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Rex Mundi #2
Rex Mundi, Vol. 2: The River Underground
From a disgraced order of knights to the secrets of a neoclassic painter, Julien Sauniere follows a trail of conspiracy that extends all the way to the walls of Jerusalem during the first crusade. In a Europe where sorcerers stalk the streets and the Catholic Church reigns supreme, Julien pursues a truth that could change the world forever. Powerful forces have dedicated themselves to ensuring he does not succeed.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
43 people want to read
About the author
Arvid Nelson
310Ìýbooks14ÌýfollowersArvid Nelson is an American comic book writer, best known for the Rex Mundi series.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 15, 2010
The plot thickens now as the doctor finds that the quest is one full of intrigue and ancient conspiracies. The Duke of Lorraine's power is ascending, but what else is he entangled with? The doctor finds more clues, and the Inquisition is getting closer. This is definitely getting interesting now as he finds the scroll that has gone missing. However, that is just the beginning. I am definitely going to find the next volume in the series. By the way, the alternate history this series has established is very good and interesting too.
December 23, 2018
Business is picking up
December 13, 2021
3rd time read
April 3, 2009
Visually, this book is astounding. They have the look and the characters for a great graphic novel. Where this book really falters is in the writing of the newspaper sequences between chapters. This could have been a highly evocative way for Nelson to introduce an early 20th sensibility to this world. Instead, it is filled with language and jargon that would have never been used in this time period as well as frankly stupid Paris Hilton jokes. It's really awful writing. The other problem is simply the pacing of the work. There long, and sometimes quite boring, passages between the brutal murder scenes. It is a quick read and if you like the whole Templar Knights / Grail Quest themes there may be something of interest here.
December 30, 2007
Oh, if you don't know, what I can I tell you? Grounded in one of the cleverest conceits of any comic series in recent memory (a world of the 1930s where the Reformation never happened and magic is real, made setting for a hunt for the holy grail) RM has been through more illustrators than I can count, but is held together by a plot so intriguing you don't care that you already know where it's going and how it ends. Imagine The DaVinci Code or Holy Blood, Holy Grail redone as a graphic novel, and more imaginatively written and you're on the right track.
June 11, 2008
I enjoyed The River Underground more than I did the first volume of Arvid Nelson's Rex Mundi. It moves faster and it seems like more takes place that is significant to the plot. The concept of Rex Mundi is great. The intricacy and complexity of this book are what make it fun and interesting to read. It's a good detective story. It does seem like certain elements are glossed over but it may be that this was done intentionally to maintain suspense. The art has sort of grown on me. Overall quite good and I look forward to volume three!
March 11, 2010
Before the Da Vinci Code came this comic series that is not only a holy grail story, but a noir mystery set in an alternate history where the Holy Inquisition never went away, Europe resembles the late 1800's in 1933 and the Civil War in the U.S. ended in a stalemate with two countries.
Dark, crisp art, good stroytelling, humor, and nods to current politics...this has about everything.
That said, the second collection is pretty long on exposition, but not annoyingly so.
Check it out.
Dark, crisp art, good stroytelling, humor, and nods to current politics...this has about everything.
That said, the second collection is pretty long on exposition, but not annoyingly so.
Check it out.
July 27, 2010
I don't see how people could enjoy the way characters, especially faces, are drawn. The artist basically has 3 or 4 heads he can draw, and will repeat them in the same frame even. Characters usually seem more like statues than people. I'm not sure if I'll read book 3. I'm kind of intrigued but it's paced pretty slowly (as others mentioned the newspaper articles are a huge opportunity missed), and my problems with the art make it a little tough to get through.
November 7, 2011
Another excellent instalment in this excellent graphic novel series. Sauniere continues to try and find out who killed his friend, stumbling across a huge conspiracy involving a secret, sub-order of the Templars. Meanwhile, we get some lovely character development from Genevieve as we learn that she is not only the Duke of Lorraine's doctor, but his lover too. The interaction between her and the Duke's daughter is worth the entire volume.
Excellent follow up. Worth picking up.
Excellent follow up. Worth picking up.
August 30, 2011
Intriguing story. I would've given it more stars, but I was really annoyed that instead of including explanations as part of the narrative, the writers referred the reader to websites. Nope! I'm not going to run to a website mid-read to find out about details that you could've just put in your story. Aside from that annoyance, I really liked the story here and the art is awesome.
February 5, 2012
The plot gets more convoluted in the this second book. The goal of finding the Grail becomes clearer. There are mysterious messages, including one on a grave stone. The alliances become clearer in this book. I like this alternative view of reality.
April 7, 2012
I absolutely devoured this series, so curious to see where the writer would go with it. The art kept changing though, and that was a major draw for me in the first volume. It is closest in style in this volume.
August 15, 2014
Continued to enjoy the series plot. The main characters remind me of DC Comics's SANDMAN's Wesley and Dian. Eric J's illustration got a bit too static at some point, especially when drawing people walking.
May 12, 2016
More Holy Bood, Holy Grail type silliness, I really want to like this more, but there's something about the art that's not my cup of tea (not to mention the occasional panel of random dismembered bodies for no particular reason). And for god's sake someone get the guy a proofreader.
January 25, 2008
reading these out of sequence
great concept
getting used to the artwork too
great concept
getting used to the artwork too
January 9, 2009
A great second part to the tale of Rex Mundi. With this volume, I became a fan.
Read
May 12, 2011The first book in this series was a little slow for my taste and it took me a while to continue reading the rest of them, but it was well worth the read.
September 18, 2011
Still enjoying this series after completing the second volume - can't wait to read the next!
January 18, 2014
Story is starting to make more sense in some ways, less sense in others. The alternative history aspects are intriguing. Also, there are fun easter eggs in the news clippings.
February 9, 2014
amusing if not disturbing alt history series...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
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