Calum Petrie reviews Assassin’s Creed Last Descendants – Locus #2…
Tommy Greyling, a Pinkerton agent in London, is on the tail of a murderer, and out of his element. Lucky for him, Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard is on hand to show him how things are done in London – with the help of Evie Frye and Henry Green!
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of the issue here
The second issue of Assassin’s Creed Last Descendants – Locus does not pick up where the last issue left off; rather it steps back slightly in the story to introduce a new character. In my review for the first issue I claimed the story to be rather cliché, for an Assassin’s Creed story anyway, and this issue does not help change my opinion.
We are caught up in a conversation between Tommy Greyling and Sam Clemens (who is more commonly remembered as Mark Twain); the comic has taken a big leaf out of the computer game and put a random historical figure right into its narrative. This is an issue that I could write about, though I fear my tangent would lead totally off topic and become a rant instead of a review.
The opening section of issue #2 is about the Pinkerton and the author swapping their personal histories, when Greyling divulges the information he learned about the pieces of Eden to Clemens. The author then tells a tale of his worldly journeys and explains that each civilisation told tales about the pieces of Eden and the ones who came before us.
After the revelations of the past, the present day story comes in to recap what events were just witnessed; the subject within the Animus has a role reversal from the first issue. The Templars are encouraging him to spend more and more time in the machine rather than letting the boy return to his wheelchair and rest.
Once again this part of the comic felt rather clumsy and shoehorned in to make it relevant to an Assassin’s Creed story. The only original part of the present day section is the man who has lost of the use of his legs, yet continues to use the Animus and experience the simple act of walking.
The last section of the issue ties back to the end of issue #1; the team of Greyling, Clemens, Frye and Green are regrouping after the altercation at the British Museum. The plans of the Templars are still a mystery and the only lead being the female Templar assassin who keeps turning up.
The altercation before was a distraction and the team have a new lead; when the lead almost turns out to be reliable it only ends up in a trap. A fight breaks out and some cuts and bruises occur before the issue ends on a shocking note, leaving the reader with a genuine cliff-hanger.
The story may not be the most original tale being told within the confines of the Assassin’s Creed universe. Though the characters back stories are well developed, the portrayal of the characters can be a little lacking. There is a small attempt at humour delivered within the issue that almost went over my head because it was out of character and place within the issue.
I do not hate the story; I am just a little disappointed that we are getting a rehash of another tale about pieces of Eden.
Rating 5/10
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Originally published October 19, 2016. Updated November 14, 2019.
