Nemesis The Warlock: Book 6 The Return of Torquemada

Why I can never get Torquemada out of my system

Hello! I’m back after a break – from Substack that is, not from writing. I’ve just finished the script for the final Requiem Vampire Knight book, fittingly ending that epic series on Volume 13.

There was a time when I thought the series would never get completed, but we are now in safe hands with Editions Glenat. Their production of Volume 12, which came out earlier this year, was superb, with its special gatefold pages showcasing Olivier’s stunning spreads. Currently there’s no print edition in English (Panini UK do plan to eventually publish it), but you can grab a hi-res digital edition, which is perfect for viewing on a wide screen, from our Gumroad store.

And I’ve also been involved in preparations for our first ever Kickstarter campaign, on another Olivier Ledroit collaboration (our first, in fact): Sha Book 1: The Shadow One. We’re still in pre-launch, but you can sign up to be notified by Kickstarter as soon as we go live. We’ll be offering a special deluxe edition exclusive to Kickstarter, plus a standard hardcover that will be on sale after the campaign.

I’m blown away by Nemesis the Warlock: the Definitive Edition, Vol 1. My compliments to the publishers, Rebellion, and especially their designer Gemma Sheldrake for the truly inspired front and back covers.

Volume 2 is now on sale from the 2000AD store, and a copy is winging its way towards me as I write. I can’t wait to see it.

Such a Definitive Edition requires a Definitive Commentary, a companion piece for when you’re looking at the beautiful art by art-creator Kevin O’Neill and the other talented artists that followed him. So it’s time for The Secret History of Nemesis the Warlock, an episode by episode revelation of what really went on behind the scenes.

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Episode One – The Return of Torquemada

I’ve always loved villains who return more evil than ever. Fu Manchu would be one example, Moriarty another. In the Doctor Who Universe – the Master. Hercule Flambeau in Father Brown is a criminal mastermind. Fantomas is a legendary assassin. But, as far as I can recall, the objective of all these villains is purely power.  Torquemada is different – he wants power but also to cleanse the galaxy of all alien life. So there is a strong subtext to his villainy. Judge Death is similar – he regards life itself as a crime, which, incidentally, is at the heart of Satanism. It would seem that only Torquemada and Judge Death have this extra dimension to their evil but I’m sure there are other 2000AD villains who also lust for something more than money and power.

“When I wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, nothing went into it that had not happened in real life somewhere at some time.”
Margaret Atwood

It perhaps explains why I can never get Torquemada out of my system. And thus he lives on in my Requiem Vampire Knight series. That’s the great thing about real life characters – they can’t belong to any one publisher. So I’m currently watching the Handmaid’s Tale and devising a Catholic version for Requiem for a possible future spin-off.