First published back in January of 1991, the seventh issue of Epic Comics’ serial adaptation of Clive Barker’s ‘Nightbreed’ sported the subtitle ‘The Blasphemers Part Two – The Sacrament Of Meat’.
The first four issues of the ‘Nightbreed’ comics closely followed the storyline of the film, only slightly veering away from it with minor details. The twenty-one issues that followed these merely continued on with the Nightbreed legacy – creating a whole new spin-off storyline that would eventually bring in aspects from some of Barker’s other work.
DLS Synopsis:
By now the actions of Mulciber and his fellow blasphemers had not only caught the attention of the local law enforcement, but also the news-hungry media. The slaughter at ‘Barney’s Beef & Bun’ had made the local news channel. The reports confirming that the remains of the victims were incomplete, prompting some to suggest the possibility of ritualistic killings. However Guido, Kinski and Narcisse knew different. This was the doing of the Nighebreed. Some of their kind had tasted meat. Human meat. Natural flesh. And through that simple act, they had broken their law. They had shamed the breed and turned the naturals’ attention on their kind when they were still so painfully vulnerable.
But Mulciber and his band of blasphemers were determined to ensure that Cabal wouldn’t ruin their good times. And so they had a surprise of their own planned. Mulciber knew the draw of human meat to the breed. He knew how irresistible it was to their kind. And so a barbeque outside of Boone’s dingy hotel was prepared. Freshly roasted natural flesh dripping with the fat of the pathetic.
The question is, can Aaron Boone, the saviour of the Nightbreed, resist the pull of the flesh?..
DLS Review:
Now fully back on track, with faith in the Nightbreed comic series now thankfully pretty much restored, Daniel Chichester continues with his story on the rehoming and reforming of the Nightbreed in the wake of the events from Barker’s original story.
The overall pace has gained quite a bit of momentum, with the action and Nightbreed violence cranking up a couple of notches. In fact, barely a page goes by without some breed-on-breed violence taking place alongside some good-old-fashioned human sacrifice.
What’s of particular note within this issue is how Chichester is now giving his blasphemous breed individual personalities. In fact, although they have each been named in passing in the previous two instalments, this particular issue seems to make a point of purposefully identifying each one of the guilty breed members.
Mulciber is now firmly standing out as the leader of the gang of blasphemers, with Oral taking a sort of gentlemanly second place. Furthermore, Chichester has introduced two new elements into the storyline that are sure to take on strong roles in the unfolding plot.
The first of these is with the introduction of Allen Ritegrig – an ‘Uncle Frank’ type of character who is trying to satisfy a craving that’s deep inside of him. He wants something more. And after witnessing Mulciber and Cabal tussling in the hotel carpark, he knows that he wants the power of the Nightbreed for himself.
Alongside the introduction of Ritegrig you also have the very welcome return of the vengeance-driven Eigerman and the Nightbreed-touched priest Ashberry. Oh yes, the fun and games are really coming back into play now.
A handful of interesting storyline threads are beginning to rise to the surface now. And I’m sure we’ve got plenty of Nightbreed carnage to come. All I can say at this point is “Bring it on”.
The comic runs for a total of 28 pages.
© DLS Reviews
