Demon Knights #4 – Review

By: Paul Cornel (writer), Michael Choi & Diógenes Neves (pencillers), Oclair Albert (inker), Marcelo Maiolo (colorist)

The Story: Call me a Philistine, but are we really going through all this trouble for a cup?

The Review: If you ever read Cornell’s terrific run on Action Comics (or even his current work on Stormwatch), you know he’s capable not only of writing strong, likable characters, but far-reaching ideas and plots as well.  Whether we’re talking a godlike entity with the power to bring happiness throughout existence, or a man born at the start of the universe aging backwards so he can kill it in the end, Cornell has written some of the more interesting concepts in sci-fi.

So it was only a matter of time before he would bring that same kind of conceptual imagination to this fantasy tale he weaves for us now.  And he could have a no more potent focus for his creative powers than the most glorified and least understood motif of the sword-and-sorcery genre: the Holy Grail.

Cornell has Merlin himself explain the inexplicable nature of the Grail, in rapid-fire exclamations that has shades of Grant Morrison or Jonathan Hickman: “It is the cup our Lord drank from—that later drank his blood.  It is a way around the absolute.  To the numinous.  It is a record of everything.”  And just like a Morrison or Hickman monologue, it sounds quite impressive and important, but you can’t say you really understand anything further when it’s done.

Somewhat easier to take is the idea of Camelot as a recurring legend, the creation and destruction of which is a cycle that repeats itself through intermittent points in history.  This title opened on the end of one such iteration of Camelot, and this issue shows us the one from which Shining Knight hails, home to “Artus the Bear King” and “Myrddin, Thing of the Dung!”  We also get hints there may have been an even earlier version of Camelot (“All is lost.  Again.”), and there will be others in the future, as Merlin promises he will “[b]uild Camelot again.”

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Avenging Spider-Man #2 – This was a quality comic, but it did kinda surprise me that it was the “best”.  But, all the other comics had some obvious flaws and it wasn’t a very heavy week for me anyway.  So….backhanded compliment is concluded.  You could summarize this issue as: Zeb Wells is writing a very fast-paced and humorous Spidey/Rulk team-up and Joe Madureira is drawing the hell out of it.  Great stuff!  Runner-up: Glamourpuss #22 – Dave Sim’s art is always gorgeous (No shit….it is great, great stuff), but this comic leaves me conflicted: He’s either a genius or he’s crazier than a bag full of weasels.  Maybe both?

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #92 – I was pretty hard on issue #91, but in the last few weeks I’ve mellowed.  Surely Robert Kirkman is just starting to build things up towards issue #100, right?  I think what made me excited for this issue was reading the solicit text for the issue #94 (currently in Previews).  Usually TWD’s solicit text just says something like, “He has gone too far!” or “How will they survive?” so some other vague nonsense.  But for issue #94 it says, “As the ramp up to the monumental 100th issue continues, Rick and his group are led into new territory, with new rules, new advantages and new threats.  Can they survive in this larger, changed world?”  That sounds like a TWD story I want to read and hopefully this mystery man who appeared at the end of last issue is going to lead us there.

Other Picks: American Vampire #21, Batwoman #4, Unwritten #32, Snake-Eyes #8, Blue Estate #8, Severed #5, Avengers X-Sanction #1, SHIELD #4, Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Moon Knight #8 – While there may have been technically better books this week, this month’s issue of Moon Knight was rock solid, and particularly important for the series.  After a very mediocre beginning, it’s been steadily improving and now, with this month’s issues, I can safely say that Bendis and Maleev’s Moon Knight has found its groove.  It’s a solid book and Bendis and Maleev are really beginning to live up to their potential on this series.

Most Anticipated: Journey into Mystery #632 – First off:  look at that cover.  Wow! That said, there’s really only one thing you need to know: this is a Kid Loki Christmas issue.  Frankly, that is something that just NEEDs to exist, and with Gillen’s penchant in this series for both fun and heartfelt writing, I’m sure this is going to be a homerun.  I’ve often found holiday issues to be a bit gimmicky, but Journey into Mystery seems absolutely perfect for a Christmas issue.

Other Picks: Batwoman #4, Demon Knights #4, Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #4, American Vampire #21, New Avengers #19, Green Lantern #4

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: The Defenders #1 – Seeing the Defenders back together after so long was fun and tipped the scale for me on best of the week. The art was great and the writing quirky. Let’s see where Marvel takes this.

Most Anticipated: Warlord of Mars #13 – Oh yeah! Warlord of Mars #13 is the start of the Gods of Mars! John Carter will return to Barsoom, but not in his old stomping grounds, but in the polar regions of the dead, where he will be pitted against the deadly plant men and run into some dear friends in terrible danger!

Other Picks: Avengers: X-Sanction #1, Avengers 1959 #4, Captain America #6, Journey Into Mystery #632, Magneto Not a Hero #2