Long ago, in that ancient era known as the 1980s, there was an age undreamed of. The cinematic success of Conan the Barbarbarian inspired a flood of similarly themed fantasy films. Deathstalker was the most successful of these, inspiring three sequels, a remake, and now, a Vault Comics series.
Deathstalker Film Franchise Explained
The Deathstalker films are notable for their lack of continuity. Despite three of the movies being written by Howard Cohen, there is little suggestion that they detail the adventures of a single hero. Indeed, only one actor, Rick Hill, played the titular character twice, and not in consecutive films. The general tone of the movies also varies wildly, from grimdark to parody. The only shared points of reference are a man called Deathstalker and an abundance of sex and violence.
This left fans of the franchise wondering which version of Deathstalker the comics would feature. Rick Hill’s blonde barbarian? John Terlesky’s Prince of Thieves? John Allen Nelson’s wise-cracking swordsman? Or would it preview Daniel Bernhardt’s take, from the upcoming Deathstalker remake by Psycho Goreman director Steven Kostanski?
Deathstalker Comic Mix of Movies and New Beginning
Strangely enough, Deathstalker #1 seems to establish the continuity that the movies lacked. A famous line from the first film is repeated. (“Heroes and fools are the same thing.”) Also, the comic also reintroduces Princess Evie the Seer, the heroine of the second film, as Deathstalker’s ex-wife.
The comic Deathstalker is not immediately identifiable as any of the cinematic incarnations. In terms of appearance, he resembles a long-haired Daniel Bernhardt, and makes reference to spending “half a century proving I’m not to be trifled with.” In terms of personality, he is closest to Rick Hill’s dour but dry-witted outlaw. Yet the general tone of the comic is closer to the Army of Darkness style satire of Deathstalker 2. However, despite these nods to the source material, the comic spins an original tale, that is easily accessible to newcomers.
The plot finds our hero and a gnome cleric named Kurn on the run from an army of cultists. Hired to rescue their virgin high priestess, Deathstalker saved her life but not her virtue. This eventually brings them to the doorstep of Queen Evie seeking sanctuary.
The story by Tim Seeley and Slash (yes, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist) is old-school classic fantasy. Beyond making references to the movies, their script also solidifies and expands the world of Deathstalker, while planting seeds for future stories. One point of concern is the nation of Abraxeon, which is conscripting all the heroes of the realm into an army to defend those smaller kingdoms willing to pay for protection. There is also a plague upon the land, and a mad scientist/wizard with his own mad designs. (But isn’t there always?)
The Art of Deathstalker
The action of Deathstalker #1, as depicted by Jim Terry, is vividly detailed and gratuitously bloody. This is well in keeping with the tone of the original films and reminiscent of the Conan comics aimed at adult readers. Suffice it to say this is not suitable for children or anyone offended by severed limbs and full frontal nudity of both sexes. The high priestess and her brother, the high priest, for instance, are naked throughout the comic, save for the golden and silver helmets that obscure their features.
The overall effect of the finished art is similar to another Vault Comic fantasy series – Barbaric. (Perhaps not coincidentally, a crossover comic between Barbaric and Deathstalker is already in the works.) The colors by Kurt Michael Russell make good use of a limited palette, with inventive tints giving the book a distinctive appearance. The letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are also of high quality.
All in all, Deathstalker #1 is a fine adaptation of the movies that inspired it. It is violent, sensual, and over-the-top in all the right ways. It will do little to win over those who dismiss sword-and-sorcery as a juvenile genre, but fantasy fans unfamiliar with the films will find this to be an able introduction.
Grade: 5/5
Deathstalker #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on April 24, 2024.
