One thing becomes clear when you read Rex Mundi several issues at a time that isn't quite as noticeable when you read it as single issues separated by months: this is one of the deepest mysteries in comics. Nelson's story is complex, and can be a little intimidating on an issue by issue basis, but the story definitely pays off when read in larger chunks. The story blends figures from the Bible and biblical apocrypha together with a conspiracy structure, and I love the sense that we're getting something big, even though we're still very much at the tip of the iceberg. The alternate world setting, with sort of a gothic pulp feel, is brought to vivid life by Eric J and Jeromy Cox, and the general feeling I get as we head into the second story arc of Rex Mundi is that this creative team is firing on all cylinders.
Nelson's script does not take it easy on the reader in terms of info-dumping. In the pages of these three issues, we get several lessons on religious history, a little instruction in Latin and Greek and even a practical description of code-breaking. However, while this could easily feel like too much information, a little too dense or hard to make relevant to the modern day, the strong spine of a conspiracy tinged with murder and the strong central character of Julien Sauniere keeps things on track. Julien is sort of an everyman hero, his advantages more in a tenacity to keep going in the face of adversity and a strong ability to put clues together. I honestly felt like Nelson stumbled a little in portraying Sauniere as a physically tough fighter who can take on a gang of street thugs in #7, as it goes against his "thinking man protagonist" nature, but it's a minor misstep at best.
There's certainly plenty of character-based story to be had in the pages of Rex Mundi. Genevieve Tournon seems to have genuine feelings for Sauniere, but her feelings for her employer seem equally genuine, and I confess that I haven't quite figured out this character's true motivations. Is she a cunning spy, playing one man against the other, or is she forgiving of foibles in both men, wanting to believe they're both good at heart? On a little lighter character note, the urchins in issue #6 are a lot of fun, a nice break of humor in the midst of the dark and dangerous conspiracy story that defines Rex Mundi.
It is this conspiracy that really drives the plot of Rex Mundi and keeps my interest in the mystery. It's clear that Nelson knows the general shape of his conspiracy and the reason for the murders, but he's very slowly revealing the mystery to the readers. His pacing is just about perfect, however, as each issue comes with something very significant, but nothing has given us the entire picture. Nelson's story doesn't play small; his conspiracy includes a powerful French duke, the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, John the Baptist and secret organizations going back hundreds of years. There's also a more subtle mystery that comes to the fore in issues #7-8, as we are reminded that the Man in White may not be the only bad guy out there, that a golem may be involved in the murders... or is the Man in White the golem, his symbolic vulnerability hidden by the fedora on his head?
As much as the mood and story is brought to life by Nelson's writing, one can't help but notice how much of it comes from Eric J and Jeromy Cox. The covers of Rex Mundi are strong pieces of work, giving a real sense not just of the gothic mood but of key moments, whether it's Julien hiding out from inquisitors or finding another body or a glimpse of the Knights Templar, who have a big historic role in the main plot. The interiors are no different, with beautiful architectural detail on Rex Mundi's Paris and intricate, haunting portraits, statues and calligraphy in the puzzle pieces that Sauniere is investigating. There are also some important subtleties in the expressions of the character, most notably the sinister look on Duke Lorraine's face at the tale end of #8 or the worry and fear that often crosses Julien's face as he realizes how much deeper the story goes, and how dangerous things are becoming for him.
