to be a champion of the oppressed. Defending the dominant paradigm is sooo pre-all powerful sword ownership.
March 9, 2013
Dara and her friends track Zakros, the water brother, to Nassau. A massive battle of gods ensues, wreaking watery havoc and death for miles around.
Similar to the first volume. Weak art, although there were a couple pages that I really liked (). The Lunas actually did a reasonably good job of making the battle feel epic and of exploring both parties' capabilities. They use flashbacks of Dara's sister and her early paralysis quite well. Still not what I'd call a good book, but I'm also still looking forward the next volume.
Similar to the first volume. Weak art, although there were a couple pages that I really liked (). The Lunas actually did a reasonably good job of making the battle feel epic and of exploring both parties' capabilities. They use flashbacks of Dara's sister and her early paralysis quite well. Still not what I'd call a good book, but I'm also still looking forward the next volume.
Read
August 2, 2011Although I was really hopeful for this series with its amazing debut, the second volume turned out quite boring. The thing is, because the excessive computer work done on the Luna Brothers' art, it is the story's power that moves me to read the rest. However, once the story falters, the art starts to stick its too-bland head out... sort of a disappointment i'm afraid, though I will pick up the next volume, just to see where they are going with it.
July 23, 2013
This one was kind of flat. Obviously, there has to be background (Both for Dara and the siblings) but the 'water' sibling? He's kind of an idiot. As I said in my last review, I don't know HOW these guys got to be 4,000 years old and not learn to manipulate the system better. Learn to be subtle.
Since the other sibling battles have to be built up, I guess this was just filler. It kind of read like it too.
Since the other sibling battles have to be built up, I guess this was just filler. It kind of read like it too.
December 20, 2013
Not quite as engaging as the first volume, but still a huge chunk of awesomeness that begs you to turn the pages. This second volume is a little more action driven than the first, which is probably why I didn't like it as much. You get less character insights, but there are still some amazing dramatic moments. If you're into watching people get a whooping, you won't be disappointed!
I can't wait to read the third volume.
I can't wait to read the third volume.
October 16, 2016
Following up the first volume, volume two carries on the Kill Bill revenge narrative forward with the hero seeking to combat the first of her father's assassins. Action dominated these pages, which can be fun, but I feel that this would make for a much better video game boss battle. The various battle techniques are neat, but there is not much more said on the topic at hand. It would be much more enjoyable within an interactive setting.
July 9, 2010
Really enjoying this graphic series, kind of a different take on the elemental gods. There's not a ton to say except that there seems to be no dearth of action throughout, and that feels rare in the graphic novels I've been reading of late. There's also the sense of danger and impossibility, and just a lot to love and little to dislike.
Can't wait to dive into the third.
Can't wait to dive into the third.
June 14, 2014
I really like this story line! So far this series has been awesome, the only downside is that aside from the cover art, the art is pretty basic, which is disappointing because I like the story so much.
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