Oni Press brought back EC Comics last year with a new horror and sci-fi anthology. Now, it’s time for this storied label to grow even further with EC Cruel Kingdom. The new dark fantasy anthology is all about fantasy and its tropes, and the first edition includes a bit of science fiction. A collection of four stories, EC Cruel Kingdom features some of the best creators in comics in an outstanding first issue.
First up is “Blood of the Robo King” by Greg Pak and Leomac. The story begins perfectly with a wooden village straight out of the earliest days of human history, but with skyscrapers lining the horizon. These pious people fear invasion, but a few monk-like people have a clever trick. It’s a robot knight. Mr. Park crafts a story here to comment on people who claim to be pure but take advantage of others to avoid sinning themselves.
Leomacs is a staple of the EC comics revolution, and it doesn’t disappoint here. His detailed art captures the ferocity of the robot knight’s fighting style and the fear in people’s eyes when death is imminent. The overall design of the robot is also very cool, with the floating crown giving it a divine impression.
The cover of the first issue of Valant.
Credit: Oni Press
“Friendly Visitors” by Al Ewing and Kano follows the opening and combines science fiction and fantasy. A space traveler visits a man who uses magic, but he has a hunch that his skills are far superior. Ewing and Kano make a strong case that things are not as they seem because the space travelers grossly underestimate their magic. It’s a story with a nice twist ending.
Chris Condon and Charlie Adlard teamed up for “Death and the Pickaxe,” a riff on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The story begins with the prince saving Snow White, but most of the dwarves are dead except for one. Enraged, the last living dwarf takes action, leading to very dark events.
Rounding out the collection is “The Demon’s Face” by Ben H. Winters and Andrew Mutti. The story is set in a classic fantasy world and focuses on a sword that must be pulled from a stone that resembles a devil’s face. This is a riff on Sword and the Stone, but with a different twist.
Thanks to Michael Atiyeh’s color choices, Mutti’s art has a dreamlike quality that leads to terrifying developments. Mutti uses the metaphor of a mysterious tourist in a bar to create an atmosphere of mystery and danger.
Overall, EC Cruel Kingdom is a great start, and while it lacks the host of Epitaphs from the Abyss, it makes a strong case for fantasy-first storytelling. EC Cruel Kingdom is a worthy continuation of the EC Comics tradition, blending dark fantasy, science fiction, and thoughtful storytelling into an anthology that stands out in today’s comics world.
EC Cruel Kingdom #1 successfully blends fantasy tropes and science fiction
EC Cruel Kingdom #1
Overall, EC Cruel Kingdom is a great start, and while it lacks the host of Epitaphs from the Abyss, it makes a strong case for fantasy-first storytelling. EC Cruel Kingdom is a worthy continuation of the EC Comics tradition, blending dark fantasy, science fiction, and thoughtful storytelling into an anthology that stands out in today’s comics world.
A strong lineup of top-class creators delivering diverse and engaging stories.
Thought-provoking commentary on themes of morality, technology, and classic stories.
While each story is strong, some may feel that “The Demon’s Face” doesn’t push its premise as far as it could.
