Another holiday season is almost upon, which means another great reason to buy and gift all things books! And there are some truly beautiful offerings from the publishing world this year, such some new illustrated editions of J.R.R. Tolkien works and Game Of Thrones/House Of The Dragon tomes, as well as Star Wars box sets; tie-ins for Star Trek, Stranger Things, and the Marvel and DC universes; graphic novel collections; hard rock and heavy metal memoirs; book-related gifts; fun, pop-culture-themed cookbooks, and much more!

Check out our Holiday Gift Guide 2022 for Books, eBooks, and Audiobooks for our favorite holiday gift picks for the readers in your life.

Elric Vol. 1: The Ruby Throne
Written by Julien Blondel
Illustrated by Didier Poli and Robin Recht
Colored by Jean Bastide
Lettered by Gabriela Houston
Titan Comics
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Cover Price: $12.99

As a fantasy enthusiast, I’ve always had a certain curiosity about Michael Moorcock‘s Elric of Melnibone stories, though I’ve never given them the time they deserve. With Titan Comic’s new graphic novel adaptation, Elric: The Ruby Throne, written by Julien Blondel, I thought it a perfect opportunity to finally delve into the world of the albino emperor; and I am not disappointed.

When Elric of Melnibone hesitantly sets out with his army to vanquish would-be intruders of his realm, he is betrayed in shocking fashion. Will he survive the venture, and if so, what will the deceit and prejudices against him for Elric to become?

For decades, bibliophiles have known that Michael Moorcock‘s Eternal Champions books are among the greatest fantasy books ever written. Amazingly, BOOM! Studios brought together the perfect team to introduce these characters to a whole new audience of comic readers.

Inspired by the original novels, Elric: The Balance Lost is an all-new tale scripted by Chris Roberson that is every bit as great as those classic stories. Couple that with the exceptional art of Francesco Biagini and you get one ridiculously awesome comic.

BOOM! Studios has given us an exclusive preview of pages from Elric: The Balance Lost #11. Check it out here below.

Elric: The Balance Lost #10
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
Colors by Stephen Downer
Letters by Travis Lanham
Covers by Francesco Mattina, Dan Panosian
BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

With four of the incarnations of the Eternal Champion in one place, you would think they would be nearly unstoppable. But we learn very quickly in Elric: The Balance Lost #10 that as amazing as these men are, there are far greater powers in the multiverse. Far greater and far larger in fact.

We enter the issue gawking at the stature of the two Lost Gods, Kwll and Rhynn. Their game is responsible for the destruction of the balance and the aftershocks that are echoing through the worlds. While some have come under the sway of Law, many have embraced chaos in it’s raw form. Our heroes (and anti-heroes) are trying to restore the balance and seek an audience with these powerful beings. Things, as they are wont to do, go horribly awry.

Elric: The Balance Lost #9
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
Colors by Stephen Downer
Letters by Travis Lanham
Covers by Francesco Mattina, Dan Panosian
Boom! Studios
Release Date: March 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

As you may know if you have read any of my other Elric reviews, I am a huge fan of the Eternal Champion books and comics. This month I got to review Elric: The Balance Lost #9 and it was a real treat. A major change from the majority of the previous comics, this issue explores some of the wonders and background of the multiverse as envisioned by Michael Moorcock.

We get to explore the different planes and concepts of inter-dimensional travel as seen by our heroes on the sentient ship Spammer Gain. Focusing mainly on information, this month we are given a tutorial on the different ways to travel between the worlds and the types of people able to do so.