Elric: The Balance Lost #4
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
Colors by Stephen Downer
Lettering by Travis Lanham
Covers by Francesco Mattina, Erik Jones
BOOM! Studios
Release Date: October 12, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

This is it! This issue begins to bring it all together. Elric: The Balance Lost #4 is obviously the precursor to a major occurrence. This team of folks is laying some seriously awesome groundwork for a great story. As we all know, I’m a big Elric fan, but it’s a really good series.

We start off in Tanelorn, the city that is both everywhere and sometimes nowhere. A quick visit to the Grey Lords leaves the reader knowing something is wrong. Jumping to Machinoix, we see Elric and the Horn of Fate trying to avoid the chaos that approaches. Next is New Orleans and Eric Beck fending off the warriors of Law. Then comes Corum in the stronghold of the Pukawatchi helping to defend against a siege. Lastly, we have Hawkmoon trapped in Narleen with a demonic cult.

Elric: The Balance Lost #3
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written By Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
BOOM! Studios
Release Date: September 7, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Again I am pleased to be able to review what I consider one of the best new comics out these days. It amazes me how someone can take something so huge and make it seem even bigger. Chris Roberson manages to continue to convey a sense of vastness to this series by continuing to keep multiple storylines moving at a fast pace. You feel a sense of continuity and yet also feel as if the characters are eons and lightyears apart, which they are…probably. That’s the trouble with time travel, it’s hard to determine not just where you are but also when…

My favorite parts of Elric: The Balance Lost #3 were the locations: New Orleans (a couple of different ones, mind you), London, and a few others that I won’t spoil for you. Watching Elric, Corum, Hawkmoon, and Eric in their various timelines interacting with old and new places and people really makes this series come alive. There are so many things going on that you might find yourself going back and forth staring at the wonderful art that Francesco Biagini was kind enough to create.

Elric: The Balance Lost #2
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
BOOM! Studios
$3.99
Release date: August 3, 2011

I love this series. Yes, I know it’s only had two full issues, but the set up is awesome. It looks like Chris Roberson has narrowed the current theme to include three well-known incarnations of the Eternal Champion: Elric of Melnibone, Dorian Hawkmoon, and Corum Jhaelen Irsei. The twist is that he has introduced a new character, Eric Beck, who is just starting to realize that he is another of these champions. The writing is superb, I sincerely hope Michael Moorcock is as satisfied as I am with it. The quick changes between the layers of the multiverse, the phrasing, the whole atmosphere of the comic just embodies everything we know and love about the Eternal Champion.

Elric: The Balance Lost #1
Elric created by Michael Moorcock
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini
BOOM! Studios
$3.99
Release date: July 6, 2011

“Blood and souls for my Lord Arioch!”

Even after thirty years, that always makes my heart race. Michael Moorcock’s Elric saga was the first true fantasy series that I devoured, much like Neil Gaiman mentions in the afterward of Elric: The Balance Lost #1, the beginning of a new comic book series from BOOM! Studios. I read everything that I could lay my hands on that was in the Eternal Champion series: Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, Erekose, Cornelius, you name it and I read it. Again and again. I have the original comics from the 1980’s based on Moorcock’s original Elricbooks. I sought out all the early 70’s Daw printings of the series. Heck, I even bought a copy of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Deities and Demigods just because it contained the Melniboné mythos in there.

Have I convinced you that I’m flat-out obsessed with this character(s)? Good, because now you need to go buy this comic book. Right now. Go. Need a little more convincing? Fine, read on…

On Free Comic Book Day back in May, BOOM! Studios offered up the Elric: The Balance Lost FCBD Edition, which contained an original 8-page prequel story for their new ongoing Elric comic book series from Chris Roberson and Francesco Biagini. The issue also included a lengthy, informative essay on the Elric multiverse, along with illustrations.

If you didn’t get a chance to pick up the issue for free on FCBD, you can read it for free online right now at elriccomic.com.

The regular series launched today in comic shops as well as for digital devices with Elric: The Balance Lost #1, making this one of a select few titles to get a day-and-date release (meaning, the digital version is available the same day as the physical copy).