Nemesis The Warlock: The Torquemada Convention & The Microbomb

Torquemada’s endorsements permitted dangerous driving in the tube, and were inspired by the corrupt and abusive system of Catholic indulgences.

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

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.

---

Episode 1 – The Torquemada Convention

The opening double-page spread is a classic, depicting a Torquemada convention inspired by comic conventions, drawn with huge enthusiasm and great insight by Bryan. Absolute genius! The text and the art speak for themselves and only need adding with some details you may miss. Thus in the background (under the Candida wigs sign) we can see Nick Landau, owner of Forbidden Planet, and one of the people who hugely facilitated the comic revolution. In the foreground, we see a fat dealer with a greedy outstretched hand, and it would be interesting to know who Bryan based him on!

Torquemada’s endorsements, quoted on the spread, permitted dangerous driving in the tube, and were inspired by the corrupt and abusive system of Catholic indulgences. Whatever the intention, and the small print in Canon Law, my clear recollection as a kid was that indulgences gave you time off in Purgatory and a plenary indulgence enabled you to skip Purgatory altogether.