Book Review - Barbaric Vol. 2: Axe to Grind by Michael Moreci + Giveaway

 

Barbaric Vol. 2: Axe to Grind by Michael Moreci is about Owen, the protagonist from the first volume, facing an enemy from his past. Owen learns that a malicious demigod, Gladius, has returned. He had tried killing Gladius before but Gladius managed to escape before Owen could finish him off.  Owen’s bloodthirsty weapon, Axe doesn’t mind that Owen is following his own plan of vengeance because he wants to try god blood. As Owen tries to track down Gladius, he is joined by Soren and his barbarian comrade, Steel, who is now a timid vampire who prefers to avoid violence.

The graphic novel was the second book in the series. It follows the same artwork style and storyline from the previous novel. I thought it was a quick and entertaining read. I liked learning more about Owen’s past and seeing him bond more with Soren. Like the previous graphic novel, it has humor sprinkled throughout. The graphic novel does contain one short story at the end which shows an interaction between Owen and Axe in the past. It isn't directly related to the story but I thought it was a fun inclusion for those who want more Owen’s and Axe’s adventures.  I am excited to read the third part of the series to see what happens next!

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BARBARIC VOL. 3: HELL TO PAY by Michael Moreci, Nicholas Eames, Nathan C. Gooden & QUEEN  OF SWORDS: A BARBARIC TALES by Michael Moreci & Corin Howell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Books:

Title: BARBARIC VOL. 3: HELL TO PAY

Authors: Michael Moreci, Nicholas Eames, Nathan C. Gooden (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: January 2, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BARBARIC-VOL-3-HELL-TO-PAY

As one of Entertainment Weekly’s “10 Best Comics of 2021,” BARBARIC – featuring Owen the Barbarian and his bloodthirsty companion Axe – is back: bigger, bloodier, and badder than ever with BARBARIC Vol. 3: HELL TO PAY!

Hailed as one of the best comics of 2021 by Entertainment Weekly, Thrillist, Screen Rant, and more, bestselling BARBARIC is back, big, bloody and headed straight to Hell in Volume 3: Hell to Pay!

While Owen tames a dragon with an old friend, Soren and Steel cross paths with someone else from our cursed barbarian’s past…who isn’t looking nearly as friendly. Hell hath no fury like a woman stabbed through the heart by an ugly f***ing orc.

Oh, wait! Who’s carrying Axe?

BARBARIC Volume 3: Hell to Pay includes the oversized one-shot Wrong Kind of Righteous co-written by fantasy powerhouse writer Nicholas Eames (Kings of the Wyld)!!

For fans of BRZRKR!, The Witcher, Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, Heathen, Rat Queens, Kings of the Wyld, and Dungeons and Dragons!

Collects the third three-issue miniseries (Hell to Pay) and the special one-shot standalone (Wrong Kind of Righteous)!

It’s just … BARBARIC!

From writer Michael Moreci (Wasted Space, The Plot,Spree, and Revealer) and artist Nathan C. Gooden (Brandon Sanderson's Dark One, The RUSH, Vampire: The Masquerade)!

Own a whole lot of Owen, Axe, and the BARBARIC universe with:
Barbaric Vol. 1: Murderable Offenses (hardcover)
Barbaric Vol. 1: Murderable Offenses (trade paperback)
Barbaric Vol. 2: Axe to Grind (trade paperback)
Barbaric Vol. 3: Hell to Pay (trade paperback)
Queen of Swords: A Barbaric Tale (trade paperback)

PRAISE FOR BARBARIC

‘One of the “10 Best Comics of 2021…” Barbaric took only three issues to establish itself as a first-rate comic.’ - Entertainment Weekly

‘One of the “Best Comics of 2021…” It's a funny, gory, weird comic with stunning art in muted colors.’ – Thrillist

‘One of the “Best Comic Books and Graphic Novels of 2021…” the “excellent…violent, expletive-filled fantasy epic Barbaric never holds back… It’s bloody spectacular.”’ - Screen Rant

"A visually stunning, incredibly funny, action-packed bloody tale." - Comic Book Yeti

 

Title: QUEEN  OF SWORDS: A BARBARIC TALES

Authors: Michael Moreci & Corin Howell (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: January 2, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 112

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indigo, Powell’s, BAM, Bookshop, Blackwell’s

Barbarian. Assassin. Witch. Red Sonja meets Dungeons & Dragons in Queen of Swords: A Barbaric Tale, where the triple threat of women's fury rises - bursting from the pages of the smash, BARBARIC (one of Entertainment Weekly's "Best Comics of 2021!")!

Magic and mayhem, humor and trouble,
Fire burns as blood flows and bubbles ...

Spinning out of the pages of BARBARIC comes an all-new, rip-roaring fantasy adventure, filled with mayhem, humor, and a bloodthirsty weapon that just won’t stop talking!

Serra is a witch with a checkered past; Ka is an assassin with an agenda all her own, and Deadheart is a barbarian who wants to bash everyone in her path. They’ll have to unite their unique skills to track down a powerful foe who’s tied their lives together. Get ready to meet your new favorite instrument of death—the evil Ga’Bar, whose spirit is now trapped in Deadheart’s sword!

Discover the origin of the dark magic that turned Soren into the tattooed witch she is today, in this totally new story, the perfect place to step into the world of BARBARIC for the first time!

Hell's got nothin' on these badass Barbaric belles...

Collects the entire, standalone three-issue series!

 

About Michael Moreci:

Michael Moreci is a bestselling comics author, screenwriter, and novelist. His original comic works include The Plot, Curse, Barbaric, Wasted Space (all for VAULT COMICS), the upcoming Creepy the Snowman Middle Grade graphic novel – with his two sons – for WONDERBOUND, Roche Limit, and more. He's also written canonical stories for Stranger Things, Star Wars, Hack/Slash, and the DC universe. Additionally, Moreci ‘s first movie, Revealer, premiered in Fall 2021 and he's in pre-production on a second film.

Keep in touch:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Nathan Gooden:

An award-winning illustrator and sequential artist, Nathan C. Gooden is Art Director at Vault Comics. Nathan studied animation at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and worked in film production, before co-founding Vault Comics. Nathan’s previous works include Brandon Sanderson’s Dark One (Vault), Barbaric (Vault), Zojaqan (Vault), and  Killbox (from American Gothic Press). He lives in Southern California, where he plays a lot of basketball and hikes constantly with his wife. 
Keep in touch:

Instagram

 

About Nicholas Eames:

Nicholas Eames was born to parents of infinite patience and unstinting support in Wingham, Ontario. Kings of the Wyld is his first novel, Bloody Rose his second! He lives in British Columbia, Canada, and  loves black coffee, neat whiskey, the month of October, and video games, anime, movies, and all things awesome.

He is co-wrote(with Michael Moreci) the one-shot, oversized comic BARBARIC: Wrong Kind of Righteous for Vault Comics!

Keep in touch:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Corin Howell:

Corin Howell is a red head Comic Artist of spooky, scary, and sexy, and monsters, maidens, and robots.
I love cats too.
She is the artist for the supernatural detective series from Vault, SHADOW SERVICE, with bestselling author Cavan Scott.          Hometown:  Austin, TX

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of BARBARIC VOL. 3: HELL TO PAY & QUEEN  OF SWORDS: A BARBARIC TALES, US Only.

Ends January 16th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/18/2023	Writer of Wrongs	Excerpt
12/19/2023	Comic Book Yeti	Interview Nicholas Eames /IG Post
12/20/2023	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
12/21/2023	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
12/22/2023	The Momma Spot	Excerpt

Week Two:

12/25/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Interview Michael & Nate/IG Post
12/26/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
12/27/2023	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
12/28/2023	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
12/29/2023	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post/TikTok Post

Week Three:

1/1/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
1/2/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
1/3/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
1/4/2024	The Knight's Guild	Review
1/5/2024	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review

Week Four:

1/8/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
1/9/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Review/IG Post
1/10/2024	@ashe_and_ink	IG Review
1/11/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
1/12/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review

Book Review - The Plot - The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 by Michael Moreci

 

The Plot - The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 by Michael Moreci is about a man, Chase Blaine, who tried running from his family’s past. Chase wanted nothing to do with his family and their wealth. He wanted to live his own life without the weight of his family’s name burdening him. 

When his estranged older brother and sister in law unexpectedly dies, he has no choice but to come back home. He is the only living relative and becomes the guardian of his niece and nephew, MacKenzie and Zach. He decides to move them back to his childhood home in Cape Augusta. He doesn’t have enough space in his current apartment and he doesn’t want the children to live in the home where their parents were killed. Their ancestral home has been in the family for decades and is built on a remote and vast bogland. The home is filled with family secrets  that won’t stay buried forever.

The graphic novel was beautifully illustrated with dark and gloomy colors. The story behind the house and the family’s past was interesting but I felt like I was left with more questions than answers. I felt that the graphic novel hinted at a lot of mysteries and devious things but never actually spent any time explaining it.  I do wish that there was more plot and explanations in the first volume because I can see readers abandoning the series because there wasn’t a lot to keep them hooked. I am open to reading the next volume to see what happens next but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.

Book Review - Barbaric Murderable Offenses by Michael Moreci

 

Barbaric Murderable Offenses by Michael Moreci is about a Barbarian who is under three witches’ curse and his journey to find a way to unravel it. The witches have put Owen under the curse as atonement for his murderous past. To help him with his journey, he is accompanied by a literally bloodthirsty talking Axe that serves as his moral compass. 

Owen is trying to be good even if it  means leaving a bloody trail of bodies. When he comes across a witch that needs help, he is hesitant to help her since three witches put him in his current predicament. He will need to put his resentment aside because he is cursed to help whoever needs his help. Owen wants to reclaim his free will and to go back to his original nature.  Will Owen be able to figure out a way to break the curse?

The graphic novel was filled with humor and action. I liked that the story was easy to follow and the author revealed the protagonist’s history early on. The author did leave a few things a mystery, which I don’t mind since that kept me hooked for the next book. The artwork is beautifully done and looks amazing. I can’t wait to read the next installment.