Another of my more esoteric favourites:
Pictures only from Book 1: Marc, or The Awakening of the Lion (The Lion Awakes)
Book 2 is called Matheus, or the face of the Angel (The Angel's Face),
Book 3 is called Luke, or the Breath of the Bull (The Might of the Bull),
Book 4 is called John, or the Day of the Raven.
Which I find to be such bad-ass titles I just had to share them.
Pictures might also make it seem as if the story's really sensational, with high octane action coupled with mood shots and gorgeous scenery, and there's that at, sure, but the comic is actually quite slow, wordy and dry, in a good epic slow-burn way. 200 pages of perfect build-up and execution.
France, 1306, and the peacefully sedate lives of a group of Franciscan monks are shook from their isolated routine as an old crypt is uncovered in the monastery's cellars.
It is immediately apparent that there's something deeply wrong in the place.
Old scrolls are found, containing new and dangerous knowledge written by the hands of those alive at the time of Christ.
A short time after, the monastery burns, every monk inside put to the sword, massacred.
And no sign of the scrolls.
In response, the archbishop of Elsenor, coincidentally visited at this time by his foster-daughter Elisabeth, contacts an old friend of his, an ex-inquisitor by the name of Conrad the Marbourg, to find answer as to why the monks needed to die for words written 1200 years ago.
But Conrad is done with the brutal work required of him by the church, and refuses to accept the mission. But there is a hidden hand on the lever of destiny, and Conrad's involvement will be required.
Before he leaves the city he is accosted by Elisabeth, with claims of a letter sent by him to say that he does accept the task.
Suspicious and worried, Conrad hastens to where his friend is supposed to be and finds another bloodbath.
The archbishop has been crucified, and dying, his last words are to make the terrifying claim that they are living in Hell, and to make a desperate plea for Conrad to take care of Elisabeth.
It swiftly becomes apparent that he has been set up.
Hunted by the authorities and all the might and wealth of the church,
Marbourg is once again a pariah.
But with his oldest friend dead, he sets out to avenge him and to find answers to the mysteries surrounding the missing scrolls. Bereft of her father, swept up in events beyond her control Elisabeth joins him.
But, a dark shadow dogs their quest, and while it comes in the shape of a raven, its true form is as yet inconceivable.
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It's a bit hard to know what I can talk about still without giving too much away.
There's alot of dialogue, interesting and beautiful locations, the mystery and themes at the heart of the narrative are right up my alley (and that should tell you something), the action and set-pieces are all very memorable, Alex Alice' art is all clean lines and beauty, in particular that final panel, which I wish I could just have framed up on my wall.
But that panel is just one of several perfect ones; some scenes are just so well composed, where story and art are married perfectly to give an intense and lasting impression, lending a style and quality to this particular comic that elevates it above many others.
Third testament is Biblically epic, playing out both intimately and on a grand scale, and I absolutely love it.
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Though the four books form a standalone story, with an in my opinion very satisfying conclusion, The Third Testament also has a second cycle to its name, taking place at the origins of the relevant mythology. I haven't read it, as its conclusion with book 5 was released only a month ago in French. I'm hoping this second part will hurry up and get itself translated to English or Dutch quite soon.
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