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.

Hellraiser #1
Written by Clive Barker and Christopher Monfette
Art by Leonardo Manco
Colors by Charlie Kirchoff
Lettering by Travis Lanham
Cover A: Tim Bradstreet
Cover B: Nick Percival
Cover C: Clive Barker
Price $3.99
Release date: March 23, 2011

It’s always funny to hear that with all the Hellraiser movies out there, Clive Barker has only been involved in the first movie, and the novella that movie was based on. And that’s it. And this is the name most often connected with the series. So I’m sure it’s exciting for horror fans to learn that Barker has returned to the series that made him famous, as he has with the new comic series from BOOM! Studios. It’s been almost 25 years since he last worked on the series, so now it’s time to see if he has picked up where he left off.

Anyone familiar with the movies will be right at home with this comic. It quickly sets up the familiar elements of the series: the puzzle box, the Cenobites, lots and lots of bodies without any skin — they’re all here within the first 10 pages. Hellraiser #1 sees Pinhead, the most famous of the Hellraiser characters, as he tries to make some kind of deal with a powerful force. It also brings back a character that will be known to people that know the series, but others will need to check the Hellraiser Wikipedia entry.