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nagia's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, the art in particular, but it strayed too much from the original material. I prefer Moorcock’s version of events and Elric.
markyon's review against another edition
4.0
Back in September 2014 I reviewed Volume 1 of this series, The Ruby Throne which introduced us to a new graphic novel version of Michael Moorcock’s most famous literary creation.
This series is the retelling of Mike Moorcock’s famous Elric books through the graphic medium, the story of albino Elric, Emperor of Melniboné and his betrayal by his brother-in-law Yyrkoon and the consequences of this on Elric, the Ruby Throne and the Kingdom of Melniboné. In Volume 2 we start to get really interesting, building on the events set up in Volume 1:
‘The ruby throne stands empty. The soldiers are amassing: Elric the albino Emperor of Melniboné, is marching on the Young Kingdoms in search of what has been stolen from him. Aided by the great Lord of Chaos, Arioch, he will wreak his revenge on those that dare to challenge the White Wolf… ‘
This time around, the book is shorter, yet more intense. Having shown the alienness of the Melnibonéan race in Volume 1, here we see the ferociousness of a king determined. With his cousin Yyrkoon in hiding, Elric leads the Sea Lords to the Young Kingdoms in order to find Yyrkoon and Elric’s lost love Cymoril who Yyrkoon has kept in slumber there. The need for Elric to save his lover is so important that Elric has summoned the Lord of Chaos, the great Arioch to help them.
A tale of war, mystical gods, arcane power, blood, vengeance and love – there’s a lot here to love for fans of Epic Fantasy. Readers of the original books (Elric of Melniboné, Stormbringer, Weird of the White Wolf) will be pleased to also find that, despite some changes to the original stories, it is here that we have one of the key revelations of the Elric mythos appear, that of the true nature of Elric’s mystical sword Stormbringer. One of the biggest (and coolest!) ideas of the series is that Stormbringer is a sword that in return for its use demands living souls for Lord Arioch. Elric is duty-bound to provide them.
Moorcock’s original tale shows a multi-layered tale of imagination and depth and this graphic version manages to convey that very well. Elric is now the encapsulation of a tortured soul, angry and vengeful, torn between his love of a woman and his duties as King to the people of Melniboné, addicted to whatever Stormbringer provides and restrained by his destiny. His obsession with bringing back Cymoril means that he makes inappropriate decisions and deals with the Gods that are expensively bought, and which will have eternal consequences. It’s clearly not going to end well.
Comparing the book with the first volume, it is evident that although the roster of people involved has varied slightly (Jean Bastide added to with Jean-Luc Cano and Julien Telo, although Didier Poli from Volume 1 is on the first 12 pages), the elegant style, detail and elegance of The Ruby Throne has been continued here. Pictures are fluid and memorable, the world of Elric supremely realised. As with the first volume, though, Stormbringer is quite graphic (appropriately), with sex and nudity (although I think tastefully done myself) and the violence may not be for younger readers.
Whereas in the first volume there was an introduction by Mike himself, this time the honours go to Alan Moore, the graphic writer known for his creations The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V For Vendetta and Watchmen. It is as gloriously literate, lively and as lyrical as you would expect from this noted fan. He tells of his initial teenage interest and tries to explain the importance of Elric both in the context of an iconic character as well as a graphic novel character. Alan does not give plaudits out liberally, so when he writes
‘I’d like to join with Moorcock in declaring this to be the most successful, true-in-spirit re-imagining of his fate harrowed icon.’
you know that it comes from the heart.
At the end of this book, as last time, you get an insight into the series with the artists, writers and colourists giving an insight into the production of the graphic novel. Though Stormbringer was hinted at in this part of Volume 1, I’m pleased to see it in its full glory here. This time around the section gives some nice detailed drawings of Elric and Stormbringer and The Dragon Caves (yet to appear fully in this tale.).
In summary, the series continues to develop and expand on what has gone before. The quality of the artwork is as fine as ever and the story is developing nicely – there is more to come! I’m pleased that Volume 2 continues the standard set by Volume 1.
I loved it. Recommended.
This series is the retelling of Mike Moorcock’s famous Elric books through the graphic medium, the story of albino Elric, Emperor of Melniboné and his betrayal by his brother-in-law Yyrkoon and the consequences of this on Elric, the Ruby Throne and the Kingdom of Melniboné. In Volume 2 we start to get really interesting, building on the events set up in Volume 1:
‘The ruby throne stands empty. The soldiers are amassing: Elric the albino Emperor of Melniboné, is marching on the Young Kingdoms in search of what has been stolen from him. Aided by the great Lord of Chaos, Arioch, he will wreak his revenge on those that dare to challenge the White Wolf… ‘
This time around, the book is shorter, yet more intense. Having shown the alienness of the Melnibonéan race in Volume 1, here we see the ferociousness of a king determined. With his cousin Yyrkoon in hiding, Elric leads the Sea Lords to the Young Kingdoms in order to find Yyrkoon and Elric’s lost love Cymoril who Yyrkoon has kept in slumber there. The need for Elric to save his lover is so important that Elric has summoned the Lord of Chaos, the great Arioch to help them.
A tale of war, mystical gods, arcane power, blood, vengeance and love – there’s a lot here to love for fans of Epic Fantasy. Readers of the original books (Elric of Melniboné, Stormbringer, Weird of the White Wolf) will be pleased to also find that, despite some changes to the original stories, it is here that we have one of the key revelations of the Elric mythos appear, that of the true nature of Elric’s mystical sword Stormbringer. One of the biggest (and coolest!) ideas of the series is that Stormbringer is a sword that in return for its use demands living souls for Lord Arioch. Elric is duty-bound to provide them.
Moorcock’s original tale shows a multi-layered tale of imagination and depth and this graphic version manages to convey that very well. Elric is now the encapsulation of a tortured soul, angry and vengeful, torn between his love of a woman and his duties as King to the people of Melniboné, addicted to whatever Stormbringer provides and restrained by his destiny. His obsession with bringing back Cymoril means that he makes inappropriate decisions and deals with the Gods that are expensively bought, and which will have eternal consequences. It’s clearly not going to end well.
Comparing the book with the first volume, it is evident that although the roster of people involved has varied slightly (Jean Bastide added to with Jean-Luc Cano and Julien Telo, although Didier Poli from Volume 1 is on the first 12 pages), the elegant style, detail and elegance of The Ruby Throne has been continued here. Pictures are fluid and memorable, the world of Elric supremely realised. As with the first volume, though, Stormbringer is quite graphic (appropriately), with sex and nudity (although I think tastefully done myself) and the violence may not be for younger readers.
Whereas in the first volume there was an introduction by Mike himself, this time the honours go to Alan Moore, the graphic writer known for his creations The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, V For Vendetta and Watchmen. It is as gloriously literate, lively and as lyrical as you would expect from this noted fan. He tells of his initial teenage interest and tries to explain the importance of Elric both in the context of an iconic character as well as a graphic novel character. Alan does not give plaudits out liberally, so when he writes
‘I’d like to join with Moorcock in declaring this to be the most successful, true-in-spirit re-imagining of his fate harrowed icon.’
you know that it comes from the heart.
At the end of this book, as last time, you get an insight into the series with the artists, writers and colourists giving an insight into the production of the graphic novel. Though Stormbringer was hinted at in this part of Volume 1, I’m pleased to see it in its full glory here. This time around the section gives some nice detailed drawings of Elric and Stormbringer and The Dragon Caves (yet to appear fully in this tale.).
In summary, the series continues to develop and expand on what has gone before. The quality of the artwork is as fine as ever and the story is developing nicely – there is more to come! I’m pleased that Volume 2 continues the standard set by Volume 1.
I loved it. Recommended.
wizardmacdonald's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gore
erratic's review against another edition
4.0
This was a little let down for me after the first volume. I still liked it, especially the art which is still top notch, but I was kinda disappointed with the story which I felt like it was not as true to Elric's as the first volume was.
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