Cinebook The 9th Art: The Last Templar 1- The Encoder

PAPERBACK
Authors: Raymond Khoury & Miguel Lalor
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages
Publication: June 2016

ISBN  9781849182997

£7.99 incl VAT

Acre, 1291. The last Crusader city in the Holy Land is about to fall. Two Knights Templar, obeying the grandmaster’s orders, manage to escape the invading Muslim army on the order’s last ship. New York City, nowadays. During the unveiling of an exhibition of some of the Vatican’s treasures, four men disguised as Templars attack the Metropolitan Museum and steal several artefacts, including a centuries-old decoder – a loss that horrifies the Church.

It's slightly jarring when you are reading a story set in the 13th century then it jumps to the modern era. You see, when it breaks down to men disguised as Templars riding into a museum to steal an artefact and blaze away with Uzis...I don't know. It didn't seem that original. But I've been around a long time so it probably is just me.

The story is fun in a way...well, as "fun" as it can get with killings and other stuff -there is the "secret" behind what is going on.  The Secret Vatican archives (no, not those the really secret ones), Vatican agents, conspirators, murders...and there is even a glimpse at volume 2 -The Knight In The Crypt.

And the art is excellent.  No arguing there. The colours by "Thorn" really helps the atmosphere. Nothing historically inaccurate.  I think I'm convincing myself that it is "just me"!

Of course, you love the Vatican and dark ancient secrets stuff that suddenly burst open in 2016 -this book is for you!

Let's face it: good story. Great art and 56 pages for £7.99 and I am not kidding but in the UK you will be paying £5.00 for just one Marvel monthly comic -and Diamond hinting prices could get higher.

Makes sense to invest in Cinebook titles!