Graphic Novel Review: 'Millennium' by Richard D Nolane & François Miville-Deschênes

'Millennium', is a five part series written by Richard D Nolane and illustrated by François Miville-Deschênes, that follows Raedwald the Saxon and Arnulf, collectors and sellers of Holy relics, as they travel across Europe investigating reports of demonic creatures, strange lights in the sky, as well as a sinister conspiracy that threatens the Continent’s entire political and religious structure.

Billed as 'The Name Of The Rose' meets 'The X-Files', 'Millennium' was a really enjoyable read. A medieval mystery series with some very fantastical twists and turns throughout.

Set in the year 997, the series begins with the brutal ambush of a Royal carriage convoy, where all were killed except for one horrifically maimed survivor. Our heroes, Raedwald and Arnulf, happen to discover on the massacre, but when they later run into the King's men who decline to answer Raedwald's questions about the convoy, and demand that the survivor is taken to a specific hospice, this sparks an interest in Raedwald that there may be more to the ambush than at first it seems.

Although part of a series, each volume also feels like a standalone episode, with Raedwald and Arnulf off on adventures around Europe, using their brains and brawn respectively, to investigate mysteries that have elements of the fantastic, from holy relics to aliens, as well as meeting some quite memorable characters along the way too. But as they investigate these seemingly individual mysteries, they end up uncovering more pieces of the puzzle in the greater conspiracy. It's a series that is definitely more of a slow burn, than one that is action-packed, but I liked that about this series. Sometimes a slower pace is needed, as the clues are uncovered and more layers of the conspiracy are dicovered, the whole picture begins to slowly reveal itself amd it draws you in deeper, just like any great detective series.

 

'Millennium' is an engrossing read set in the medieval past with a fantastical conspiracy woven throughout each volume, with artwork by the always fantastic Miville-Deschênes!

 

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