Elric Volume 3: The White Wolf by Julien Blondel and Jean-Luc Cano
Art by Julian Telo and Robin Recht

(Titan Comics, 2022)

Reviewed by David Lascelles

This graphic novel adaptation of one of Michael Moorcock’s more famous creations, Elric of Melnibone, is certainly a nostalgia trip for someone who, like me, was brought up in the 80s as a lover of all things fantasy and SF. Back then, Elric was a property that was very different to the fantasy offerings of the time. Amidst a lot of Tolkienesque fantasy that swamped the genre at the time, it certainly stood out. From my point of view as a rather sickly teen, I personally loved the idea of a hero who had a debilitating condition that could be managed by magic—albeit a dark and corrupting, soul stealing magic.

So, it was with a certain amount of anticipation that I entered into reading this graphic offering.

This story begins where the previous graphic novel left off. Elric has been on a quest with alternative versions of himself, manifestations of Moorcock’s Eternal Champion idea, sailing on a ship that moves between worlds, guided by a blind navigator. A story that fans will be familiar with as the central story in the novel Sailors on the Seas of Fate. He disembarks from this ship and begins his wanderings again, nagged as ever by the wheedling voice of Stormbringer—the black sword of chaos that is always thirsty for souls. He encounters some slavers, rescues the Merchant Count Smiorgan the Bald, and together they set off on an adventure. This particular adventure takes them to a legendary island at the behest of Vassliss, an heiress to the guild of merchant princes, who uses powerful magic to lure Elric to her.

The first thing I noticed was that I actually didn’t recall as much as I thought I had about the Elric stories. To be fair, it’s been more than 20 years since I last read them, but while the characters and themes seemed familiar there are clear differences here between this story and the ones I recall published in the novels. The most obvious difference is that this story is not from any of the shorts or novellas in The Weird of the White Wolf, which would be assumed based on the title. Rather it takes up the story midway through the volume called Sailor of the Seas of Fate (Book 2: Sailing to the Present). There are other, more minor differences too. For example, in the novel Vassliss is found as a stowaway in Smiorgan’s ship whereas in the graphic novel she is a powerful woman with the wherewithal to hire sorcerers to create a magical white wolf to intrigue and attract Elric. This, of course, being the ‘White Wolf’ of the title as well as Elric himself being referred to as such. Finally, for fear of spoilers, I won’t reveal anything of the ending but there is a revelation that I definitely do not recall from the novels which suggests at a possibly very different direction for future instalments.

Overall, this is an entertaining adaptation. The art is well done and is appropriate for the material, showing the Young Kingdoms as the precursor to modern Grimdark fantasy settings of today that it is. The characters of Elric and Smiorgan are well portrayed and match their novel versions. Minor differences might irritate old fans like me but are not problematic and make the story more modern. For example, Vassliss is less of a victim. She is a powerful merchant with greater agency, and this makes a better story for modern readers. The adaptation serves both as a piece of nostalgia for old fans and as an introduction to Moorcock for younger readers who may not have encountered him before.

I would definitely recommend this to any fans of fantasy, old or new.

Review from BSFA Review 18 - Download your copy here.