Rex Mundi Book 1: The Guardian of the Temple

[Godfather]

Publisher: Image
Writer/Letterer/Layout: Arvid Nelson
Artist: EricJ
Colorist: Jeromy Cox

Where to start?

Rex Mundi is a quest for the Holy Grail told as a murder mystery, a tale of sin, murder and redemption in an alternate-history Europe where magic is real and the Catholic Church never lost its grip on power.

Doctor Julien Sauniere investigates the theft of a medieval scroll from the crypt of a Paris church. He stumbles onto a series of horrific ritual murders and an ancient secret society somehow connected to the mysterious scroll. The killers must not slip back into the shadows, or they will strike again...

I'd heard the name Rex Mundi here and there. Never thought much of it. It wasn't until I had registered here at Newsarama and had been posting in Talk@ that I heard of EricJ. You see, he had been making posts of his drawings that he was selling on Ebay. After seeing some of his work, and losing out on a couple of his auctions as well, I decided to give Rex Mundi a shot. After all, if the man is good enough for me to want to buy his original art, surely his book had to be good.

Rex Mundi Book 1: The Guardian of the Temple covers issues 0 through 5 of the Rex Mundi ongoing comic. I had to have my comic shop special order this for me. And it is my utmost recommendation you do so as well.

The story is very unique and captivating. As soon as I had finished this book I made my girlfriend read it. Arvid and Eric have put together a superb mystery. Eric's attention to detail in his art is what really grabs me. There is a splash page of a church the day after it exploded. A top down view of an entire building reduced to rubble, people milling around looking on, and priests sifting through the remains. Not to take anything away from Arvid's storytelling, I'd love to see the original script to this.

In between each chapter there are a couple of pages that are news articles from the time period of the story. They offer a little more insight to the whats going on around the country and world. But honestly if you really want all the information, their official site is the place to go. www.rexmundi.net They even have a "Brother Matthew: Blessed are the Meek" web comic (downloading it as I type this).

I've been pimping this to many of you. I've dubbed myself EricJ's #1 fan, and I sincerely claim him as my favorite artist. In fact, I've even got 3 pieces of art of his hanging on my wall. I'm very glad I was turned onto this comic, and I think that most of you will find it just as intriguing. In the near future I'll do up the later issues of Rex Mundi for review. This is really one of those stories that you just can't put down until you're done. It's a very classy book. There's even a few pinup pages done by different artists (I like the Guy Davis art myself). I can't recommend this one enough.

A all around.

Added a little more to the plot description, so you'd have a better idea of the story. Also here is the example of the art I spoke of.

http://www.shrunkenheadstudios.com/rexmundi/gal/02p04_05.jpg

[MudshovelForYou]

Godfather is right. It's a great book and well worth getting into. I like it, and while I may not be Ericj's #1 fan (:p), I still think he has amazing artwork that is well showcased in the series.

[leez34]

I ordered this from the latest Previews. So you'd better be right...

[Godfather]

If you don't like it, we'll just send the Inquisition for ya.

[Xaraan]

It is great stuff Leez. You should like it. The art is awesome and the story is right up my alley, hopefully yours as well. If you have ever read Angels & Demons or the DaVinci Code, you would like this style of story. The world they have created is very well done as well.

And I was even reading Rex Mundi before Godfather began his brainwashing campaign.

[Godfather]

Originally posted by Xaraan
It is great stuff Leez. You should like it. The art is awesome and the story is right up my alley, hopefully yours as well. If you have ever read Angels & Demons or the DaVinci Code, you would like this style of story. The world they have created is very well done as well.

And I was even reading Rex Mundi before Godfather began his brainwashing campaign.

Shh you can't tell people that. I would honestly be very impressed if anyone that reads this that I recommended it to doesn't find it entertaining in the least.

[Michael Eidson]

Well, we're up to #9 and Arvid Nelson is unraveling a riveting mystery. The trade is a great deal. I really don't want to see this series go the way of PARADIGM or SHADOWS.

[Godfather]

Originally posted by Michael Eidson
Well, we're up to #9 and Arvid Nelson is unraveling a riveting mystery. The trade is a great deal. I really don't want to see this series go the way of PARADIGM or SHADOWS.

Whats Paradigm and Shadows? And what happened with them?

[Michael Eidson]

They're both Image titles, cancelled due to low sales. Actually, Paradigm was just on hiatus, but when Larsen became publisher he said it wouldn't be profitable for it to return (hopefully it will find a new home or get self-published). Needless to say I'm a bit worried about Rex Mundi's planned "hiatus."

[Godfather]

The guys working on Rex Mundi want to take a break. I really don't want to start speculating on something like that because they've said they've been working on this comic for 3 or so years non stop and need a break.

If Image decided they didn't want them back, I really don't see a problem with them finding a new publisher.

And evidentally Rex Mundi was the top selling TPB of all Image TPB's in February.

Edit - Btw I'm sure if you were worried about it that much you could go to their Image board and ask them about it. They are very cool there, and usually everyone but Eric is always around.

[IamSatan]

Rex Mundi is one of my favorite comics. It's intelligent, well written and well drawn. The plot line was impeccably researched and from the get go you know that the creators have a complete story firmly in mind and they are not just winging it.

My chief complaint with Rex Mundi is that they just didn't come out and do a graphic novel. I feel that this comic would do much better in trade format that single sissues and the story line (I think) is perfectly suited for a trade series.


I don't know about the rest of you, but whenever a new issue comes out, I usually find myself starting over from the beginning and reading through, just because its such a great world to get lost in and their is a lot of detail to remember and it's no help that you have to wait a month or two between issues.


A+ for writing and develpment
A+ for stunning artwork
A+++ for publishing as a trade.

[EricJ]

Originally posted by Michael Eidson
Well, we're up to #9 and Arvid Nelson is unraveling a riveting mystery. The trade is a great deal. I really don't want to see this series go the way of PARADIGM or SHADOWS.

Hey, Michael, thanks for the concern, man. I can promise you issues through at least twelve, and there aren't any plans per se to end the series yet, BUT to be candid, things are getting to the point where we need some big things to happen to allow us to continue doing the book regularly. As it is we lose money with every issue and it's getting to the point where we're going to have to make some hard decisions soon. We've been working our asses off trying to reach people, and help from people like Godfather (man, if we only had about 20 more of him! :D), but as good as our word of mouth, reviews, and such have been, even with our recent spikes in sales, we're still only around the 6500 mark in terms of initial orders. If we can't raise that significantly very quickly we're going to have to have to figure out how to continue the book while doing other things. As it is, and this isn't set in stone as of right now, but when we do start soliciting issues again there's a strong probability that we'll be back to a bi-monthly schedule because we can't keep going like we are financially. As it is our "monthly" schedule has been a joke because we keep having to do other things to support ourselves, and that's just going to get worse not better unless our numbers go up dramatically in a very short space of time.

I'm not in any way saying that Rex Mundi is going to go away, I'm just saying that any hope of the frequency stabilizing will be questionable at best. Example, We're finally in a place where our books are going to be coming out every month for the next few months, #9 came out last month, #10 should come out this month barring any printer problems (it's already been at the printers for at least three weeks), I'll be finished with #11 by the end of the week (would have already been done with it, but I had a birthday and people that care about me made sure I enjoyed it. :)) so it will come out next month, and #12 will be done by the end of this month, making it's arrival in stores in July a certainty, again, barring any catastrophic printing problems. So, with #13 not even solicited yet, by the time it comes out, had we a better financial picture for the future, it's a probability that we would have at least 3 issues in the can by the time it reached store shelves, which was the WHOLE reason for the hiatus in the first place, BUT come July I'm going to have to either get a new day job or, hopefully, land a spot doing work for DC, Marvel, or Dark Horse so that I can pay my bills, and we're also going to have to figure out a way to pay Jeromy, so there are some pretty big obstacles in front of us.

It sucks, because after almostr two years we're finally in a place to be completely right and on time and hitting on all cylanders, but we may not be in a osition to take advantage of it.Hopefully something will happen, we'll just have to see. The potential upside is that I'm hoping to get a few issues in the can before I really, really have to start looking for other work, so that when that day comes, even if we do have to go bi-monthly for here on, we should be able to maintain our regularity for at least a good little bit.

As always, though, everyone should know that Arvid and I are still as comitted as ever to finishing this story that we've started, so we're going to do everything we possibly can to keep the book coming out.

[EricJ]

Originally posted by Godfather
The guys working on Rex Mundi want to take a break. I really don't want to start speculating on something like that because they've said they've been working on this comic for 3 or so years non stop and need a break.

If Image decided they didn't want them back, I really don't see a problem with them finding a new publisher.

And evidentally Rex Mundi was the top selling TPB of all Image TPB's in February.

Edit - Btw I'm sure if you were worried about it that much you could go to their Image board and ask them about it. They are very cool there, and usually everyone but Eric is always around.

Eirc is busy trying to get this funny book on schedule, man. :D

It's not a question of whether or not Image wants us, it's a question of how we can keep going while losing money. Hopefully, hopefully it'll turn around in a dramatic way very soon. Every person like you that we can get out there helps. :D And big, big ups to you and your efforts, man! We need to get you a t-shirt! Let me work on that. :)

[EricJ]

Originally posted by IamSatan
Rex Mundi is one of my favorite comics. It's intelligent, well written and well drawn. The plot line was impeccably researched and from the get go you know that the creators have a complete story firmly in mind and they are not just winging it.

My chief complaint with Rex Mundi is that they just didn't come out and do a graphic novel. I feel that this comic would do much better in trade format that single sissues and the story line (I think) is perfectly suited for a trade series.


I don't know about the rest of you, but whenever a new issue comes out, I usually find myself starting over from the beginning and reading through, just because its such a great world to get lost in and their is a lot of detail to remember and it's no help that you have to wait a month or two between issues.


A+ for writing and develpment
A+ for stunning artwork
A+++ for publishing as a trade.


Thanks for chiming in, man! I'm so stoked that you're digging on the book! Arvid and I have poured a hell of a lot into it, so it's always good to hear that someone's digging on our hard work. :D

[Godfather]

Time to start up the Rex Mundi Pimp Machine.

Thanks for stopping by Eric, I know you've been super busy with the issues. You, Arvid and the gang are doing a fantastic job.

[Michael Eidson]

Originally posted by EricJ
Hey, Michael, thanks for the concern, man. I can promise you issues through at least twelve, and there aren't any plans per se to end the series yet, BUT to be candid, things are getting to the point where we need some big things to happen to allow us to continue doing the book regularly. As it is we lose money with every issue and it's getting to the point where we're going to have to make some hard decisions soon. We've been working our asses off trying to reach people, and help from people like Godfather (man, if we only had about 20 more of him! :D), but as good as our word of mouth, reviews, and such have been, even with our recent spikes in sales, we're still only around the 6500 mark in terms of initial orders. If we can't raise that significantly very quickly we're going to have to have to figure out how to continue the book while doing other things. As it is, and this isn't set in stone as of right now, but when we do start soliciting issues again there's a strong probability that we'll be back to a bi-monthly schedule because we can't keep going like we are financially. As it is our "monthly" schedule has been a joke because we keep having to do other things to support ourselves, and that's just going to get worse not better unless our numbers go up dramatically in a very short space of time.

I'm not in any way saying that Rex Mundi is going to go away, I'm just saying that any hope of the frequency stabilizing will be questionable at best. Example, We're finally in a place where our books are going to be coming out every month for the next few months, #9 came out last month, #10 should come out this month barring any printer problems (it's already been at the printers for at least three weeks), I'll be finished with #11 by the end of the week (would have already been done with it, but I had a birthday and people that care about me made sure I enjoyed it. :)) so it will come out next month, and #12 will be done by the end of this month, making it's arrival in stores in July a certainty, again, barring any catastrophic printing problems. So, with #13 not even solicited yet, by the time it comes out, had we a better financial picture for the future, it's a probability that we would have at least 3 issues in the can by the time it reached store shelves, which was the WHOLE reason for the hiatus in the first place, BUT come July I'm going to have to either get a new day job or, hopefully, land a spot doing work for DC, Marvel, or Dark Horse so that I can pay my bills, and we're also going to have to figure out a way to pay Jeromy, so there are some pretty big obstacles in front of us.

It sucks, because after almostr two years we're finally in a place to be completely right and on time and hitting on all cylanders, but we may not be in a osition to take advantage of it.Hopefully something will happen, we'll just have to see. The potential upside is that I'm hoping to get a few issues in the can before I really, really have to start looking for other work, so that when that day comes, even if we do have to go bi-monthly for here on, we should be able to maintain our regularity for at least a good little bit.

As always, though, everyone should know that Arvid and I are still as comitted as ever to finishing this story that we've started, so we're going to do everything we possibly can to keep the book coming out. Thanks for the honest reply, Eric. I can totally understand the need for work-for-hire to finance Rex Mundi. I seriously doubt that you and Arvid would give up before the complete story is told, and I think that the fans that have stuck around this far will be there when you guys return, whether bimonthly, quarterly, or whatever is necessary. Keep up the great work and I'll keep an eye out for your next project. :)

[Sparker]

I finally read all the issues this weekend and was really impressed with how well done and thought out this book is. It's an involving mystery set in a thouroughly researched and believable alternate world. And the artwork is incredibly detailed and really brings the reader in, capturing the mood and dress of the era perfectly. The pacing is terrific, the exposition and recap scenes are informative without belaboring the point, and give you what you need to know while still hungering for more. And I happen to enjoy Machiavellian parliamentary power battles, so that was just gravy. I can't wait to see where the mystery leads.

Thanks to Godfather for the pimping and my brother for collecting this comic since day one (he even bought the trade). He loves it too. I'll be picking up the trade as soon as I can in support.

Well done. I think we have a classic on our hands.

Grade: A

[Godfather]

I've got my change bucket ready to go buy #10 next week :)

[CountD]

*ordered*

:cool:

[mc (_(\/)_)achete]

i have been desperately waiting to buy the first trade for a while. i first heard about rex mundi through newsarama a long while ago, but when i got to my shop, all they had was issue 3, so i bought it - but i never read it cuz i wanted to get the back issues - which proved to be difficult so i just decided to wait for the trade - which will be ordered once i move.

not only have i read da vinci code and angels and demons, but i have been reading for years before da vinci code came about non fiction books on the subject such as holy blood, holy grail, the templar revelation, hiram key, and a number of other books concerning the masons, secret societies, the holy grail, cryptology, the golden ratio, and the gnostics.
:)


this definitely sounds like my kind of book and i can't wait to start reading it!!!

[Godfather]

Originally posted by mc (_(\/)_)achete
i have been desperately waiting to buy the first trade for a while. i first heard about rex mundi through newsarama a long while ago, but when i got to my shop, all they had was issue 3, so i bought it - but i never read it cuz i wanted to get the back issues - which proved to be difficult so i just decided to wait for the trade - which will be ordered once i move.

not only have i read da vinci code and angels and demons, but i have been reading for years before da vinci code came about non fiction books on the subject such as holy blood, holy grail, the templar revelation, hiram key, and a number of other books concerning the masons, secret societies, the holy grail, cryptology, the golden ratio, and the gnostics.
:)


this definitely sounds like my kind of book and i can't wait to start reading it!!!

Wth is taking you so long? Go get the damn thing!

[Xaraan]

Wow, I didn't know Rex Mundi might be in trouble. I guess I'll have to start pimpin like the GodFather now too.

[HulkSmashley]

Originally posted by Xaraan
Wow, I didn't know Rex Mundi might be in trouble. I guess I'll have to start pimpin like the GodFather now too.

I'd love to pimp it, too!

I read it about a month ago and it's such a unique and riviting book! I hope that everyone gets a chance to check it out, because you are really losing out if you don't!!:D

[Skyldt]

i've heard so many good things, i'm gonna have to order it. sooooo...i'll post here after i get it.

[Godfather]

Originally posted by HulkSmashley
I'd love to pimp it, too!

I read it about a month ago and it's such a unique and riviting book! I hope that everyone gets a chance to check it out, because you are really losing out if you don't!!:D

I think if you talk to a lot of different people one of the first things they say is, its riveting. I love Rex Mundi :)

[CountD]

great book.

thanks so much!:)

[Sammycomic]

Rex is a great damn book!

6500 initial order is criminal!. SO many middle of the road or sub-par Marvel books pull in 22k while Shadows, Paradigm, Rex and other great titles from image get the shaft. Its not because they're better books.. it's just that dumb logo in the corner.