Something strange happened to me when I read the first issue of Assassin’s Creed: Templars: I found myself rooting for the organization I had spent a decade or so systematically taking down in the video games that this comic has spun out from. Which, if you have played any of the games before, then when you start reading this series, the idea of rooting for the Templars is probably anathema to you.

It shouldn’t be.

I honestly never expected I’d be rooting for a Templar in the Assassin’s Creed universe, but Fred Van Lente has made that easy with this series.

Templars is a solid comic; the artwork is appropriately dark and swathed in shadows, deliberately obscuring the Black Cross at times. It’s a nice touch, and one that helps the character come off as the boogeyman that he’s supposed to be, and yet there’s never any doubt in the readers’ mind that even though he’s just a man, this figure is as every by as deadly as his reputation would have you believe.

If you’ve never played an Assassin’s Creed game, or read one of the other comics being published by Titan, then don’t worry. While it certainly helps if you have some background to the universe, it’s not required for you to enjoy this series. If you’re a fan of the AC universe, or characters like the Shadow, then this is a series that you’re going to want to get in on from the ground floor.

Story: Fred Van Lente Art: Dennis Calero
Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy if you’re an Assassins Creed fan, Read it if you’re not

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review