Mike Baron (1) (1949–)

Second adaptation of the Sword Trilogy.

As they say challenges get ever more difficult - Corum now needs to fight Arioch's more powerful sister, Xiombarg. And to achieve that he needs to travel through alternative dimensions in order to bring conflict to the Queen of Swords.

And this is where SF starts to mix up with the fantasy, wondrous weapons and technology provided by the City under the Pyramid.

Art is just wonderful, I truly, truly like Mignola in this book. Scenes of Chaos infested land, monsters marching under the rule of Xiombarg, her Champion (antithesis to Corum) and Wolf and the Bear, Demons from Hell...... everything is just beautiful, from composition to pencil and coloring. Excellent, true eye candy.

Highly recommended to fans of heroic fantasy with little bit of SF in it (a-la John Carter/Barsoom).… (meer)

Final book in the Sword Trilogy.

Corum finally sets on quest to defeat the remaining Duke of Hell, Mabelode. It is required to act swiftly because nefarious Mabelode's magic is spreading conflict amongst the people and murders start to flourish. To defeat the Mabelode, Corum will need to join forces with the other incarnations of Eternal Champion, Elric and Erekose. But even they might prove insufficient to accomplish the task.

Heroes, Gods of Law and Chaos, Mad Gods that defy everyone (here Corum's gifts will come in handy, pun intended :)) and inter-dimensional travel..... stuff dreams are made of.

Art-wise, Mignola is no longer with the team. While new artist does manage to keep the same visual style as in previous two books change is palpable and it is most strikingly visible in large parts of panels that are just empty.

Story wise, writers also changed but here I did not see any difference, pace and quality of the story and overall dynamic have remained the same.

Highly recommended to fans of heroic fantasy.… (meer)

Beautiful comic/graphic-novel adaptation.

Moorcock's stories were always more adult than majority of fantasy books in its time, and Corum is the same. I think when it comes to complexity of the characters and the gray line they walk, only Wagner's Kane comes near to Moorcock's heroes.

Member of stagnating race (very Elf-like) Corum finds himself targeted by a barbarian group of Humanity that are slowly taking over the world.

We follow our hero from one tragedy to another, as he suffers greatly, not only in losses of his people, destruction and desecration of his family but also body losses induced by the barbarian humans during torture. He finds refuge in the more civilized humanity and there finds his love, Rhalina, that will prove the corner stone for his survival and finally striking back at his enemies.

First step is to fight against the Arioch (of Elric's fame) and fighting against the one of the Duke's of Hell is something that is not advisable to anyone, especially half crippled Corum. As it always happens in these stories he will find unlikely allies, and there is question if they are any better from the horrors Corum is fighting.

Art is just stunning. I like this period of Mike Mignola - characters are not devolved entirely into the abstract forms with polygon splashes of black and white, scenes of horror are done superbly, and mass scenes, especially when it comes to fighting the hordes attacking the Rhalina's castle are just breathtaking, including the duel between Glandyth and Corum.

Highly recommended to all fans of heroic fantasy, beautiful adaptation.… (meer)