Corpse Knight #1 Review – A Supernatural Father-Daughter Story

Corpse Knight #1 (Image Comics, 4/22/26): Writer Michael Chaves and Artists Matthew Roberts wind the clock back to the 100-year war in France when an orphan girl says a prayer that changes her destiny forever. Blending horror, fantasy, and historical fiction, Chaves craft’s an intriguing debut. Verdict: A super-strong debut.

• Writer: Michael Chaves
• Artist: Matthew Roberts
• Colorist: Rico Renzi
• Letterer: Uncredited
• Cover Artist: Matthew Roberts (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: April 22, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 34
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Corpse Knight #1:

First Impressions:

I went into this #1 issue completely cold and was pleasantly surprised. Michael Chaves’s script is tight, briskly paced, and pours on the dramatic tension. Few things will get you biting your nails more than a little girl at the mercy of villains, so the setup hits all the emotional triggers to get you hooked.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The issue opens during the 100-year war in France, circa 1429. Young Foy lives with her father, making the best of a simple farming life after Foy’s mother passed away. Times are hard as the population grapples with the downstream effects of war. One day, Foy and her father are ambushed by unknown assailants. Foy manages to get away, but her father dies in the attack.

Later, Foy keeps up appearances by tending the farm, not letting anyone know she buried her father next to her mother’s grave. When Foy sells some of her farm goods in town, she’s spotted by an unsavory character in an alley who presumes Foy and her family may be easy pickings. The villain and his allies follow Foy back to her farm and attack, but Foy finds a temporary hiding place near her parents’ grave. The villains find Foy in a state of prayer and are surprised when her prayers are answered by the undead savagery of her father rising from the grave. The issue ends with a dismemberment, an armor upgrade, and a quest.

How is the story in Corpse Knight #1?

Michael Chaves ticks all the right boxes for a story with dread, action, and heart. Foy’s predicament is immediately relatable, which instantly draws the reader to her side, and the supernatural turn of the last act lands perfectly.

How is the art in Corpse Knight #1?

Matthew Roberts plays up the horror elements of the story by casting the nighttime attack in deep shadows and dramatic close-up panels at just the right moments in the flow of the story. Robert’s composition evokes the same monster story vibes you might get from Tomb of Dracula, which suits the plot to a tee.

And then there’s the coloring. If you’ve read our reviews for any length of time, you’ll recall I’ve been exceptionally critical of Rico Renzi’s obsessive overuse of purples, especially in settings where it didn’t make sense. Here, Renzi still leans on purples a little too much, but we’ll give credit to Renzi for exercising some restraint in limiting most of the purples to nighttime scenes where it mostly fits.

Characters

Foy is the star of the show. She’s appropriately impatient for a girl her age, resourceful, and has an authentic love for her father. That love is key because if you didn’t feel the connection while he was alive, the twist of his resurrection would have repelled her. Foy’s love has to be strong enough to overcome the horror of the situation, so Chaves nails it.

Originality & Concept Execution

On both counts, Chaves executes the originality and concept brilliantly. The potent mix of a subverted father-daughter relationship makes perfect sense in the context of the scenario, and Foy’s bizarre quest that ends the issue wouldn’t have worked if the execution leading up to the cliffhanger hadn’t been executed perfectly.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Chaves builds the heart and the world to pull off a horrific twist that works.
• The gothic art draws you into the setting with ease.
• The plot is tight and moves well.

Room for Improvement

• Rico Renzi is back with too much purple (albeit with restrained).
• The robber’s run-ins with Foy are a tad coincidental
• Girl boss criticisms are unwarranted, but the strength required to bury her father is a stretch for a little girl.

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 2/2

Final Thoughts:

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Corpse Knight #1 kicks off a new tale about a girl who goes on a supernatural quest after her family is savaged by villains. Michael Chaves’ tight script is brisk and packed with emotional depth. Plus the art team’s output is solid. If you’re in the mood for a supernatural fantasy tale with a dash of horror, you can’t go wrong with this issue.

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