Corpse Knight #1: Father of the Dead

Fresh off his work on The Conjuring universe of films, Michael Chaves, alongside artist Matthew Roberts, has graced comic shops this week with Corpse Knight #1, a historical take on the dark fantasy genre. While Chaves’ previous work in film hasn’t won much critical praise, he may have struck gold with this book. It lacks depth in regard to its character writing, but the pace of this issue and the art within it go a long way in winning me over.

On paper, there is a lot to love about Corpse Knight. Chaves’ history with horror writing contributes so much character to the issue, its methodical pacing a textbook guide on how to pace out dread and development in the first issue of a comic. Tonally, the story invokes Dark Souls just as much as it does Evil Dead. It takes great joy in its fantasy imagery becoming corrupted by a visual language championed by classic horror films. However, unlike other comics written by cross-media journeymen, this cinematic approach doesn’t feel like the final destination of a failed Netflix pitch.

Matthew Roberts’ art takes full advantage of the medium. Each moment feels like a story unto itself, capturing what would be most striking when isolated, and allowing movement to be carried in the space between panels. His style is reminiscent of Jeff Smith’s work on Bone, establishing the opening tone of this book to feel deceptively cozy. There is time given to become endeared to the relationship between Foy and her father, allowing hints of cultural sickness to slowly build into a tonal shift that feels natural. When the book turns dark, Roberts’ art maintains consistency while morphing into something mature and brutal.

The only place this kind of stumbles is in the fleshing out of its main characters. On the surface, it is very easy to fall in love with Foy and her soon-to-be undead father, the titular “Corpse Knight.” However, the story leans hard on tropes to establish their dynamic instead of allowing the characters to express themselves through conflict that would reveal their multitudes. That being said, the end of this issue sets up a long runway for the team to dig deeper and better present its themes with a more unique flavor.