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Digital Demon Knights #1 Get It Here!
It's Wednesday, it's 7pm, and it's time for the digital edition of Demon Knights! Buy it there, or click on the picture on the right!
And do let me know what you think! Cheerio!
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Demon Knights
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Will wait till my preordered print issue arrives.
Will wait till my preordered print issue arrives.
Will wait till my preordered print issue arrives.
Will wait till my preordered print issue arrives.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Bought it! Read it while I listened to my Dragon Age soundtrack. :P First issue moved REALLY FAST. I was surprised we got to see all the heroes in the first issue, I was expecting a slower roll out. Still, interested enough to try a few more issues, I love fantasy so that helps.
I spent yesterday trying to figure out why the digital release wouldn't work at 11am my time. Yeah.
Anyway, have it now and really liked it. You sure lucked out with your artist. The layouts are just stunning, and so are the colours. It's got quite a painted feel.
Another issue with a lot going on that I ended up reading twice to get the structure properly, but even the first time around I loved the humour and the over the top D&D, lets throw monsters and dragons and knights and shield maidens and thousand year old barbarians together and see what happens (Why? Because it will be cool!) thing happening. I'm enjoying that immensely, even if I'm a bit sceptical that they'd all end up in the same wee little town at the same time.
Are you going to run a poll for these characters too?
I was already looking forward to Demon Knights, but I was astonished at how much I enjoyed this comic. I particularly liked this incarnation of Vandal Savage; reminds me of the Hawk Man from the Flash Gordon movie. This comic has convinced me of several things. The first is, this is my favorite title so far in the reboot. The second is, I need to go back and re-watch Excalibur.
Sorry Paul but I wanted issue #1 in the print edition. Really enjoyed it. I think I will move to digital for Stormwatch and some others but will stick to print for Demon Knights.
Just want to say I LOVED the issue. Were you thinking of Dungeons and Dragons when you decided to have the team form in a tavern? Many of my games have started with "So you are all drinking in a tavern....."
Just got issue 1 in my hands and I have to say that you took DC comics, medieval fantasy and the best of the best of Brittish Sci Fi and had a magical threesome baby named Demon Knights. It was great. Best book of the relaunch in my opinion. You managed to introduced all the players and pack the issue with action.
To see characters like Xanadu, Etrigan, Vandal Savage and Shining Knight was fanboy heaven but the best part is you have me intrigued and excited on the other characters. The Questing Queen, Al Jabr, Horse Woman and Exoristos (is she an Amazion?!?!?).
You made me a happy nerd and for that I thank you. Cannot wait for next issue. Oh and you kinda creeped me out with that Mordru baby thing. Lol.
David: thanks, hope we keep you. Muc: thanks, we're lucky to have Dio drawing for us. Poll today! Dar: thank you, and indeed, that's one of my favourite movies. Gov: thanks, and I'm delighted you buy it in any form that suits you! Evan: loads of people have mentioned that, and it's true! But I completely missed that when I wrote it. George: thanks very much, that's what we're after! Cheers, all.
Great issue, nice for newcomers and plenty of stuff for long time readers of DC comics. Also good to see Madame Xanadu again (I loved that series).
Hey Paul, loved the issue cant believeI got it on wednesday from a shop near forbidden planet at around 4 because there were no copies in store.. I cant believe if I had come abit later I would have got it signed!!!
I really loved the art as well, and wasnt all that overwhelmed with the character disposition.
One major gripe I have though...Etrigan no longer rhymes? I honestly think one of the really great things about Etrigan was that he makes rhyming seem downright awesome no matter what situation. Has he completely dropped rhyming?
It was a really nice read, though I hope the rhyming comes back I will definately be following the series.
I am glad I saved this issue to read last. It was everything I could have hoped for and more.
When this title was first announced I kept asking myself why DC felt its customers should be excited about it. After your first interview for Demon Knights (and Stormwatch) I could not help but become obsessed about both titles.
I loved all of the characters in this book. The standout character of this issue was the Shining Knight. She exploded into the story in a way that I found similar to when Amy Pond first appeared in Doctor Who. I cannot wait to read more about all of these characters.
Oh, and the comment from Exoristos (another favorite) about difficult names gave me an idea. Do you think at any point after you have introduced all of the main characters, you might post a pronunciation guide for the names of the cast members. Some are obvious, but I am really curious about how to say Al Jabr. Once again, I loved this issue and I look forward to the next one.
Right, so. I bought this in the traditional paper `n' staples form, read it, then bought it again on the iPad so you could have more of my money.
I should probably add that I'm not a member of your family.
Seriously, very much my favorite book of the week, and maybe my favorite of DC's new run to date. The characters are genuinely fun from the first glimpse, and... well, the fact that they're planted in the middle of post-Arthurian fantasy done with charm is just icing on the already rich cake. Extra points to you if you're intentionally tying together Mordru and Mordred (even if he's the Mordred of Ystin's Camelot, rather than the muddy one) and creating a straight line from Merlin to the Legion of Super-Heroes.
I mean, a lot of extra points.
Even without those points, though, this book basically seems like it's made entirely out of joy - at least for me - and I'm just a little bit desperate for the next round.
Good, good show!
Thanks, all. He hasn't completely stopped rhyming, Rurmel, but he'll only do it now when it's apt. It was a huge wall between the audience and feeling for him as a character. (Because his every emotional response was blunted by it.) It won't be back on a continual basis. C: it's Al Jab Urr, or you could just go for what will finally become of the (nickname) the character has chosen in the West, and call him 'Algebra'. He, in effect, calls himself 'the balance' or 'the equation'. We'll find out his real name along the way. It's Ex Or Iss Toss. And Zanadu, please, not Ex Anadu as I've heard from some podcasters! Thanks, Djack! Very cool comments, everyone, cheers!
There's never enough medieval fantasies that realize Chaucer is a lot more accurate guide to those times than any dour D&D -- "have to get your tongue 'round it," cor! And indeed, nell. The most entertaining, informed middle-ages rollercoaster since Chabon's Gentlemen of the Road. And even he didn't have dinosaurs -- with daggers -- from dimensional doorways. At which you had me. Am I a fundamentally bad person for thinking Page 1 is the funniest thing I've seen all month? Love the cast, especially being "in continuity" from the most batsh*t versions (like Grant's transvestite Shining Knight, and you've got me not minding a nonrhyming Etrigan, though I'm not sure why Nimue's calling herself Xanadu so long before Kublai Khan...though I guess she has the power to perceive self-spoilers :-)) -- I voted for the afore-referenced Exoristos and am delighted to see she's so far coming in first-to-last! Anyway, one of the best books of the boot and I hope it's a long knight!
Thanks very much, that's all great stuff. We soon establish that 'Madam Xanadu' isn't her real name, and we'll learn a while later why she chose it.
Demon Knights #1 finally came in the post today! It's been torture avoiding spoilers online!
I really enjoyed this comic, the art looks great and the characters are well introduced. I especially like Horsewoman's little intro.
Seeing Shining Knight's first major appearance since Seven Soldiers was great. Holding a tankard of ale and not really convincing anyone she is a guy had me grinning from ear to ear.
Can't wait to see more of the dinosaur induced carnage next month :D
Ok. I have now read both Stormwatch and Demon Knights. Despite being a total Apollo and Midnighter fangirl, I liked Demon Knights the best. I mean.... it had dinosaurs! what's not to love? Everything is better with dinosaurs. Also I guess the characters and all that were cool too... ;) I especially liked the triangle with Madam Xanadu Blood and Etrigan. Should be interesting in the future.
but, I mean... dinosaurs.
Not your fault, but the art in Stormwatch bugged, me sorry to say :( But the final pages of Stormwatch, I did love that. I am hoping for some spectacular ass-kicking courtesy of Apollo and Midnighter next issue. And I just saw the cover for issue 4, that's insane! In a good way. (And Apollo looks completely hot on that cover. I just had to say that.) And I note they are leaving Martian Manhunter to rot in the ooze. Payback for being an ass in the first issue? :p
... this mystery... thing... in Tibet. I have seen people going all "omg! Doomsday!" but no... it's a Shift Ship, isn't it? They found a Shift Ship buried in Planetary, so not without precedent for one to be buried. They have a consciousness, so could be described as an "ally". And with the Carrier clocking in at at 50(ish) miles long, certainly large enough to quite literally change the landscape if one got dug up. Will you at least tell me if I'm wrong? Otherwise I'm gonna be all like "They're digging up the Carrier and they're gonna form an Authority spin off series!" (the "major change" to the roster, amiright?) for the next few months, only to potentially be met with crushing disappointment when it turns out to be Doomsday after all, and the roster change is just Doomsday eviscerating the Eminence of Blades before he goes looking for Superman. It's best to crush my dreams early, before I get too worked up, really. :p
Thanks, you lot. Dinosaurs do indeed make everything better. And I don't think the MM was that much of an ass. And I won't tell you whether you're right or wrong, that's the joy of story! Thanks very much for your interest, I always enjoy it. Cheers.
Jill, I don't think it's either Doomsday or a shift ship--doesn't the Engineer says that it's a "horn" that has been blown by someone unknown? And the Scourge describes itself as "the first response to the blowing of the horn," right? I think the Mysterious Hooded Woman showing up in all the new 52 is going to be seen blowing the horn in Superman 1.
I think the roster change is either going to be Adam One getting replaced by the Engineer for his arbitrary orders, or Adam One firing Harry and maybe others for the "power play" in #3.
(I know you can't tell us if any of that is right or wrong, Paul! It's fun to guess)
Sorry, Jill--I'm the Anonymous who posted earlier, and I should have read more carefully before responding. Afterwards, I realized that you weren't talking about the horn from #1, but about the "slumbering [information deleted]" from #4. I can see how that could be a Shift Ship. Seems a little early for the Authority to break off, though. I'd rather see different attitudes (like J'onn's and Apollo's) cause dramatic tensions within the same team.
Of course MM was an ass, he was chewing on Apollo's head! That's not very nice. :-P See, Midnighter, he asked nicely.... to Apollo, anyway. He wasn't too nice to the others. But knowing the Midnighter of old, they got off lucky. Though ok, maybe I am a little over protective of Apollo. Speaking of, I saw designs for the Greek god Apollo in Wonder Woman. I find it hilarious that the Apollo in Stormwatch bears more resemblence to Greek myth (though a bit more Helios, with the halo and all. but the two are often linked) than the actual god. That would be a fun showdown to have, though. Would god-Apollo just keep charging up Stormwatch-Apollo?
And yes, anon, I was talking about the solicit for 4. should have been more clear. Though I guess it's fairly clear that the 'horns' and whatever they find there in 4 must be connected somehow.
And they could still conflict, just a conflict of teams with different methods and goals rather than personalities within a team. Though yes, it does seem a bit early.... but I just read through Planetary again not too long ago, and the image of the Shift Ship rising out of Death Valley, and the enormous crater it left, was the first thing to leap to my mind. I suppose there's no saying they have to KEEP the ship...
And yes, I could see Angie going 'screw this, I've had enough of this idiot!' and wresting control of Adam... or, you know... founding her own team would work, too. ;) she does seem to have gotten a bit of a Jenny Sparksish edge to her this time around.
Paul (who is evil for not saying if I'm wrong. I'm gonna go tell everyone the Carrier is buried in Tibet, now.) is probably laughing himself silly at our theorizing. >.>
I love to hear all this theorising!
I haven't read any relaunch issues yet. Just wanted to stop in an say I have really enjoyed Action Comics this past year. Hope you will revisit Superman soon. Thanks for a memorable journey. Damn you got into Luthor's head better than anyone since Loeb!
heath
I really liked Demon Knights a lot. It had all the good stuff without the rather awkward introductions of Stormwatch (and I liked that a lot as well).
It will be interesting to see what kind of Role Mordru will play because he was all over the place in the old DCU. He was a villan to the Legion and the JSA apparently moving through time as well or beeing immortal.
The fact that Mordru WAS a Lord of Chaos makes him of special interested to me because as a Dr. Fate fan I want to know anything remotly to do with him.
I thought the execution was really, really strong on the first issue and I love how you write Vandal Savage here.
A buddy of mine put a question to me though and I'm asking it! Is there maybe any chance we might see a Jenny Magic (Jenny Superstition, Jenny Grace?) who represents this century?
The Flashpoint Canterbury Cricket mini used the folklore character Jenny Greenteeth. While I realize green teeth are not exactly a paradigm or energy source I thought she might somehow get turned into a medieval century baby,
Gave it my first 5 out 5 for the new DC 52 on our "Tales from the Longbox" podcast. Really enjoy the interaction of the characters. Vadal Savage is, currently, my fave of the "team". Frankly, I'm damn glad that you're not at the rhyming-Demon stage of his development :)
Also, reminded listeners (given my enjoyment of DK) to check out the "Knight and Squire" TPB.
Thanks Paul!
Matt I had been wondering that myself! In The Authority there were 3 medieval Jennies mentioned: Jenny Plague, Jenny Crusade, and Jenny Inquisition
And ok, I'll keep with the wacky theories :p right now they're mostly in regards to Stormwatch, because I have more attachment to and knowledge of the characters (though yes, I know, they're a bit different now) and concepts. I know of the characters from Demon Knights from a few guest appearances, so.... I need a bit of time to get to know them.
Thanks, Heath. Stefan: we have lots happening with Mordru. Matt: yes, there would be a Century Babe, wouldn't there? (They're not all called Jenny, though.) Thanks, Caleb. Who's to say Etrigan will ever rhyme on a regular basis? More wacky theories, please, all!
Hi Paul, Normally I'm unhappy when Etrigan doesn't speak in rhymes in modern comics, as I tend to think that’s disrespectful of a great differentiator for the character put in place by the esteemed Mr Moore.
I hadn't thought that the rhyming might have been a bar to the character emoting properly. Demons emote? It's interesting to hear from a writer's perspective. In my paranoia I had begun to think that DC were getting rid of an aspect of Moore's Etrigan so that they didn't 'owe' him anything legally for the character when he is portrayed as a rhyming Demon.
However, his rhyming isn't an issue for me in Demon Knights, and actually I would have been annoyed if he did rhyme much, as Moore made it clear that Etrigan had been promoted to the Rhyming Corps AFTER his Kirby run.
I know this is a new continuity, but I'm guessing the runs of the likes of Kirby and Moore will be somewhat respected in the DCnU. (yes, I know its hard to balance respect and innovation in these things...)
Many thanks for bringing Morrison's Shining Knight back into continuity. I would love to see his Seven Soldiers get more adventures. However, I have some trepidation. This seems to be a more brash and in-your-face warrior than she was in her debut. I thought part of her charm was her somewhat demure understated character. She was a great contrast to Marvel's essentially similar but more bombastic warrior woman on a winged steed, Valkyrie.
I can see that her new bragging, beer-swilling ways are more in keeping with her lineage in the old Celtic stories, but I preferred when she was her own person rather than this hard drinking vaguely threatening stereotype. (We Celts are sensitive about stereotypes. There's a long history there...)
Hmmm. That sounds more snappish than I meant it to! For now thanks for bringing her back, and I trust you will explain her change in personality and what she is doing back in time when we last saw her jump from the extreme distant past to the 21st Century with no stops in between.
I can see that she wouldn't have been at all at home in the 21st Century DCU anyway, and presumably she's grown up a bit since we saw her last. (I'll be sorry if we've missed a lot of her growing up, though.)
Many of us Celts do embrace the stereotype a little as we get older. (The shirt hanging on my office door has a pair of Gunness cufflinks on it as I type this! :-) )
I don't think respect has anything to do with it. I was a great fan of several different runs with Etrigan in them, and that last Madam Xanadu series was excellent. The only thing this is about is: that was then and this is now. DC own Etrigan completely: they wouldn't owe Alan anything in any case. I made the decision to stop having him rhyme because I thought it took us immediately out of the action, every time. If he appears in the modern DCU (if he survived to the modern day) the writer handling that may decide to have him rhyme, but it'll be up to them, not to the old continuity. It's the same with the Knight. If we were still in the same universe, she couldn't be here at all. She's something like nine thousand years old at this point, so the character you knew has changed a lot. I won't be 'explaining' that change at all, because there's nothing to explain. You'll learn loads more about her in issue four, though, which is a flashback to her origins and reveals her quest. She's nothing like a 'Celtic' stereotype. These are new characters with no baggage. I'm not held ransom to the old continuity. The only thing to judge is: are the stories any good?
Thanks for the reply. I wasn't expecting so much detail on your approach.
Normally I'm the one who gets fed up with people talking about 50 years of continuity when assessing a given comic, and I myself usually argue that the story at hand is all the readers should judge, but I am fond of the 2005 Seven Soldiers, and was interested in how much this new Shining Knight carried on from her previous mini-series.
I suppose I may practice what I preach on this one, and just go with the flow...
Well, you have legitimate concerns. I've thought a lot about this stuff, and it's not often we get to show our working!
I'm normally really sore on continuity's baleful influence. But here my thinking was influenced by the fact that when they got around to consolidating the post-COIE DC universe in the mid-90s they made a point of saying that some cherished pre-COIE runs like the GA/GL hard-travelling heroes and Kirby's New Gods were still in continuity. There was no reason to apply that to the new continuity, but I did anyway(wrongly).
I'm surprised at seeing references to old contiuity in some of the other new books, but I suppose unless they start with origin issues, they have to give their characters some backstory.
Actually I'm really glad to hear that writers are able to start completely from scratch this time. This series especially will benefit from that freedom.
I have less of a problem with her depiction if she's not supposed to be the same person as in SSoV. I will still be interested in seeing how Ystine's Ur-Celtic background is presented.
The way readers feel ownership of certain characters must be a real thorn in the side of writers, I know, (and I apologise, and appreciate your patience!) As far as Ystine goes, there have been very few comicbook characters who have represented so well the rich, sophisticated ancient culture that I learned about growing up in Ireland, so of course I'm going to home in on how she's being handled, especially as, unlike Etrigan, Savage et al, this is her first appearance as a DC property, independent from her creator.
Looking forward to seeing where it all goes, and where you take the formerly demure little wallflower Ystine.
Well, are the Ultimate Universe characters the same characters as their Marvel U counterparts? Is Batman written by one writer the same character as Batman written by another, even? There's a huge truckful of stuff you'll find familiar about the Knight, but I also feel I have the freedom to change things. Otherwise, what's the point of the relaunch? Cheers.
I actually won the comic from BrainFreeze! Really looking forward to reading it. (They first have to send it to me from Belgium).
Excellent!
Stefan: found your post in an old 'not yet published' list. Sorry, sometimes happens.