In Supergods,
Grant Morrison writes "It's not so much that history is cyclical, it
seems to progress via recursive, repeated, fractal patterns with minute
variations" (294).
While Conan the Barbarian #6 concludes the arc of the
"Argos Deception," it also hearkens back to the beginning of Wood's
run on the series and positions the plot for a future story to fall into this
fractal pacing. Such structure unites the previous issues and weaves a strong structure for Brian Wood's Conan compositions.
So far in
"The Argos Deception," Bêlit and
her crew plan and execute a scheme to rob the port of Messantia
by offering Conan as public-execution bait. While the populace assembles around the
chopping block, the crew of the Tigress procure treasure (pirate style), give Conan a
fighting chance, and then set the town afire (also pirate style) and wait aboard the ship for Bêlit, Conan, and N'Yaga to embark so
they can sail a swift escape against the scenery of a setting sun.
It seems
simple.
Of course
it doesn't go as plan.
Even
though enough edged and blunt trauma occur to provide a plethora of cadavers to
Argos's medical students, this action serves
solely as the McGuffin; the deeper focus of the issue transpires in
Conan's head where he again, with a fractal reflection to previous issues,
contemplates his freedom, love, and loyalty wound within his relation to Bêlit. This relation seems simple, but
of course Conan's unsure of the plan.
Wood
reroutes the reader back to issue while Conan revels in his freedom slipping
through the streets atop a horse thinking, "And
for the second time in a few short weeks, the Cimmerian rides the streets of
Messantia...but this ride could not be more different. He rides with passion
and purpose. He rides to reunite with his lover and her crew of loyal
followers. He rides to his future. But is this his future, he wonders?...He
doubts himself suddenly." By having the narrator relay Conan's thoughts,
Wood reminds readers of the first issue, and issue 5 that contained
hefty doses of the barbarian's self doubt.
Wood interweaves another recursive strand by conveying
Conan's concern regarding his relation with Bêlit,"And
in that moment, Conan the Cimmerian realizes something else...he is a free man.
He is not tied to the Tigress. He is not beholden to anyone. He is as free as
he was the last time he was on horseback...that thrilling chase through the
streets. He could not help but laugh as he rose, even with the guards behind.
Surely he could feel that way again? Why not just ride as he did before, but
away, off to an unknown future?" It seems
simple, but these narrator boxes have Wood returning Conan (and readers) to
events in earlier issues. These rebounds seem to exceed a basic hack-and-slash plot-plan for
issue 6. Wood has some sneaky subtext slipping slyly through issue 6.
But
why? Initially, this recursion and extended
escape seems tedious and unnecessary, but upon re-reading (and thinking
while composing this post), these mental returns and repeats of Conan seem to
serve several schemes beyond just providing a textual backdrop to James
Harren's and Dave Stewart's revelings in panels replete with blood-gushing
lacerations, decapitations, and penetrations of brutality.
N'yaga's
response to Conan's query of "Why not just
ride as he did before, but away, off to an unknown future?" provide a
parallel purpose to Conan's ride : "Conan. She chose you Conan. Do not
despair. My mistress rules with terrible violence, but that is the law that
governs in lawless lands. You know that. You are profoundly conflicted. And I
say again, do not despair. There is another way, a path between the chaos and
desolation...You can find the way to her heart. And you can understand her.
And, in that, perhaps she will understand you too."
Learning
and love are recursive. When understanding, at some initial level, is finally
achieved, the entirety and full range of knowledge about the topic isn't known
instantaneously. In this detail of
Conan's ride to a greater understanding, Wood deftly bolster's authenticity in
portraying this young and inexperienced Conan in front of the readers. To
thoroughly learn a lesson, the subject must be revisited and reflected upon to
gather its full import and effect. It sounds simple, but of course it so often
is not.
We're not treated to a verbal answer from
the barbarian, to N'Yaga's urging towards understanding, but judging from the
stern melancholy look on Conan's face and the fact that he perseveres in his
hunt for Bêlit[1], the barbarian provides
his answer. Through these recursive fractal reflections Wood cinches
tighter the bond and believability of Conan and Bêlit's relationship. It
seems simple, but such understanding demands repeated returns.
[1] …which is
puzzling. How did Bêlit end up captured by two guards? When seen in the last
issue, she had blood running down her demonic murder-eager face after knifing
two high-ranking city guards. How could she be so easily captured by a pair of
inept Messantian guards? Bêlit should be flossing her teeth with their arteries
as she strolls back to the Tigress.
No comments:
Post a Comment