Rex Mundi #1
Review by Everest
Story:
Art:

Written by Arvid Nelson
Pencils & Inks by Eric J
Colors by Jeromy Cox

Published by Image.
Price: $2.95
My verdict: If you like mental stimulation, BUY IT.

Rex Mundi is set in 1933 Paris, in a world where the Protestant Reformation never happened and everything is still controlled by the Inquisition-led Catholic Church. Jewish mysticism and the Kaballah, the Knights Templar, Grail Legend, Feudalism, Magic: all play a part in this historically charged imagining of the world.

This issue picks up where the teaser #0 issue left off, with Dr. Sauniére, our erstwhile protagonist, leaving the scene of a grotesque ritualistic murder. He's still in search of answers to who stole a secret text that had been safeguarded for years by his friend, Father Marin, at the small, local church, La Madeleine. The mysterious and, apparently, very evil bespectacled man (‘introduced’ on the last pages of the #0 issue) flits through the shadows, wreaking havoc, and closes this issue out by...well, let's just say he bestows some grief. The bespectacled man never utters a word of dialogue, nor is there any narrative to explain his motivation to the reader. What exactly is his role? Time and subsequent issues will tell.

I confess: I’m a little biased about this book. I picked up a 9-page preview copy of #0 at a convention last April, and I waited anxiously until October, when the full issue finally shipped. I was not disappointed--and the #1 issue continues to pique my interest. To say that I was blown away is an understatement. I’m a history buff, and this alternative world, so obviously and painstakingly researched, is fascinating. The story itself is something akin to Ruse, but far more serious and grander in scope.

Arvid Nelson’s writing is top notch; he’s done his homework, and it shows. Eric J’s artwork is, for the most part, very good--his proportions are sometimes out of whack and he tends to use some overly repetitive "camera" perspectives--but, overall, his work suits the book: inky, dark, and moody.

If you’re interested in picking up a quality book, I highly recommend Rex Mundi; it is most definitely worth the price of admission.