Nemesis The Warlock: Bride of the Warlock, The Tomb of Torquemada, Tubular Hells

Kevin came up with the builder’s classic excuses for poor workmanship and mould: ‘We call that the patina of age.’

I’m blown away by Nemesis the Warlock: the Definitive Edition, Vols 1 and 2. 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.

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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Art by Chris Weston

Art by Chris Weston

Art by Kevin O’Neill

Art by Kevin O’Neill

Art by Ken O’Neill

Bride of the Warlock

Illustrated by Chris Weston, I laughed out loud when I reread it today. The Sister Sturn sequence is hilarious.

Chris brings a unique colourful splendour to the saga, which I would have loved to have seen more of. The wedding sequence is especially memorable. Well worth another look at this classic story.

Torquemada is hilarious. His ‘innocence’ about his crimes reflects how Catholics often react to their perfidy. They always seem genuinely surprised that anyone should think so badly of them. It arguably makes Torquemada the supreme vehicle for satire against the Catholic Church.

In fact, I’ve racked my brains and I can’t think of any other figure in popular fiction that satirises Catholics so well and so brutally. If there was, I’m sure I’d be an avid reader. But it’s a little chilling because, as far I know, Nemesis is the only critique out there. There should be many more such satires and there aren’t. It’s why I continue to satirise the real-life Torquemada in my Requiem Vampire Knight series.

At the end of the story, Torquemada’s true nature is revealed as he snarls at Candida, ‘I’ll throw you back in the booby hatch, bitch!’

This is definitely one of my favourite Nemesis stories.

The Tomb of Torquemada

This story is surely a classic because it’s illustrated by Kevin – in colour! Both of us love pulp fiction titles and ‘the Tomb’ is an excellent example.