Probably my favourite R.E.H. character, I'm always excited to read anything with Solomon Kane in it.

Unfortunately, for the most part, these are by-the-numbers adaptations. Roy Thomas can always be counted on for a good Robert E. Howard adaptation, as he's as good at overwriting it as Howard was. But they're usually enjoyable and the artists he works with--in this case, the fantastic Howard Chaykin--usually elevate the proceedings.

But Ralph Macchio's writing isn't as strong--or he doesn't have the same inherent grasp of Howard's prose as Thomas did--and for the most part, the art is substandard.

So, overall, not a bad intro to Solomon Kane if you haven't read anything else, but there's better stuff out there. ( )

I have previously lamented the fact that the excellent 1985 series The Sword of Solomon Kane remained uncollected. Dark Horse remedies my complaint in The Chronicles of Solomon Kane, which contains all six issues of the series plus the Solomon Kane stories from Marvel Premiere. Produced by an impressive array of talent--[a:Roy Thomas|10180|Roy Thomas|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], [a:Ralph Macchio|161085|Ralph MacChio|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], [a:Howard Chaykin|2718|Howard Chaykin|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], Brett Blevins, John Ridgeway, Al Williamson, Sandy Plunkett, Kevin Nowlan, Jon Bogdanove, and [a:Mike Mignola|10182|Mike Mignola|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1200434605p2/10182.jpg]--, The Chronicles of Solomon Kane reprints the extant of the Marvel's superior full color renditions of [a:Robert E. Howard|66700|Robert E. Howard|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1210954603p2/66700.jpg]'s dour Puritan hero. ( )