Category: Moorcock Adaptations

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The Michael Moorcock Library – Elric: the Eternal Champion Collection


Adapted by James Cawthorn and Philippe Druillet, & various (Titan Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-78586-955-6 (HB/Digital edition)

This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times.

Michael Moorcock began his career at age 15; writing and editing classic British comic strips like Dogfight Dixon, Jet Ace Logan, Captain Condor, Olac the Gladiator, Tarzan and many, many other weekly favourites. As the swinging Sixties dawned he made the transition to prose fiction where he single-handedly revitalised a genre via the creation of Elric and the high-concept notion of an Eternal Champion.

Debuting in 1961, Elric is a landmark of fantasy and particularly its Sword & Sorcery subdivision: the foretold, fore-doomed last ruler of pre-human civilisation Melniboné, a race of cruel, nigh-demonic sorcerers. These arrogant, dissolute creatures are at the end of a slow, decadent decline after millennia of dominance over Earth. Albino Elric is physically weak, buoyed up by drugs, blood and dark magic, and of a brooding, philosophical temperament. He cares for little save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, who will die one day whilst he battles her loathsome usurping brother Prince Yyrkoon in service to a manipulative god of Chaos.

In this collection that day is right now as primary and premiere Elric artist Jim Cawthorne limns that final clash in a hugely personal adaptation from 1976, first and privately published by British concern Savoy Books in an edition that never really reached its natural audience…

“White Wolf” Elric doesn’t even want to rule, but it is his duty, and he is the only one of his debased race to see the (comparatively) freshly evolved race of Man as a threat to the Empire. He is owned if not actually possessed by terrible black sword Stormbringer: one of a matched pair of sorcerous weapons that steal the souls of their victims and feed that stolen life and vitality to the wielder…

Elric is a tragic incarnation of the restless Eternal Champion, reincarnated in every time, place and alternate dimension. His life is violence, blood and unending tragedy, exacerbated by dependence on that soul-drinking ebony blade and his sworn – if somewhat compelled and thus reluctant – allegiance to the chimerical Lords of Chaos.

Everybody knows all that, right?

The 13th volume in a proposed complete Michael Moorcock Library of comics adaptations (as well as reissue of the prose works), these yarns – chronologically at least – are the very first pictorial narratives of the doomed king; given an archival polish and pictorial upgrade by way of a brace of Introductions from Moorcock himself and Philippe Druillet. They are bolstered by a substantial contextual essay at the end. First, though, is time for a little history…

A migrated Tynesider lodged surreptitiously and contentedly in Ladbroke Grove at a time of great turmoil in the UK, James Cawthorn was an old friend, comics co-worker and always Moorcock’s preferred illustrator of the Last Emperor. Driven, solitary, universally respected and wedded to his craft, he wrote strips for Lion, Tiger and the UK weekly comics mill, painted murals and probably book covers; made backdrops for theatre productions; private art commissions; decorated apparel and/or instruments for musicians and bands like Hawkwind and Motörhead while toiling laboriously (and far too slowly and meticulously to be commercial) on beloved passion pieces like Stormbringer.

Cawthorne’s unique and potent adaptation of Moorcock’s epic book (a reworking of novellas Dead God’s Homecoming, Black Sword’s Brother, Sad Giant’s Shield and Doomed Lord’s Passing) was his masterpiece: released by admirers at Savoy because its owners Dave Britton & Michael Butterworth were prepared to pay in advance and wait for him to finish according to his own excoriatingly exaction standards. It was worth the wait when that epically huge cardstock album (600 x 430mm – 24 inches by 17!) finally blew away those lucky enough to get a copy. This reproduction gives readers everything they could want, but sadly cannot impart the wonderous sheer bloody size of it in your hands…

It was mostly missed here but hugely popular in German…

The complex convoluted story of that book’s creation holds even more revelations but are Moorcock’s to share, so let’s turn briefly to the tale itself.

Michael Moorcock’s irresistible blend of brooding Faustian tragedy and all-consuming action is (arguably) best enjoyed in his stories of Elric, but that restless imagination crafted many incarnations of his Eternal Champion able to stand on their own bloody merits and constantly shaped and reinterpreted by a vast and varied array of unique artistic visions. Elric is one doom-drenched, tragedy-attracting incarnation of the Eternal Champion, an aspect of a heroic force reincarnated in every time, place and alternate dimension. His specific life is bound to blood and self-torment, exacerbated by his dependence on a soul-drinking black sword and his sworn allegiance to callous and chimerical Lords of Chaos.

Here that angst-filled destiny come crashing around the hero’s head as brief moments of domestic contentment are washed away in blood when the eternal war between the Lords of Chaos and Order leads to the abduction of his human wife Zarozinia and Elric taking up the black blade for the final times. He reunites with old companion Moonglum and hunts down Jagreen Lern, Theocrat of Pan Tang as he attempts to conquer the world for his allies, the Dukes of Hell. The battles are long, savage, brutal and fantastical and result in the end of all that exists. However, it’s never been about when or where one dies but how and why…

Admit it, you should read more books, right?

Counterpointing that epic comics narrative is a contemporaneous appreciation from across the channel, where Europe also caught the cosmic zeitgeist of the era..

In the 1960s Elric’s oeuvre was translated by Moorcock & author Maxim Jakubowski introducing an up and coming illustrator to the world of Heroic Fantasy. Comics and fantasy storytelling took a huge leap forward in 1975 when Gallic comics collective Les Humanoides Associes began publishing groundbreaking magazine Métal Hurlant. However, one of their future visual mainstays had begun breaking borders and boundaries almost a decade earlier.

Photographer/artist Philippe Druillet started his comics career in 1966 with apocalyptic science fiction epic Le Mystère des abîmes (The Mystery of the Abyss) which introduced doom-tainted intergalactic freebooter and nomadic wanderer Lone Sloane in a tale of a far distant tomorrow thematically influenced in equal measure by H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith and A.E. Van Vogt. We will get to his other works in the courses of times…

Born in Toulouse in 1944, Druillet was raised in Spain, and his comics work was grandiose, panoramic, deeply baroque and overwhelmingly cosmic in scope. He also pretty much rejected standard formats and panels layouts in favour of boldly shocking graphics. Druillet began working for Pilote in 1969 and revived his star-rover in numerous shorter pieces, initially published together in 1972 as The Six Voyages. This collection, however, focuses on his brief but inspirational dealings with Moorcock’s primary ill-fated cosmic traveller…

After preliminary tentative spreads in Moi Aussi, in 1969, a 21-plate portfolio entitled La Saga d’Elric le Necromancien was published. In 1973 Moorcock’s reworking of Michel Demuth’s text for the portfolio became Elric: The Return to Melniboné as published by Unicorn Bookshop in 1973. Its influence was far-reaching: just ask American creators like Keith Giffen, who repatterned his entire drawing style on what he saw…

Reproduced in its original monochrome, the brief interlude spectacularly and mind-alteringly details how the former Emperor reclaims his throne and position from apparently-ascendant rival Prince Yyrkoon and reacquaints himself with his bride-to-be Cymoril. Elric has no conception that the Lords of Chaos are closely watching and laying their plans for his future…

Closing the arcana and antiquities is ‘Elric and the Artists’ an incisively informative briefing by John Davey, detailing earlier efforts to visualise the Last Emperor, concentrating on his prose debuts, before going on to summarise and scrutinise the long history of graphic novel and comics interpretations.

Moorcock and his visual collaborators changed the comics world forever, This is how that all started…

Adapted from the works of Michael Moorcock related to the character of ELRIC © 2021, Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are TM & © Michael Moorcock and Multiverse Inc.
Elric the Return to Melniboné was first published by Unicorn Bookshop, 1973. Stormbringer was first published by Savoy Books in 1976.

EC horror and romance maestro Jack Kamen was born today in 1920, and shares the date with eco-activist cartoonist Larry Marder (Tales of the Beanworld) from 1951; editor and scripter Jim Salicrup in 1957; British comics veteran/educator Nigel Kitching (Sonic the Comic) in 1959 and The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder in 1974.

Today in 1960 an era ended with the final page published of Warren Tufts’ Lance.

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The Michael Moorcock Library – Elric volume 3: The Dreaming City


By Roy Thomas & P Craig Russell with Tom Orzechowski (Titan Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-78585-334-0 (HB/Digital edition)

This book includes some Discriminatory Content produced during less enlightened times.

Some stories just never grow stale or feel out-of-step. Here is a particular favourite both in prose and comics form that you can find and adore.

The third volume in a proposed complete Michael Moorcock Library of comics adaptations (and prose novels), this is – chronologically at least – the first tale of the doomed king, despite being one of the last adventures penned by Moorcock in the initial prose cycle of stories (he returned to the character years later, as all great authors do to all great characters).

It’s been given an archival polish and pictorial upgrade and is re-presented here in a superb hardcover tome complete from ‘Introduction: Conan, Elric, and Me’ from original adapter Roy Thomas, sharing his history with and undying love of the dark prince…

Elric is an icon and milestone of the Sword & Sorcery genre and one of the first and best of the “last rulers of a pre-human civilization” trope. The austere distant Melnibonéans he rules and leads to destruction are an ancient race of cruel, arrogant sorcerers: dissolute creatures in a slow, decadent decline after millennia of dominance over Earth.

An albino, Emperor Elric VIII, was the 428th of his line: physically weak and of a brooding, philosophical temperament, caring for nothing save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, even though her brother Prince Yrrkoon openly lusted for both his throne and intended bride.

Elric never wanted to rule, it was merely his duty. Crucially, he was the only one of his race to see the newly-evolving race of Man as a threat to the Empire. Thanks to earlier/later canonical tales told (for which see Michael Moorcock Library – Elric volume 1) he owns – or is possessed by – a huge black sword dubbed Stormbringer: a magical blade that steals the souls of all who fall to it and feeds their life and vitality to the albino.

The Dreaming City was the first Elric story Moorcock released, published in pulp periodical Science Fantasy #47 (June 1961). A sensational instant hit, the Last Emperor became the vanguard of a modern revival of the weird fantasy form and an inadvertent foundation stone for the new-born role-playing game market. Its transition to comics began as an adaptation by Roy Thomas & P. Craig Russell: released as a the second Marvel Graphic Novel in 1982.

In this beautifully realised (fully visually remastered for this edition), Elric has been recently usurped and ousted by Yrrkoon. The vile rival also cast Cymoril into an enchanted sleep and holds her hostage. Faustian-like, the albino has entered into a devil’s bargain with assorted human rulers and reivers and now promises to guide an armada of ships in an all-out attack on the deviously fortified island citadel of Immyr, determined to raze the city and eradicate his entire race if that what’s necessary to rescue his beloved…

The pact sees the doomed monarch burn many bridges with old friends, primordial mystic allies of his lost throne and especially his new human allies such as Count Smiorgan, Yaris, King Naclon and Fadan of Lormyr, but Elric is content to destroy the entire world to free his beloved and punish his nemesis…

Thanks to Elric the shaky alliance succeeds in spectacular manner, but Yrrkoon (carrying Stormbringer’s sister sword Mournblade) is easily his master in treachery and deceit, and the rescue mission goes horribly wrong, leaving the Last True Emperor despondent, broken and alone in world he no longer fits, and despised by the surviving humans he abandoned to the vengeful dragon-riding Melnibonéans…

Much like the original prose tale this adaptation has become a milestone of the comics genre: a resplendently flamboyant, deliciously elegant, savagely beautiful masterpiece blending blistering action and glittering adventure with deep, darkly melancholic tone of the cynical, nihilistic, Cold-War mentality and era which spawned the original stories.

Here is an iconic and groundbreaking landmark of fantasy fiction and a must-read-item for any fan…
© 2016 Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are ™ & © Michael Moorcock and Elric Inc. Elric: The Dreaming City is © 1981, 1982 Roy Thomas and P Craig Russell.

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The Michael Moorcock Library Elric volume 4: The Weird of the White Wolf


Adapted by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, George Freeman, P. Craig Russell, Tom Orzechowski & various (Titan Books)
ISBN: 978-1-78276-290-4 (HB/Digital edition)

As we’re all waving swords about, here’s another splendidly fantastikal romp everyone should have in their personal casque of delights and wonders…

A milestone of the Sword & Sorcery genre Elric is the last ruler of a pre-human civilisation. Domain of a race of cruel, arrogant sorcerers, Melniboné ruled the world in primordial times before its debased lords embraced boredom and decadence. Trapped in gradual decline after millennia of dominance, the end came through its final king. An albino, Elric is physically weak and of a brooding, philosophical temperament. He cared for nothing save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, whom he killed whilst battling her loathsome usurping brother Prince Yrrkoon. After Elric destroyed his own love and race he wandered the world a broken, dissolute wreck…

When some prose tales – The Dreaming City, While the Gods Laugh and The Singing Citadel – were compiled with framing tale The Dream of Earl Aubec into a single novel Elric: Weird of the White Wolf, the tragic revelations were devoured by fans devoted to the epic of inescapable doom, and translation into comics was as inevitable. Ultimately, the epic adaptations alighted in these carefully curated chronicles courtesy of Titan Comics, in both physical and digital formats.

Following a warmly informative Introduction by pioneering comics writer and publisher Mike Friedrich, and creator biographies, the saga resumes.

This stellar graphic adaptation gathers not only the novel but also many of the disparate previous adaptations (partially or in full) to form a logical chronological sequence, based on a 5-issue miniseries and collection which originally saw the light of day from the much-missed innovators First Comics in 1990.

Death and drama manifests in ‘The Dream of Earl Aubec’ – by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert & George Freeman (spectacularly supported by letterer Ken Bruzenak) – as the greatest warrior champion of his world fights to the very edge of reality, seeking more glory and searching for approval from his queen Eloarde of Klant. Where solid ground meets raw unformed Chaos-stuff, he finds a castle and is seduced by inexplicable, incredible creature Myshella, the Dark Lady. She gleefully shows him visions of the future in the raw material of unformed reality, and particularly the travails of a tragic Emperor, as yet unborn: Elric.

The first vision is an abridged and modified version of Thomas and P. Craig Russell’s ‘The Dreaming City’, taken from the 1982 Marvel Graphic Novel. It’s followed by the pair’s superb adaptation of ‘While the Gods Laugh’ which first appeared in fantasy anthology magazine Epic Illustrated (#14) in 1984.

There and then, the “white wolf” searched for the Dead God’s Book: a magical grimoire that promised to answer any wish or desire. In the quest Elric picked up the first of many disposable paramours in Shaarilla of the Dancing Mist: a woman with an agenda of her own. Most importantly. Elric met his as his truest friend and aide, human wanderer Moonglum.

Interspersed with the unfolding drama of Aubec and Myshella, the collection moves into an all-new interpretation of ‘The Singing Citadel’. Thomas & Gilbert co-adapted the tale for hugely underrated George Freeman to illustrate and colour.

When Elric and Moonglum take ship they are attacked by the magical pirates of Pan Tang, before being drawn into the dire schemes of Queen Yishana. She needs a better magician than her own lover Theleb K’aarna to investigate an incursion of murderous, melodic chaos into her kingdom…

After convincing the newcomers to join her, their search turns up a macabre, manic invader who turns out to be the Balo, malevolent Jester of the Lords of Chaos, intent on establishing his own domain and playpen beyond the interference of his fun-averse superiors…

This is a phenomenal tale of heroism and insanity, and art and colour here fully capture the drama and madness of the original. Gilbert & Freeman are every bit the imaginative, illustrative equals of the magnificent Russell and this book is inarguably one of the most impressive graphic fantasies ever produced.

Michael Moorcock’s irresistible blend of brooding Faustian tragedy and all-out action is never better displayed than in his stories of Elric, and Thomas’ adaptations were another high watermark in the annals of illustrated fantasy. Every home and castle should have one…

Another groundbreaking landmark of fantasy fiction and must-read-item, this resplendently flamboyant tale is a deliciously elegant, sinisterly beautiful masterpiece of the genre, blending blistering action and breathtaking adventure with the deep, darkly melancholic tone of a cynical, nihilistic, Cold-War mentality and the era that spawned the original stories.
Adapted from the works of Michael Moorcock related to the character of Elric of Melniboné © 2016, Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are TM & © Michael Moorcock and Multiverse Inc. Elric: The Weird of the White Wolf is © 1990 First Publishing, Inc. and Star*Reach Productions. Adapted from the original stories by Michael Moorcock, © 1967, 1970, 1977. All rights reserved.

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The Michael Moorcock Library Elric volume 2: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate


Adapted by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, George Freeman, with Tom Orzechowski, L. Lois Buhalis & P. Craig Russell (Titan Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-78276-289-8 (HB/Digital edition)

Michael Moorcock’s irresistible blend of brooding Faustian tragedy and all-out action is best seen in his stories of Elric, last Emperor of the pre-human civilisation of Melniboné, with the adaptations scripted by Roy Thomas (Avengers, X-Men, Conan, All Star Squadron, Arak) during the 1980s being a high watermark in the annals of illustrated fantasy.

Elric is a primal icon of the Sword & Sorcery genre: ruling a race of arrogant, congenitally sadistic sorcerers: dissolute creatures in a slow, decadent decline after eons of dominance. Born an albino, he is physically weak and afflicted with a brooding, philosophical temperament. His energies perpetually bolstered by sorcery or the souls his sword steals, the Emperor cares for nothing save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, even though her brother Prince Yyrkoon openly lusts for his throne – and his own sister…

Thomas & P. Craig Russell had previously adapted debut tale The Dreaming City (based on the first novella from 1961), as a pioneering Marvel Graphic Novel in 1982, supplemented by 1984’s ‘While the Gods Laugh’ in Marvel’s fantasy magazine Epic Illustrated.

Those stories were refurbished during the first blossoming of the American Direct Sales Market as the soaring saga transferred to Pacific Comics – before their early demise – and thereafter alighting at First Comics in 1985. Given an archival polish and push, the franchise expanded into a graphic novel line and numerous limited series starring not just Elric but also other revered Moorcock properties such as Dorian Hawkmoon/The Runestaff and The Chronicles of Corum.

Ultimately, the epic adaptations alighted in these carefully curated chronicles courtesy of Titan Comics, in both physical and digital formats. The first volume of the Michael Moorcock Library of comics featured – according to internal narrative chronology – the first tale of the doomed king, despite it being one of the last adventures penned by Moorcock in the initial cycle of stories. He returned to the character years later, as all great authors do…

With Michael T. Gilbert (Mr. Monster, American Splendor, Mann & Superman, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Bart Simpson) & George Freeman (Captain Canuck, X-Files, Jack of Hearts, Aquaman, Batman, Wasteland) illustrating Thomas’s script, this second volume features a 7-part miniseries from First Comics (1985-1986), adapting the novel which so impressively captured the otherworldly nature of Moorcock’s Eternal Champion concept.

Following a warmly informative Introduction by “Tanelorn Archivist” Guy Lawley, the saga resumes with ‘The Chronicle of the Black Sword’ (lettered by Tom Orzechowski & L. Lois Buhalis) as the doom-laden albino flees captivity and murderous humans of the “Young Kingdoms” who were everywhere usurping control from the world’s ancient former rulers.

The emperor had abandoned beloved Cymoril and the Dreaming City of Imrryr to seek an unattainable peace of mind, but fallen to treachery and torture in the city of Ryfel in the new land called Pikarayd. Having escaped carrying malevolent, wilful Rune-sword Stormbringer, he pauses his headlong flight, inexplicably waiting on a windswept beach for fate’s next twist.

It comes as a fantastic vessel arrives, ready to add him to its incredible crew…

The ship is a trans-dimensional galleon assembling heroes for an impossible mission. Aboard the eerie vessel he meets a motley crew of warriors from alternate Earths gathered in hopes of saving the multiverse. Risking the very nature of reality, Elric has taken ship with three other aspects of the Eternal Champion; Corum, Erekosé and Dorian Hawkmoon. Together they must voyage to a wild place and defeat Agak and Gagak, sorcerous siblings from beyond the multiverse intend on consuming creation.

Finding a grim kind of companionship amidst a company of similarly foredoomed warriors, Elric proceeds in the quest, but only succeeds after surrendering his individuality to the obscene horror and sheer indignity of becoming “The Four Who Are One”. That climactic clash comes after an interminable voyage across diverse dire realms, made ever harder as Elric’s cosmic patron refuses to aid him…

The pale Emperor had previously pledged allegiance to Arioch, a Lord of Chaos in eternal opposition to supernal Lords of Order. He had – on occasion – been granted power and aid in times of crisis. The eternal see-saw war of these puissant conceptual forces was the fundamental principle governing the Multiverse. However, for providing the etiolated Elric with the means to find and defeat his cousin, Arioch demanded his devil’s due, binding him to the Stealer of Souls: a vampiric black blade that frequently killed anyone he cared for…

Their mission ultimately completed at tremendous cost, Elric remains aboard ship for return to his proper place, but instead debarks in another desolate land and moment of crisis, uniting with wandering warrior Count Smiorgan Baldhead: former seagoing merchant prince and fellow dispatcher of marauding bandits and similar riff-raff…

Together they seek the fabled Crimson Gate, a dimensional portal that can transport them to their long-lost homes…

Before they find it, however, the questers face an ethereal horse, aid its spectral rider Prince Carolak and confront Elric’s legendary deviant ancestor Saxif D’aan to save human woman Vassliss from the revenant’s attentions: sparking an eldritch duel with an awful outcome…

The long trip to Melniboné moves to its final phase as Elric and Smiorgan take ship with another sea rover: charismatic Duke Avan Astran of Old Hrolmar. They join the enterprising trader in a voyage to discovery – for which read “plunder” – to the lost city R’lin K’ren A’a. The mystical metropolis is well known to Elric: it is presumed to be the direct precursor to his own Empire…

The arcane argosy again tests Elric’s every resource, ending in a torrid trek through foetid swamps infested with primordial progenitors of the Melnibonéan species. In this time and place, Arioch’s aid is an even more double-edged affair, initially refused but then granted only to precipitate a larger threat to all creation…

Triumphing thanks to the accursed assistance of J’osui C’reln Reyr – the Creature Doomed to Live! – Elric and Smiorgan only survive because Stormbringer indiscriminately slaughters all their foes and allies, ruthlessly paving the way for the voyagers return to Imrryr …

To Be Continued…

Deemed the second novel of the Elric cycle (Moorcock actually wrote most of the tales devoid of chronological order – but only purists need concern themselves with that) this is an unparalleled phantasmagoria of carnage and unshackled cosmic creativity, spectacularly brought to life by esteemed arch-stylists Gilbert and Freeman, who construct a decadently baroque, sinisterly effete yarn supplemented by a full cover gallery, additional art by P. Craig Russell and full creator biographies.

Another groundbreaking landmark of fantasy fiction and must-read-item, this resplendently flamboyant tale is a deliciously elegant, sinisterly beautiful masterpiece of the genre, blending blistering action and breathtaking adventure with the deep, darkly melancholic tone of a cynical, nihilistic, Cold-War mentality and era that spawned the original stories.
Adapted from the works of Michael Moorcock related to the character of Elric of Melniboné © 2015, Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are TM & © Michael Moorcock and Multiverse Inc. The Sailor on the Seas of Fate is © 1985 Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert & George Freeman. All rights reserved.

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The Michael Moorcock Library: Elric volume 1: Elric of Melniboné


Adapted by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, P. Craig Russell & Tom Orzechowski (Titan Comics)
ISBN: 978 -1-78276-288-1 (HB)

Some stories just never grow stale or feel out-of-step. Here a particular favourite both in prose and comics form that you can find and adore in both physical and digital formats at last.

As the first volume in a proposed Michael Moorcock Library of comics adaptations, this is, according to internal narrative chronology, the first tale of the doomed king, despite being one of the last adventures penned by Moorcock in the initial cycle of stories (he returned to the character years later, as all great authors do to all great characters).

As a sequential narrative, the soaring saga was originally released in 1983-1984 from Pacific Comics before being collected into a graphic novel by First Comics. It was then given an archival polish and is re-presented here in a superb hardcover tome complete with Introduction from Mr. Moorcock, plus a full cover gallery and additional art.

Adaptors Roy Thomas & P. Craig Russell had previously worked on other tales of the last Emperor of Melniboné: specifically debut tale The Dreaming City (taken from the first novella as published in 1961) which began life as a Marvel Graphic Novel in 1982 and was supplemented by 1984’s ‘While the Gods Laugh’, which featured in Marvel’s fantasy anthology magazine Epic Illustrated #14. Here they are joined by fellow enthusiast and esteemed arch-stylist Michael T. Gilbert to complete a masterpiece of decadently baroque, sinisterly effete yarnspinning based in large part on the dark visions of Aubrey Beardsley and Arthur Rackham.

Elric is an absolute icon of the Sword & Sorcery genre: ruler of the pre-human civilisation of the Melnibonéans, a race of cruel, arrogant and congenitally sadistic sorcerers: dissolute creatures in a slow, decadent decline after millennia of dominance over the Earth.

Born an albino, he is physically weak and of a brooding, philosophical temperament. He cares for nothing save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, even though her brother Prince Yyrkoon openly lusts for his throne. As seen in opening chapter ‘Out of the Dreaming City’, he doesn’t even really want to rule, but it is his duty, and he is the only one of his kind to see the newly evolved race of Man as a threat to the Empire.

When intruders from the Young Kingdoms are captured within the island’s maze defences, they are interrogated in ‘Welcome to the Domain of Dr. Jest’ and inevitably reveal an imminent attack on the Dreaming City of Imrryr, capital of Empire for ten thousand years.

Provoked by Yyrkoon, physically frail Elric personally leads the response, and the Fleet, bolstered by dragons and magic, easily dispatches the upstart humans. In the midst of the melee, the wily pretender seizes his chance and throws the enfeebled Emperor overboard to drown at the moment of victory.

The deeply conflicted hero believes himself happy to die, yet some part of his mind calls to the sea-elementals and their mighty king Straasha – bonded allies and ancient friends of the Empire – to save him. When he returns to confront the usurper, Yrrkoon unleashes a demonic doomsday weapon and flees with Cymoril as his hostage.

Hidden at the ends of the Earth using the demonic ‘Mirror of Memory’ to conceal himself from all searches, the usurper plans a counterattack and all Elric’s magic cannot find him. In obsessive desperation the pale Emperor swallows his pride and suspicion, pledging allegiance to Arioch, a Lord of Chaos in eternal opposition to the supernal Lords of Order.

The eternal see-saw war of these puissant forces is the fundamental principle of this universe and the overarching Multiverse. For providing the etiolated Elric with the means to find and defeat his cousin, Arioch will demand his devil’s due, but the Albino does not care…

Other allies such as Straasha are more forthcoming and less duplicitous: providing Elric with ‘The Ship Which Sails over Land and Sea’ and enabling the frantic pursuer to voyage to a ferocious, doom-drenched confrontation with his conniving cousin.

The journey is fast but perilous but the final clash is further delayed as Elric finds Cymoril ensorcelled to eternal sleep and Yyrkoon gone to another realm in quest of ultimate power…

Once again calling upon Arioch’s mercurial favours, Elric follows ‘Through the Shade Gate’ to a dreary, dying otherwhere and meets affable exile Rackhir the Red Archer who joins him in the final stages of his pursuit, resulting in a terrifying duel with Yyrkoon who now holds the mighty Mournblade whilst Elric is compelled to accept his dark and foredoomed future by taking up the black blade he was born to carry in ‘At Last: Stormbringer‘.

Every task undergone, every trial undertaken and all torments endured, have been cruelly orchestrated to get Elric to bring the Rune-sword, the malevolent Stealer of Souls, back to Earth and so very soon, he does; but not in the manner double-dealing Arioch intended…

The novel is an iconic and groundbreaking landmark of fantasy fiction and a must-read-item for any fan. This spectacular, resplendently flamboyant adaptation is a deliciously elegant, savagely beautiful masterpiece of the genre effortlessly blending blistering action and gleaming adventure with the deep, darkly melancholic tone of the cynical, nihilistic, Cold-War mentality and era that spawned the original stories.

You must read the book and you should own this graphic novel, and all the successive tomes to come…

Adapted from the works of Michael Moorcock related to the character of Elric of Melniboné © 2014, Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are TM & © Michael Moorcock and Multiverse Inc.

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Elric volume 1: Elric of Melnibon̩ РThe Michael Moorcock Library


By Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, P. Craig Russell & Tom Orzechowski (Titan Comics)
ISBN: 978 -1-78276-288-1

Here’s a bit of a dilemma. Later this week I’m going to review the second volume in Titan’s Comics’ new translated Euro-masterpiece Elric from Blondel, Cano, Telo, Recht & Poli. That ongoing drama adapts the very same short story Elric of Melniboné which was the basis of the lost comicbook classic on view today.

However as The Tempest and Forbidden Planet or Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story prove, style, interpretation and creator input are everything and both takes are equally unmissable…

As the first volume in a proposed Michael Moorcock Library of comics adaptations, this is, according to internal narrative chronology, the first tale of the doomed king, despite being one of the last adventures penned by Moorcock in the initial cycle of stories (he returned to the character years later).

As a sequential narrative the soaring saga was originally released in 1983-1984 from Pacific Comics (and later collected into a graphic novel by First Comics) and is now re-presented here in a superb hardcover tome complete with Introduction from Mr. Moorcock, plus a full cover gallery and additional art.

Adaptors Roy Thomas & P. Craig Russell had previously worked on other tales of the last Emperor of Melniboné: specifically debut tale The Dreaming City (first published in 1961) as a Marvel Graphic Novel in 1982 and 1984’s ‘While the Gods Laugh’ which featured in Marvel’s fantasy anthology magazine Epic Illustrated #14. Here they were joined by fellow enthusiast and brilliant arch-stylist Michael T. Gilbert to complete a masterpiece of decadently baroque, sinisterly effete storytelling based in large part on the dark visions of Aubrey Beardsley and Arthur Rackham.

Elric is an absolute classic of the Sword and Sorcery genre: Ruler of the pre-human civilisation of the Melnibonéans, a race of cruel, arrogant and congenitally sadistic sorcerers; dissolute creatures in a slow, decadent decline after millennia of dominance over the Earth.

Born an albino, he is physically weak and of a brooding, philosophical temperament, caring for nothing save his beautiful cousin Cymoril, even though her brother Prince Yyrkoon openly lusts for his throne. As seen in opening chapter ‘Out of the Dreaming City’ he doesn’t even really want to rule, but it is his duty, and he is the only one of his race to see the newly evolved race of Man as a threat to the Empire.

When intruders from Young Kingdoms are captured within the island’s maze defences they are interrogated in ‘Welcome to the Domain of Dr. Jest’ and reveal an imminent attack on the Dreaming City of Imrryr, capital of Empire for ten thousand years.

Provoked by Yyrkoon, physically frail Elric personally leads the response and the Fleet, bolstered by dragons and magic, easily dispatches the upstart humans, but the wily pretender seizes his chance and throws the enfeebled Emperor overboard to drown at the moment of victory.

The deeply conflicted hero believes himself happy to die but some part of his mind calls to the sea-elementals and their mighty king Straasha – bound allies and ancient friends of the Empire – to save him. When he returns to confront the usurper, Yrrkoon unleashes a demonic doomsday weapon and flees with Cymoril as his hostage.

Hidden at the ends of the Earth using the demonic ‘Mirror of Memory’ to conceal himself from all searches the usurper plans a counterattack and all Elric’s magic cannot find him. In obsessive desperation the pale Emperor swallows his pride and suspicion, pledging allegiance to Arioch, a Lord of Chaos in opposition to the Lords of Order.

The eternal see-saw war of these supernal forces is the fundamental principle of the universe or “Multiverse”. For providing the etiolated Elric with the means to find and defeat his cousin, Arioch will demand his devil’s due, but the Albino does not care…

Other allies such as Straasha are more forthcoming and less duplicitous: providing Elric with ‘The Ship Which Sails over Land and Sea’ enabling the frantic pursuer to travel to a ferocious and doom-drenched confrontation with his conniving cousin.

The voyage is fast but perilous but the final clash is delayed as Elric finds Cymoril ensorcelled to eternal sleep and Yyrkoon gone to another realm in quest of ultimate power…

Once again calling upon Arioch’s mercurial favours, Elric follows ‘Through the Shade Gate’ to dreary, dying otherwhere and meets affable exile Rackhir the Red Archer who joins him in the final stages of his pursuit, resulting in a terrifying duel with Yyrkoon holding the mighty Mournblade whilst Elric is compelled to accept his dark and foredoomed future by taking up the black blade he was born to carry in ‘At Last… Stormbringer‘.

Everything undergone, every trial undertaken and torment endured, has been orchestrated to get Elric to bring the Rune-sword, the malevolent Stealer of Souls, back to Earth and so very soon, he does… but not in the manner double-dealing Arioch intended…

The novel is an iconic and groundbreaking landmark of fantasy fiction and a must-read-item for any fan. This spectacular, resplendently flamboyant adaptation is a deliciously elegant, savagely beautiful masterpiece of the genre effortlessly blending blistering action and gleaming adventure with the deep, darkly melancholic tone of the cynical, nihilistic, Cold-War mentality and era that spawned the original stories.

You must read the book and you should own this graphic novel …and all the successive tomes to come…

Adapted from the works of Michael Moorcock related to the character of Elric of Melniboné © 2014, Michael & Linda Moorcock. All characters, the distinctive likenesses thereof, and all related indicia are ™ & © Michael Moorcock and Multiverse Inc.
The Michael Moorcock Library volume 1: Elric of Melniboné will be released on March 31st 2015 and is available for pre-order now.