Knight and Squire and Zombies!

Let me just state for the record that I loved CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13. That being said, I kind of prefer Paul Cornell being a DC writer.

While most readers who’ve followed him since the switch know Cornell for his Lex Luthor arc in ACTION COMICS, there was also KNIGHT AND SQUIRE, based on characters created by Grant Morrison, seen previously in the Club of Heroes and, believe it or not, the Ultramarine Corps (actually having made their debut in 1999’s JLA #26 as one-page replacement members). One of the original international Batmen, Knight now has the distinction of being a de facto charter member of Batman, Inc., and with the imminent debut of BATWING, officially the first of them to have his own book.

KNIGHT AND SQUIRE was a six issue mini-series that straddled 2010 and 2011, and as such bumped into the comics partition I’ve valiantly attempted to enforce this year. I caught a few issues here and there, but always knew this would be something that would be a natural addition to my trade collection. Cornell obviously had a blast writing it, and was granted liberties not usually available to comics creators, including the chance to totally immerse himself in an outright British style, which happened to necessitate a running commentary/translation at the end of every issue, in which he explained the origins of characters and phrases as they related to British history and pop culture. I’m a sucker for extras, which is just another reason I’m glad the letters column has been reinstated as an institution, but any time a creator actually has the space to talk about their project (early issues of AIR allowed G. Willow Wilson essay space; James Robinson got to talk about the characters he’d chosen in JUSTICE LEAGUE: A CRY FOR JUSTICE), I feel a little more included.

The book itself is jokey, but it also takes itself seriously, and comes off feeling like a giant tease for a greater comic detailing a whole comics line, really, of the characters Cornell ends up chronicling (in many ways, almost like [forty-five], Andi Ewington’s innovative graphic novel). Knight and Squire, obviously, are a British Batman and Robin, but there’s also Jarvis Poker, the British Joker, whose role increases dramatically as the story progresses (eventually involving the Joker himself); Hank the Incredibly American Butler; the Time in a Bottle enchanted pub where heroes and villains can interact peacefully; the resurrected Richard III; and many other amusing details. The fact that Cornell was allowed to write this book is just another testament to the creative freedom available at DC. His work on CAPTAIN BRITAIN was easily one of my favorite Marvel projects, but it always felt a little hamstrung. Combined with his expansive work on ACTION COMICS, with KNIGHT AND SQUIRE Cornell has easily demonstrated himself to be one of the most inspired writers in comics today, and has two New 52 books (DEMON KNIGHTS and STORMWATCH, both of which seem like DC versions of CAPTAIN BRITAIN) to prove the company’s continued interest in him.

For the record, the trade collection does feel the need to tack on “Batman” to the title, even though the mini-series got off without it. If you feel you need any such excuses, I won’t get in your way, but you’d be doing yourself a favor catching this one. Cornell, it should be noted, is ably assisted by artist Jimmy Broxton, who also contributes to the reprinted extras pages with amusing fake ads for such products and services as Mad Hat Harry’s Felons of High Barnet and Hexo Magic Seasoning. You’ll just have to read it to get it, I guess…