PROPHECY - 2012
Books one to four have one standard cover and two Retailer Incentive (R.I.) covers. Books five to seven have one standard cover and only one R.I. cover.
Book One [June 2012]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $15.00
R.I. Negative Effect cover - Paul Renaud $30.00
Book One [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
London 1890: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate a museum robbery of an ancient ceremonial knife.
Yukatan Peninsula 632 A.D.: Mayan priest Kulan Gath is performing human sacrifices when Red Sonja intervenes. During the ensuing melee a mystic talisman transported them through time.
Waking up in 2012 Red Sonja meets Vampirella in the jungle and they fight. Red Sonja has an edge until Dracula intervenes.
I got the feeling that this is primarily a Red Sonja/Vampirella team up series though it develops to include more Dynamite characters as the story unfolds.
The story is backed up with one-page bios for Vampirella and Red Sonja and a four-page sample of the forthcoming The Spider comic book.
Book Two [July 2012]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $10.00
R.I. Virgin cover - Paul Renaud $20.00
Book Two [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
Vampirella and Dracula realise that Red Sonja is not an enemy and are joined by Pantha. Introductions are made as they are joined by Eva (Dracula's daughter) and Herbert West (the Reanimator), a scientist recently escaped from the asylum in which he was incarcerated for believing the world was about to end.
They discuss a prophecy that a Hyborean wizard shall end the world, agreeing that Kulan Gath is the wizard in question. They track him to his pyramid but arrive just too late as he summons his heralds of the apocalypse, seven demonic "gods". As battle commences Athena arrives to reinforce the good guys.
This issue seems to focus on introducing the primary characters of the series, which is sensible as many readers of one character may not know who the rest of the cast are. As a long standing Vampirella fan I am very familiar with Vampirella, Pantha, Dracula and (to a lesser extent) Eva. I have read many Red Sonja comics in the 1970s/1980s but the Reanimator and Athena are new to me so the short bios are useful.
The story is backed up with one-page bios for Draucula and Kulan Gath and a four-page sample of the forthcoming Lone Ranger comic book.
Trivia:
As the guards walk past cells in the asylum we see three cells holding inmates called Ron Marz, Walter Geovani and Adriano Lucas - the primary creators of the comic.
Book Three [August 2012]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $15.00
R.I. Virgin cover - Paul Renaud $30.00
Book Three [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
Southampton, 1890: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson track down and recover the ceremonial knife from Alan Quartermain.
In modern day Mexico battles commences with the already dead Mayan demons proving hard to kill. Before any conclusion to the battle Kulan Gath teleports his demons around the world to instigate the end of the world.
Herbert West and Athena work their magic and teleport the team to the locations of the seven demons. Eva to South America; Dracula to Europe; Red Sonja to Asia; Vampirella to Australia; Pantha to Africa; Athena to Antarctica; Herbert West to North America.
Herbert West gets faces his demon and is impaled.
Some great action pages and a stirring feminist speech from Athena. I quite enjoyed the cameo by Alan Quartermain as I have not read King Solomon's Mines for many decades (though I do have the DVD of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).
The story is backed up with one-page bios for Eva and Pantha and a four-page sample of the forthcoming Pathfinder comic book.
Book Four [November 2013]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $15.00
R.I. Virgin cover - Paul Renaud $30.00
Book Four [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
The demon god Chaac attempts to finish off the dying Herbert West but is destroyed at the last second by Ash Williams (of the Evil Dead films). Ash revives West with the reanimator serum
Pantha defeats Imazotz in Africa, Atheena defeats Itzamna in Antarctica and Vampirella defeats Xchel in Australia.
Four Mayan gods are, predictably but enjoyably, destroyed. Ash is the surprise extra element and some welcome muscle to the team as West is a scientist not a fighter.
The story is backed up with one-page bios for Ash and Herbert West and a four-page sample of the forthcoming Evil Ernie comic book.
Book Five [November 2013]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $10.00
Book Five [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
The English Channel, 1890: Quartermain tells Holmes and Watson about the ceremonial knife only to have it stolen from them by Dorian Gray.
Meanwhile, back in Mexico, while the team are away fighting the demons Kulan Gath makes a blood sacrifice. In South America Eva kills Ahpuc, Dracula impales Bulac Chabtan in Europe and Red Sonja kills Kukulkan in Asia. During Red Sonja's battle she is mortally wounded and Dracula bites her to save her life. When she wakes up she is a vampire.
I was incorrect in my belief that the primary characters of this series were Red Sonja and Vampirella. This series is about Red Sonja and a pivotal moment in her developing new universe, the moment when she becomes a vampire.
There is only one Retailer Incentive edition for this comic book.
The story is backed up with a one-page bio for Athena and a four-page sample of the forthcoming Masks series.
Book Six [January 2013]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $10.00
Book Six [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
In Mexico Kulan Gath raises an army of skeletons and starts the end of the world rituals. In Asia, Red Sonja not too happy with being a vampire but accepts it was the only option at the time. The team realise that their defeat of the demons has only delayed the apocalypse and they return to Mexico to face a horde of dead warriors. Battling through the animated skeletons Red Sonja attacks Kulan Gath.
Some great double-spread action pages though with eight heroes to cram into one picture the scene can get a bit cluttered.
The story is backed up with one-page bios for Sherlock Holmes/Dr. John Watson and Alan Quartermain and a four-page sample of the forthcoming Ghoul Goblin series.
Book Seven [February 2013]
Standard cover - Paul Renaud $3.99
R.I. Black and White cover - Paul Renaud $10.00
Book Seven [Writer - Ron Marz : Art - Walter Geovani]
The English Channel, 1890: Dorian Gray makes good his escape.
In Mexico Red Sonja defeats Kulan Gath by biting his throat, but it does not stop the apocalypse. Red Sonja uses the ceremonial dagger to transport herself and Kulan Gath back in time to 635 A.D. where she kills him (before he can go to the future and end the world...).
In 1890 Alan Quartermain takes an impossible shot at the escaping Dorian Gray and the dagger is lost in the English Channel.
Back in Mexico, 2012, the end of days ceases as if it never happened.
Ancient Hyborea and Red Sonja is adjusting to her new found "curse".
The whole conclusion hinges on a typical time paradox worthy of Doctor Who or Star Trek. The apocolypse failed because it never happened...
The story is backed up with the same four-page sample of the forthcoming Ghoul Goblin series as in Book Six.