DC's Galahad Update

DC has recently released the second volume of J. T. Krul's initial run on Green Arrow. As posted previously, the story features a character named Galahad and also Arthurian mainstays Jason Blood and Etrigan. Galahad does not (in the end) turn out to be the Arthurian figure, but his arc recalls that of both Parry in The Fisher King and David McIntyre in Babylon 5's "A Late Delivery from Avalon", in that he has retreated into an Arthurian identity following a traumatic experience and very much lives up to that ideal in his ongoing quest to protect the essense of the White Lantern in this tie-in to The Brightest Day crossover event.

Here are the details on the two collected editions:

GREEN ARROW: INTO THE WOODS
DC Universe 192pg. Color Hardcover $22.99 US
Written by J.T. KRUL; Art by DIOGENES NEVES and VICENTE CIFUENTES; Cover by MAURO CASCIOLI

A new era begins in this title spinning out of BRIGHTEST DAY, from the first six issues of the hot new series. After Star City was devastated by an attack by the villain Prometheus in the pages of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE, the White Lantern Ring gave birth to a massive, mysterious forest located at the center of the destruction. Now, Green Arrow lives in the woods and strikes against crime and corruption as a modern day Robin Hood.

GREEN ARROW: SALVATION
DC Universe 192pg. Color Hardcover $22.99 US
Written by J.T. KRUL and JASON PATRICK; Art by DIOGENES NEVES and AGUSTIN PADILLA; Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

After the events of BRIGHTEST DAY, Oliver Queen has stood as the guardian of a mysterious forest that has sprouted in the middle of Star City! In this new volume collecting issues #8-15, Green Arrow defends the forest as a modern day Robin Hood from all that would do it harm. But how will Oliver's actions pave the way for Earth's new protector?

Classics Illustrated Returns

British publisher Classic Comic Store Ltd. has begun releasing reproductions of the original Classics Illustrated series, all with re-colored artwork and digitally enhanced cover art. Number 11 of their new line includes a reprint from 2009 of "Knights of the Round Table," which was originally published as Classics Illustrated No. 108 in June 1953. The book, which (as to be expected from a story from 1953) presents a bowdlerized account of the complete Arthurian story from Arthur's birth to his death and focuses on the adventures of Gareth, Galahad, and Lancelot, is nicely produced with crisp art and glossy white pages. Appendices include a history of the Round Table in medieval Arthurian literature, an overview of the Arthurian legend on film (and some TV), two versions of Arthur's genealogy (from Geoffrey of Monmouth and Thomas Malory), a short essay on the history of Excalibur, 5 questions to spark discussion on the Matter of Britain, and a timeline of Arthurian Britain.

More New Collected Editions

Lucid (Archaia, May 2011) from Michael McMillan and Anna Weiszcyk is set on an alternate Earth where magic works--and Merlin has inspired the formation of a league of good mages--and pits a descendant of John Dee against a group of evil mages that plot to create their own version of King Arthur reborn.

From writer J. T. Krul, DC's recent Green Arrow (2010) ties into the Brightest Day series and introduces a character named Galahad, who may (or may not) be the Arthurian knight reborn/returned. The first seven issues of the series has been collected in Green Arrow: Into the Woods.

Spidey in King Arthur's Court Redux

Last summer and fall, I begin an exhaustive search for Arthurian comics featuring Spider-Man, and I had thought I had found everything. However, a recent post on Marvel.com reveals that an episode from 1970 of the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon also included an Arthurian-themed episode. The episode can be viewed below.

Michael