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The Fortrose
Falcon was a war epic spanning 200 years of combat for the
family from the Scottish Highlands, beginning with young Jamie
Fortrose, the heir to the clan, who is afflicted by lameness and
a source of shame to his father. Jamie rescues a wounded falcon
and nurses it back to health. In caring for the bird, he finds
new strength in his weakened leg and eventually joins his father
in battle. Karnac, as the bird is now known, helps save Fortrose
Sr.'s life and turns the tide of the battle. Jamie is honoured
by his father and the falcon becomes the mascot of the clan. The
story follows Jamie and his descendents through the Colonial
Wars in Canada, to India, Spain, Russia, the Zulu Wars in
Africa, the Boer War, the air war above France in 1914 and the
African campaign of 1943. Each army is led by a member of the
Fortrose Clan, and each takes a falcon as their mascot.
The Fortrose Falcon was not a
popular strip, and did not enjoy a very long run as a result. As
part of Battle's second wave of strips, like so many others, it
was not deemed strong enough for the launch of the comic. One of
the story's chief failings is the lack of a central character
for the reader to engage with. Each leap through history offers
one look at a character, who is then seen as a much older man in
the following chapter, which normally features his son and heir.
John Wagner wrote the opening episode before handing the story
on to Eric Hebden, who makes a decent go of what he's been
given. The strip may
have been stronger if it had permitted more episodes for each
period of history, allowing the readers to identify more with
each central character. Bresciani's art is workman like, and
lacks the subtlety of Barden Agency compatriot Vanyo, who's work
is still developing at this stage in his career, but carries the story more
easily. John Stokes adds his clean and clear style to a couple
of fill-in issues. |
