Enduring for centuries, but haunted by regret, the Eternal Warrior has trespassed against the nature of life and death…to restore the life of a son he lost centuries ago. Now, hunted by demonic forces in the space between this world and the next, Gilad has finally found the wayward boy that he has sworn to rescue from the edge of eternity, no matter what the price. But will the young man called Kalam come willingly to the father he never knew…or has the Eternal Warrior spawned a new enemy for the ages?

I’m going to be completely honest with you: over the course of the past eleven issues Wrath Of The Eternal Warrior has become perhaps my favourite ongoing (and soon to be cancelled) comic book. So if you don’t have time to read all of this review, let’s just say that this issue was one of the best yet in a consistently brilliant series.

I will refrain from spoilers here, because something happened within the first few pages that I genuinely wasn’t expecting (although I may be a little slow on the uptake) so if you do choose to pick the issue up, and the other eleven, then you’ll have the same reaction as I did. Seriously, though, if the other eleven issues are too much for you, start with #11 – that’s when the current arc begins.

Focusing on Gilad’s willingness to do anything to rescue his son, even going so far as sacrificing himself to an eternity of pain, Robert Venditti brings the Eternal Warrior back to one of his most unexplored roles in comics: father to a lost son. Gilad’s desperation is evident here as he faces what many of us think we’d be willing to do for our children (but since he’s a fictional character one could argue it’s so much easier for him), and the emotional struggle is wrought across his face – that it’s far worse than the physical torments he is about to suffer is clear thanks to Robert Gill‘s art work.

The cliffhanger ending is likely one you’ve seen before – although it is delivered in a very satisfying way – the story never gives you a sense of deja vu as you turn the pages. Venditti is a master of his craft, and has been building this story for some time, dropping small kernels of information that didn’t mean as much four, five or six issues ago, but now they’re building to something that promises to reward those who have been following the series – whether in single issues or in trade.

We’re only getting two more issues of this series, but before it ends do yourself a favour and find out why it’s so bloody great.

Story: Robert Venditti Art: Robert Gill Colourist: Mike Spencer
Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review