THE PALE KNIGHT #1, by Mad Cave Studios on 5/28/25, follows a knight who lost his faith due to his bloody deeds, but the Black Plague forces him to strike a supernatural bargain.
Credits:
- Writer: Peter Milligan
- Artist: Val Rodrigues
- Colorist: Cristiane Peter
- Letterer: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Artist: Nick Marinkovich
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: May 28, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE PALE KNIGHT #1:
Plot Analysis:
We begin with an introduction to Sir Hugh De Grey, nicknamed the Pale Knight, as he makes his way home to England after a successful campaign in France. De Grey is troubled. Under orders, he slaughtered unarmed innocents in service to his King, and he believed God would not forgive him. As the rapidly spreading plague known as the Black Death arrives in England, De Grey fears his sins will be visited upon his family.
When De Grey and his cheeky squire, Crispin, arrive back home, De Grey learns his wife is healthy, but their son has been stricken by the plague. Motivated by grief to call out to God, De Grey receives an answer when the Grim Reaper appears with an offer that will test De Grey’s morality to its limits.
First Impressions:
Peter Milligan’s supernatural Middle Ages tale starts slow but hits readers with a gripping final scene for maximum impact and intrigue. Readers who want to be wowed with the first few pages may be tempted to put the book down, but Milligan pays off the lengthy setup.
Artwork and Presentation:
Val Rodrigues’s lush, detailed style is a perfect complement to Milligan’s dark period piece. De Gray’s sullen mood is expressed through troubled emotions within the facial acting, and Rodrigues’s eye work presents an impressive range of sorrow, conceit, pain, desperation, and grief. The eyes are the windows to the soul, so Rodrigues gives you a front-row seat.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Milligan’s supernatural tale of woe masterfully crafts an atmosphere of desperation and dread as De Grey grapples with the moral consequences of following orders. He’s a good man who has done terrible things, so the entire issue creates layers of moral conflict to accompany the physical and supernatural ones.
The Negatives:
Milligan’s final scene is a banger, but the story takes a simmering path to get there. Readers looking to get hooked fast and early may find themselves tuning out while Milligan efficiently constructs a somewhat accurate representation of Europe on the eve of the Black Plague. It’s not boring, but it’s not exciting either, so some patience is required.
Final Thoughts:
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THE PALE KNIGHT #1 finds a Middle Ages knight struggling with his faith as the Black Plague arrives in England. Peter Milligan’s tragic tale mixes complex themes of morality with the supernatural for a killer ending. And Val Rodrigues’s moody, atmospheric artwork is fantastic.
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