Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 Graphic Novel Collection Review

Titan Comics has published a graphic novel collection titled Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 available from numerous online retailers and high street book stores. Can the third set of four comic book issues collected together in Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 deliver what it sets out to by producing a continuation of the graphic novel sequel to the smash hit Bloodborne videogame?

Bloodborne is a third-person action horror RPG developed by FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki; released in March 2015 followed by an expansion titled The Old Hunters that are both available exclusively on PS4. Bloodborne received worldwide acclaim from gamers and critics alike, living up to the anticipation in the process; especially given the director Hidetaka Miyazaki had previously directed such appreciated games as Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Bloodborne earned many awards including Game Design, Original Action Game and Original Dramatic Score in a New IP from the 12th British Academy Games Awards; Game of the Year, PlayStation Game of the Year, Best Visual Design and Studio of the Year at the Edge Awards 2015; and Best Original Game and PlayStation Game of the Year from Golden Joystick Awards 2015. Bloodborne proved extremely successful for FromSoftware, Hidetaka Miyazaki and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment as it sold one million worldwide within a month and had sold two million worldwide in half a year.

Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 graphic novel collection is in extremely experienced hands as it is written by Ales Kot; a writer, director and producer of films, television, videogames and comics such as Change, Material, The Surface, Wild Children, Wolf and Zero. Ales Kot’s writing is complimented by artwork from Piotr Kowalski; a dedicated comic book artist with a dark, foreboding style including graphic novels such as Dark Souls, Marvel Knights: Hulk, Robocop, Wolfenstein and more besides. Meanwhile, colour art is by Brad Simpson that provides colour art for Marvel Comics such as Deadpool, The Amazing Spider-Man and Vengeance in addition to 30 Days of Night and The Witcher, while lettering is by Aditya Bidikar having been a letterer for such graphic novels as Empire of Blood, Every City is a Story, Grant Morrison’s 18 Days and Yellow Submarine.

The story focuses on Eileen the Crow; a fan-favourite character from the Bloodborne videogame that is essentially a hunter of specific hunters that lust for blood themselves, although Eileen is becoming increasingly confused as to her origins or the time period of what she is attempting to remember.

The quality of writing is as amazing as the two previous volumes in the sense that it creates an immediate ominous tone to Eileen the Crow’s dialogue in which she is consistently questioning “When is this?” to no-one but herself as she is in a twisted nightmare of her own within Yharnam’s seemingly endless nightmare. Therefore, the third volume’s dialogue is as unique in story and tone as the two previous graphic novel volumes due to the change of pace; equivalent to that of the difference in characters and dialogue from the second volume in direct comparison to the first volume.

Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3’s front cover artwork is as equally haunting as that of The Death of Sleep as Eileen the Crow stands tall within the city of Yharnam as the moon looms large in the near distance upon a gloomy blood red sky. Back cover artwork features Eileen the Crow throwing open the gates to the city of Yharnam as a red mist descends upon the nearby moon, alongside a very interesting synopsis of the story. Piotr Kowalski’s art, colour art by Brad Simpson, alongside lettering by Aditya Bidikar collectively continues to shift pace, while simultaneously perfectly complimenting Ales Kot’s writing as it did in the two previous volumes. For instance, the third chapter within A Song of Crows is a single continuous giant montage styled in a twisted Yellow Submarine hypnotic trance that shows the confusion of Eileen the Crow from mumbling incessant questions referring to what period of time she is trying to think of followed by complete silence in a stylistically artistic fashion.

Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3’s value originates from Bloodborne fans wanting to see a continuation to the story of the two previous volumes following on from the videogame, alongside cover art representing each of the four individual issues, a cover art gallery mostly focusing on alternative cover art of each issue, cover sketches and a further look at the art process via some interior design sketches within the 112 pages.

Fans of Bloodborne should also look at other Bloodborne graphic novels from Titan Comics including Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1241-bloodborne-the-death-of-sleep/ , Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst – Volume 2 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1378-bloodborne-the-healing-thirst/ and Bloodborne: The Veil Torn Asunder – Volume 4 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1508-bloodborne-the-veil-torn-asunder/

Analysis
• Title: Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 Graphic Novel Collection
• Writer: Ales Kot
• Art: Piotr Kowalski (Art), Brad Simpson (Colour Art) and Aditya Bidikar (Lettering)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Length: 112 pages
• Cover: Paperback

Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 graphic novel collection can be purchased in the UK from Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodborne-Song-Crows-Ales-Kot/dp/178773014X/ and Forbidden Planet at https://forbiddenplanet.com/274328-bloodborne-volume-3-song-of-crows/ and digitally at ComiXology at https://www.comixology.co.uk/Bloodborne-Vol-3-A-Song-of-Crows/digital-comic/762954

Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 graphic novel collection can be purchased in America and Canada from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bloodborne-Song-Crows-Ales-Kot/dp/178773014X/ and digitally at ComiXology at https://www.comixology.com/Bloodborne-Vol-3-A-Song-of-Crows/digital-comic/762954

You can also find Titan Comics’ official website including a back catalogue of captivating comics and graphic novels at https://titan-comics.com/ and product details regarding Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 graphic novel collection at https://titan-comics.com/c/1415-bloodborne-a-song-of-crows/