Elric, the Making of a Sorcerer

This four-issue miniseries, written by Elric creator Michael Moorcock and illustrated by Walt Simonson, is a prequel to Elric of Melniboné explaining how the infamous anti-hero gained his ability to speak to dragons and summon the elemental lords. Unlike the Star Wars prequels, the dialog, character development and plots are much more sophisticated and satisfying. When I read the books 22 years ago, I never really questioned Elric’s capability to ask Grome or Straasha for aid but years later I felt like it was a lame deus ex machina move whenever Moorcock was painted into a corner. I still enjoyed the books though, I just think my expectations for plausibility with Elric’s sorcery evolved to a higher standard and was probably tainted by roleplaying games’ magic rules.

In Moorcock’s defense, the original Elric stories were written at an earlier point of his career. His series involving Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, von Bek, etc., have matured and there’s a definitely been shift in mindset about the roles of Chaos and Law which he even admitted at a book signing were originally substitutes for Evil and Good. To support this change in his writing, the more recent stories have Law as the transgressor against the Balance. At the same event, he did assure me and the audience that Arioch will always be a villain despite the positive aspects of Chaos he’s written.

Back to the miniseries now that I’ve blathered on about the backstory of the author.

When the comic opens, Melniboné’s current ruler Sadric must choose between Elric (his weak albino son who prophecies say will destroy the kingdom) or Yyrkoon (his aggressive nephew who wants to restore the empire). It’s a close call so the decision will be determined by the outcome of four dreamquests Elric must complete. As he sleeps, Elric is “reincarnated”  in the dream and travels back in time to Melniboné’s past. There (or maybe then), he takes on the roles and memories of different ancestors while retaining his skills, personality and appearance (Elric wasn’t the only famous albino in Melnibonéan history). During the years which pass in his dreams (only days pass in the “present”), Elric forges the alliances and pacts he’ll use in the novels Moorcock wrote over 30 years ago.

Yyrkoon also participates in Elric’s dreamquests because if he kills Elric in the dream, he will have killed Elric indirectly in the “real world.” The same rules and conditions apply to Yyrkoon’s “reincarnated” self too; he still manages to know the objective of the dream unlike Elric.

Since this a Moorcock story, Elric’s actions will end in tragedy or set up the ones which happened in the six novels I read in high school. An obvious example are the bargains he strikes with Arioch, a fickle and volatile Lord of Chaos and keeper of the demon blade Stormbringer.

One complaint I have is Moorcock’s current characterization of the Melnibonéans. Back in the Sixties and Seventies, they were a cruel and decadent people. Nowadays they are portrayed as a somber, reflective people whose ambivalence was mistaken as cruelty by the Young Kingdoms. For example, when Elric dreams back to the past, we see the Melnibonéans were a fair and just people. They tended to shun Chaos (and Law) and built a commercial empire respected and liked by the Young Kingdoms. Their deeds, trustworthiness and nobility led them to earn the gratitude of the Elemental and Animal Lords. The fourth book is when events lead to the Melnibonéans allying with Chaos, namely Arioch, out of necessity and they begin to carve out an empire the world feared, despised and coveted. This sympathetic viewpoint even extends to Tanglebones as a “kinder, gentler” sagely mystic advising Elric on his dream journeys, not the cruel, sadistic chief torturer who enjoyed culling information from his victims in the first novel.

Now that the four issues of the comic have finally appeared, a trade paperback will probably arrive at your local bookstore’s graphic novel section. It’s a definite purchase for those who’ve read Moorcock’s past novels, fans of Simonson’s artwork or both (me). Otherwise, anyone who isn’t familiar with Elric’s tale involving him, Cymoril, Arioch and Yyrkoon will scratch his head in confusion; much like I do at a Harry Potter movie but with more boredom.

Correction, Aug. 31: My friend Mark “Narleyhotep” Brunner brought an error to my attention. I forgot that it was Dr. Jest who was the cruel and sadistic torturer from the first novel, not Tanglebones. It turns out Tanglebones was always wise, reserve and patient since I think he was also Elric’s personal combat trainer. He may not have been Melnibonéan, but a slave from one of the Young Kingdoms. Guess I will need to re-read the books as my memory of them from 22 years ago has obvious glitches.