What do you think?
Rate this book
Umbral #2
Umbral: Vol. 2: The Dark Path
The young thief Rascal has discovered a plot by the Umbral, evil shadow creatures from another dimension, to take over the kingdom. The monsters can hide in plain sight, taking the form of their victims... and they've already replaced the King and Queen! After stealing a magical gem called the Oculus, Rascal escaped the city with a ragtag band of rebels and foreigners: Dalone, a mysterious wizard; Shayim, a one-eyed smuggler; and Profoss Munty, a drunkard scholar. They plan to destroy the Oculus, banishing the Umbral for good. But to succeed they must trust one another, and in the paranoid world of Umbral, that's a hard task. Dalone claims to be five hundred years old; Shayim and Munty's people have been at war for centuries; and Rascal doesn't even realize that one of her party *is* an Umbral in disguise! Rascal's journey on the "dark path", through the mist-filled Bulaswode and beyond, will change her -- and everyone around her -- forever.
160 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2014
1 person is currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Antony Johnston
382 books375 followers** Sign up for Antony's newsletter at http://ajwriter.substack.com **
Antony Johnston is one of the most versatile writers of the modern era.
The Charlize Theron movie Atomic Blonde was based on his graphic novel. His murder mystery series The Dog Sitter Detective won the Barker Book Award. The Brigitte Sharp spy thrillers are in development for TV. His crime puzzle novel Can You Solve the Murder? reinvented the choose-your-own-story format for a modern audience. And his productivity guide The Organised Writer has helped authors all over the world take control of their workload.
Antony is a celebrated videogames writer, with genre-defining titles including Dead Space, Shadow of Mordor, and Resident Evil Village to his credit. His work on Silent Hill Ascension made him the only writer in the world to have contributed to all of gaming’s ‘big three’ horror franchises.
His immense body of work also includes Marvel superheroes such as Daredevil and Shang-Chi, the award-winning Alex Rider graphic novels, the post-apocalypse epic Wasteland, and more. He wrote and directed the film Crossover Point, made entirely in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.
An experienced podcaster and public speaker, he also frequently writes articles on the life of an author, and is a prolific musician.
Antony is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge, and sits on the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s videogames committee. He lives and works in England.
Antony Johnston is one of the most versatile writers of the modern era.
The Charlize Theron movie Atomic Blonde was based on his graphic novel. His murder mystery series The Dog Sitter Detective won the Barker Book Award. The Brigitte Sharp spy thrillers are in development for TV. His crime puzzle novel Can You Solve the Murder? reinvented the choose-your-own-story format for a modern audience. And his productivity guide The Organised Writer has helped authors all over the world take control of their workload.
Antony is a celebrated videogames writer, with genre-defining titles including Dead Space, Shadow of Mordor, and Resident Evil Village to his credit. His work on Silent Hill Ascension made him the only writer in the world to have contributed to all of gaming’s ‘big three’ horror franchises.
His immense body of work also includes Marvel superheroes such as Daredevil and Shang-Chi, the award-winning Alex Rider graphic novels, the post-apocalypse epic Wasteland, and more. He wrote and directed the film Crossover Point, made entirely in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.
An experienced podcaster and public speaker, he also frequently writes articles on the life of an author, and is a prolific musician.
Antony is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge, and sits on the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s videogames committee. He lives and works in England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 22, 2016
[3.75 stars]
February 19, 2015
The sequel to Rascal’s tale
Having reviewed Volume 1 – not too positively – I thought that I see if Volume 2 was any better and frankly it’s all starting to make a bit more sense now. The artwork is clearer as is the story and more fantasy characters are introduced.
Pointless to read this without having read Volume 1, the continuing journey of Rascal, Daione and her other “friends” is engaging enough as the Umbral try to convince her to join them whilst she learns magic at Daione’s hands. However, unsurprisingly, there is a traitor in their midst – or more than one?
Intriguing enough for me to want to know what happens next.
Having reviewed Volume 1 – not too positively – I thought that I see if Volume 2 was any better and frankly it’s all starting to make a bit more sense now. The artwork is clearer as is the story and more fantasy characters are introduced.
Pointless to read this without having read Volume 1, the continuing journey of Rascal, Daione and her other “friends” is engaging enough as the Umbral try to convince her to join them whilst she learns magic at Daione’s hands. However, unsurprisingly, there is a traitor in their midst – or more than one?
Intriguing enough for me to want to know what happens next.
October 19, 2021
The general pace of the storytelling picks up, lots of things happen, there are plenty of twists and turns, and then the series gets cancelled because no one was reading it. Boo! Just as it was getting good too!
August 3, 2017
Anyone know if there will be a volume 3?! I need to know what happens!
February 11, 2018
Darn. I’m disappointed that there’s no ending to this story. That’s going to bug me
Read
May 20, 2022It's been five years, but maybe it'll come off hiatus at some point because there's still so much left to the story.
April 18, 2025
"To be continued..."
It's about 11 years later
It's about 11 years later
January 12, 2020
I picked this up after finished Vol 2 because I was eager to find out what was in store for Rascal and her band of allies. I did note that there were only two volumes so I assumed this would conclude the story, unfortunately that wasn’t the case. This volume ends on another cliffhanger reveal and leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and I’m pretty gutted that there isn’t anymore to this story because it was really great.
The artwork is still gorgeous and I devoured the detail, it’s just a shame we won’t get to see the story to the end.
The artwork is still gorgeous and I devoured the detail, it’s just a shame we won’t get to see the story to the end.
April 29, 2016
Back to the system.
1. Plot, Characters & Setting:
Plot-wise I definitely liked where the story went a lot more than the first volume. It flowed a lot easier, though the intrigue and suspicion plot got old after a little while.
I am so thankful that we got more characters in the second volume (I mean, there had to have been more of a cast anyways but still). It definitely enriched the world a lot more and fleshed out the backstory. Not only that, but the suspicion plot felt more at place with the introduction of new characters. That worked.
The fact that the first volume took place in just one city (Strakhelm) felt like the comic was stagnating a bit. The introduction of new places got the plot rolling and the characters stressed, which made the entire story so much more interesting. Really enjoyed the change in setting and the differences between each place.
4*s for this section.
2. Writing/Art Style
I feel like the writing style was actually more of a noticeable weakness in this volume. That’s definitely one of the downsides here. How? The dialogue of the characters and the unnecessary cursing felt so out of place. I know that this is supposed to be a different fantastical graphic novel series/comic that has a lot of gore and sudden twists and turns, but this aspect made the characters feel a little pushed to fit their roles. Not only that, but the development seemed somewhat rushed a bit. All of a sudden Shayim, for example, is in full protector mode whereas I didn’t necessarily get this in the first volume.
The art style remains the same as my review of the first volume: liked it, didn’t love it though. Was a little too blended together to where the consistency of the faces of characters didn’t match up. This added to a lack of fleshing out that I mention below.
2.5*s for this section.
3. Development
The pacing here was so much better. Suddenly I’m understanding why the foundation in the first volume wasn’t so solid; you get attached to the band of runaways that don’t fit together and instead associate the previous characters who got the chopping block with the Umbral. Not only that, but the twists and turns of this volume kept me more so on my toes (though this might be because I’m just getting back into reading and I’m still unused to certain tropes). I’m wanting to know more in the next volume based on this more even development. My only concern is that I would’ve liked more fleshing out of the events and places, though for me this isn’t a pacing issue (does that make sense?).
4*s for this section.
4. Bias
I’m more attached to Rascal now. God do I know how it is to be talked down to as a teenager and I’m sure more of you can relate as well. Also, the maps are still pretty. There, I said it. Also it reminds me so much of the first “Wheel of Time” book (yes, “Eye of the World”) plot-wise. So I’m more inclined to like it more and more based off of that.
GAH! Just take from that what you will.
Bias stated.
Overall: 3.5*s
Final Words: I will most likely be going on to the next volume if there is one. Anyone have any word when/if it’s coming out?
1. Plot, Characters & Setting:
Plot-wise I definitely liked where the story went a lot more than the first volume. It flowed a lot easier, though the intrigue and suspicion plot got old after a little while.
I am so thankful that we got more characters in the second volume (I mean, there had to have been more of a cast anyways but still). It definitely enriched the world a lot more and fleshed out the backstory. Not only that, but the suspicion plot felt more at place with the introduction of new characters. That worked.
The fact that the first volume took place in just one city (Strakhelm) felt like the comic was stagnating a bit. The introduction of new places got the plot rolling and the characters stressed, which made the entire story so much more interesting. Really enjoyed the change in setting and the differences between each place.
4*s for this section.
2. Writing/Art Style
I feel like the writing style was actually more of a noticeable weakness in this volume. That’s definitely one of the downsides here. How? The dialogue of the characters and the unnecessary cursing felt so out of place. I know that this is supposed to be a different fantastical graphic novel series/comic that has a lot of gore and sudden twists and turns, but this aspect made the characters feel a little pushed to fit their roles. Not only that, but the development seemed somewhat rushed a bit. All of a sudden Shayim, for example, is in full protector mode whereas I didn’t necessarily get this in the first volume.
The art style remains the same as my review of the first volume: liked it, didn’t love it though. Was a little too blended together to where the consistency of the faces of characters didn’t match up. This added to a lack of fleshing out that I mention below.
2.5*s for this section.
3. Development
The pacing here was so much better. Suddenly I’m understanding why the foundation in the first volume wasn’t so solid; you get attached to the band of runaways that don’t fit together and instead associate the previous characters who got the chopping block with the Umbral. Not only that, but the twists and turns of this volume kept me more so on my toes (though this might be because I’m just getting back into reading and I’m still unused to certain tropes). I’m wanting to know more in the next volume based on this more even development. My only concern is that I would’ve liked more fleshing out of the events and places, though for me this isn’t a pacing issue (does that make sense?).
4*s for this section.
4. Bias
I’m more attached to Rascal now. God do I know how it is to be talked down to as a teenager and I’m sure more of you can relate as well. Also, the maps are still pretty. There, I said it. Also it reminds me so much of the first “Wheel of Time” book (yes, “Eye of the World”) plot-wise. So I’m more inclined to like it more and more based off of that.
GAH! Just take from that what you will.
Bias stated.
Overall: 3.5*s
Final Words: I will most likely be going on to the next volume if there is one. Anyone have any word when/if it’s coming out?
January 14, 2016
Carrying on from the previous volume, which I assume you've already read if you're looking at the page for volume two...
Umbral is the tale of Rascal, a teenage thief on the run from mythical shadow-monsters called Umbral who want the magical gem she's stolen. With the aid of an immortal wizard, a drunken scholar, and a one-eyed pirate, Rascal's heading out into the hinterlands to hide... because, you see, nobody believes that the Umbral exist, much less that they're invading from their own nighrmare reality and can take the shape of those they kill. The Umbral are hot on her heels, though, and some factions vying for power make their presence known...
It's a dark fantasy comic that wears its inspiration on its sleeve---things like The Dark Crystal and Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar stories---and while a lot of the elements have been done before, Umbral manages to make so many old and busted fantasy tropes feel fresh and new again. Wizards, and monsters, and magical macguffins, and the orphan with an unknown past who's destined for great things? All done really well here. The writing is pretty damn good, a good blend of action and intrigue and humor, but the art steals the show. The art is pretty loose and gritty, and sometimes it's hard to keep track of what's going on, but most of the time it's pure epic beauty. The color palette is distinctive and vivid, dreamlike tones with starry purples and misty forest greens.
Just about every reservation I had with the first volume is fixed in volume two. The pacing is slower, and there's more of a focus on character- and world-building, which happens to be something Antony Johnston excels at. Rascal was already a well-characterized and awesome protag, a (non-sexualized, non-annoying) teenage girl raised by smugglers with a sharp sense of humor, and the supporting cast becomes more interesting thanks to some reveals and development. This volume packs plot twist upon plot twist; while it can still be somewhat confusing, things are stable enough that the reader should be able to pick up most of the details.
It's a real shame that the title didn't get the readership it needed, because the creative team was going gangbusters and this volume shows a series trending upward. Each issue ends on a cliffhanger that kept me reading, but unfortunately we don't get to see whatever happened after the last one. Umbral still offers a remarkably fresh take on the usual fantasy tropes, and I think it's worth picking up for the fantasy fan... provided you don't mind some confusing, unexplained bits, and the fact you'll only ever get to read about a fourth of the planned story.
Umbral is the tale of Rascal, a teenage thief on the run from mythical shadow-monsters called Umbral who want the magical gem she's stolen. With the aid of an immortal wizard, a drunken scholar, and a one-eyed pirate, Rascal's heading out into the hinterlands to hide... because, you see, nobody believes that the Umbral exist, much less that they're invading from their own nighrmare reality and can take the shape of those they kill. The Umbral are hot on her heels, though, and some factions vying for power make their presence known...
It's a dark fantasy comic that wears its inspiration on its sleeve---things like The Dark Crystal and Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar stories---and while a lot of the elements have been done before, Umbral manages to make so many old and busted fantasy tropes feel fresh and new again. Wizards, and monsters, and magical macguffins, and the orphan with an unknown past who's destined for great things? All done really well here. The writing is pretty damn good, a good blend of action and intrigue and humor, but the art steals the show. The art is pretty loose and gritty, and sometimes it's hard to keep track of what's going on, but most of the time it's pure epic beauty. The color palette is distinctive and vivid, dreamlike tones with starry purples and misty forest greens.
Just about every reservation I had with the first volume is fixed in volume two. The pacing is slower, and there's more of a focus on character- and world-building, which happens to be something Antony Johnston excels at. Rascal was already a well-characterized and awesome protag, a (non-sexualized, non-annoying) teenage girl raised by smugglers with a sharp sense of humor, and the supporting cast becomes more interesting thanks to some reveals and development. This volume packs plot twist upon plot twist; while it can still be somewhat confusing, things are stable enough that the reader should be able to pick up most of the details.
It's a real shame that the title didn't get the readership it needed, because the creative team was going gangbusters and this volume shows a series trending upward. Each issue ends on a cliffhanger that kept me reading, but unfortunately we don't get to see whatever happened after the last one. Umbral still offers a remarkably fresh take on the usual fantasy tropes, and I think it's worth picking up for the fantasy fan... provided you don't mind some confusing, unexplained bits, and the fact you'll only ever get to read about a fourth of the planned story.
April 5, 2015
Some things I love about "Umbral":
- Well written swords-and-sorcery fantasy
- Sophisticated mythology and immersive world building
- Strong young female protagonist
- Charming cast of likable supporting characters
- Intriguing plot twists
- Distinctive colorful art
- Eerie atmosphere evocative of "The Dark Crystal" (a nostalgic favorite)
- Frequent use of the F word
- Rascal's hair
It's depressing when a great story, with the potential to go on forever, ends, and I fear this is the end of "Umbral". The creative team recently announced an indefinite hiatus due to low readership. I am well and truly heartbroken.
- Well written swords-and-sorcery fantasy
- Sophisticated mythology and immersive world building
- Strong young female protagonist
- Charming cast of likable supporting characters
- Intriguing plot twists
- Distinctive colorful art
- Eerie atmosphere evocative of "The Dark Crystal" (a nostalgic favorite)
- Frequent use of the F word
- Rascal's hair
It's depressing when a great story, with the potential to go on forever, ends, and I fear this is the end of "Umbral". The creative team recently announced an indefinite hiatus due to low readership. I am well and truly heartbroken.
December 28, 2015
Some things became more clear, and some things were confusing, and the confusing things sort of out weighed the clarity. But the art was still marvelous and the story interesting enough that I would like to read the rest. Too bad I am not sure there will be a "rest" to read.
April 19, 2015
nope, just can't get into this one...
December 24, 2015
After two volumes, the characters don't have any goal or personality. The lack of consistency in drawing any of the characters' faces undermines the visual identifier of the title characters.
August 15, 2016
2.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews