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markyon's review
4.0
This is the first instalment of what should be a new graphic series – the retelling of Mike Moorcock’s famous Elric books through the graphic medium. This first book tells the story known to prose readers as Elric of Melniboné and so covers the origins of albino Elric, Emperor of Melniboné, his betrayal by his brother-in-law Yrkoon and the consequences of this on Elric, the Ruby Throne and the Kingdom of Melniboné.
‘Elric the albino emperor, has ruled Melniboné for millennia – a feat made possible through magic and various herbs that serve to strengthen and prolong his life. However, Elric’s empire is crumbling before him and now his envious cousin and prince of Melniboné, Yrkoon plots to claim the Ruby Throne for himself. Yet when Elric’s people come under threat of a pirate attack, Elric believes that he can once again restore his authority and regain their faith by defeating the pirates. However the true cost of this task will force him to reveal his allegiance to the dark Arioch, the most dominant of the Lords of Chaos… ‘
You may know that I am an Elric fan. They are some of the first adult Fantasy books I read, one of my access points to the genre. They are also very popular, never really being out of print (in the UK at least) since their original publication, and originally date from about 1960.
So there was a lot riding on this version: would this graphic version match my fond memories of a well-loved series?
Well, I was very pleased with this. The writing is straight out of Mike’s tales, the graphicacy from artists Didier Poli, Robin Recht and Jean Bastide is startlingly good. The visuals create what I was most hoping for, a tale that keeps the Epicness of the prose and gives them a vivid cinematic detail. The detail and dynamism of the images portray the sheer scale of the tales that previously were in a reader’s own imagination.
This book captures that sheer cruelty of the Melnibonian race, whose way of seeing things are often very different to those of us. They are violent and warlike yet also lazy, indolent and arrogant. I must also warn that this also means that there are times when this decadence is shown in quite adult ways and therefore this book is perhaps not for younger readers.
Most importantly, the book shows the reader the complex enigma that is Elric, a true anti-hero. There’s a lot we actually don’t like about him here, as the ruler of a race whose usual solution to problems are extreme. They’re the sort of people who would be happy killing a whole village for one person’s indiscretion.
Mike himself has written a great Introduction to the book, stating that although there have been many images of Elric before, including those original drawings by Mike’s great friend Jim Cawthorn (as shown in the recent Gollancz re-releases) not to mention the world famous version by Michael Whelan, ‘this is the first graphic version to fully capture the sense of utter decadence I tried to convey in the books.’
That’s not to say that there are no changes to the original novel’s plot by Julien Blondel, albeit with the original author’s permission. However, for readers of the novels (like me) they do not seem great, and are not really noticeable to those reading this version. They are probably much less than would happen if this was turned into a film.
It is clear though that this is the first in what will be a major series. The tale ends on a cliff-hanger that fans of the original tale will know and love, and should make you want to pick up the next book straight away. Anyone in any doubt over the time and care spent on this series will be dissuaded by the eight page section at the end which shows the project’s aims and background as well as some details on some of the main locales and characters that will be in this series: Yrkoon, Dyvim Tvar, Arioch and Doctor Jest, for example. Though the sword Stormbringer is yet to appear in this series (it will be in Volume 2), there are some nice detailed drawings in this last section of what it will look like.
In summary, with the seemingly ever-mentioned possibility of Elric movies again in abeyance, this series is perhaps the closest we will get to a visual version of Mike’s grand Fantasy vision. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it all too soon. I would recommend it as an ideal place to start the Elric story if you have never read them but wondered what all the fuss is about.
‘Elric the albino emperor, has ruled Melniboné for millennia – a feat made possible through magic and various herbs that serve to strengthen and prolong his life. However, Elric’s empire is crumbling before him and now his envious cousin and prince of Melniboné, Yrkoon plots to claim the Ruby Throne for himself. Yet when Elric’s people come under threat of a pirate attack, Elric believes that he can once again restore his authority and regain their faith by defeating the pirates. However the true cost of this task will force him to reveal his allegiance to the dark Arioch, the most dominant of the Lords of Chaos… ‘
You may know that I am an Elric fan. They are some of the first adult Fantasy books I read, one of my access points to the genre. They are also very popular, never really being out of print (in the UK at least) since their original publication, and originally date from about 1960.
So there was a lot riding on this version: would this graphic version match my fond memories of a well-loved series?
Well, I was very pleased with this. The writing is straight out of Mike’s tales, the graphicacy from artists Didier Poli, Robin Recht and Jean Bastide is startlingly good. The visuals create what I was most hoping for, a tale that keeps the Epicness of the prose and gives them a vivid cinematic detail. The detail and dynamism of the images portray the sheer scale of the tales that previously were in a reader’s own imagination.
This book captures that sheer cruelty of the Melnibonian race, whose way of seeing things are often very different to those of us. They are violent and warlike yet also lazy, indolent and arrogant. I must also warn that this also means that there are times when this decadence is shown in quite adult ways and therefore this book is perhaps not for younger readers.
Most importantly, the book shows the reader the complex enigma that is Elric, a true anti-hero. There’s a lot we actually don’t like about him here, as the ruler of a race whose usual solution to problems are extreme. They’re the sort of people who would be happy killing a whole village for one person’s indiscretion.
Mike himself has written a great Introduction to the book, stating that although there have been many images of Elric before, including those original drawings by Mike’s great friend Jim Cawthorn (as shown in the recent Gollancz re-releases) not to mention the world famous version by Michael Whelan, ‘this is the first graphic version to fully capture the sense of utter decadence I tried to convey in the books.’
That’s not to say that there are no changes to the original novel’s plot by Julien Blondel, albeit with the original author’s permission. However, for readers of the novels (like me) they do not seem great, and are not really noticeable to those reading this version. They are probably much less than would happen if this was turned into a film.
It is clear though that this is the first in what will be a major series. The tale ends on a cliff-hanger that fans of the original tale will know and love, and should make you want to pick up the next book straight away. Anyone in any doubt over the time and care spent on this series will be dissuaded by the eight page section at the end which shows the project’s aims and background as well as some details on some of the main locales and characters that will be in this series: Yrkoon, Dyvim Tvar, Arioch and Doctor Jest, for example. Though the sword Stormbringer is yet to appear in this series (it will be in Volume 2), there are some nice detailed drawings in this last section of what it will look like.
In summary, with the seemingly ever-mentioned possibility of Elric movies again in abeyance, this series is perhaps the closest we will get to a visual version of Mike’s grand Fantasy vision. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it all too soon. I would recommend it as an ideal place to start the Elric story if you have never read them but wondered what all the fuss is about.
wizardmacdonald's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, and Blood
alexandra_92's review
4.0
Learning that the books are going to be adapted into a tv series I decided to research this series. The setting is the epic point of high fantasy but I draw a big, wide line on the incest part.
etchlings's review
4.0
This is what a graphic adaption of the Moorcock books should have been all along. Wonderful art and a sense of impending fate the depths of which could have been plumbed further, but spoke well enough anyway. There were some cuts to the character building I wish weren't taken, but comics vs. prose...
museoffire's review
4.0
I admit I've never quite "gotten" Michael Moorcock. I think I was first drawn to the tragic albino sorcerer Elric and his demonic sword Stormbringer when I saw those amazing covers with his shocked white face and those strange hooded red eyes. His stories were equally dark and dreamy as he traveled the world having been the instrument of destruction for the very kingdom he'd once ruled over as emperor, the decadent and powerful empire of Melnibone.
Elric fascinated because he was the master of a world he felt no kinship for. Unlike his people who treated average humans as little better than animals Elric could feel sympathy and even disgust for actions his subjects took for granted.
Elric was damaged, perpetually weak from the poisoned blood that ran through his veins, and riddled with scars from the loss of all those he'd ever held dear and he wandered the world like a more eloquent Conan wielding the soul hungry Stormbringer for good or ill.
But I never quite understood his world. I could never really see it in my mind. I was always left feeling a little bit empty.
Fortunately Julien Blondel has solved that with this deeply beautiful, deeply disturbing graphic novel that perfectly captures the depravity, blood lust, and just plain lust that is the cancerous heart of Melnibone and its people. Its absolutely the story you remember rendered in stunning detail. Echoes of David Lynch and "Hellraiser" abound and the book is all the richer for them.
This is a stunner of a graphic novel well deserving of the praise Moorcock himself has given it. I look forward to revisiting this fantastical horror show in volume 2!!!!
Elric fascinated because he was the master of a world he felt no kinship for. Unlike his people who treated average humans as little better than animals Elric could feel sympathy and even disgust for actions his subjects took for granted.
Elric was damaged, perpetually weak from the poisoned blood that ran through his veins, and riddled with scars from the loss of all those he'd ever held dear and he wandered the world like a more eloquent Conan wielding the soul hungry Stormbringer for good or ill.
But I never quite understood his world. I could never really see it in my mind. I was always left feeling a little bit empty.
Fortunately Julien Blondel has solved that with this deeply beautiful, deeply disturbing graphic novel that perfectly captures the depravity, blood lust, and just plain lust that is the cancerous heart of Melnibone and its people. Its absolutely the story you remember rendered in stunning detail. Echoes of David Lynch and "Hellraiser" abound and the book is all the richer for them.
This is a stunner of a graphic novel well deserving of the praise Moorcock himself has given it. I look forward to revisiting this fantastical horror show in volume 2!!!!
evakristin's review
4.0
I like the art style, but I'll need to read more to decide whether I'll find the plot interesting or not. Four tentative stars for now.
somuchreading's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
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