Review by C.J. Bunce
As French-Texan Michael Moorcock turns 86, his Hawkmoon saga continues a worthy adaptation in Titan Comics’ second over-sized hardcover volume Hawkmoon: The Battle of Kamarg, available now here at Amazon. In sweeping fantasy action that blends medieval and Renaissance based-magic ideas and pre-steampunk science fiction, readers will encounter a layered world as rich–and more compelling–than Dune. The story’s hero Dorian Hawkmoon, son of a deposed king, has been captured and a powerful, magical jewel has been installed on his forehead. It’s a weapon that could end his life at any time, and allows his enemies in Granbretan (a distant future version of Great Britain) the ability to see his every move. Adapted by writer Jérôme Le Gris and artists Benoît Dellac and Didier Poli, and translated into English by Marc Bourbon-Crook, this is a great entry point to Moorcock’s works. We reviewed the first of four volumes, The Black Jewel, here at borg.
Who is Dorian Hawkmoon? The distant future of Europe echoes the second World War, with the script flipped so that it is Great Britain that is the menace. Lord Hawkmoon, Duke of Koln seeks to summon the rest of future Europe against it. Editor’s Note: Only the original French script version of previews was available for this review.
If the first volume evoked a more elaborate and intriguing sci-fi/fantasy mash-up adventure in the realm of Dune, readers will see even more of Moorcock’s influences in this volume. Like Robert E. Howard’s Conan, Hawkmoon’s journey and trial is a solitary one, which has him find brief encounters along the way. This chapter has more than a hint of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, with tall spires serving as almost laser beam-guided attack towers, reminiscent of the Tower of Barad-dûr.
As Hawkmoon is forced to return to what was once London to seize Yisselda, daughter of the Baron of Londra (who the vile Meliadus seeks to marry), Hawkmoon gets a reprieve. At the same time, readers learn about the mix of sorcery and science that governs this future world. The Black Jewel on his forehead is temporarily suspended, allowing Hawkmoon to pursue a possible permanent fix in the third volume.
As found throughout Moorcock’s vast library of works, readers will see his twists and turns on politics, aristocracy, and free will. Writer Le Gris continues a compelling adaptation that pares down a detailed narrative for the medium in an easy to digest manner. The artists move from the bleak battle-torn world of the first volume to a more fantasy-rich Tolkien-esque world here. Fans of classic blends of science fiction and fantasy–less Flash Gordon, and more John Carter of Mars–will be right at home with this series.
Add this second volume of the Hawkmoon saga to your pull list at Elite Comics or your local comic shop now. In a brilliant color edition hardcover, the graphic novel adaptation of Michael Moorcock’s Hawkmoon: The Battle of Kamarg is now available here at Amazon.
