By Tim A. Conrad (Eclipse Books)
ISBN: 1-56060-012-8 (Limited Edition Hardcover); Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 978-1-56060-013-8 (PB)
It’s the season for baroque and whimsical terror tales and this lost gem is long overdue for a thorough re-investigation…
Toadswart d’Amplestone began life as a serial in Marvel’s creator-owned magazine Epic Illustrated (issues #25-28 and #30-32; spanning August 1984-October 1985).
Revelling in the compulsive mystique of grotesquery, the tale of medieval madness, magic and malevolence is a brilliantly rendered, slyly arch graphic pastiche and thematic marriage of black-&-white 1930s horror movies with later screen efforts from Roger Corman and the Hammer horror masters.
Sealing the deal for authenticity, it is painted in stunning black-&-white tones by the fabulously gifted Tim Conrad and was collected into a superb oversized (212 x 286 mm) monochrome tome by Eclipse Comics in 1990. Although still readily available, it is a prime candidate for revival and re-release.
Splendidly over the top, the tale comes from the pitiful lips of much-oppressed court dwarf Toadswart who recounts – after a philosophic ‘Prologue’ – how in ‘Children of the Storm’ itinerant artist Shamshadow rides into the castle of Amplestone, soaking wet and looking for work …
The manse is in a dire state. Prince Waxwroth has been increasing unstable since his father vanished three years previously: more and more convinced that the King of the First Dominion covets his lands and is perpetrating intrigues to seize them. Nevertheless, the painter is hired to craft grand portraits of the entire surviving clan…
Despite employing magician/astrologer Lacknose, Waxwroth incessantly dabbles in sorcery himself; convinced the horrific golem he has created will safeguard his possessions and ensure the succession of his young son Rupert…
Eventually, the unstable Waxwroth finally instils his creation with a ‘Heart of Fire’ and rapidly regrets his act…
In ‘And All the Kings Men…’ he unleashes his granite beast against the King’s never seen forces but it is uncontrollable and does more harm than good, returning to slay trusted servants and even family members in ‘Ashes to Ashes’.
Tension mounts as the Prince temporarily recaptures his monster but Toadswart can see that worse is to come. It inevitably breaks loose and roams the castle, pushing them all to the ‘Abyss’.
With his world and body falling apart, ‘Waxwroth Furioso’ finds the beleaguered Prince berserk and utterly lost, leaving Toadswart and Shamshadow to deal with the rampaging golem’s ‘Final Passage’ before a return of order and answers are found to dispel an inescapable tragedy…
There are no dragons but plenty of dank dungeons, dark deeds and dire, dirty plots to augment the monstrous mayhem and mystery, making this a glorious tribute to bygone times and classic movies seen from under he bedcovers or from behind a sofa, and if you’re a smug git like me and got the Limited Edition Hardcover you can also enjoy a full colour tipped-in art plate (which, on reflection, makes me wonder if the whole tale wasn’t actually fully painted and just shot and printed in black-&-white to enhance the spooky mood…)
©1990 Tim Conrad. All rights reserved.