It really explores a bunch of Shanhara's history - as well as the history of the Vine. Something that wasn't plotted at all in the original Valiant run. The story behind the naming is also clear, too. As is much of Aric's own history by the end of the story. But I am getting too far ahead. I liked the tale of the orb growing out of a plant - and the door is left open for some of the Vine's own personal history related to the armor, too. Did anyone else wear it? Something particularly important to the tale was the armor's selection of the wearer as a warrior worthy of wielding its power. This may very well come back to haunt Aric in the future. It reminded me of the level a hero goes to pursue his or her own conquest. Does that hero have an ability to stay within the chosen path - and really follow the moral compass established? Where does justice cross over to vengeance? Now, fast forward to the end of the story where Aric confronts the priest. "Shanhara has deemed you worthy. The future of the Vine is yours to decide." When Aric confronts his own attackers - he is probably well within the moral compass of his own captors and confrontations. When he starts to take actions into his own hands, he may be crossing the line. His people kept as slaves may slow him here. But at the crux of this confrontation - and my own guessing - is that Aric really crossing over this line may present the armor - and eventually Aric - with a confrontation that may separate the two - but probably only temporarily. The center of the book is mostly the beginning of the extermination. And rather handily. But keep in mind that the Vine really grew from their own extermination and oppression. Even though Aric's vengeance is swift and strong, unless all are eliminated, that conflict may never come to its closure.
Perhaps a flash SIDEWAYS?
The story isn't bad - even good. But the telling of the story is such a mess, that it gets in the way of nearly everything else. I don't understand - or maybe I am really tired - why the flashback at the same time of the telling is so important. And it's too bad. This comic had some potential to really be saved - but the mess gets all up in the way of everything else. This may have been the nail in the coffin. It;s more serious than the earliest issue, but doesn't even make me want to keep reading it at all.