Rex Mundi, Vol. 5: The Valley at the End of the World

Rex Mundi #5

by Arvid Nelson, Juan Ferreyra

As Lorraine's bloody crusade rages on, Julien spirals into an abyss of drunken despair. Genevieve has betrayed him, and he has lost hope of ever finding the Holy Grail. But Inquisitor Moricant hasn't given up, and he's hot on Julien's trail! Little does Moricant know the power of the Church is crumbling in the face of the raging war. He isn't as safe as he believes. Meanwhile, the Duke of Lorraine faces disaster upon defeat. His dreams of world domination - and his very life - hang from the slightest thread.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Alternate History, Graphic Novels Comics, Sequential Art, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2008

About the author

Arvid has worked on everything from film to video games, but he’s best known for his original comics title, Rex Mundi, published by Dark Horse Comics. The Band of the Crow has occupied his creative memory banks ever since Rex Mundi ended.

Reviews

[Danny'S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The volume captures what makes Rex Mundi so special - history, theology, and world war wrapped in the noir aesthetic of 1930s French cinema. We're firmly out of the dark, claustrophobic alleys of Paris now, and into the wilderness, where the secrets of the House of Lorraine await Julien and Genevieve.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juan Ferreyra’s art is the perfect complement to the writing. His detailed landscapes,
Piranesi-esque cathedrals, and evocative likenesses make the characters feel eerily real. The
story’s mood — heavy with religious mystery — is rendered with painterly grace. Nelson
gives the art room to breathe, letting readers sink their teeth into the (blue) apple.

[TheWord · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,5

[El Shnookmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arvid has a new original comic book, Band of the Crow. Check out the trailer https://youtu.be/Z16wRyYKl2A?si=gEEFy...

[Amy Duc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 pays off with ruthless precision. A masterclass in world-building and controlled narrative
collapse.

[Braxton Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ferreyra’s moody art and Nelson’s relentless plotting make for pure gothic mayhem.

[Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, the truth behind the Grail! A great twist on the genre of conspiracy theories popularized
by The Da Vinci Code.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juan Ferreyra’s artwork is absolutely stunning, capturing the crumbling grandeur of Europe at
war with haunting beauty and power.

[Tom Cruise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the Rex Mundi series. Nicely sets the stage for the saga’s conclusion.

[Exna Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Volume Five, Julien Saunière flees to a remote and isolated mountain village, where he
discovers shocking truths about Genevieve and the Grail. Great setup for the final act.

[Gentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blending the chaos of revolution with mystical revelation, Arvid Nelson and Juan Ferreyra
deliver a visually stunning penultimate installment to Rex Mundi.

[Abi Shake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pushes the story into apocalyptic hysteria, and maybe just a little brilliance.

[Chris Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea where good reviews are coming from. Did we read same book? Anyway ...

-vampires, werewolfs - that comes out of nowhere, soon Nelson will give us dragons, elfs and griffons (oh wait a second - he did!).

-war ended in such a ridiculous way, looks like writer had never read a history book in his life or even watch decent war movie. It's so stupid - it's insulting.

-'Grail' plot - wasn't much to begin with, now it's completely disintegrated in an ocean of idiocy.

-main characters (Sauniere, Gen, Lorraine) one dimensional caricatures - comic books from 50's had more depth than this drivel.

UTTER S$%# ! AVOID AT ALL COST!

[David Schwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line moves toward conclusion in this book. Dr. Saunière gets closer to finding the Grail and we learn that some people know more about his past (knowledge that even the Doctor is aware of). One other character shows us that they too will be key in the final book. The artwork seems better in this book.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the story but can't help but be distracted by the constant changing of artists and the look of the characters and the story overall. Nevertheless, I loved it, can't wait for the next one. Oh, spoiler, this one introduces supernatural elements.

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot keeps on moving the appropriate pace; great scene/double spread to end the book. The prologue story with vampires/werewolves was a little jarring. I realize this is a book with magic, golems, etc.; for some reason, I just found the werewolves and vampires to be out of place.

[Muireann · Rating 2 out of 5]

So silly, but I'm nearly finished so I might as well persevere. Now we have vampires and griffins, so it really is the kitchen sink.
The constant changing of Moricant's eye colour would be a clue or plot point in another book, but I'm pretty sure it's just one of the many, many mistakes.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

The penultimate collection turns almost everything around, introduces some new elements and generally is freakin' great. Creepy, inventive, violent, fascinating....

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still really enjoying this series and I love the artwork and detail that goes into each volume.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Increasing weirdness, but also good pacing are making for a good climax to the story. This is well structured, which I find is often a flaw in graphic novels storytelling.