CRUSADER #1, from Mad Cave Studios on 9/6/23, follows a devout Templar Knight during the Middle Ages when he’s transported to a land of magic and monsters.
The Details
- Written by: Matt Emmons
- Art by: Matt Emmons
- Colors by: Matt Emmons
- Letters by: Andriy Lukin
- Cover art by: Matt Emmons (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: September 6, 2023
Is CRUSADER #1 Good?
CRUSADER #1 is a brisk, intriguing fantasy adventure combining familiar elements into a creative mix of Middle Ages swordplay, alternate worlds, and mystery. The combination of thematic elements is too eclectic to fit neatly into any single genre box, but that lack of clear categorization turns into a positive.
Matt Emmons’s script centers on a Templar Knight (name withheld by design) who breaks up a dark ritual during one of his crusading missions. The ritual is stopped, but not before the cultists open a portal that sucks the Knight to an alternate Earth ripped straight from the pages of a D&D manual.
Dungeons & Dragons fans will enjoy this comic because the fantastical elements all come into play pretty quickly. The Knight doesn’t waste time acting bewildered or lost and instead gets right to the business of searching for a way home in a land of goblins, orcs, and ethereal spirits. If it sounds like we’re glossing over the comic, we’re not. Emmon’s pace is practically a sprint.
What’s great about CRUSADER #1? Emmons sets up the world, the protagonist, the conflict, and the motivation with surprising ease. What’s more surprising is how quickly the Knight adjusts to his new circumstance without so much of a pause to take stock of what’s happening. Emmons sets up the story and gets readers going quickly.
What’s not so great about CRUSADER #1? In terms of writing technique and story concept, nothing. Emmons gives readers a clear, simple, laser-focused story tailor-made for fantasy/adventure fans.
How about the art? The art is the one aspect where some readers may struggle. Emmons’s style is distinctive and very far from polished, particularly in the inks. Emmons uses thick, chunky outlines, and the details suffer for the obvious use of sketchy digital art. What saves the art is Emmons’s clean coloring application to create contrast and form. To be clear, the art isn’t terrible, but it definitely has a rough underground quality.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s CRUSADER #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a Templar Knight fighting his way through a town in the Middle Ages. The Knight tracks a trail of blood to a cave near the outskirts of town, where he finds a cult enacting a ritual after a human sacrifice. The Knight kills the blasphemous cult members, but not before their unfinished ritual rips a hole in the universe, sucking the Knight in.
The Knight wakes up in a forest in another world as a group of goblin-like creatures walk by with a captured creature they intend to eat later. The goblins try to strip the Knight of his armor, but he recovers enough to cut down the beasts with his sword, gaining a new ally for his effort.
Meanwhile, a different beast named Pilgrim is awoken by three spirits after a battle to do their bidding. We conclude the issue with an irresistible offer, a promise, and a destination.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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CRUSADER #1 sends a Templar Knight to a world of magic and monsters in a fast-reading fantasy/adventure. Emmons’s setup is as clean, clear, simple, and efficient as it is entertaining. The art may be an acquired taste, but Emmons’s excellent coloring makes the visuals accessible enough for anyone.
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