Deicide

    (Humanoids, 2004)

The setting of this mature graphic novel diverges wildly from the “medieval Europe” milieu that typifies much work in this genre. Madorak, the white and red god of death, has defeated the pantheon of a remote Stone Age tribe, and in his never-ending hunger for sacrifices he decrees the death of Aldara, the daughter of the village elder. Her lover, the warrior Adon, vows to recover her soul from the underworld; with her preserved body slung to the back of his horse, he embarks on a dizzying quest that pits him against ravening monsters, rival cultists, a family of demons and the machinations of Madorak himself. The realistic art by Das Pastoras portrays both the gritty surface reality of Adon’s world and the “dream time” of gods and magic that lies below it; both the native lifeforms and the avatars of the gods are uniquely unsettling. The script by Carlos Portela combines humor, pathos and surprises. Also included is “The Lion's Share,” a black and white story featuring early versions of the main characters; it was included in the first issue of the 2002 relaunch of Metal Hurlant, Humanoid Publishing's legendary science fiction magazine.

— Joe Trela
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Cover Price: $14.95
21 copies available from $10.20 		Carlos PortellaDas Pastoras