The Rainbow Orchid Volume 2
Having picked up and thoroughly enjoyed volume one of the Rainbow Orchid at BICS last year, I couldn't wait for volume two to arrive.
It was the distinct clear line style, the 1920s setting, the Indianna Jones-style quest and sheer quality of the print that attracted me to the first instalment.
And on reading it did not disappoint with the quest for the mythical Rainbow Orchid with a rich cast including hero Julius Chancer, the assistant to archeologist, a Hollywood actress, greedy businessman, investigative reporter.
Now creator Garen Ewing has delivered the second part - picking up with the heroes in a bi-plane heading to Karachi.
There are kidnappings, chases, betrayal, intrigue, several twists and some slapstick from animal-loving Hollywood agent Nathaniel over the 40 action packed pages.
The backdrops are superb as the team follows a trail across Pakistan to the foothills of the Himalayas. ![]()
The details make it special - the vehicles, aeroplanes, farms, villages, mountain ranges and wild animals - including the snow leopard featured on the cover - give the story great depth.
A scene in London opens with a large panel showing the Natural History Museum, grand imposing with arches towering over and stairways falling away below a small figure in the foreground. Beautiful.
The Rainbow Orchid volume 2 is out in July, published by Egmont Books, priced £6.99.




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Rather than let the pace slip like so many books that fill the middle of a series, Garen busies The Rainbow Orchid Volume Two with that many events you'd think there would be need for a scorecard but his characters are that memorable there's no need.
I've remarked before that in Volume One (or its serialised previous versions) Garen came up with one of the best little fight scenes in comics - something one usually expects within the superhero and 2000AD gunfest comics subgenres - and this time he pulls off two extended fight scenes that demonstrate his use sequential choreography well.
Garen Ewing, the creator of The Rainbow Orchid series, will be featured in an exclusive Speech Balloons interview in the near future.