The Chronicles of Corum: The Knight of the Swords Vol. 1

   When I began reading fantasy / adventure stories in the 1960s, I made the usual progression from Robert E. Howard's Conan stories to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan and John Carter and finally to Michel Moorcock's Elric.

   The incredibly prolific Moorcock created a number of characters who fall under his concept of the Eternal Champion (a hero with many faces).

   One of those faces is Corum, the Prince of the Scarlet Robe, who is a pacifist - until his people are wiped out by an evil army.

   As you'd expect from Moorcock, this is not a typical story of heroism. Instead, it's an adventure tinged with love, tragedy, dark magic, grim gods and exotic locales.

   It's all brought to life expertly by writer Mike Baron and artist Mike Mignola, with inkers Rick Burchett and Kelly Jones.

   This collection is a reprint of a mini-series from 1987, so this is early work by Mignola - but it's impressive art, loaded with amazing visuals and flights of fancy.

   It's a treat to have this powerful work available again, and great to see the collection of "The Michael Moorcock Library" continue to expand.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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