Several years ago, two German guys (Timo Wuerz and Niki Kopp) released a limited 4-issues comic book series, simply entitled “Black Metal”, which was dealing with the Black Metal scene in general (you will find out more about that here). Now two guys from the US, Sam Hart and Trevor “Morbid” Markwart (story and art respectively), have gone one step further and present us their take on the happenings in Norway back in the early 90s. Even though the story of MAYHEM’s Euronymous and his biggest rival and murderer Varg “Count Grishnackh” Vikernes of BURZUM has already been told countless times before (from regular newspaper articles and magazine features to the “Lords Of Chaos” book and upcoming movie of it), their version is still a highly entertaining rollercoaster ride that brings back a lot of memories of a time when Black Metal was still considered dangerous and constantly in the focus of the mass media. The artwork is often based on wellknown pictures from that period and the story closely connected to the rise and fall of the Inner Circle of Norwegian Black Metal. Comic book fans will easily notice the visual hommage to old horror comics and the “Tales From The Crypt” series in particular. The 76 pages issue is separated in 3 chapters, that fittingly have been entitled “Dawn Of The Black Hearts”, “A Blaze In The Northern Sky” and “Deathcrush”. One page is dedicated to fake readers letters and there’s also a couple of pretty amusing self-made ads, that are all connected to Black Metal and all its clichés. Even the old Deathlike Silence Records slogan / logo “No fun, no core, no mosh, no trends” (with Scott Burns in the focus) has been adapted and got re-titled to “No Image, no IDM, no Marvel, no DC”, this time with poor Marvel Comics mastermind Stan Lee in the center of it. The final statement in the story pretty good sums up Euronymous’ tragic evolution: “The poor prince of death. He went from being the leader of an underground movement to just being under the ground.” Recommended for fans of Black Metal and comic books alike! For more information check out our interview with Sam and Trevor or visit the TALES FROM THE BLACK CIRCLE Facebook site: www.facebook.com/talesfromtheblackcircle