Demon Knights #23 - A Review

As far as conclusions go, Demon Knights #23 is satisfactory but not particularly successful.  The final chapter sees the recently recovered Holy Grail healing the ailments of The Shining Knight and The Horsewoman with a grand Deus Ex Machina.  Yet there is little time for celebration, for an army of the giants from whom our heroes liberated The Grail is laying siege to the city of Al-Wadi, having been tipped off to their location by Vandal Savage.


Robert Venditti tries his best to make this issue engaging and the battle with the giants from whom our heroes liberated The Holy Grail is an interesting one.  Yet the issue can't help but feel like something of a cop-out.  How can our heroes possibly top recovering The Holy Grail?  There may have been a way but an issue-long battle against an army of giants was not it.  


What makes this ending particularly vexing is that after months of inconsistent appearance at the hands of multiple artists and inkers, this book finally gets an artist worth of its' concept with the final issue.  Phil Winslade has proven his skill in depicting magical settings before on titles such as Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis and Shadowpact.  His work here does not disappoint and will leave you cursing this book's cancellation all the harder.

Rest well, Demon Knights.  You were enjoyed.

Demon Knights #22 - A Review

Little happens in this, the penultimate issue of Demon Knights.  What little does happen only occurs to set up the big battle to come in the next issue.  There's very little action, apart from one sequence during the end and an attempted mugging of our heroes that barely lasts one page and stretches the definition of the term "action sequence".  At least the scenes of Vandal Savage dealing with his giant captors are amusing but a far cry from the wit of Paul Cornell. 


The art this month is vastly improved by the absence of inker Wayne Facher.  Chard Hardin inks his own pencils for the entirety of this issue and the difference is obvious and welcome.  Hopefully Hardin will have a new monthly gig waiting for him when this title comes to an close. 


I must tip my hat to writer Robert Venditti in one respect.  Though this series is coming to a close, he still writes each issue in a way that would be accessible to any new readers picking this book up for the first time.  Would that I could still recommend this series to new readers!  Truly, this title was one of the best books of The New 52.  It will be missed. 

Demon Knights #21 - A Review

Whatever else may be said of Demon Knights after it ends its' run in two months time, no one will deny that the series aimed high.  Though I fear Robert Venditti's scripts lack the wit of Paul Cornell's (the humor in this issue being limited to a few dry remarks between Vandal Savage and Jason Blood) I cannot accuse Venditti of cowardice in shying away from the more controversial aspects of the series.  The romance between the transgender Sir Ystin and exiled Amazon Exoristos could easily have been abandoned in the 30-year gap between story-lines and Venditti deserves credit for continuing to explore this character thread.


The artwork is more problematic, with inker Wayne Faucher proving the dangers a second inker can do to a book in ruining it's uniformity.  This first scan above depicts the artwork as pencilled by Chad Hardin with Hardin providing his own inks.  This work looks more stylized but it is a style that I think fits the story, seeming somewhat ethereal in how lightly it is shaded.  The scan below shows Faucher's work, which ruins much of the stylization of Hardin's pencils, placing everything within a standard outline.


I will miss Demon Knights once it is gone.  This book was one of the hidden treasures of The New 52.  That being said, I suspect that when I think of this series in the future and reread it I may find myself skipping over these issues towards the end. 

Demon Knights #20 - A Review

It was perhaps inevitable that Demon Knights should come to focus upon Sir Ystin's quest for The Holy Grail.  I had just hoped it would be further down the line and that the series would continue to focus more upon the DC Universe in specific rather than retreading such a well-worn storyline.  Even having the clue for to the Grail's location be hidden in the library of the Amazons (who are portrayed as the crazed, man-hating ice-queens of Brian Azzarello's Wonder Woman) proves an insufficient twist to make this tired storyline seem new. 


As ever, the unique cast of characters created by Paul Cornell are the book's greatest strength but Robert Venditti lacks the confidence to go over-the-top as Cornell did.  His Vandal Savage seems much more the calculating conqueror we're used to in the modern DCU rather than the crazed cousin of Conan The Barbarian we saw under Cornell's pen.  Once depicted taking bites out of dragons roasted alive by fireballs, Vandal's savagery is limited toward flirting with the Amazons and requesting a copy of the Kama Sutra from their librarian.  The humor of much of the other characters is similarly muted.  Indeed, there is much that may be said to be muted under Venditti's pen.


The same complaint could be made of the series' new art team.  Chad Hardin is a competent enough penciler, whose designs for the characters are distinct, but he's no Bernard Chang.  Hardin's figures seem far too stiff and posed.  There is little life to any of his fight scenes.  Of more concern is inker Wayne Facher, whose work is uneven throughout.  Many figures have a thick outline around them yet they receive almost no definition to their interiors.  One wonders if Facher just did enough work to make sure the characters were distinctive from the background and then called it a day.

Demon Knights #20 is a good point for new readers to jump on to this series but I hesitate to recommended it.  The book isn't bad but it's nowhere near as good as it once was and I'm not sure I can justify continuing to buy a half-assed version of what was one of my top five favorite books.  I'll give it some time to change my mind but this book is officially on notice.   

Demon Knights #19 - A Review

In my review of last month's issue of Demon Knights, I wondered what torments Lucifer would have in store for Jason Blood.  You'll recall that Jason had devised a way to strike back at Etrigan - the demon to whom he is bound - by staying in Hell, thus depriving Etrigan of any chance to renew his powers.  Jason bravely - but unwisely - dared Lucifer to do his worst, saying that after many years trapped in the dungeons of his former comrade Vandal Savage, there was little horror Hell could hold for him.  Sadly, we get little chance to see what Lucifer (who I dare say is now my favorite character in this series) had in store for him as it turns out there are some things even The Devil fears and a world full of vampires fits that bill neatly.  For what profit is there for a collector of souls in a world full of souless immortals?


This idea shows the menace that the vampire lord Cain poses far better than any fighting scene we've had thus far in the series.  Sadly, the rest of the issue suffers a bit in the wake of that revelation.  Interesting as it is to see Hippolyta and the other Amazons opposing an vampire invasion of Themyscira alongside the Demon Knights, the whole battle seems somewhat flat given how uninteresting the vampires themselves are as a menace and how dull Cain is as a recurring villain.  The drama involving Sir Ystin, at least, promises some interesting drama in the issues to come but most of the book's established cast is lost amid the action scenes, with little of the personality Paul Cornell gave them.


At least the artwork by Bernard Change continues to exceed expectations.  Chang is highly valued for his ability to provide detailed pencils without cluttering the page.  His inks, too, prove just right - not too thick nor too light.  It's just enough to save this off-issue.  With any hope, things will be back above par next month.

Demon Knights #18 - A Review

It is a rare thing for an epic story to be easily accessible to new readers.  Yet Demon Knights #18 manages to be that as well as a ripping yarn.  The story thus far is quickly explained in the opening pages, as The Demon Etrigan - long sidelined from the action - is informed of the vampire army converging on the Amazon homeland and his need to aid his former comrades in thwarting them. 


There's many admirable moments in Robert Venditti's script but my favorite involves Jason Blood and his efforts to weaken Etrigan by forcing himself to endure the worst that Hell has to offer so he can shut The Demon off from the source of his power.  None can doubt Jason's courage and resolve after this issue.  His wisdom, however, remains questionable as he looks the Prince of Hell in the face and all but asks "What is the worst thing you can do to me?"  No doubt we'll get an answer to that question next issue.


Bernard Chang's artwork remains strong, his pencils clear and his inks sparring.  This art is further bolstered by a palette whose muted colors suggest an age long-gone by.  Everything looks gorgeous, working in concert to create a pretty picture overall.  If you have yet to give Demon Knights a chance, this issue is the perfect one to start with.

Demon Knights #17 - A Review

Demon Knights #17 pits our team of heroes against one of their own for the sake of another.  A vampire lord named Cain (who may or may not be THAT Cain) seeks the Amazon homeland so he can create an invincible army of woman warriors.  This has caused some of our heroes to reunite after 30 years apart.  Even now they seek the rest of their party, particularly Jason Blood, feeling they may need the power of Hell on their side in the form of The Demon Etrigan, whose power is tied to Jason Blood's soul.  But their former comrade Vandal Savage - for reasons that have not yet been explained past "Because he wanted to" -  has taken Jason Blood hostage and torments him even now in his private fortress. 


Robert Venditti spins a vivid tale but some of his takes on the cast seem inauthentic compared to Paul Cornell.  His Vandal Savage, for instance, lacks the barbaric charm of Cornell's take on the character and his "gigantic mirth" seems oddly forced.  It's also somewhat jarring to see much of the mystery taken out of The Horsewoman as this issue lays her powers and abilities bare.  


Bernard Chang's artwork still inspires, looking like painted woodcuts from the time this book depicts.  One could easily see these illustrations in the margins of some monk's book from the Middle Ages.  It's good stuff - good enough to make me continue to recommend this book, despite my misgivings over some of the character portrayals.  It's been only two issues, after all, and thirty years have passed.  Perhaps some of this can be written of as people changing over time?  I don't know but I'm willing to stick around to find out. 

Demon Knights #16 - A Review

I'd been looking forward to this issue for a while and not just because it's the only thing from DC Comics I picked up this past week that wasn't part of a crossover!  As a Paul Cornell fan, I was anxious to see if this book - which was his baby - was still being written at the same level of quality to which I've become accustomed.  The answer, thankfully, is yes and while this first issue under author Robert Venditti is a bit of a slow-starter after the climactic conclusion last month, there is reason to believe it will build toward something greater.


Our new main villain is quickly established as Cain - lord of the vampires.  (If you're suddenly feeling an urge to put on a black cloak and grab some ten-sided dice, I feel your pain - Malkavians forever!)  He and his hordes of darkness are Working Up A Number Six on medieval Europe - a fact that has not got unnoticed by the Muslim scientist Al Jabr,  Now Caliph of his own city, Al Jabr has gathered many of his old colleagues to make a stand against Cain before he reaches his apparent goal of Themysira.  For Cain's right-hand is an Amazon and if she can guide the way to her sisters and they could be turned, the whole of the world might fall prey to the vampire armies!


Bernard Chang's artwork lends a welcome sense of continuity to this story.  It is a comfort to see this book looking as excellent as ever after the sudden jump-forward in time.  Chang's art subtly reassures us that despite the separation of much of our cast that there is still a book here worth reading.  If you haven't given Demon Knights a chance yet, this is the perfect time to try it. 

Demon Knights #15 - A Review

It seems to be a trend this week for me to forgo summarizing the stories of most of the books I regularly review.  It seems that everyone is in the midst of epic storylines that are coming to a close or are impossible to describe without giving away the story so far..  Thankfully, Demon Knights #15 is an exception to this trend and while this issue is a conclusion of sorts, it is easily summarized and promoted with three words -  Hell Invades Avalon.



It's much more complicated than that, of course but if that idea doesn't hook you, nothing else will.  There are many wonderful character moments for all of the established cast and Paul Cornell fills this issue with his trademark humor as well as some high drama.  Fans of Cornell's Stormwatch, who haven't been reading this book, would be well advised to pick this issue up.  You'll thank me later.  Trust me.



Bernard Chang's artwork is as excellent as ever.  His pencils are unwavering in their quality and his thin inks leave this book looking something like a colorized woodcut once Marcelo Maiolo has contributed to the finished product.  Truly, this is the best looking fantasy book on the market today!

Demon Knights #14 - A Review

Demon Knights #14 sees a number of bargains and counter-bargains being struck between old enemies.  Separated from the rest of his party (who are currently trapped in Hell), Sir Jason Blood finds himself in the custody of The Questing Queen and her wizard Mordru - the villains of the first story arc of this title.  They offer him a chance to rejoin his fellows and reunite with his lost love, Xanadu.  At the same time, The Demon Etrigan plots with Lucifer to use his former comrades as a means toward opening a gateway to Avalon, allowing Hell to invade another plane of the afterlife.


I've written at length before about Paul Cornell's skill as a writer and how he's created a wonderful ensemble cast of characters and balances them all beautifully, giving each character equal due.  Having said such, I don't feel the need to repeat myself once more in this review, though I find I've already done so!  Having said that, I would like to single out Cornell's take on Lucifer, which puts me in the mind of the character as written by Neil Gaiman and Mike Carey.  Here we see a demon prince who has begun to grow bored with the politics of his realm and the posturing his position requires but not so bored that he will not play the part of The Adversary when it might prove profitable.


Bernard Chang  has grown upon me far faster than I thought any artist could following Diogenes Neves' departure from this title.  His pencils are crisp and clear, his character and creature designs memorable and his inks appropriately light and thin, giving the whole book an appearance not unlike something that might be in a medieval woodcut. 

This is not a good issue to jump onto this title but I highly recommend the first trade paperback for those who have yet to give this title I shot.  I dare say you won't regret it.

Demon Knights #13 - A Review

Demon Knights #13 begins where some stories end - Hell  Apparently betrayed by The Demon Etrigan, all of our party - save for Jason Blood, who is trapped and alone on Earth - have been condemned to the Stygian Abyss and placed within their own personal realm of torment.  But Etrigan has a plan, though it seems more likely than not that he is more concerned with stealing the Throne of Hell from Lucifer than rescuing his comrades..


Those who have been reading this series will find this issue full of Paul Cornell's trademark humor.  Those who haven't may find themselves confused by these proceedings as much of the action and humor is dependent upon familiarity with our protagonists.  For instance, one must know Vandal Savage as the uncouth and unapologetic scoundrel that he is to fully appreciate his "torment" at the hands of every bastard he ever sired until he confesses to his many crimes. 


Bernard Chang's pencils ably replace those of the series' former penciler, Diogenes Neves.  Chang's artwork bares a more exaggerated quality than Neves' but does not become so stylized as to be cartoonish.  Chang's art is appropriately dark and atmospheric, depicting the varied Hells with a vivid detail reminiscent of Michael Zulli's work on Sandman.

All in all, this is a solid issue.  The writing is as fine as ever and Chang continues to prove a worthy replacement artist.  The only flaw this issue has lies in its' inaccessibility to new readers, whom I would advise to go pick up the excellent Demon Knights: Volume 1 TP.  

Demon Knights #0 - A Review

Demon Knights #0 gives us a look at the origins of both Jason Blood and The Demon Etrigan.  This was to be expected, given that all of the Zero Month issues are meant to be origin stories of one stripe or another.  What was unexpected, however, was the unique spin that Paul Cornell put upon this particular story.


I shan't spoil the surprising circumstances revealed within that explain precisely how and why Merlin came to bond his scribe and his demon together.  I will say that we do get a wonderful look into both character's lives and motivations before they were saddled with one another.  The bits with Etrigran attempting to boost his rank in Hell are particularly amusing, if you enjoy rhyming and beheadings as much as I do.


This issue marks the premiere of Bernard Chang on this title.  Chang proves to be a worthy replacement for Diogenes Neves, using a similarly detail-oriented style with light inking.  Chang also shows his talents as a visual storyteller, the action flowing smoothly and naturally from panel to panel.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this book is a must-read for all fans of good comics in general and sword-and-sorcery comics in specific.  The scripts are uniformly amazing.  The artwork is always first-class.  You should be reading it, plain and simple.

Demon Knights #12 - A Review

Despite the cover of this issue giving away the secret behind the Demon Knight's current antagonist, I'm going to keep things secret and spoiler free in this review. Is this my cunning way of trying to get you to read this book if you aren't already? Perhaps.



The plot thickens as the Demon Knights travel deeper into the corrupted heart of Avalon, heading toward a final confrontation with a long-time enemy of King Arthur who is also no stranger to Madam Xanadu. There's a lot of fine details here that expand upon some of the mysteries behind Paul Cornell's creations. The fact that The Horsewoman's powers connect into The Red (the same force that Animal Man draws off of) seems obvious in retrospect but the reveal does not leave the readers feeling cheated. Full marks to Cornell for keeping the mystery about these characters without stonewalling the story flow.



I'm going to miss Diogenese Neves' work on this title. Indeed, I am hard pressed to think of any artist working today who could have captured the medieval setting of this book so well. We'll see how Bernard Chang fills his shoes starting next month. I'm not worried, though, as Chang proved an able replacement for Neves earlier in this series' run.

Fast Thoughts For The Week Of July 11, 2012

I didn't get much chance for reviewing comics this past week, what with all the San Diego Comic Con news and there's not a lot I can say about most of what I read. So here are my thoughts, in brief, on everything I didn't feel up to a full review of.


BATMAN #11 - This issue is the final chapter of The Court of Owls event that has dominated the Batman books over the last year and the final fight between Batman and one of the assassins known as The Talons is everything we could have hoped for.





If you aren't reading this book yet, I can't help but wonder about you. Sadly, unlike previous issues, there's not a lot I can say and very few scans I can show that will not give away some major spoilers. Suffice it to say Scott Snyder is writing the best Batman story in years and Greg Capullo's artwork is amazing.



DEMON KNIGHTS #11 - The plot thickens as The Demon Knights journey deeper into the heart of an corrupted Avalon. Here, most of them nearly give into the darkness and have their bodies and minds warped. Thankfully, they find an unexpected ally - the Once and Future King Arthur!



Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves have created something truly magical with this book. It is a must-read for all fans of fantasy literature in general, sword and sorcery in particular and quirky comics in specific.



RESURRECTION MAN #11 - I wish I could say I was surprised by the news that this book had been canceled. Like Mister Terrific before it, it was unique, well-written and far too strange for the common clay of the New 52. It's too late for me to save it. It's too soon for me to mourn it. All I can do is say that I enjoyed this issue - and every issue before it - because of how Abnett and Lanning made every single issue accessible to new readers, laying the concept bare, simply and subtly.




Mitch Shelly will live on, we are told, somewhere in the DCU. We can only hope that we can get all of his story told in the time left and that his amnesia will not be a persistent thing.

Demon Knights #10 - A Review

I'm not sure what else I can do at this point to get those of you who aren't reading Demon Knights to give it a chance.

Oh!  I know!  How about I show you the greatest opening page in recent memory in any comic book ever?





This issue opens up in the middle of the action as our heroes are, indeed, attacked by a giant sea-serpent being piloted by pirates.  Hence the phrase "pirate sea serpent".  If that doesn't pique your interest even a little, I don't know what else might.

Perhaps if I were to tell you of the base concept of the book?  Demon Knights is a fantasy epic set in the medieval past of the DC Comics universe, centering upon the exploits of a group of adventurers forced together by circumstance.  Most of the characters are original though some faces may seem familiar, though the character may act much differently than we are used to seeing them act in the modern day.  Vandal Savage, for instance, is a jovial barbarian mercenary rather than a dour world conqueror.  Savage is still as outrageous and amoral as ever but writer Paul Cornell carries him off as a more villainous Conan The Cimmmerian, "with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth."   Profiles of the full team may be found in my previous review of the earlier issues.


At present time, the band has been dispatched to go to Avalon as part of an effort to revive an apparently deceased Merlin.  Naturally there is more than meets the eye to the famous wizard's death but with a party including  Merlin's former scribe (Sir Jason O' The Blood), Merlin's former pet demon (The Demon Etrigan) and Merlin's former star pupil (the sorceress Madame Xanadu) it is believed they have a better chance of finding Avalaon and Merlin's spirit than anyone else.  Of course that is before they learn of a taint filling the lands around where the waterways to Avalon once flowed - a taint that seems to come from where Camelot once stood!




Every issue thus far has been illustrated by the incomparable Diogenes Neves.  Neves' has an eye for detail that is second to none and I am hard pressed to think of any artist who could match Cornell's scripts so well.  Neves is equally capable of drawing both the dark and spooky moments, as in the above scene detailing the darkness afflicting the land as well as the more traditional fantasy action sequences that make up much of the first half of this issue.  Inkers Oclair Albert and Julio Ferreira also deserve praise, for taking such a light hand with shading Neves' pencils and allowing the original artwork to shine through.


I've said it before and I'll say it again - this book is a must read for all fans of fantasy in specific and quality comics in general.  Anyone who loves comics will love Demon Knights!

Demon Knights #7-9: A Review

When you get right down to it, the major theme of Demon Knights is Lies and Secrets.  Nearly every character has at least one secret they are keeping and most of them are lying to protect it.  Sir Jason O' The Blood is bound to a demon, that he tries to keep hidden.  The Amazon Exoristos has been exiled from her homeland for reasons she will not discuss.  And the mysterious Horsewoman has powers beyond explanation, yet is guarded about leaving the back of her beloved steed.  Even the characters who seem to be direct, if not entirely honest, prove to be liars of a kind at some point or another.

Case in Point: Issue #7 concludes the opening story arc, as the barbarian Vandal Savage - presumed to be a traitor - returns to aid his comrades and/or to loot the treasure trove of the wicked Questing Queen, to whom he had recently re-sworn his allegiance.  As treacherous in the past as he is in the present-day DCU, Savage's promises are worth less than the good steel he carries.  Yet the party tolerates him as he is a better ally than an enemy and they have no way of proving that he wasn't switching sides to whichever was most convenient at the time.  


This scene also showcases one of the finer points of this book.  It is a glorious fantasy epic, yes.  And it is a treat for we DC Comics history geeks who love the conceit of having all of these characters who were around during medieval times interacting with one another.  But what really makes me thrill to this book month after month is Cornell's sly humor, which is as razor sharp today as it was when I was first exposed to it in his Knight and Squire title.




Issue #8 is an excellent one-shot story and a good jumping-on point for new readers.  With a chance to rest now that the battle which united them is over, the Demon Knights (as they are now called) press Sir Jason and the sorceress Madame Xanadu for details about how their unusual relationship came to be.  More, they ask - and we discover - why "Xan" offers herself up as a lover to Jason's demonic half, Etrigan.   


This issue is deeply touching a true tragic romance.  We find out that Jason and Xanadu have known each other back in the days of Camelot and that "Xan" had been Merlin's prize pupil and Jason was Merlin's personal scribe.  But as Etrigan reminds us in the final pages, there are several ways a story can be true depending on the teller.  And for all her talk of loving the noble Sir Jason, there is much darkness in Xanadu's soul and many things she's done that would make kissing a demon seem tame by comparison.


Issue #9 is another excellent introductory issue for new readers.  Indeed, the issue opens with a roll-call of our main cast as they are spied on from afar and their talents and what little we know of some of their backstories is recounted.  Having arrived in the city of Alba Sarum, which they had been fighting to protect for the past few issues, the Demon Knights are taken before the princesses who rule the land together and are hired to deal with a recent crisis.  Namely, the death of Merlin, who was guesting in the city and whose body seems dead but still does not bleed out despite the wound that was dealt to him. 


I've said little about lead artist Diogenes Neves in all of this.  In truth, there is nothing for me to say except that his artwork is amazing and a perfect balance of form and function.  Each character has an specific individual design that makes them easy to tell apart, even when out of their usual uniform.  This may seem like a small thing but in an industry where too many artists are unable to draw more than a single female form or face, I feel it worth nothing that all of Neves' figures are unique.


This book is a must-read for all fans of quality comics.  If you are a fan of sword-and-sorcery, you will find much here that appeals as will fans of dark comedy and dry humor.   The artwork is gorgeous and of a quality rarely seen on monthly books these days.  And DC Comics history buffs can enjoy themselves just boggling at the concept before they even read the book.

52 Catch-Up: Demon Knights #1-6

Distilled to its' essence, Demon Knights is a simple but classic story - the righteous few standing against the corrupt many. We have seen this story repeated in our history, from the Battle of Thermopylae to the Battle of the Alamo. We have seen it in our films, from The Seven Samurai to the first Conan The Barbarian movie. We've even seen it in comedies like Blazing Saddles and The Three Amigos!

Cornell's brilliance as a storyteller lies in two things he has done to set this story apart from all those fine tales of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. First, he has set it in the Dark Ages of the DC Universe - a period that had scant little development even before the New 52 event reset the universe. There is little for fans to complain about regarding this story contradicting previous versions of what few established characters we see here. Time changes much, after all. The other thing Cornell has done is place the focus of this series firmly upon his unique characters. We are too busy learning about the fascinating cast to notice that we've heard this story before.

The Magnificent Seven Demon Knights, who come to the defense of a small village that lies in the path of the wicked Questing Queen and her lover the wizard Mordru (yes, THAT Mordru) are...

Sir Jason O’ The Blood - one of the few knights to survive the fall of Camelot, he gained immortality when Merlin - in his last act before disappearing - bound Jason's soul to that of his pet demon, Etrigan. The two can switch places between Hell and Earth with the use of an incantation, but neither has knowledge of the other one's activities while they are waiting in Hell.





Madame Xanadu - one of the wise women who came for King Arthur after the fall of Camelot, she was banished from Avalon after she attempted to thwart prophecy and retrieve Excalibur after it was returned to the Lady of the Lake. At present, she is "keeping company" with both Sir Jason and Etrigan but her real loyalties are unclear.





Vandal Savage - portrayed here as one part Conan and one part Brian Blessed, this warrior was granted immortality after exposure to a strange meteorite back when he was a caveman. With years of experience in killing people in very creative ways, no system of morality to speak of and a regeneration ability that allows him to heal any injury eventually, he is a fearsome opponent.





The Shining Knight - a young woman in the garb of a knight, Sir Ystin claims to be a man, to have been saved by Merlin himself to find a mystic grail and to have fought at the fall of Camelot, though neither Sir Jason nor Madame Xanadu have any knowledge of him/her. Strangely, Sir Ystin also speaks ancient Welsh and rides a winged horse named Vanguard.





Al Jabr - best described as a per-Renaissance Mister Terrific, Al Jabr is (in no particular order) a brilliant tactician, a master swordsman, a great inventor, a devout Muslim and just plain awesome. He believes that there is no magic - only knowledge that has yet to be fully understood. Yet for all his wisdom, even he is hard pressed to explain some of the abilities of his unwitting comrades and the evils they face.





Exoristos - an Amazon who was apparently exiled from Themyscira for unspecified crimes. She is ferocious in battle and outspoken in her belief that women are just as capable as men, though still naive and inexperienced in the ways of Man's World.





The Horsewoman - perhaps the most mysterious member of the team. A skilled archer, she also seems to have some mystic kinship with horses in general and have some sort of ability that allows her (and her horse, Breaker) the power of free movement past nearly any obstacle.

Cornell's characters are well portrayed by a glorious art team. Diogenese Neves, most recently of Green Arrow, was the perfect choice to illustrate this series having extensive experience in accurately depicting medieval weaponry and costumes. Neves puts lots of little details into every page, with scenes in the background adding to the epic scope of the book. Neves is also uniquely skilled in depicting the grotesque, from his gargoyle-like Etrigan to the disturbing images of a baby being warped by dark magics as part of one of Mordru's spells and a priest having his face severely burned. Inker Oclair Albert also deserves praise for knowing when to tread lightly on defining Neves' pencils and when to pour on the shadow for effect.




They say it is a gifted storyteller who can tell you a story you've heard before and make it seem new. If that's the case then Paul Cornell has once again proven himself a gifted storyteller. For it was only upon rereading Demon Knights for the third time that I recognized his sources. And yet, though the base element of this tale is common, Cornell has worked his unique alchemy to make it into a rich and unique series, equaled only in its' skilful writing by the amazing artwork of Diogenese Neves. There is no reason for anyone to be missing out on this book. No one.

52 Pick-Up - Week Two, Part One

BATGIRL #2 - With this book, Gail Simone has created what is easily the best new villain of the New 52 titles - The Mirror. The name proves to be a fitting one as The Mirror's life is a dark mirror to Barbara Gordon's own, with a personal tragedy having driven him to become a killer whereas Barbara used her tragedies to become a savior. Simone continues to write Barbara as a smart, competent heroine whose mistakes come about through rustiness - not incompetence. There's a lot of great character moments here for Barbara, in and out of the cowl, as she goes out on a date and uses her own mad detective skills to figure out hust who The Mirror is. The art by Adrian Syaf continues to be top-notch, as before. This one is making the pull list.


DEMON KNIGHTS #2 - Already the buzz is that this will likely be the first New 52 title to be canceled - not because it sold any worse than any of the others but because the concept is just too "weird" to hook your average comic fan for long. The cynic in me fears that they are right but the rest of me doesn't care - the rest of me is too busy laughing as I imagine Vandal Savage, sounding something like Brian Blessed in my head, shouting "Die, tasty rare creatures! DIE!" as he beats a dragon/dinosaur to death with his own limb. Seriously - if you liked the same kind of crazy humor that Secret Six reveled in or enjoy fantasy of any stripe, give this series a shot. Another one for the pull list, however long it lasts.


GREEN LANTERN #2 - Picking up where the last one left off, Sinestro offers Hal a bargain. Sinestro creates a limited Green Lantern ring that only gives Hal as much power as Sinestro is willing to give him at any time. In exchange, Sinestro demand's Hal's assistance in liberating Sinestro's homeworld from the fear-empowered Corps that bears his name. Johns does a good job painting Sinestro, not as a power-mad zealot, but as a soldier who crossed the line in defending his particular definition of duty and has continued sliding down the slippery slope every since. This does not make Sinestro any less of an arrogant bastard but there is a nice character moment where he is clearly uncomfortable with people treating him as a hero, seeing his position as a Green Lantern as an unremarkable duty. Sadly, a lot of this nuance is sure to be lost on new readers but this is good stuff for us Oldbies. This one is staying on my pull, but I can't really recommend it to new readers.

Demon Knights #1 - A Review

I love the sword and sorcery genre. This will not be a news flash to long-time readers. Take a quick glance at my archives and you’ll see my many reviews of Conan The Barbarian, Mike Grell’s Warlord, Red Sonja, King Kull and more. So when word came out that one of the New 52 titles was going to be a fantasy piece set in the medieval days of the DC Universe, you can imagine that piquing my interest. And when it was announced that the team would consist of Knight And Squire writer Paul Cornell and Green Arrow artist Diogenes Neves, my interest became outright enthusiasm.

What Cornell has done with this book is simply brilliant. Within the context of a standard fantasy stock plot (evil queen destroying everything) he has brought together several of DC Comics vast stable of immortal and/or magical characters and concepts to create something wholly original. Of course we knew Sir Jason O’ The Blood – one of the last knights of Camelot, bonded to Merlin’s pet demon – was going to be in this book the minute we heard the title. But who would have suspected we’d see world-conquering villain Vandal Savage during his Conan phase? Or one of the Bana Amazons, freshly exiled from Paradise Island and forced into Man’s World?

Diogenes Neves proved to be particularly skilled at drawing medieval weapons and battle-sequences during his run on Green Arrow. For that reason alone, he would be a fine choice for this book. But his skill goes far beyond merely drawing people swinging sword – he also has a fine gift for faces, drawing unique and distinct characters that are instantly recognizable without having to look at their clothing. And I dare say he draws the best Etrigan I’ve ever seen.

The only reason you should not give this book a shot is if, for some reason, you have an aversion to the fantasy genre. Old-school DC Comics fans will love it for the unique concept which lets us view classic characters in a whole new way. Despite this, new readers will be pleased to find that this title requires no background knowledge of the characters involved and will be able to get into it just as easily as long-time readers.