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The Children's Crusade #1
The Children's Crusade #1 (of 2)
"The Children's Crusade" part 1! When all the children of an English village mysteriously vanish, Rowland and Paine, the Dead Boy Detectives, investigate the disappearances and learn of the existence of the otherworldly Free Country and a mysterious plot that involves several young beings of power. Continued in BLACK ORCHID ANNUAL #1.
60 pages, Comic
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 23, 2025
This is what Santa would gift me if I was a good man come Christmas.
Phenomenal writing.
Phenomenal intertwining tales that mix the historical with the fantastical and the result is a joy for any reader.
Neil Gaiman went with the mythical retelling of the children's crusade, but just to make it clear it wasn't the sixth crusade, because it wasn't approved by the pope, it was one of the popular crusades.
Where's the reality? I am not sure I didn't dig enough even though I am interested.
I read an entire book about the real crusades before, hopefully one day I read another about the popular crusades and learn the entire tale of the children's crusade.
Reading Neil Gaiman is always a delight, it's watching a master at work. Knowing that you could never mimic what he is doing, or become an elite original as he is.
Reading this will close out a few things that I started and finished at one point except their annuals.
But it's finally time.
I know the annuals will probably not be as good as what Neil Gaiman wrote here but it's okay because we end with issue 2 of the children's crusade.
Phenomenal writing.
Phenomenal intertwining tales that mix the historical with the fantastical and the result is a joy for any reader.
Neil Gaiman went with the mythical retelling of the children's crusade, but just to make it clear it wasn't the sixth crusade, because it wasn't approved by the pope, it was one of the popular crusades.
Where's the reality? I am not sure I didn't dig enough even though I am interested.
I read an entire book about the real crusades before, hopefully one day I read another about the popular crusades and learn the entire tale of the children's crusade.
Reading Neil Gaiman is always a delight, it's watching a master at work. Knowing that you could never mimic what he is doing, or become an elite original as he is.
Reading this will close out a few things that I started and finished at one point except their annuals.
But it's finally time.
I know the annuals will probably not be as good as what Neil Gaiman wrote here but it's okay because we end with issue 2 of the children's crusade.
May 29, 2024
4/5
I really like this specific style for the art.
Also the thing about this story is that it's light and fluffy and at the same time weird and bizarre. it's a solid ground work for a good mini series.
I really like this specific style for the art.
Also the thing about this story is that it's light and fluffy and at the same time weird and bizarre. it's a solid ground work for a good mini series.
December 26, 2021
Un còmic que ha envellit malament.
January 4, 2016
El primer cruce entre los títulos de la línea Vertigo, centrado en los personajes infantiles del sello y cuyo despegue reposa en el eficaz Neil Gaiman, quien firma las historias de apertura y cierre en una premisa inspirada en la contradictoria Cruzada Infantil de 1212. Tras varias desapariciones misteriosas de niños, los "Detectives Muertos" Rowland y Paine son contratados por una niña que busca a su hermano para dar con su paradero, mientras diversos personajes místicos del globo son contactados para viajar al "País Libre" que acoge a muchos niños maltratados y hoy requiere de su ayuda... aunque mucho parece ocultarse tras la invitación; auspicioso comienzo, pese al contante cambio de equipos creativos.
February 9, 2021
"It had been going on for quite sometime, although no one had noticed. What is one less child in Bosnia, or Ethiopia? Who's keeping track of the runaways in New York or Miami? People vanish all the time."
All the children of Flaxdown, a Fairy-tale town, have mysteriously disappeared, including Avril Mitchell's brother, so she hires the Dead Boy Detectives from Neil Gaiman's Season of Mists to find him. I love the interaction between Rowland and Paine. Rowland writes his journal as if he's a noir detective "I knew she was trouble with a capital T the first moment I clapped eyes on her."
True to Gaiman's style, there are several stories within the story. The tale of the original Children's Crusade is gut wrenching. The true retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamlin is could be tragic or hopeful, depending on one's point of view. Rowland's trippy dream, with plenty of Gaiman character cameos. The Hole which shows the resilience of children.
All the children of Flaxdown, a Fairy-tale town, have mysteriously disappeared, including Avril Mitchell's brother, so she hires the Dead Boy Detectives from Neil Gaiman's Season of Mists to find him. I love the interaction between Rowland and Paine. Rowland writes his journal as if he's a noir detective "I knew she was trouble with a capital T the first moment I clapped eyes on her."
True to Gaiman's style, there are several stories within the story. The tale of the original Children's Crusade is gut wrenching. The true retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamlin is could be tragic or hopeful, depending on one's point of view. Rowland's trippy dream, with plenty of Gaiman character cameos. The Hole which shows the resilience of children.
August 10, 2018
This one was pretty intriguing. This one is 1/7 in the "Children's Crusade" series.
October 11, 2025
3 / 5 stars
Their first case !!
This was funny, and some of the art was beautiful 😍
Their first case !!
This was funny, and some of the art was beautiful 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2011
Presentato come un lavoro di Neil Gaiman, in realtà si tratta del primo tentativo di crossover dell'universo DC. Il risultato è un po' un pasticcio, perché l'esatta conoscenza dei personaggi DC è un requisito fondamentale per la sua lettura. L'impressione più diffusa è il volume parte benissimo, con la prima parte targata Gaiman, e poi scema sempre di più, man mano che si susseguono i brevi capitoli dedicati a personaggi minori e scritti da autori diversi.
Nondimeno, è una graphic novel godibile, per la varietà degli scrittori e disegnatori;le Terre libere risultano luogo adatto al crossover ed i personaggi tengono, specie il multiforme Cam.
Nondimeno, è una graphic novel godibile, per la varietà degli scrittori e disegnatori;le Terre libere risultano luogo adatto al crossover ed i personaggi tengono, specie il multiforme Cam.
October 17, 2015
The first part of The Children's Crusade is a magnificent lost Gaiman comic. It carries right on with the story of the Dead Boy Detectives from Season of Mists ... and no one has ever managed to match Gaiman's characterization of the two. They're fun and incompetent and silly and just great to read. Intertwining with that we have a mystery and some fun backstory, and it all feels like it could be an issue of the Sandman ... which is good.
April 5, 2017
Great story, I just wish it wasn't broken up across different titles. Hopefully I'll be able to finish this story one day, but trying to find the rest of these annual 90's comics are going to be a pain. I feel like a Pokemon trainer trying to "catch them all", lol.
August 28, 2018
re-read 5/8/2014
September 19, 2016
Interesante saga de los niños a los que conocimos en Sandman 4.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews