C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #3: Adventure Time

C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table #3 picks up with the children being swarmed by Mordred’s agents, with seemingly nowhere to turn except by listening to their weapons. This issue reveals several secrets that have been lingering since the start, setting up the next chapter wonderfully as the characters come to terms with the fact that they now need to train to fight back against this mysterious enemy. The issue also introduces a fun new character who promises to shake up the friend group, acting as a catalyst that will play a major role moving forward.

There are a couple of big reveals in this issue, with two occurring within the first few pages. The first is that the mysterious stick is actually a weapon—a wand embodied by Pellinore, who has taken a vow of silence. This wand possesses immense magical power, transforming what was initially perceived as the weakest weapon into one of the most formidable of the group. Of course, this power will only come with training, which the ending of the issue promises will be the next step in the characters’ journey.

The second big reveal is the appearance of Merlin, who, surprisingly, is not an old man with a long gray beard, but rather a younger, blond man who wears glasses. This version of Merlin is still portrayed as somewhat ageless, as revealed through his past partnership with Connor’s grandmother, though little else about him is yet explained. The fun twist here is that he’s a physical character and not merely a presence within a weapon, as many fans had assumed. That said, there’s still plenty of mystery surrounding him for the series to explore.

The visual style of the series is heavily anime-influenced, and Merlin’s design emphasizes that aesthetic. As mentioned earlier, this is a much younger interpretation of the character than usual, and the anime influence is especially clear in the way his glasses and facial expressions are drawn. Because of all this, C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table seems like a natural fit for DC and Warner Bros. to pursue as an entry into the American anime market, especially with Daniele Di Nicuolo already doing much of the legwork to give the characters that distinctive look.