Hell Lost

by James Turner

I've become a big fan of James Turner's work over the last few years, having first read Rex Libris, and then moving on to his other books, Nil, and Warlords of Io.  In each book, Turner has displayed a penchant for creating complicated bureaucracies and amusing characters.

This time around, he's turning his satirical eye towards Hell.  This book, which I picked up at TCAF, comprises the first chapter of a new story, although I have no idea when or how the rest of it will be made available.  This is just a teaser, introducing characters and setting, and giving the reader just enough that he or she will want more.

The main character is Balthazar, a fallen angel who has just been released from "spiritual rehabilitation", and tasked with fighting Archduke Baal.  We meet Balthazar, his pet dragon, his parents, and various other denizens of Hell.  Because this is a James Turner comic, we also get an exhaustive history of Hell, and a very detailed map.

This is a fun comic, although all it's done for me is make me want to read the rest of the story.