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Arrow CW TV Show Tie-in Graphic Novel
Arrow: The Dark Archer
FROM THE HIT TV SERIES ARROW, THE MAN BEHIND MERLYN TELLS THE DARK ARCHER'S STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME! He's been known as Malcolm Merlyn, Arthur King, Ra's al Ghul...but who is the Dark Archer, really? Years ago, the man now known as Malcolm Merlyn was recruited by the secret sect known as The Hidden for a mission in the Hindu Kush mountains. Their to protect a mystical temple from the League of Assassins. But the mission didn't go as planned—loyalties were questioned as ancient secrets were revealed. Now present-day Merlyn has been captured by a figure from his past demanding answers, and Merlyn's only hope for survival lies in the long-hidden story of his adventures as Arthur King! Learn the full story of one of the most complex antiheroes of ARROW for the first time as John Barrowman, the actor who brings him to life on the hit TV series, and his sister, novelist Carole E. Barrowman (HOLLOW EARTH), reveal the secret past of the Green Arrow's mysterious nemesis! Collects THE DARK ARCHER digital chapters 1-12.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2016
6 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
John Barrowman
71 books910 followersJohn Barrowman was born in Scotland, and moved to Illinois when he was eight years old. He is bi-dialectal, doing much of his stage and acting work in his American accent, but speaking with family in his Scottish accent.
He moved back to Britain in 1989 when he was hired to play the lead in Anything Goes. He took on a number of West End roles, including the leads in Sunset Boulevard and Miss Saigon and a dramatic play entitled Rope, while working as a children's television presenter and came back to America briefly to work on short lived shows such as Central Park West and Titans. He then bounced around Broadway, West End and the LA Stage for a number of years before moving back to Britain permanently. He won the role of Captain Jack Harkness in the new Doctor Who series and went on to star as Captain Jack in its adult spin-off Torchwood.
John married Scott Gill, his partner of fifteen years, in December 2006.
He moved back to Britain in 1989 when he was hired to play the lead in Anything Goes. He took on a number of West End roles, including the leads in Sunset Boulevard and Miss Saigon and a dramatic play entitled Rope, while working as a children's television presenter and came back to America briefly to work on short lived shows such as Central Park West and Titans. He then bounced around Broadway, West End and the LA Stage for a number of years before moving back to Britain permanently. He won the role of Captain Jack Harkness in the new Doctor Who series and went on to star as Captain Jack in its adult spin-off Torchwood.
John married Scott Gill, his partner of fifteen years, in December 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2021
This felt like something you REALLY wanted to eat all day that looked good but tasted awful.
Don't eat.
Don't eat.
September 11, 2016
The bad guy everyone loves to hate gets his own mini-series as Malcolm Merlyn actor John Barrowman enlists his novelist writing sister Carole and artist Daniel Sampere to chronicle an untold story of the Dark Archer set between season 3 and 4 of Arrow.
After the past few TV tie-in comics which have mostly been anthology stories, it's nice to finally get a series that's focused on one thing for its entirety. We get a healthy dose of flashbacks (because what's Arrow without flashbacks?) that show us how Malcolm ended up the evil sod he is, as well as a current day story that ties into his current status quo as Ra's Al Ghul, featuring the mother of Nyssa, another surprise sibling, and a lot of arrows flying all over the place.
It gets a little convoluted at times, what with the constant time jumps in the storytelling, but for the most part this is a fun little story that shows us that yes, Malcolm is pretty much an irredeemable asshole at this point and even if he's the hero of his own story, he's still a nasty piece of work regardless. I'd be interested to see if they reference any of this stuff in the main series, since both the Flash Season Zero and Arrow Season 2.5 comics are canon and influence stuff that happens in the series even if they're not directly mentioned.
Daniel Sampere pencils all 120 pages of this series, and his artwork is the definition of solid house stuff. There are a few points where it gets a little confusing to work out what's going on, but it's few and far between, and more to do with all the characters being dressed the same than anything else.
If you weren't quite certain that Malcolm Merlyn is an ass, then this story will definitely solidify that for you, and it's nice to have some Arrow related content to enjoy whilst waiting for the new series to start, but like all the other TV tie-in stuff, it's nice to read but hardly essential. I do like that Barrowman himself got involved in this however, since it shows his dedication to the character - see also: the fact that he's co-writing the new Torchwood comic.
After the past few TV tie-in comics which have mostly been anthology stories, it's nice to finally get a series that's focused on one thing for its entirety. We get a healthy dose of flashbacks (because what's Arrow without flashbacks?) that show us how Malcolm ended up the evil sod he is, as well as a current day story that ties into his current status quo as Ra's Al Ghul, featuring the mother of Nyssa, another surprise sibling, and a lot of arrows flying all over the place.
It gets a little convoluted at times, what with the constant time jumps in the storytelling, but for the most part this is a fun little story that shows us that yes, Malcolm is pretty much an irredeemable asshole at this point and even if he's the hero of his own story, he's still a nasty piece of work regardless. I'd be interested to see if they reference any of this stuff in the main series, since both the Flash Season Zero and Arrow Season 2.5 comics are canon and influence stuff that happens in the series even if they're not directly mentioned.
Daniel Sampere pencils all 120 pages of this series, and his artwork is the definition of solid house stuff. There are a few points where it gets a little confusing to work out what's going on, but it's few and far between, and more to do with all the characters being dressed the same than anything else.
If you weren't quite certain that Malcolm Merlyn is an ass, then this story will definitely solidify that for you, and it's nice to have some Arrow related content to enjoy whilst waiting for the new series to start, but like all the other TV tie-in stuff, it's nice to read but hardly essential. I do like that Barrowman himself got involved in this however, since it shows his dedication to the character - see also: the fact that he's co-writing the new Torchwood comic.
July 18, 2017
He's been Malcolm Merlyn, Arthur King, and Ra's Al-Ghul. But who was he before he came to Starling City and got tied up with the Queen family? John Barrowman, who played the role in the tv show, tells a tale of Merlyn's past. Back in the mid 80's, he was part of The Hidden, a group that protected mystical artefacts from the League of Assassins. In true Arrow style, the story jumps between the present and various flashbacks as Merlyn's past comes back to haunt him.
There are powerful mystical items, conspiracies, violence, sex, and betrayal. It's a bit more adult version of Indiana Jones at times. It's a good read with some familiar characters if you've watched the show. If you haven't, not sure why you'd read this.
Barrowman wrote some about his Jack Harkness character from Torchwood, and is now continuing the tradition. Well, who is better equipped than the man who played the roles? Fun action story with a bit more about who the Dark Archer was before he became a thorn in Oliver Queen's side. I'm sure it will come as no surprise that he was never a good guy.
There are powerful mystical items, conspiracies, violence, sex, and betrayal. It's a bit more adult version of Indiana Jones at times. It's a good read with some familiar characters if you've watched the show. If you haven't, not sure why you'd read this.
Barrowman wrote some about his Jack Harkness character from Torchwood, and is now continuing the tradition. Well, who is better equipped than the man who played the roles? Fun action story with a bit more about who the Dark Archer was before he became a thorn in Oliver Queen's side. I'm sure it will come as no surprise that he was never a good guy.
August 14, 2017
I'm hard-pressed to think of a fictional character whose backstory I want LESS than Malcolm Merlyn's, but here we are.
Even if I DID want more of Merlyn's backstory, this barely ties back into Arrow continuity? And it's cliche and culturally appropriative?
But also, to be clear, I DO NOT want more of Merlyn's backstory.
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers...
Even if I DID want more of Merlyn's backstory, this barely ties back into Arrow continuity? And it's cliche and culturally appropriative?
But also, to be clear, I DO NOT want more of Merlyn's backstory.
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers...
October 8, 2016
A pretty good story, sort of Indiana-Jones-ish, with lots of double-crosses. Even when he was young, Malcolm Merlyn—AKA Arthur King—was a selfish backstabber, but an interesting one. The art was quite good overall.
Recommended for fans of the Arrow TV show who like or love-to-hate Malcolm. I think he’s one of the most entertaining villains on TV, because he has a sense of humour and it’s difficult to predict what he’s going to do.
Recommended for fans of the Arrow TV show who like or love-to-hate Malcolm. I think he’s one of the most entertaining villains on TV, because he has a sense of humour and it’s difficult to predict what he’s going to do.
April 16, 2021
So much wasted potential. Instead of the whole Emiko Adachi bullshit the writers could have used Saracon. It would have been a great plotline. I'm really sorry that we won't get to see it now that the series had finished airing.
January 26, 2021
Decent backstory of Malcolm Merlyn.
June 30, 2024
Nice backstory for Malcolm. I absolutely read it in John's voice in my head too.
October 11, 2020
Arrow: The Dark Archer promises to give a look at the untold story of Malcolm Merlyn, Arrowverse TV character. After reading his story though, I found myself wondering why this was a tale that needed to be told at all.
The Dark Archer collects 12 digital-first comic chapters, organized into three arcs. There's not much differentiating them though, so they simply exist as logical stopping points when you're reading since the 12 chapters aren't divided up in print.
I was hopeful that enlisting Merlyn actor John Barrowman in the writing process would make the story more interesting -- it's a character he plays after all, so wouldn't he be invested in making it as true-to-screen and engaging as possible?
Unfortunately, we don't learn anything particularly surprising, useful, revelatory, etc. about Malcolm Merlyn during this whole adventure. Apparently way back in the past, he was the same duplicitous man that he was in the show. He doesn't undergo significant character growth, and he doesn't learn anything that shapes the person he becomes. In the frame story between the flashbacks that comprise most of the narrative, set between season 3 and 4 of Arrow, we learn a little bit about some relationships on the show but nothing that will likely have any meaning down the road.
And the problems don't stop there. While the art is inoffensively fine, there are so many location changes and abrupt cuts in conversations that the pacing makes the story a bit hard to follow. It's not necessarily a bad comic per se, and I guess if Merlyn is one of your favorite characters you might find something to like here, but it just feels pointless in the grand scheme of things.
The Dark Archer collects 12 digital-first comic chapters, organized into three arcs. There's not much differentiating them though, so they simply exist as logical stopping points when you're reading since the 12 chapters aren't divided up in print.
I was hopeful that enlisting Merlyn actor John Barrowman in the writing process would make the story more interesting -- it's a character he plays after all, so wouldn't he be invested in making it as true-to-screen and engaging as possible?
Unfortunately, we don't learn anything particularly surprising, useful, revelatory, etc. about Malcolm Merlyn during this whole adventure. Apparently way back in the past, he was the same duplicitous man that he was in the show. He doesn't undergo significant character growth, and he doesn't learn anything that shapes the person he becomes. In the frame story between the flashbacks that comprise most of the narrative, set between season 3 and 4 of Arrow, we learn a little bit about some relationships on the show but nothing that will likely have any meaning down the road.
And the problems don't stop there. While the art is inoffensively fine, there are so many location changes and abrupt cuts in conversations that the pacing makes the story a bit hard to follow. It's not necessarily a bad comic per se, and I guess if Merlyn is one of your favorite characters you might find something to like here, but it just feels pointless in the grand scheme of things.
March 6, 2017
I have read Flash Season Zero and Arrow Season 2.5 before reading this. All these graphic novels have almost equal number of pages but flash had 7 stories while arrow 2.5 had 3 stories. The stories in arrow 2.5 were still better connected than flash's. In this book there's only one story so obviously plot expansion and depth is much more than rest two books. I like the plot as well as the narration, it was heartening to see that John Barrowman is so connected to his role that he tried to explore his character furthermore. This is basically Arrow season 3.5 along with few flashbacks of Merlyn's past (before he came to Starling City). The story fits reasonably OK with the show. No doubt Malcolm Merlyn's character has more dimensions/shades than any other in the Arrow TV Series and this story provides another. Artwork throughout the pages is quite good and the coloring is exceptional, specially in the flashback sequences. Overall a good read for the TV series as well as graphic novel fans, a 3/3.5 star material but I gave it 4 stars because I am a bit biased towards Arrow TV Series.
March 6, 2017
At first I thought it would be interessting to get a closer look into Malcolm Merlyn's past but the story drags on. I wouldn't go so far and call it boring but maybe the story works better as a novel? For a comic book the pace wasn't right- at least in my opinion. I exspected more entertainment.
September 12, 2017
Love how it goes into the arrow series, and it's Barrowman!!!!! ❤ I want to find the next one he does for this character is love to learn more, Merlyn had always intrigued me and a character and I would still love to know more of his past
March 18, 2020
A story no one was clamoring for sees the light of day. Malcolm's history might be interesting but not this. This plot hole filled mess was not something that makes him look any different and sheds no light on him except a different name for no reason. The art was decent but couldn't help this.
July 9, 2017
2.5*
April 4, 2021
I thought it was really cool reading a book based on a character from a show and the actor is the author of the book. I had fun reading it and learned a few things I didn't know before.
January 24, 2022
Not bad, not great. The person they call Ra’s is not and that was distracting. Decent story, very good art. Just nothing I was overly excited about.
May 8, 2022
I rather enjoyed some added lore to the 'franchise'
October 27, 2022
You can see the love of the actor and writer through the very character that played him.
May 19, 2024
okay so i read this and i wished i hadn’t
January 31, 2017
Malcolm Merlyn is attacked at his facility in Corto Maltese by a rival group to the League of Assassins. As Merlyn is driven deep into secret passages cut into the mountain, a hidden tomb of the Ashkiri is revealed. When the young man leading the invasion captures Merlyn, he demands Merlyn confess to plundering another Ashkiri tomb years before. Merlyn recounts the story to the young man, revealing the ties between them along with some facts that bear on the Arrow TV show.
Malcolm Merlyn is a dog! This guy just seems to "love 'em and leave 'em" more than most characters, and he ends up leaving offspring behind as well! So I guess this story means he's had kids with at least three different mothers! Are we sure this isn't really Captain Jack Harkness?
This story is split between the current attack on Merlyn, and the 1985 story told in flashback. Its revealed that Merlyn was originally part of a different group called the Hidden, who were trying to prevent Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Assassins from plundering that tomb for the mystical artifacts within. The various remnants of this group are who's now after Merlyn for his betrayal back in the day...and more.
Rife with betrayals and backstabbing, this story proves that Merlyn is out for no one but himself. I was hoping for a story that might have illustrated exactly why he chose the path he did, but we really get a conniving Merlyn from the start. In fact, we really don't get a lot of character moment for Merlyn beyond what we already have seen. Nothing really formative or direction-changing, just more of the same.
Yes, we learn a little more about who he was - a rich, young man named Arthur King with enough money to do as he pleases and ultimately set himself up in Starling City. Maybe there were thoughts of another story that might relate how he originally got involved with the Ra's Al Ghul (they never meet in this issue, and I doubt Ra's would know who he is), trained with the League and took on some of the aspects of character we see in Season One of the show.
I found this story kind of disappointing in the long run. The story took expected and cliched turns and didn't really provide readers with any particularly earth-shattering glimpses into Merlyn's life before the show. I'd only really recommend this if you're a true hard-core fan of the TV show or the "Arrow-verse" in general.
Malcolm Merlyn is a dog! This guy just seems to "love 'em and leave 'em" more than most characters, and he ends up leaving offspring behind as well! So I guess this story means he's had kids with at least three different mothers! Are we sure this isn't really Captain Jack Harkness?
This story is split between the current attack on Merlyn, and the 1985 story told in flashback. Its revealed that Merlyn was originally part of a different group called the Hidden, who were trying to prevent Ra's Al Ghul and the League of Assassins from plundering that tomb for the mystical artifacts within. The various remnants of this group are who's now after Merlyn for his betrayal back in the day...and more.
Rife with betrayals and backstabbing, this story proves that Merlyn is out for no one but himself. I was hoping for a story that might have illustrated exactly why he chose the path he did, but we really get a conniving Merlyn from the start. In fact, we really don't get a lot of character moment for Merlyn beyond what we already have seen. Nothing really formative or direction-changing, just more of the same.
Yes, we learn a little more about who he was - a rich, young man named Arthur King with enough money to do as he pleases and ultimately set himself up in Starling City. Maybe there were thoughts of another story that might relate how he originally got involved with the Ra's Al Ghul (they never meet in this issue, and I doubt Ra's would know who he is), trained with the League and took on some of the aspects of character we see in Season One of the show.
I found this story kind of disappointing in the long run. The story took expected and cliched turns and didn't really provide readers with any particularly earth-shattering glimpses into Merlyn's life before the show. I'd only really recommend this if you're a true hard-core fan of the TV show or the "Arrow-verse" in general.
March 13, 2017
Where Barrowman goes, so goes my nation. That has been the case for almost 11 years and will continue to be so. As for his work on this particular piece, here we go:
The art work is GORGEOUS. The lines are clearly defined, and I can tell what action is going on. All very positive in my view. In my opinion, there's no point reading an action comic if I can't see the action in my head. The artist Carole and John picked for this particular Arrowverse work was brilliant.
Story wise, it was all very interesting. I had never given much thought to the fact that Malcolm Merlyn is probably not Merlyn's real name. That was an interesting scenario for me to work. It also means that he was doing shady and terribly things even before Rebecca Merlyn's death which adds yet another layer of malice to Merlyn's character. While the show makes it so that his grief fed into his craziness, which led to all of s01's escapades, the comic paints a very different picture. In a lot of ways, this comic has taken away any sort of sympathy one could have for Merlyn in that it's completely changed what had been conceived of as his origin story. He wasn't "born out of tragedy," but rather was already in muck and would have probably turned out the same way, no matter what.
Also, I am now wondering exactly how many Merlyn kids are wandering around the face of the Earth. Malcolm/Arthur definitely got around.
However, this change to the established narrative is also why I only gave it three stars. It becomes hard to be interested in a character when their backstory becomes that they were always somewhat evil. It's more black and white than I was hoping; Merlyn, for me, always maintains his mystery in his shades of grey. Also, wasn't Tommy born in 1985? This whole adventure takes place in that year, and Malcolm meets Rebecca at the very end of it. Pregnancy lasts nine months; granted, she could have gotten pregnant the night of their first date or something, but it stretches the credibility a bit.
Granted, Arrow did magic and everything last year, so the credibility has gone completely out of the window at this point anyway.
The art work is GORGEOUS. The lines are clearly defined, and I can tell what action is going on. All very positive in my view. In my opinion, there's no point reading an action comic if I can't see the action in my head. The artist Carole and John picked for this particular Arrowverse work was brilliant.
Story wise, it was all very interesting. I had never given much thought to the fact that Malcolm Merlyn is probably not Merlyn's real name. That was an interesting scenario for me to work. It also means that he was doing shady and terribly things even before Rebecca Merlyn's death which adds yet another layer of malice to Merlyn's character. While the show makes it so that his grief fed into his craziness, which led to all of s01's escapades, the comic paints a very different picture. In a lot of ways, this comic has taken away any sort of sympathy one could have for Merlyn in that it's completely changed what had been conceived of as his origin story. He wasn't "born out of tragedy," but rather was already in muck and would have probably turned out the same way, no matter what.
Also, I am now wondering exactly how many Merlyn kids are wandering around the face of the Earth. Malcolm/Arthur definitely got around.
However, this change to the established narrative is also why I only gave it three stars. It becomes hard to be interested in a character when their backstory becomes that they were always somewhat evil. It's more black and white than I was hoping; Merlyn, for me, always maintains his mystery in his shades of grey. Also, wasn't Tommy born in 1985? This whole adventure takes place in that year, and Malcolm meets Rebecca at the very end of it. Pregnancy lasts nine months; granted, she could have gotten pregnant the night of their first date or something, but it stretches the credibility a bit.
Granted, Arrow did magic and everything last year, so the credibility has gone completely out of the window at this point anyway.
June 14, 2024
Arrow Season 3.5!
A Malcolm Merlyn comic co-written by John Barrowman?! I was amazed when I found out about this comic, however, it was kinda average, but definitely better than Arrow Season 2.5. The artwork was good, it captured John Barrowman's likeness well; I would say the artwork looked better than in Arrow Season 2.5. The writing was okay, it was interesting to see the secret origin of Malcolm Merlyn, and I liked seeing something Arrow-related that didn't rely on grounded realism! This story has fantasy elements and it doesn't shy away from it.
Overall, not a bad Arrow-related title, it totally felt like an episode from the show and I think John Barrowman and his sister, Carole Barrowman did a decent job with it, but I have a feeling the show might not acknowledge this just like how they didn't acknowledge Season 2.5
A Malcolm Merlyn comic co-written by John Barrowman?! I was amazed when I found out about this comic, however, it was kinda average, but definitely better than Arrow Season 2.5. The artwork was good, it captured John Barrowman's likeness well; I would say the artwork looked better than in Arrow Season 2.5. The writing was okay, it was interesting to see the secret origin of Malcolm Merlyn, and I liked seeing something Arrow-related that didn't rely on grounded realism! This story has fantasy elements and it doesn't shy away from it.
Overall, not a bad Arrow-related title, it totally felt like an episode from the show and I think John Barrowman and his sister, Carole Barrowman did a decent job with it, but I have a feeling the show might not acknowledge this just like how they didn't acknowledge Season 2.5
September 25, 2016
5 stars
Nice to be able to learn more about Malcolm Merlyn, otherwise known as Arthur King. Interesting to see his past with the Hidden and with Lourdes. Nyssa's mother with also finally revealed, Lourdes, and Malcolm has another child, Saracon.
Can't wait to learn even more about Malcolm Merlyn and more comics in the Arrowverse!!!!
Nice to be able to learn more about Malcolm Merlyn, otherwise known as Arthur King. Interesting to see his past with the Hidden and with Lourdes. Nyssa's mother with also finally revealed, Lourdes, and Malcolm has another child, Saracon.
Can't wait to learn even more about Malcolm Merlyn and more comics in the Arrowverse!!!!
February 7, 2017
Originally released as webcomics, when collected into this format, you can kind of still tell. There are narrative breaks within chapters, and a little bit of repetition. The artwork's accessibly good, and the story fleshes out the character of Malcolm Merlyn in a really interesting way. Good for fans of the show, should be read in one sitting.
November 2, 2016
A fun read for Arrow fans. It was great to learn some of the back story for everyone's favorite villain, Malcolm Merlyn.
March 26, 2017
Arrow: The Dark Archer brings readers the man behind the.....villain (you thought I was going to say "mask," didn't you?!) or should it be the villain behind the man? Whichever way you spin it, John Barrowman's Malcolm Merlyn is a complex guy. You don't even know how complex until you get comfy with a copy of this graphic novel by both John and Carole Barrowman.
Malcolm Merlyn is just one iteration of this character. He's been known by several names and one in the novel that is not familiar to me - Arthur King. In this adaption we learn who Arthur King is and how he became involved in a secret organization, crossing paths with supernatural creatures and with the League of Assassins. The history he reveals at the hands of his captors pulls pieces together, answers questions, and allows the reader to get to know the The Dark Archer.
Written in the same tone and with the same sass that John Barrowman portrays with Merlyn, you'll feel like you're in an Arrow spin-off. I found the entire graphic novel to be written well while providing much needed backstory for our beloved antihero. I have a love-hate relationship with Merlyn, and The Dark Archer doesn't improve that relationship..haha.
The Barrowman's did a fantastic job writing Malcolm Merlyn's history, giving fans of the character more information about the character. The artistry was also fantastic. Each panel is clearly drawn and the speech and though balloons are easily discernible from character to character. There is action, adventure, wit, and danger in this fast-paced look into The Dark Archer.
I purchased my review copy.
Malcolm Merlyn is just one iteration of this character. He's been known by several names and one in the novel that is not familiar to me - Arthur King. In this adaption we learn who Arthur King is and how he became involved in a secret organization, crossing paths with supernatural creatures and with the League of Assassins. The history he reveals at the hands of his captors pulls pieces together, answers questions, and allows the reader to get to know the The Dark Archer.
Written in the same tone and with the same sass that John Barrowman portrays with Merlyn, you'll feel like you're in an Arrow spin-off. I found the entire graphic novel to be written well while providing much needed backstory for our beloved antihero. I have a love-hate relationship with Merlyn, and The Dark Archer doesn't improve that relationship..haha.
The Barrowman's did a fantastic job writing Malcolm Merlyn's history, giving fans of the character more information about the character. The artistry was also fantastic. Each panel is clearly drawn and the speech and though balloons are easily discernible from character to character. There is action, adventure, wit, and danger in this fast-paced look into The Dark Archer.
I purchased my review copy.
March 29, 2017
It was a nice extra, but sometime chaotic with all the changes in time.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews