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The Michael Moorcock Library #7
Erekosë: Espadas del cielo, flores del infierno
Ulrik Skarsol, una nueva encarnación del Campeón Eterno, es ahora Lord Clen, caballero de los Márgenes del Sueño, que blande la espada negra, sedienta de sangre, mientras sirve como protector del Cielo.
Escrito e ilustrado por Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Black Kiss), este volumen recoge toda la obra original, inclutendo la introducción de Michael Moorcock, y supone una forma genial de acercarse al mito del Campeón Eterno.
Escrito e ilustrado por Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Black Kiss), este volumen recoge toda la obra original, inclutendo la introducción de Michael Moorcock, y supone una forma genial de acercarse al mito del Campeón Eterno.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
4 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Michael Moorcock
872 books3,748 followersMichael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 19, 2025
Historia del Campeón Eterno un poco del montón, material atractivo para los que somos fans a la que le falta de algo de gancho para quien no lo sea: la integración histórica de El perro de la guerra, el carisma de los personajes de Elric, la imaginería de Corum... Pero para los seguidores el hecho que esta encarnación de Erekosë sea consciente de sus "vidas" anteriores, el viaje entre planos, la batalla entre orden y caos personificados por fuerzas del cielo y del infierno, es un plus. Además Chaykin sabe sacarle partido al contar el relato sin abusar de los textos, y da en el blanco con una secuenciación a través de unas viñetas que respiran libertad. Lo peor viene de la pésima restauración, con colores y texturas donde se aprecia un mal escaneado o imágenes emborronadas. Lastimoso.
October 10, 2023
(Zero spoiler review)
A short, yet poignant and sublime tale, featuring some truly gorgeous artwork. I don't quite know whether this is Chaykin's narrative, or an adaptation of something Moorcock wrote, but either way, The man has told a truly beautiful tale with a minimum of words. The old-fashioned artwork and gorgeous painted colours were the perfect accompaniment to the story. Despite being fairly new to the writing of Moorcock, and having never read anything of this character before, it didn't hamper my enjoyment of it one bit. A quick yet thoroughly worthwhile read, and the perfect palette cleanser for some of the garbage I've reads recently. 4/5
OmniBen.
A short, yet poignant and sublime tale, featuring some truly gorgeous artwork. I don't quite know whether this is Chaykin's narrative, or an adaptation of something Moorcock wrote, but either way, The man has told a truly beautiful tale with a minimum of words. The old-fashioned artwork and gorgeous painted colours were the perfect accompaniment to the story. Despite being fairly new to the writing of Moorcock, and having never read anything of this character before, it didn't hamper my enjoyment of it one bit. A quick yet thoroughly worthwhile read, and the perfect palette cleanser for some of the garbage I've reads recently. 4/5
OmniBen.
April 27, 2022
This beautifully illustrated original tale of the Eternal Champion is sure to delight fans of sword and sorcery whether they are familiar with Moorcock's work or not.
November 1, 2022
Un annetto fa mi sono gustato la trilogia di John Daker (The Eternal Champion, Phoenix in Obsidian e The Dragon in the Sword), l'ho apprezzata assai (il terzo romanzo meno, ma ne riparliamo dopo) e non ho resistito alla tentazione di recuperare questo
The Sword of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell
, un midquel a fumetti canonico che colma l'ellisse temporale fra secondo e terzo episodio in prosa (o meglio, collega ).
Direi che l'opera è un solido 3,5/5, ma non di più: l'intreccio è una gradevole vicenda di imprese cavalleresche perfettamente in linea con le altre avventure di Daker, fra esotismi preistorici e macchinari tecnomagici, ma parecchi comprimari sono poco più che manichini riempi-scena e la prospettiva morale alla base della vicenda ha poco di quello che dovrebbe essere l'atteggiamento anarchico di Moorcock, e tanto della deferenza malsana a un'autorità morale superiore; in questo senso The Sword of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell è più vicino al tono sgradevolmente didascalico di The Dragon in the Sword che a quello squisitamente esistenzialista di The Eternal Champion e Phoenix in Obsidian, e già manifesta la tendenza del Moorcock cinquantenne a sacrificare la struttura di trama in favore di sovrabbondanti scenari onirici. Il vero lato positivo dell'opera è il tratto grafico squisito di Chaykin e il suo uso di colori acquarellati dalle tinte piacevolmente calde ma mai terrose, tale per cui molte tavole sarebbero incorniciabili come dipinti a prescindere dalla loro funzione narrativa: l'explicit in particolare mi fa desiderare un'intera storia a fumetti sulla .
Direi che l'opera è un solido 3,5/5, ma non di più: l'intreccio è una gradevole vicenda di imprese cavalleresche perfettamente in linea con le altre avventure di Daker, fra esotismi preistorici e macchinari tecnomagici, ma parecchi comprimari sono poco più che manichini riempi-scena e la prospettiva morale alla base della vicenda ha poco di quello che dovrebbe essere l'atteggiamento anarchico di Moorcock, e tanto della deferenza malsana a un'autorità morale superiore; in questo senso The Sword of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell è più vicino al tono sgradevolmente didascalico di The Dragon in the Sword che a quello squisitamente esistenzialista di The Eternal Champion e Phoenix in Obsidian, e già manifesta la tendenza del Moorcock cinquantenne a sacrificare la struttura di trama in favore di sovrabbondanti scenari onirici. Il vero lato positivo dell'opera è il tratto grafico squisito di Chaykin e il suo uso di colori acquarellati dalle tinte piacevolmente calde ma mai terrose, tale per cui molte tavole sarebbero incorniciabili come dipinti a prescindere dalla loro funzione narrativa: l'explicit in particolare mi fa desiderare un'intera storia a fumetti sulla .
March 4, 2022
A great little side story for Michael Moorcock's multiverse, happily returned to print after 40 years. (I had a copy of the original, but it was a rarity.)
This is a neat story of Erekosë that subverts expectations about heaven and hell while simultaneously foreshadowing a more traditional take on them in The Warhound and the World's Pain. Beyond that, the story is a fairly simple one, but the art by Howard Chaykin is so beautiful that you don't mind, especially when it expands on the story of Erekosë and the Eternal Champion.
This is a neat story of Erekosë that subverts expectations about heaven and hell while simultaneously foreshadowing a more traditional take on them in The Warhound and the World's Pain. Beyond that, the story is a fairly simple one, but the art by Howard Chaykin is so beautiful that you don't mind, especially when it expands on the story of Erekosë and the Eternal Champion.
January 22, 2025
Pretty great graphic novel with incredible art from Howard Chaykin. I've been working my way through Moorcock's various eternal champions, so this is my first exposure to John/Erekose/Clen. Good stuff.
April 23, 2013
I must admit, that I've never read the Erekose prequel to this book. Although I have read many of Moorcock's Eternal Champion books.
This book, to me, is pretty much all Chaykin. I don't feel the need to read the prequel... though someday, I might.
Being aware of the Eternal Champion aspect of Moorcock's sagas did help in my undertsanding, but I doubt it was a requirement.
Chaykin's art is true to form and complements his (yes to me it is HIS story) story.
I do think this helped to shape Chaykin as a storyteller in the fantasy/sci fi genre and does influence many of his future graphic novels.
For the time it was printed, the glossy paper quality adds to the overall mbeauty oif the artwork and helps emphasize the colors.
This book, to me, is pretty much all Chaykin. I don't feel the need to read the prequel... though someday, I might.
Being aware of the Eternal Champion aspect of Moorcock's sagas did help in my undertsanding, but I doubt it was a requirement.
Chaykin's art is true to form and complements his (yes to me it is HIS story) story.
I do think this helped to shape Chaykin as a storyteller in the fantasy/sci fi genre and does influence many of his future graphic novels.
For the time it was printed, the glossy paper quality adds to the overall mbeauty oif the artwork and helps emphasize the colors.
March 30, 2012
Now, this graphic novel was the classic Moorcock I love. It picks up where Phoenix in Obsidian leaves off, and really expands Erekose's universe, especially considering that it's only around 60 pages.
Moorcock actually just wrote the outline for this and left the artist (Howard V. Chaykin) to flesh it out, and I think it worked really well. I'm not usually into graphic novels, but I liked Chaykin's style. The frames looked like a chaotic layout, but were drawn in a way that drew my eyes to the next logical step. Interesting and fun!
Moorcock actually just wrote the outline for this and left the artist (Howard V. Chaykin) to flesh it out, and I think it worked really well. I'm not usually into graphic novels, but I liked Chaykin's style. The frames looked like a chaotic layout, but were drawn in a way that drew my eyes to the next logical step. Interesting and fun!
October 10, 2025
La serie dedicada a Erekosë, el campeón eterno, esta formada por 4 novelas y un comic y son:
1. El campeón eterno
2. El Fénix en obsidiana
3. Espadas del cielo, flores del infierno (comic)
4. La espada del Dragón
5. En busca de Tanelorn (Último libro de Erekosë; 3era. Parte de las Crónicas del Castillo Brass y 6ta. parte de la serie de Dorian Hawkmoon).
Espadas del cielo... retoma al campeón eterno, un caballero inmortal, una herramienta de "la balanza", una especie de poder universal que se encarga de que el orden y el caos guarden un equilibrio en el Multiverso. Cuando en algún lugar, la ruptura de este equilibrio se rompe y es tan peligrosa que pone en peligro a mundos y hasta universos enteros, "la balanza" invoca a la fuerza que se encargará de arreglar las cosas peleando por las deidades del orden o los dioses del caos, encarnado en algún celebre guerrero. Por lo general, estos guerreros de la balanza no recuerdan sus múltiples encarnaciones, pero uno de ellos si lo hace: Erekosë, asesino de la raza humana, que ha perdido a su amada Ermizad después de deslizarse, sin el quererlo, por los laberintos del multiverso. En esta serie, el campeón eterno buscará volver con su amor encontrando la ciudad perdida de Tanelorn, donde los campeones eternos pueden morar y descansar de su eterna lucha. Tal vez, ahí se encuentre Ermizad.
En Espadas del Cielo... el campeón se ha encarnado en Clen de Clen Gar, campeón de las márgenes del cielo, un territorio entre el desierto del infierno y las tierras paradisiacas del cielo que intentará detener una gigantesca cometida de los guerreros infernales, mientras las alturas son surcadas por "los ángeles" una criaturas parecidas a mantarrayas gigantes que pertenecen a otro mundo y que hacen llover ácido sobre la tierra.
El comic tiene un arte sobresaliente, pero la historia realmente es algo floja y otra vez, estructurada sobre los mismos tropos ya conocidos de Moorcock: una situación en crisis, el campeón heroico, etc. Está bien para leerse y ser completista pero no es indispensable para la serie, la verdad.
1. El campeón eterno
2. El Fénix en obsidiana
3. Espadas del cielo, flores del infierno (comic)
4. La espada del Dragón
5. En busca de Tanelorn (Último libro de Erekosë; 3era. Parte de las Crónicas del Castillo Brass y 6ta. parte de la serie de Dorian Hawkmoon).
Espadas del cielo... retoma al campeón eterno, un caballero inmortal, una herramienta de "la balanza", una especie de poder universal que se encarga de que el orden y el caos guarden un equilibrio en el Multiverso. Cuando en algún lugar, la ruptura de este equilibrio se rompe y es tan peligrosa que pone en peligro a mundos y hasta universos enteros, "la balanza" invoca a la fuerza que se encargará de arreglar las cosas peleando por las deidades del orden o los dioses del caos, encarnado en algún celebre guerrero. Por lo general, estos guerreros de la balanza no recuerdan sus múltiples encarnaciones, pero uno de ellos si lo hace: Erekosë, asesino de la raza humana, que ha perdido a su amada Ermizad después de deslizarse, sin el quererlo, por los laberintos del multiverso. En esta serie, el campeón eterno buscará volver con su amor encontrando la ciudad perdida de Tanelorn, donde los campeones eternos pueden morar y descansar de su eterna lucha. Tal vez, ahí se encuentre Ermizad.
En Espadas del Cielo... el campeón se ha encarnado en Clen de Clen Gar, campeón de las márgenes del cielo, un territorio entre el desierto del infierno y las tierras paradisiacas del cielo que intentará detener una gigantesca cometida de los guerreros infernales, mientras las alturas son surcadas por "los ángeles" una criaturas parecidas a mantarrayas gigantes que pertenecen a otro mundo y que hacen llover ácido sobre la tierra.
El comic tiene un arte sobresaliente, pero la historia realmente es algo floja y otra vez, estructurada sobre los mismos tropos ya conocidos de Moorcock: una situación en crisis, el campeón heroico, etc. Está bien para leerse y ser completista pero no es indispensable para la serie, la verdad.
December 5, 2022
Erekose, Eternal Champion incarnation that actually remembers all other incarnations and their ups and downs, wakes up as a lord protector of the Land of the Marches, land between Hell and Heaven. His role is to keep the balance and prevent either side from attacking the other. Of course tensions are high when he enters the scene and he must find the solution to the problem.
And so he will find himself fighting at the most unsuspecting place of all and finding strange allies that will bring him one step closer to finding his way to his true/eternal love by providing him a passage through weil separating the multi-worlds. There he will come across the mysterious ship that just might be sailing in the right direction.
What I like in these books is that Erekose is champion of balance - order and chaos are both dangerous in their extreme and champions are there to strike and keep the balance between the two. But in doing that champions are constantly sacrificing parts of themselves and question remains how long can they keep up doing what they do.
Art is beautiful, both drawings and coloring, artist manages to bring to life the very other-worldliness of these fantastic lands, battles against creatures of Heaven and Hell are just magnificent.
Recommended to all fans of heroic SF/Fantasy cross-overs, especially those that like Barsoom [and of course to fans of Moorcock's works :)]
And so he will find himself fighting at the most unsuspecting place of all and finding strange allies that will bring him one step closer to finding his way to his true/eternal love by providing him a passage through weil separating the multi-worlds. There he will come across the mysterious ship that just might be sailing in the right direction.
What I like in these books is that Erekose is champion of balance - order and chaos are both dangerous in their extreme and champions are there to strike and keep the balance between the two. But in doing that champions are constantly sacrificing parts of themselves and question remains how long can they keep up doing what they do.
Art is beautiful, both drawings and coloring, artist manages to bring to life the very other-worldliness of these fantastic lands, battles against creatures of Heaven and Hell are just magnificent.
Recommended to all fans of heroic SF/Fantasy cross-overs, especially those that like Barsoom [and of course to fans of Moorcock's works :)]
August 29, 2017
Erekose, John Daker, was the first champion I became familiar with and is probably my favorite. Howard Chaykin did a great job following moorcock's template for eternal champion storylines. I liked this one more than any other graphic novel format of eternal champion stories.
August 1, 2020
Worth reading...
Just for Howard Chaykins beautiful art. I've enjoyed Howard's work for years, and this is simply beautiful. Add to this the brilliance of Michael Moorcock... Well worth reading.
Just for Howard Chaykins beautiful art. I've enjoyed Howard's work for years, and this is simply beautiful. Add to this the brilliance of Michael Moorcock... Well worth reading.
December 20, 2021
Graphic Novel plotted by Moorcock and adapted by artist Howard Chaykin features The Eternal Champion Erekose, caught in a battle between Heaven and Hell. The story is a bit confused but Chaykin's art is quite beautiful bringing the Multiverse to life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2022
Not one of Moorcock's better tales but worth ot for Chaykin's OMG art.
May 26, 2022
3.5 stars
December 31, 2014
Отличный пример того, как комиксы отражают свое время. Плоть от плоти психоделических семидесятых по арту, яркий фиолетовый, сочные битвы и алое сердечко на груди Эрикезе. При всем при этом мужской идеал - где-то пятидесятые. Сейчас таких уже не воспринимают всерьез, разве что бабушка скажет "какой видный мужчина".
June 19, 2010
Concerns the Erekose incarnation and occurs after The Eternal Champion, The Sundered Worlds and Phoenix in Obsidian.
January 12, 2014
Moorcock and Chaykin. What more is there to say!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews