''Cherubs! Paradise Lost'' is a

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

Bryan Talbot Bryan Talbot (born 24 February 1952) is a British comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' and its sequel '' Heart of Empire'', as well as the ''Grandville'' series of books. He collaborated ...

who wrote the script and provided the layouts, with the finished art by Mark Stafford. The first book, or 'cantica' was published by

Desperado Publishing Desperado Publishing is an American independent comic book publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is forme ...

in November 2007 and the first and second books were combined, completing the story, in a hardcover edition published by Dark Horse in 2015. Talbot describes it as "an irreverent fast-paced supernatural comedy-adventure."Bryan Talbot: An Artistic Wonder From Wearside
, interview with

Paul Gravett Paul Gravett is a London-based journalist, curator, writer, and broadcaster who has worked in comics publishing since 1981. He is the founder of ''Escape Magazine'', and for many years wrote a monthly article on comics appearing in the UK magaz ...

Plot

In Cantica I: Paradise lost: On the trail of the murdering archangel Abaddon, the Cherubs get stuck in the mind-numbing mediocrity of

Limbo In Catholic theology, Limbo (Latin '' limbus'', edge or boundary, referring to the edge of Hell) is the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. Medieval theologians of Western Euro ...

- but not for long. They escape and make it to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

where, looking for signs and portents, they foil a mugging and are befriended by Mary, a sexy 'exotic dancer'. But she has a problem: her boss is Frankie Dracula and his vampire minions are out to kill her! In Cantica II: Hell On Earth Mary and the Cherubs are drawn into a battle with the massed forces of the Hell whilst attempting to foil Abbadon's plans to instigate the apocalypse.

Notes

External links

Cherubs! Paradise Lost
on the Desperado Publishing site

at the Official Bryan Talbot fansite

Interviews

Interview with Bryan Talbot and Mark Stafford
2008, about ''Cherubs!'' on Resonance FM 2007 graphic novels 2007 comics debuts American graphic novels Comics by Bryan Talbot Fantasy comics Limbo Angels in popular culture Graphic novels set in New York City {{2000s-graphic-novel-stub