Strange Killings: Necromancer

Gravel (collected editions) #6

by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer (Artist)

Finally, all six issues of the zombie epic Necromancer collected into one volume! Warren Ellis' cult hit Strange Killings is back with combat magician William Gravel's most gut-wrenching mission yet! Deployed to a steaming Philippine island, Gravel's assignment is to assassinate an investigate reporter about to expose a chemical weapon lab sanctioned by the British government. But double-crosses and political intrigue have marked Gravel for murder by his S.A.S. comrades as he realizes that he has been led into a trap by a vengeance-seeking superior. And it only gets worse. There's zombies: Scores of flesh-ripping, reanimated corpses seeking to shred and devour everyone and everything in their path. If Gravel is able to uncover the shocking truth hidden within the jungle on this island of the dead, can even his otherworldly powers help him escape from a madman, and army of the undead and four squads of heavily armed S.A.S. soldiers out for his blood?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2006

About the author

Warren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.

The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.

He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.

Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.

A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.

Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.

Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time we see William Gravel fight zombies, I think. And I gotta say, pretty entertaining stuff. You can read all 6 issues in about 45 min, as it's mostly action and guts, but this one also is the first volume to reference the rest of the Gravel stuff in context. There's a return of the Body Orchard, and "H," and references to a mysteriously botched early Gravel mission. A fairly unique take on zombies, and a story that much like "Strong Medicine," finally chooses to build out the character. It's an interesting subject, and it's sharp as always. Love ya, Warren, you old scoundrel!

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume the British are conducting chemical weapon experiments on a tropical island. The chemical creates zombies, and of course William Gravel ends up on the island in the middle of it all. This may have been my favorite Gravel story so far as it reminds me of The Island of Dr. Moreau crossed with The Walking Dead. Plenty of gory action as you'd expect from this series.

The Gravel series is underrated, as Ive found many of Avatar's series to be. As I've said before, if you're a fan of Hellblazer and/or military action, this is one a series to check out.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series started out as relatively compressed done-in-ones; now they are six issue decompressed stories.

Zombies? Really...

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on spec due to Ellis' name being on it, then I was intrigued by the concept of a combat magician fighting hordes of zombies and black-ops SAS squads.

I was impressed with the pencil only artwork - I shall be keeping an eye out for more Mike Wolfer books.

The story delivered what was promised, but no more than that. I felt a little cheated as the blurb said it all - there were no little extra visual japes or surprising side plots.

I don't know if I would by any more of this series - it is good without being great.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zombies in the Philippines! They are made by a scientist that was backed by the British Government, but then went awal. The SAS teams that are sent after him disappear, so Gravel is sent in to take care of things in his own original fashion.

There is nothing new here that we haven't seen before. Gravel still kicks behind whatever the humidity level. He gets the girl in this one, at least for a while.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, and while zombies should make this even more crazy than usual, it seems pretty straightforward. Perhaps because zombies are so ubiquitous these days. Good adventure, ends as suddenly as most Gravel stories do.