"King of the World", Issue 012 - Rate & Discuss Rating Options

[Scarecrow]

King of the World
Written by Gordon Napier & Mark Adams
Art by Gordon Napier
Cover by Gordon Napier
Pin-Up by Gordon Napier

Online Version: http://www.cenobite.com/hellbound/hbc012/hbc012cover.htm

Archive with PDF Version: http://www.cenobite.com/hellbound/archive.htm

Rate and discuss the twelth issue of the Hellbound Chronicles.

We'd love for you to leave feedback if possible, not just a vote, let us know what you want to see, where you want the series to go, where you think the art and writing can improve. This was a great stylistic choice for this issue, I think. Gordon's pencils on Her Room in Hell were popualr, and the historical setting meant that hopefully this style would put a reader in mind of the artwork contemporary to the stories setting. I co-wrote this one with Gordon, above usual editing duties, but based on many of his ideas, suggestions and general storyline.

Bonus points to those who get the titles relevance.


- Scarecrow

[Flippant Pain]

Fascinating stuff. When I saw Gordon Napier listed in the credits I was hoping that it was part of the Her Room in Hell series. It was neat to see a story involving the Albigensian Crusade. It was not until the fourth page that I was pretty sure where this was heading. I honestly did not expect to see that he was actually telling Lee the story. This was completely unexpected. Is Lee's jailer a cenobite? Since he knows about his past, perhaps even mourns it, is it possible that he is just some sort of messed up guy who keeps a punch card in hell.

Was this background already know about him when the first story in the series was made? In Sisters Under the Skin I always took the jailer's vicious attack on the skinless woman as anger out of her disturbing his work. Is it possible that there was another motivation? I wouldn't go so far to say it was genuine affection for Lee, but she is a reminder of what he has lost. Really, she is probably the only thing there even close to being a memento. Much how I tend to feel about the pictures of someone I lost a few years ago. They really are not that important of themself, it is that they are associated with someone I care deeply about.

So, it will be interesting to see where things go from here. I've seen the setup for their situation in "Her Room in Hell" and we've gotten Lee's background in "Sisters Under the Skin" and now we have her jailer's background. I assume we are not going to see anything so easy to predict as he falls in love with her and lets her go, at least not so soon. I dunno, in the last page of this issue she seemed to have some empathy for him. Perhaps she may have some special place in the jailer's room, one befitting her ornament status. Likewise, perhaps Lee may resign herself to acceptance of her favored place?

[Scarecrow]

Fascinating stuff. When I saw Gordon Napier listed in the credits I was hoping that it was part of the Her Room in Hell series. It was neat to see a story involving the Albigensian Crusade. It was not until the fourth page that I was pretty sure where this was heading. I honestly did not expect to see that he was actually telling Lee the story. This was completely unexpected. Is Lee's jailer a cenobite? Since he knows about his past, perhaps even mourns it, is it possible that he is just some sort of messed up guy who keeps a punch card in hell.

Was this background already know about him when the first story in the series was made? In Sisters Under the Skin I always took the jailer's vicious attack on the skinless woman as anger out of her disturbing his work. Is it possible that there was another motivation? I wouldn't go so far to say it was genuine affection for Lee, but she is a reminder of what he has lost. Really, she is probably the only thing there even close to being a memento. Much how I tend to feel about the pictures of someone I lost a few years ago. They really are not that important of themself, it is that they are associated with someone I care deeply about.

So, it will be interesting to see where things go from here. I've seen the setup for their situation in "Her Room in Hell" and we've gotten Lee's background in "Sisters Under the Skin" and now we have her jailer's background. I assume we are not going to see anything so easy to predict as he falls in love with her and lets her go, at least not so soon. I dunno, in the last page of this issue she seemed to have some empathy for him. Perhaps she may have some special place in the jailer's room, one befitting her ornament status. Likewise, perhaps Lee may resign herself to acceptance of her favored place?

Thanks for that amazing feedback, it's brilliant to hear your thoughts on the comics and characters. Whilst, of course, we don't want to give anything away, it's great to know you've found the characters and storylines engaging. Personally, I do think The Butcher is a Cenobite, although as we've seen, quite an old one. Some in the EPIC comics also remembered their past lives, so I think it can depend on the indivudal in places. That said, I'd also encourage readers to have their own interpretations. Thanks again!

- Scarecrow

[fomorian]

It's an interesting question about whether the Butcher/Ramon is a full cenobite. I'm not sure myself, nor whether his memory was intact before Lee triggered something in him. The background wrapped up with the Albigensian Crusade was mentioned in the original story I wrote some time ago, but Scarecrow has fleshed it out considerably. In the original version, contact with the Butcher's flesh gives Lee a vision of the murder of Blanche in Beziers, not much more than that, and it's implied that Ramon was tortured in the real world before he arrived in hell. I would have liked to have made more of the plotline surrounding this 'relic' that is mentioned, the legend of the Cathars having a mystical treasure has been around for a while. I was imagining it as some proto-puzzlebox which the Crusaders hear about, but mistakenly believe it opens the way to heaven, hence an ulterior motive for the Albigensian Crusade. (a sort of anti-Grail) There wasn't really time to explore that thread of thought here. The theme of a very ancient connection between the two worlds is something else that interests me, and the idea of hell having its agenst among human society.

Gordon.

[chainman]

The "Her Room in Hell" series has been my favourite so far. Neither the story or the artwork has disappointed and I found that this was a really good character development for the hook handed cenobite. Both Leela and Ramon/Butcher are likeable (strange for a cenobite lol) and believeable characters and I can't wait to see if this is expanded on further.

P.S.

Just for a bit cross threading, the pin up from this issue is the cenobite i'd make out with. Brilliant art.

[Lamia]

What more can I say? Love Gordon's work. Great to see the story continue.