Demon Knights #15

I want to see the vagina he's coming out of!

When we last saw our intrepid heroes, they were intrepiding all over Avalon. They had found themselves in the middle of a gigantic battle between Avalon's Defenders, Lucifer's Legions, and Mordru's Bandits. I think Etrigan and Jason Blood might be able to co-exist in this Avalon scenario but I'm probably wrong although I rarely am and I just ignore it when I am and pretending it never happened.

Ha ha! In your face, Doubty McDoubters! Bonus: this is my best photoshop yet.

Boy, this is going to be exciting! Dinosaurs versus Demons! It's like some fifteen year old kid in 1980 just received the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual for Christmas and created an adventure to use all of the dinosaurs and devils contained within it! And as he wrote up his new adventure, he cackled madly to himself. "I'll show thoshe guysh! They think they can besht me, do they? Thish'll be the mosht deadly adventure ever created!"

As the battle begins, the Companions escape via a levitation spell and the fifteen year old Dungeon Master cried, "NO! They shall not eshcape sho eashily!" Etrigan flies off to bow before Lucifer. It looks like Etrigan actually was just trying to get into his good graces. But when Lucifer believes Etrigan was trying to double cross him, Etrigan finally begins to wonder why he's always trying to please somebody else. A few Al-Anon meetings should help him understand his need to please. I wonder if Avalon has any Al-Anon meetings and if al-Jabr will be going or not?

Even though he's dead (come on! Nobody believes that!), Merlin summons King Arthur to turn the tide of battle in favor of Avalon.

Oh Vandal. What historians would know of this unless you told them? So just fucking lie about it.

Merlin finally recovers from his case of death and calls for water. What he really wants is a storm but he's still a bit groggy from the lingering effects of being a corpse. al-Jabr fires some kind of projectile into the skies of Avalon and creates a storm. His scientific abilities amaze the Horsewoman which causes her to say something that threatens to send al-Jabr into a spiral of existential depression.

That's good advice. To have a successful, happy life, one must spend about 89% of it in denial.

And then it's time for something completely different.

Monty Python's Flying Circus!

Actually, it's Etrigan! Also, it's a new Eee! Tess Ate Chai Tea header as well!

But it's too soon to change. I'll have to save this one for later. I like it a lot though!

While Lucifer and Mordru and The Questing Queen are being stalled by King Arthur chopping off limbs and bragging about Stormwatch and the Shadow Lords, Etrigan is able to get free and begin harassing Merlin and the Companions. He comes up with the old, "This was my plan the entire time!" bullshit that villains come up with when their plan actually falls apart.

Jason Blood gets the satisfaction of punching Etrigan in the face about once every 500 years or so.

The storm that Merlin brings forth causes everyone in the battle to be cleansed of enchantments by the waters of Avalon. Mordru and the Questing Queen retreat before Mordru loses his power. And Lucifer has one last conversation with King Arthur before packing up and heading home.

I'm pretty sure keeping the hand of Satan around isn't such a good idea.

Once all the combatants have left the field, Merlin ages again. Or de-ages. Using his powers, he maintains one look for as long as he can before the power catches up to him and he jumps to a much younger age. This time, he becomes "New Adam." He has King Arthur knight the Companions for the next step in their journey.

I love that the current Stormwatch has corresponding positions as this first group. Except maybe a Jack Hawksmoor and a Jenny.

Adam returns the companions to reality where they discuss what to do next. None of them take Adam's words seriously and they're all ready to split up. Jason and Xanadu head off to spend some time together. Vandal Savage and al-Jabr head back to Alba Sarum for rewards, answers, and lesbian princesses. Exoristos, guilt-ridden, reveals what Lucifer had her bring to Earth's surface: a Black Diamond. The Shining Knight offers to travel with Exoristos to look after the Diamond and make sure Lucifer's plan for it never comes about. Which leaves the Horsewoman.

And that's a wrap!

Demon Knights #15 Rating: +1 Ranking. Fifteen issues of a tightly written, beautifully drawn story with barely a misstep. The Stormwatch tie-ins were well done and the fact that this initial story line was truly the origin of Stormwatch was a nice touch. Also the casual origin of Eclipso's Black Diamond was simply perfect. And the idea that these Companions won't meet up again for thirty years a wonderful lead in to the next issue. I don't know how much editorial influence was placed on Paul Cornell to weave any of these things into his story or how much of the Demon Knights and Stormwatch tie-in was simply his idea. Whatever the case, he wove these threads into this story so seamlessly that you'd never know he wasn't creating this series in a vacuum. This is an excellent example of writing within the confines of The New 52. Superb job on all fronts, creative team.