Join the Iconics in the Nexian City of Ecanus as they race to escape and find the defector before it’s too late in Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2 by Dynamite Entertainment!
PATHFINDER: WAKE THE DEAD #2
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Eman Casallos
Colorist: Jorge Sutil
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Editor: Joe Rybandt
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 26th, 2023
Previously in Pathfinder: Sajan, Lem, Quinn, Seelah, and Harsk were searching for Gabsalia Venris, an advisor to a Geb spymaster. They were ambushed by Nexian Deathsealers and caught in a battle between Nex and Geb.
Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2 shows Nex on high alert as the Iconics struggle to escape the Nexian soldiers. Quinn takes one of the Deathsealer’s swords which warns them when they are around undead. Using the sword to guide them to safety, they find themselves face-to-face with the Iconic Necromancer Nyctessa from Geb. Nyctessa reveals that Gabsalia was last seen in the Mana Wastes and that she has a list of sleeper agents in every major city and organization who, when they die, will become undead loyal servants to Geb. The group collaborates with Nyctessa and goes to a Nexian fleshforge to escape into the Mana Wastes, keeping an uneasy alliance.
As a tabletop game, Pathfinder has always relied heavily on the Iconics in their artwork. As I read Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2, it felt like I was watching these representations of classes rather than getting three-dimensional protagonists. And I think that is by design. We are here to show off Nex and Geb’s fantastic setting and lore, which I admit has some neat ideas. But if we look at what makes a good story, we need stronger characters to become attached to. This means that the cast of characters is probably too large to get them more than just a couple of funny moments. However, only Harsk had a real obstacle and decision in this issue. As we learn more about the setting, maybe future issues will have a little more space to explore the personalities of these characters.
The art in this book feels distinctly Pathfinder, and I recognize most of these architecture and characters from the rulebooks I have read. I was fascinated by the interpretation of magic and the cool undead designs. Great work here.
The book has nothing wrong, but it lacks the depth of the epic adventure you expect. However, I acknowledge that is probably not the writers’ intention; instead, they want to feature the setting because that will connect you to the tabletop game. Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2 is a solid 3.5 out of 5, and I’ll be following the rest of the series closely.
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Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2
Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #2 shows the strength of the Pathfinder lore but needs a little more character depth.
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Christopher Rondeau is a storyteller based in Tulsa, OK. Finding himself with little work, he ended up creating a job as a Game Master full time on the internet. Chris spends most of his days reading everything he can, writing bad fiction, and watching old Digimon cartoons with his daughter. Sometimes you can find him Dungeon Mastering a podcast or streaming on twitch. Recently, he has completed his Master's degree with a focus on collaborative storytelling. Find out more at https://rondeaucreator.com