Calum Petrie reviews Elric: The Ruby Throne…
Elric: The Ruby Throne is the first steps into the much larger journey within the Elric story line and presents a starting point for the adventure of Elric, Emperor of Melnibone, the land of chaos and dark magic.
The story starts off detailing a brief history of Melnibone, where people offer souls to use the strength of demons and dark magic. The land is a tortured place where twisted events are commonplace and those who are ruthless truly flourish.
The Emperor Elric is the current ruler by hereditary succession, and his rule of philosophy and reputation have made his people restless. The plotting within his court, by his cousin Yyrkoon, would see the lineage of the Ruby Throne change hands.
When an enemy threatens to approach via the sea maze, the first conflict in years ushers Elric to prove his worth as the Emperor of the lands he was born to rule. Though the story we learn that Elric requires souls of others to feed his own energy, his fatigue levels are always hanging overhead, and is one of the reasons he prefers to rule from his throne.
The artwork is probably the most mature thing in this entire story, and it is hard not to complement the painstakingly detailed images. The character designs are so rich and seeping with attention to detail, and the horrific images of torture are even tastefully detailed. There is not a single panel in this entire issue that does not contain more attention to detail than a cursory glance would allow. The issue begs to be looked over again not for the story, but for the admiration of the artist.
An Albino king, the family that would overthrow him, and the chaos that brought the Kingdom glory – all of these are dark threads that weave together this beautifully crafted tale. The tapestry that is weaved from all these elements brings the story to a climactic conclusion and ushers readers further into the dark tales of Elric.
The fantasy genre is so easy to overlook due to over saturation, but the world building and characters contained within this issue alone means Elric: The Ruby Throne is certainly a story worthy of a fantasy lover’s attention.
Rating – 9/10
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