First published back in January of 1993, issue twenty-three of Epic Comics’ serial adaptation of Clive Barker’s ‘Nightbreed’ sported the subtitle ‘The One That Got Away’.
DLS Synopsis:
The Berserkers were made by Paracelsus, The Alchemist, for the Kaiser of Germany during World War One. Beasts created not just from sperm and horse manure, but from the Nightbreed themselves.
DLS Review:
Writer James Moore takes up the next instalment of the ‘Nightbreed’ comics with this singular, standalone story, which carries on from where the two ‘Jihad’ (1991) comics left off.
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 continued on with the Nightbreed legacy – creating whole new spin-off storylines that would eventually bring in aspects from some of Barker’s other work.
DLS Synopsis:
The Berserkers were made by Paracelsus, The Alchemist, for the Kaiser of Germany during World War One. Beasts created not just from sperm and horse manure, but from the Nightbreed themselves.
The Cenobites had since killed them all. Or at least that was what the Nightbreed had thought. However, the lasting scent of a Berserker detected on a fresh new corpse can’t be ignored. The Breed knew there’s no disputing the ability of Peloquin when it comes to identifying a scent.
They’d need to track down this remaining Berserker. Find it and kill it. Otherwise, once it rampages again, the Naturals would undoubtedly turn on the Breed.
However, for Peloquin there’s no time for sitting around and discussing the matter. It’s time to take things into his own hands. For Peloquin, last of the Quarm, this was more than just to protect the Nightbreed. For Peloquin, killing the Berserker was personal.
At long last, it was time for his revenge…
DLS Review:
Writer James Moore takes up the next instalment of the ‘Nightbreed’ comics with this singular, standalone story, which carries on from where the two ‘Jihad’ (1991) comics left off.
From the outset, the story is very much centred on Peloquin, providing a brief backstory into when he was relatively new to the breed, and had brought his lover into the fold. A backstory that leads to tragedy, with Peloquin’s lover brutally killed by a Berserker.
Jump forward countless years and Peloquin finds out one of the beastly buggers remains. Ergo we have Peloquin seeking out the Berserker to finally enact his long overdue revenge.
It’s a short, snappy and action-rich story that fits into the singular comic format perfectly. We’re offered equal measures of mythos expansion (with the additional backstory into Peloquin), as well as some good ole blood-thirsty Nightbreed action.
Max Douglas’ artwork throughout the comic is sketchy and stylised (as is his nature) which actually works very well with the delivery of the story. There’s a sense of urgency and motion in all of the inked pictures. Your eye drawn over the images, deciphering the hidden horrors within before turning to the next pane.
It’s a great little standalone story, which will be sure to resonate well with the Nightbreed fanbase.
The comic runs for a total of 28 pages. As with the previous comic in the series, this edition again doesn’t include a page for the usual ‘Breeding Ground’ readers’ letters.
© DLS Reviews
