Nemesis The Warlock: The colour versions

Put a cork in it for Torque

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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Around this time, Sláine: The Horned God had been a massive game-changing success. So it was on the cards that Nemesis should also go full-colour. I think that was at least part of the logic when we tried out Paul Staples on The Shape Of Things To Come.

The Shape of Things To Come – ‘The foul fruit of your beak’

It's a great story and art, and I laughed out loud when I read it just now. And I could actually understand it! I don’t know why we didn’t continue with Paul – he ticks all the boxes for me. Perhaps, after the Horned God, I, the readers, or the editor, were expecting too much from Nemesis. I simply don’t recall. Or maybe we were lining up Paul to take over the art on Finn.

I especially liked Paul’s Ronco ‘Purgomatic’! Very funny!

And Torquemada gloats over how he destroyed Thoth, ‘the foul fruit of your beak’. It’s the first time that it’s revealed that the Warlock’s phallus is actually his head. No, don’t linger on that thought!

Hammer of Warlocks – ‘Put a cork in it for Torque’

I know 2000AD editorial and I had huge expectations of Clint Langley on this story. We all of us saw it as the potential equivalent of The Horned God. That’s why I reintroduced the story in a similar way..

It’s pretty effective, not least as a reprise of the whole saga for the benefit of new readers.