Comics / Manga

World of Warcraft: Death Knight

By Leroy Douresseaux
December 9, 2009 - 08:15

World of Warcraft: Death Knight Volume 1 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Action/Fantasy; Rated “T” for “Teen-Age 13+”

TOKYOPOP continues its popular line of “Global Manga” based upon the online game, World of Warcraft with World of Warcraft: Death Knight.  Written by Dan Jolley and drawn by Rocio Zucchi, World of Warcraft: Death Knight is the first class-based title, meaning this manga focuses on a Warcraft character class – in this instance, the “Hero” class, the death knight.

A stand-alone graphic novel, Death Knight focuses on a young farmer, Thassarian, who lives with his mother, Vivian, and sister, Leryssa, in rural Lordaeron.  Like his late father, Killoren, Thassarian is a citizen-soldier who quickly and proudly answers the call to arms.  After one such call from Prince Arthas, Thassarian and his friend, William Allerton, find themselves trapped in Northend, as part of a depleted fighting force.  Meanwhile, the Scourge, the Lich King’s army of gargoyles, ghouls, skeletons, and assorted monstrosities, masses against them in increasing numbers.

Then, a stunning act of betrayal costs Thassarian his life, and the young warrior is reborn as one of the Scourge.  But Thassarian also becomes something more – a death knight, a powerful warrior capable of defeating the most monstrous of foes.  No longer a farm boy, Thassarian the death knight serves the Lich King.  What will save him?

[Extras include interviews with Dan Jolley and Richard Knaak, sketch art from the upcoming Warcraft: Dragons of Outland, and a nine-page preview from Warcraft: Legends, Vol. 5.]

THE LOWDOWN:  Although it has the same thrills as any comic book of the epic fantasy or sword and sorcery genres, World of Warcraft: Death Knight offers a little something more.  Writer Dan Jolley composes a tale of non-stop action with plenty of fantasy violence – beheadings, disembowelments, hackings, slashings, etc.  Besides the fictional brutality, Jolley tells a gripping story of a young man whose life is defined by military service.

In the midst of these depictions of battle and fantastic lands, Jolley focus a narrow beam on Thassarian’s sense of duty and his belief that men must fight when called to do so.  This attention to Thassarian’s determination both to serve and to be the best soldier he can be makes Death Knight something more than just another Warcraft comic book.  The portrayal of Thassarian’s grit in battle under the worst circumstances adds richness to the action sequences.

If only the artist, Rocio Zucchi, was as on top of her game.  Zucchi is actually quite talented and skilled, but the storytelling is confused because practically every panel is crowded with ephemera and too much detail.  Battle scenes are the worse; trying to decipher them could cross your eyes.  Where’s the editor when a young artist needs one?

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Not only will fans of Warcraft comics enjoy World of Warcraft: Death Knight, but also fans of sword and sorcery fantasy comic books.

B+

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12