Portela, Carols & Pastoras, Das. Deicide; #1; Path of the dead.

PORTELA, Carols & PASTORAS, Das. Deicide; #1; Path of the dead. DC Comics. 112p. illus. c2004. 1-4012-0363-9. $14.95. A

The first time we meet Agon, the hero of Deicide: Path of the Dead, he is frolicking under a waterfall with his betrothed, Aldara. This idyllic moment is not destined to last; Agon must hunt and kill the mighty Xaba-Har and return to his village with its head within three days as an offering to Madorak, the Death God. During the hunt Agon runs afoul of Beluch the lion man and thus returns late. Unfortunately, Madorak is the type of god who demands collateral; in this case Aldara.

Agon vows to retrieve his beloved's soul. He is aided by the well-meaning Beluch, who provides comic relief in his role as the stupidest sidekick ever. In order to gain entrance to Madorak's realm they act on the advice of Barmurabi, a sorcerer who appears to be halfgoat, and abduct a virgin. Unfortunately, Beluch accidentally kills the virgin, so they go the opposite route and abduct Hattia, a demon princess who would tear them all to shreds were she not controlled by a magic bracelet. Together they travel to Sincretia, the bridge between all realities, and Agon fights a duel with an old rival. The first volume ends in a cliffhanger; let's just say the duel goes badly. Deicide: Path of the Dead reminds me of the stories printed in Heavy Metal, a magazine that specializes in fantasy and SF for an older audience. There is graphic violence, nudity, and a wittier, more sophisticated storyline than you'd find in Conan the Barbarian. A good choice for older male readers who like hard-edged fantasy. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale P.L., Montvale, NJ