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The Michael Moorcock Library #13
Elric: O Campeão Eterno
Um volume que traz nada menos do que duas das mais importantes adaptações da saga de Elric para os quadrinhos, por dois mestres do traço: o “arquiteto intergaláctico” francês Philippe Druillet e o gênio da fantasia inglês James Cawthorn!
Considerado um dos protagonistas mais fascinantes e influentes da cultura pop, o sombrio príncipe albino Elric de Melniboné ganhou duas visões altamente autorais por dois pilares da arte fantástica europeia, em uma sessão dupla de HQs que foram essenciais para consagrar no imaginário popular a imagem do personagem e de seu mundo caótico, pouco mais de uma década depois de sua criação pelo pioneiro da literatura fantástica britânica Michael Moorcock.
Em Stormbringer, de 1976, James Cawthorn, um dos principais parceiros criativos de Moorcock, tendo atuado como ilustrador desde as primeiras aventuras do anti-herói melniboneano, reimagina com maestria um dos ciclos mais aclamados da série, no qual se desenrola a épica batalha final contra o perverso teocrata Jagreen Lern. Com seu estilo denso e dinâmico, Cawthorn realmente dá vida às entidades da ordem e da entropia e aos desmandos da imprevisível espada sanguinária que nomeia a história.
Já Elric: O Retorno a Melniboné, cuja versão original data de 1966, é a primeira adaptação de Elric para os quadrinhos, feita por um jovem Philippe Druillet, a mente por trás das aventuras psicodélicas do aventureiro cósmico Lone Sloane e um dos fundadores da lendária revista de ficção científica Métal Hurlant, com textos do próprio Moorcock. Aqui, Druillet ilustra com ampla liberdade um trecho do livro A Cidade dos Sonhos, oferecendo uma visão original e única sobre o cenário da Ilha Dragão, que pautou tudo o que viria a ser desenhado depois para o mundo de Melniboné.
Adicionando mais um volume à Biblioteca Michael Moorcock, que reúne as principais HQs inspiradas pela obra do escritor, Elric: O Campeão Eterno traz esses dois clássicos em uma edição de luxo, para agradar qualquer fã de fantasia, com capa dura e em formato grande, para que a arte desses dois colossos possa ser devidamente apreciada. São 72 páginas no papel couché de alta gramatura, contando ainda com dois prefácios, por Moorcock e Druillet, e um posfácio que discorre sobre todos os artistas que já mergulharam no universo de Elric!
Considerado um dos protagonistas mais fascinantes e influentes da cultura pop, o sombrio príncipe albino Elric de Melniboné ganhou duas visões altamente autorais por dois pilares da arte fantástica europeia, em uma sessão dupla de HQs que foram essenciais para consagrar no imaginário popular a imagem do personagem e de seu mundo caótico, pouco mais de uma década depois de sua criação pelo pioneiro da literatura fantástica britânica Michael Moorcock.
Em Stormbringer, de 1976, James Cawthorn, um dos principais parceiros criativos de Moorcock, tendo atuado como ilustrador desde as primeiras aventuras do anti-herói melniboneano, reimagina com maestria um dos ciclos mais aclamados da série, no qual se desenrola a épica batalha final contra o perverso teocrata Jagreen Lern. Com seu estilo denso e dinâmico, Cawthorn realmente dá vida às entidades da ordem e da entropia e aos desmandos da imprevisível espada sanguinária que nomeia a história.
Já Elric: O Retorno a Melniboné, cuja versão original data de 1966, é a primeira adaptação de Elric para os quadrinhos, feita por um jovem Philippe Druillet, a mente por trás das aventuras psicodélicas do aventureiro cósmico Lone Sloane e um dos fundadores da lendária revista de ficção científica Métal Hurlant, com textos do próprio Moorcock. Aqui, Druillet ilustra com ampla liberdade um trecho do livro A Cidade dos Sonhos, oferecendo uma visão original e única sobre o cenário da Ilha Dragão, que pautou tudo o que viria a ser desenhado depois para o mundo de Melniboné.
Adicionando mais um volume à Biblioteca Michael Moorcock, que reúne as principais HQs inspiradas pela obra do escritor, Elric: O Campeão Eterno traz esses dois clássicos em uma edição de luxo, para agradar qualquer fã de fantasia, com capa dura e em formato grande, para que a arte desses dois colossos possa ser devidamente apreciada. São 72 páginas no papel couché de alta gramatura, contando ainda com dois prefácios, por Moorcock e Druillet, e um posfácio que discorre sobre todos os artistas que já mergulharam no universo de Elric!
72 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 24, 2021
Cawthorn’s book has great fantasy art held back but unfortunately confusing storytelling. Druillet’s book is like looking into the soul of a nightmare god and It rules.
May 5, 2023
Two of the earliest Elric comic adaptations are collected here.
James Cawthorn’s Stormbringer
This is the first work I've seen by Cawthorn. They really hype him up in the introduction suggesting that he's not only the first artist to work on Elric (he's responsible for creating Elric's defining look that most future artists have followed) but he's also the best! That's not clear from this comic at all. It's a pretty disappointing adaptation.
Druillet’s Return to Melniboné
Druillet draws some wonderful ornamental drawings as only he can. It's in B+W so it's missing he's usual great colors, but the images are nice. Most of the story is told with just one big drawing per page, so it's less a comic and more an illustrated short story.
James Cawthorn’s Stormbringer
This is the first work I've seen by Cawthorn. They really hype him up in the introduction suggesting that he's not only the first artist to work on Elric (he's responsible for creating Elric's defining look that most future artists have followed) but he's also the best! That's not clear from this comic at all. It's a pretty disappointing adaptation.
Druillet’s Return to Melniboné
Druillet draws some wonderful ornamental drawings as only he can. It's in B+W so it's missing he's usual great colors, but the images are nice. Most of the story is told with just one big drawing per page, so it's less a comic and more an illustrated short story.
April 3, 2021
2 1/2 stars, rounded up for the medium quality early illustrative work by Druillet and the truly exhaustive accompanying essays on Elric in comic form. Tbh, I'm not a giant Elric fan generally, though I'm aware of his historical importance in the sword and sorcery genre (which I adore) and the novels since the 90s have definitely kicked the series up a notch in overall quality, but I bought this because I love Druillet's art, and while his work is impressive, as ever, it's about 20 pages of this, with the rest being the aforementioned essay and the truly awful, 1 star at best, James Cawthorne story, which, bluntly, isn't even as good as the Windy City underground comic published during the early 70s, isn't as good as ANY of Cawthorn's other work I've ever seen, and shouldn't have been reprinted. The Druillet art is fine but not great, but is illustrative for text blocks and not sequential art like his other translated works, having originally been published as a set of plates.
Also, unlike all of the other volumes of Druillet Titan has been publishing in English lately, this is in black and white and on coarse paper, which is fine, but raises the issue of unmet expectations from regular purchasers of the material. I didn't lower my rating for these reasons, fwiw, but potential buyers should be aware.
Also, unlike all of the other volumes of Druillet Titan has been publishing in English lately, this is in black and white and on coarse paper, which is fine, but raises the issue of unmet expectations from regular purchasers of the material. I didn't lower my rating for these reasons, fwiw, but potential buyers should be aware.
August 24, 2025
The perfect slice of trippy, acid-drenched 70s fantasy. This black and white volume is not so much read as savored. You’ll spend more time poring over the artwork than reading the text, but these pages will transport you.
January 23, 2026
O QUE É A ARTE DO DRUILLET, MEU IRMÃO!
November 20, 2021
So this is strictly for the longtime Elric fan. You won't understand much unless you know the overall story. That said, it is gorgeous to look at, both Cawthorn's entry and of course Druillet's.
Cawthorn's is generally a bit hard to read, but the sheer volumes of every scene are amazing. As for Druillet's, it is just the tiniest bit underwhelming to see the art in black and white, when I have seen it colored in Yragael, but still the sense of Ymrir's size and decadence are unparalleled.
The story of Elric's adaptations in comic book form (especially the controversial Druillet version) are also a valuable resource.
Cawthorn's is generally a bit hard to read, but the sheer volumes of every scene are amazing. As for Druillet's, it is just the tiniest bit underwhelming to see the art in black and white, when I have seen it colored in Yragael, but still the sense of Ymrir's size and decadence are unparalleled.
The story of Elric's adaptations in comic book form (especially the controversial Druillet version) are also a valuable resource.
March 29, 2022
‘Elric: The Eternal Champion Collection’ by Jim Cawthorn and Philippe Druillet is an art book with text by Michael Moorcock. If you want to read the stories, you’re better off getting the novels. As an artbook, it is an attractive hardcover package on quality paper with supporting text articles to enhance your pleasure. There’s a full page introduction by Michael Moorcock praising his late friend Jim Cawthorn and a few lines from French artist Phillipe Druillet about how he loved Moorcock’s heroic fantasy work. At the back, there’s an interesting article by John Davey on ‘Elric And The Artists.’
This reveals that poor Jim Cawthorn drew the first 5 pages of his ‘Stormbringer’ adaptation in a month and then the publisher gave him just one more month to finish it, another 25 pages! So it was rushed and it shows. I must admit that I don’t find his heavy black lines very attractive anyway and even Moorcock admits that he used to ‘over-think and over-ink’ his work. This resembles old black and white art from 60s British comics. However, looking online, he has done much better stuff, so this is not an ideal showcase of his talent. Also, the story reads like a plot summary of ‘Stormbringer’. Reducing a 220 page novel to 30 pages of art isn’t a good plan.
Oddly, the adaptation of ‘Elric: The Return To Melniboné’ has the opposite effect in that there is scarcely any plot at all. Elric comes back to his hometown where he had left his cousin Yrkoon in charge for a year. The place is more chaotic, more decadent and more evil. He says hello to Yrkoon then goes to bed with Cymoril, who features on the cover illustration and that’s it. The art is beautiful, especially the magnificent gothic/Islamic architecture of Melniboné, so big that the people looked like ants in human settings and beautifully displayed in large panels. While the unfortunate Cawthorn had to squeeze an epic into 30 pages, Druillet had 20 to show Elric coming home and I bet he had a lot more time to do it, too.
Side note from an old Marvel fan. John Buscema loved the big panels and illustrative style of European comics so when he drew Silver Surfer # 4 in which the skyrider went to Asgard, he thought it a great opportunity to draw that way. Stan Lee absolutely hated it and warned him never to do it again.
That’s life in the cruel world of publishing. Druillet is well-served here but Cawthorn has done better work which is worth looking up. Titan also publish his illustrated versions of Moorcock’s ‘Hawkmoon’ books and there’s a tribute book by his sister ‘James Cawthorne: The Man And His Art’ published by Jayde Design. If you want more Druillet, Titan Books have his ‘Lone Sloane’ series. I’m a reviewer, not a pedlar for publishers but Moorcock has such a high opinion of his late friend Jim Cawthorn that I felt guilty about my low one and thought it was worth checking him out online.
To sum up, an art book for Moorcock/Cawthorn/Druillet completists. It’s good that these old works are being safeguarded for future generations in fine editions like this, reasonably priced for now. The original books go for high prices and even reprints like this will probably cost four times as much secondhand in a few years.
This reveals that poor Jim Cawthorn drew the first 5 pages of his ‘Stormbringer’ adaptation in a month and then the publisher gave him just one more month to finish it, another 25 pages! So it was rushed and it shows. I must admit that I don’t find his heavy black lines very attractive anyway and even Moorcock admits that he used to ‘over-think and over-ink’ his work. This resembles old black and white art from 60s British comics. However, looking online, he has done much better stuff, so this is not an ideal showcase of his talent. Also, the story reads like a plot summary of ‘Stormbringer’. Reducing a 220 page novel to 30 pages of art isn’t a good plan.
Oddly, the adaptation of ‘Elric: The Return To Melniboné’ has the opposite effect in that there is scarcely any plot at all. Elric comes back to his hometown where he had left his cousin Yrkoon in charge for a year. The place is more chaotic, more decadent and more evil. He says hello to Yrkoon then goes to bed with Cymoril, who features on the cover illustration and that’s it. The art is beautiful, especially the magnificent gothic/Islamic architecture of Melniboné, so big that the people looked like ants in human settings and beautifully displayed in large panels. While the unfortunate Cawthorn had to squeeze an epic into 30 pages, Druillet had 20 to show Elric coming home and I bet he had a lot more time to do it, too.
Side note from an old Marvel fan. John Buscema loved the big panels and illustrative style of European comics so when he drew Silver Surfer # 4 in which the skyrider went to Asgard, he thought it a great opportunity to draw that way. Stan Lee absolutely hated it and warned him never to do it again.
That’s life in the cruel world of publishing. Druillet is well-served here but Cawthorn has done better work which is worth looking up. Titan also publish his illustrated versions of Moorcock’s ‘Hawkmoon’ books and there’s a tribute book by his sister ‘James Cawthorne: The Man And His Art’ published by Jayde Design. If you want more Druillet, Titan Books have his ‘Lone Sloane’ series. I’m a reviewer, not a pedlar for publishers but Moorcock has such a high opinion of his late friend Jim Cawthorn that I felt guilty about my low one and thought it was worth checking him out online.
To sum up, an art book for Moorcock/Cawthorn/Druillet completists. It’s good that these old works are being safeguarded for future generations in fine editions like this, reasonably priced for now. The original books go for high prices and even reprints like this will probably cost four times as much secondhand in a few years.
June 15, 2021
Here we are given two stories of Elric - one set at the very end (Stormbringer) and other set when Elric returned back to Melnibone to regain his throne.
Stories are given in a completely different visual format by two illustrators from 1960's and 1970's - first being grimy, dark and foretelling the Elric's final destiny. We see Elric tired of war, confronting the very creatures of Chaos that give him power, tired of daemonic entity of Strombringer sword and his schemes to kill everyone dear to Elric. Tone is dark, everything is foggy, Chaos transforming the world into horrific landscapes - it truly makes even thinking difficult.
Second is also nightmarish, Melnibone presented as it is - strange and horrifying kingdom of Chaos worshipers and wizard-kings bent on dominating the younger races of the age. When you see the palaces, weird monuments, dragons and sheer size of the palace gates and keeps it is impossible not to be awestruck. Everything looks monumental. Clear, crisp black and white lines truly pop up from the pages but it is clear that behind all of this grandeur Melnibone is a sick, perverted empire where people might look like humans but definitely aren't.
Art aside, story wise book is lacking (in my opinion) - first story is created as a strip collection (not unlike Prince Valiant for example), not many clouds with dialogue but text of the story following the illustrations. and all of this would be fine if the story does not look rushed - veni, vidi, vici would be the best description for it. Only thing that has something more to it is the very end of the story, death of the old world and birth of the new one. For me this is just indicator that this way of presenting stories might not aged well and could be found wanting today.
Story of Elrics return on the other hand reads like a introduction chapter - nothing much happens but ominous prophecies and Shakespearean predictions of [almost Greek in nature] tragedy in making. And then it ends. Weird....
All in all interesting book, with additional piece on artists that worked on Elric comics and illustrations.
Recommended to fans of the White Wolf and dark fantasy in general. Just be aware that art style might be a little bit older so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Stories are given in a completely different visual format by two illustrators from 1960's and 1970's - first being grimy, dark and foretelling the Elric's final destiny. We see Elric tired of war, confronting the very creatures of Chaos that give him power, tired of daemonic entity of Strombringer sword and his schemes to kill everyone dear to Elric. Tone is dark, everything is foggy, Chaos transforming the world into horrific landscapes - it truly makes even thinking difficult.
Second is also nightmarish, Melnibone presented as it is - strange and horrifying kingdom of Chaos worshipers and wizard-kings bent on dominating the younger races of the age. When you see the palaces, weird monuments, dragons and sheer size of the palace gates and keeps it is impossible not to be awestruck. Everything looks monumental. Clear, crisp black and white lines truly pop up from the pages but it is clear that behind all of this grandeur Melnibone is a sick, perverted empire where people might look like humans but definitely aren't.
Art aside, story wise book is lacking (in my opinion) - first story is created as a strip collection (not unlike Prince Valiant for example), not many clouds with dialogue but text of the story following the illustrations. and all of this would be fine if the story does not look rushed - veni, vidi, vici would be the best description for it. Only thing that has something more to it is the very end of the story, death of the old world and birth of the new one. For me this is just indicator that this way of presenting stories might not aged well and could be found wanting today.
Story of Elrics return on the other hand reads like a introduction chapter - nothing much happens but ominous prophecies and Shakespearean predictions of [almost Greek in nature] tragedy in making. And then it ends. Weird....
All in all interesting book, with additional piece on artists that worked on Elric comics and illustrations.
Recommended to fans of the White Wolf and dark fantasy in general. Just be aware that art style might be a little bit older so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
January 9, 2026
(Zero spoiler review)
Little more than a showcase of Jim Cawthorne's art, which is superb, by the way. This collection comprises two short stories. The first of which is little more than a picture book, with the story being far too condensed for the scant number of pages its given. Reducing it's enjoyment and making it far too difficult to interpret and understand for many, and is undoubtedly the weaker of the two. The second is basically Cawthorne flexing all over the page, which is fantastic, with the minor prose accompanying it, although often being poorly paid out, accompanies the art well. Not sure about the paper stock used though. It may be acid free and likely to last, though it does seem rather cheap to the touch. 3/5
OmniBen.
Little more than a showcase of Jim Cawthorne's art, which is superb, by the way. This collection comprises two short stories. The first of which is little more than a picture book, with the story being far too condensed for the scant number of pages its given. Reducing it's enjoyment and making it far too difficult to interpret and understand for many, and is undoubtedly the weaker of the two. The second is basically Cawthorne flexing all over the page, which is fantastic, with the minor prose accompanying it, although often being poorly paid out, accompanies the art well. Not sure about the paper stock used though. It may be acid free and likely to last, though it does seem rather cheap to the touch. 3/5
OmniBen.
January 3, 2022
I'm a long-time fan of the half-demon albino emperor, and love the Elric novels. These graphic adaptations were among the first, published in the 70s. Cawthorn has some great images, but Druillet's baroque vision of Melniboné is perfect. Cawthorn made a stab at condensing the Stormbringer novel, a complicated one that concludes a complicated series of stories wherein Elric sometimes wanders different epochs and planes of existence. The reader can't get lost in details and has to simply enjoy the apocalyptic mood! Druillet, more wisely perhaps, illustrates only a small episode with little narrative, letting his visual imagination run wild.
January 24, 2026
Uma obra contida e muito mais voltada pra a arte, em especial e segunda parte com Druillet. Um dos lances mais legais dos quadrinhos é ver artistas tentando estabelecer com traço e cores o que foi escrito. Aqui, em P&B, a precisão de traço é a narrativa de sobressaem. De certa forma, o texto (em especial na primeira história) só ocupam espaço da arte, já que o movimento é todo dado pelo trabalho artístico.
August 24, 2021
The illustration is amazing and I first felt this is really a shining classical masterpiece. Cawthorn`s art is great but the story is hard to follow and narrative really thin. Druillet's book is like a lyrical hymn of chaos and order and many pictures makes you almost dive into them ... like the first page with amazing illustration when "... he came by the sea and the elementals aided him" <3
December 11, 2021
the first story by Cawthorn is mostly illegible but fun fantasy pulp, and the second one penned by moorcock himself and illustrated by Druillet is peak Surrealist fantasy and one of the best things ive read all year
October 7, 2024
Cawthorne's art is very good. Druillet's art is incredible. But they're both weak retellings of the stories. So 5 stars for pictures and 2 for story, weighted higher for story because this is good*reads*.
April 27, 2021
Writing was good, undoubtedly a classic. Definitely from a different time period though. Slay the enemy, romp with their princes...then yours etc (eye roll)
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November 20, 2025Very short and ends halfway through something. I feel this is more of an art book and on that front it works really well. The images are highly detailed and require you to read very, very slowly. It's really cool to see something you can only usually see in your mind.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews