Last year, Alex Paknadel and Troy Little made a convert out of yours truly with Cult of the Lamb. What could have been yet another needless video game adaptation became this bloody, brilliant dissection of religion, society, devotion, and what it really means to be a hero.
Now, the duo have reunited for the 48-page Cult of Lamb: Schism Special. Is it a cause for great celebration? Yay verily. However, in simply releasing this title, they’ve already run a very real risk: Too much story opens up the possibility of throwing off the balance of this series (between the game world and novel storytelling), and that could spell catastrophe for the Lamb’s continued efforts. So, could the pair continue to thread the needle, as it were, or is it “Game Over” for Cult of Lamb‘s chances to make further adaptation magic?
Luckily, this Cult of the Lamb is more robust and intriguing than ever before. And you don’t even need a blood sacrifice to enjoy the benefits!
Courtesy of Oni Press/Massive Monster/Devolver Digital.
Part of what makes the Schism Special feel so, well, special is that it’s not an outlier in the story like so many other such stories (i.e., annuals). Rather, it takes off directly where we left off: Lamb had managed to kill Leshy, the first of the four Bishops of the Old Faith, but in doing so lost their oldest convert, Nana. Now, Lamb continues their campaign by turning their attention toward Heket (with Kallamar and Shamura on deck). Sure, this decision likely had to do with feasibility/planning, but it just made this special feel like one giant-sized issue with heaps of story meat.
And, as an extension of that aspect, Paknadel and Little lean into what really worked for the first arc. From a storyline perspective, that’s not just a continuous story, but it’s even apparent in the dialogue. They’re really leaning into the fantasy vibes here, and it all plays out like the most adorable issue of Conan you’ve ever read. In turn, that really brings us into what this story really is: A proper fantasy adventure that also just so happens to star murderous woodland creatures.
It’s personal and authentic above all else, and that kind of storytelling durability means a lot. So when Lamb goes all edgy nihilist, for instance, it rings with this sharp sense of betrayal that cuts far deeper than any Lamb-starring video game adaptation ever ought to. You’re mostly invested in the unique shape and feel of this world, and so this story continues to land in parts of your brain that are maybe shocking but mostly just plain satisfying.
Courtesy of Oni Press/Massive Monster/Devolver Digital.
When it comes to the visuals, then, that’s where Cult of the Lamb becomes even more textured. Somehow exceeding even the first arc’s solid efforts, the contrast between creepy and cute, bloody and endearing are juxtaposed with even more brutal efficiency. We see Lamb’s devotees murdered, or watch as Lamb goes bonkers on some Faithful creatures. In both cases, we’re meant to experience both the humor and absurdity alongside the emotions you’d want to experience anytime innocent blood is let forth.
So you’re stuck in this back-and-forth, as it were, bouncing between unbridled joy and depravity in a way where you feel responsible for reconciling these two sides of the story. And in that way, you’re more involved than ever before, and Cult of the Lamb doesn’t so much manipulate its readers so much as it uses its innately odd nature to get you to feel and think about the core of this story and its messages not only on community but how we’re involved in this “process” via the lens of truly great fiction.
Courtesy of Oni Press/Massive Monster/Devolver Digital.
At the same time as it leans further into key strengths, Cult of the Lamb also has some new tips/tricks to ply us with and perhaps bash our sensibilities around a bit. I’d mentioned Lamb’s followers, and more than just playing a strategic role in our engagement, they feel more real than ever. One such devotee, Amdusias, will play huge role in the subsequent story, and without spoiling too much, has already come to question Lamb’s role in this whole saga and if their mission can ever truly be completed.
It’s a smart choice: Not only does it make the world feel more alive than ever before — even visually it’s so great to have a wider range of depth and feeling than “scared” or “hungry” associated with these critters — but it augments this story’s continued interests in the real dynamics of community (and how these concepts evolve and what it really means for each participant individually).
Courtesy of Oni Press/Massive Monster/Devolver Digital.
To some extent, that devotee-centric focus does have some noteworthy downsides. Mostly, it makes the “bad guys” (i.e., mainly the Bishops) feel like 2D tropes waiting to be slaughtered. (Which, without spoiling too much yet again, happens in this issue with a satisfaction level that ultimately feels a touch underwhelming.) However, that feels like a worthwhile “sacrifice” as the book makes the community aspect increasingly real by focusing even further on the “mechanics” of running the Cult of the Lamb.
Even more so like the game this time around, Lamb is having to deal with real consequences from not helping or supporting his flock. In the game, that might not ring all that serious (it’s part of the larger experience, really). But in the comics, it’s very much the driving source for the complex emotions moving this story forward (and complicating simple ideas of good and bad, the individual versus the group).
Courtesy of Oni Press/Massive Monster/Devolver Digital.
That, in turn, has a couple of great side effects. The first is that, oddly enough, it further ties the game and comic together, and in doing so, the story deepens its roots in a way that makes this adaptation all the more satisfying and compelling. Secondly, it augments and complicates Lamb’s mission of revenge — they’re so hungry for bloody satisfaction, and yet they’ll learn that this might not be an option if they actually want a flock around when the Old Faith is dead and buried.
For all the righteous action in this story — a confrontation with Heket is sleek and brutal, and a personal favorite action sequence of the year — there’s so much more happening to make us consider the larger ramifications of this story. And that, my faithful, is how you make true converts of all readers.
Give them the bloody, bloody action they want from a proper fantasy epic. Show them cute animals in this context, and make them reconsider their blood-lust and their understanding of basic morality. Lean into and play against expectations and even the source material, and revel in the wondrous chaos of it all. And, if all else fails, give your lead a badass new axe.
With the next saga set to drop in March, Cult of the Lamb already has me building a fresh idol in fevered, joyous anticipation.
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