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by **Punchy** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:28 pm

Paul Cornell uses his Zero Issue to focus on his titular character, The Demon, and to show us his origin in a new light. Whilst we saw in #1 how Jason Of Norwich got bonded to Etrigan, this issue shows how their two lives paralleled each other, and how being bonded to a Demon was not actually the worst thing that could have happened to Jason and that it may have saved him from his own dark nature. The most interesting aspect of this issue was what we learned about the character of Merlin, not only how manipulative he is, but also that he is a Demon, the son of Lucifer. It’s certainly a new take on the kindly old Wizard, and it’s also very interesting in light of last week’s Stormwatch #0, which revealed that Adam is Merlin, do we trust what he says and does in that book know that we know he’s a demon? And also, what’s he going to be like in this book when the Demon Knights resurrect him? I also liked how Cornell explained Etrigan’s rhyming, it was cool to have a reason for it, but it really is impossible for a writer to keep it up on an ongoing series. Bernard Chang’s artwork was fantastic, he’s a great unappreciated artist, and he’s a good fit for this title. Like most of the Zero issues, this provided important context for what is to come, and did so in style.

by **Herald** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:40 pm

Punchy wrote:I also liked how Cornell explained Etrigan’s rhyming, it was cool to have a reason for it

Meh. Alan Moore already defined the Rhyming Demon as part of the demon hierarchy.

but it really is impossible for a writer to keep it up on an ongoing series.

Everybody who has written an Etrigan series since the '80s has managed it just fine...

by **Lord Simian** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:09 pm

Punchy wrote:Paul Cornell uses his Zero Issue to focus on his titular character, The Demon, and to show us his origin in a new light. Whilst we saw in #1 how Jason Of Norwich got bonded to Etrigan, this issue shows how their two lives paralleled each other, and how being bonded to a Demon was not actually the worst thing that could have happened to Jason and that it may have saved him from his own dark nature. The most interesting aspect of this issue was what we learned about the character of Merlin, not only how manipulative he is, but also that he is a Demon, the son of Lucifer. It’s certainly a new take on the kindly old Wizard, and it’s also very interesting in light of last week’s Stormwatch #0, which revealed that Adam is Merlin, do we trust what he says and does in that book know that we know he’s a demon? And also, what’s he going to be like in this book when the Demon Knights resurrect him? I also liked how Cornell explained Etrigan’s rhyming, it was cool to have a reason for it, but it really is impossible for a writer to keep it up on an ongoing series. Bernard Chang’s artwork was fantastic, he’s a great unappreciated artist, and he’s a good fit for this title. Like most of the Zero issues, this provided important context for what is to come, and did so in style.

Not only is Merlin being the Devil's son not a new take in some versions of the mythos, it's not even a new idea in comics: Camelot 3000, for one...

by **chap22** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:28 pm

Lord Simian wrote:Not only is Merlin being the Devil's son not a new take in some versions of the mythos, it's not even a new idea in comics: Camelot 3000, for one...

pffffft. you can't possibly expect Punchy to have read any comics from pre-Bendis. i mean shit, did they even have comic books way back then? :roll:

by **Punchy** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:55 pm

Camelot 3000 is not in DC Continuity though.

by **Lord Simian** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:46 pm

Punchy wrote:Camelot 3000 is not in DC Continuity though.

Shit, son, at this point, even DC doesn't know what's in DC Continuity!

by **Herald** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:50 pm

Lord Simian wrote:
Shit, son, at this point, even DC doesn't know what's in DC Continuity!

Frankly, I half-expect DiDio or Johns to say that they like that story, so it IS still in continuity!
After all, that's what happened to all the other irreconcilable stories they liked...

by **Lord Simian** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:55 pm

Herald wrote:
Frankly, I half-expect DiDio or Johns to say that they like that story, so it IS still in continuity!
After all, that's what happened to all the other irreconcilable stories they liked...

I would rather that, than anything Legion related, be the DC future.

by **Max Blyss** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:16 pm

GAAAAAAWWWWWWDDDDDDD DDDDDAAAAAAAMMMMMMMIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Etrigan's new origin pissed me RIGHT the fuck off.

No Belial? No Masak Madvil? No Trumvirate? No Joyfully Evil Etrigan? No merry damned mayhem? This shit is a LOSS.