Description

Underworld: Red in Tooth and Claw                      Comics Lot
Featuring an Underworld Movie Prequel of the origin of the Lycan, Raze! Awesome!!
Writers: Kris Oprisko & Danny McBride
Artist: Nick Postic
Inker: Nick Marinkovich
Letterer: Robbie Robbins
Editor: Jeff Mariotte
All Covers by: Nick Postic & Nick Marinkovich

Underworld is a series of action horror films created by Len Wiseman, Kevin Grevioux and Danny McBride. The first film, Underworld, was released in 2003. It tells the story of Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire who works as a Death Dealer, killing the lycans who allegedly slaughtered her family. The second film, Underworld: Evolution, was released in 2006. In this film, Selene takes Michael Corvin, a lycan/vampire hybrid, to a vampire safehouse and plans to return to Viktor’s estate to awaken another elder Markus, whom they discover is the first Vampire and a powerful enemy. The third film, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, is the prequel to the series, chronicling the origins of the vampire-lycan war (it was released on January 23, 2009). The fourth film, Underworld: Awakening, is the sequel to Underworld: Evolution and was released on January 20, 2012. In this film, humans have discovered the existence of the vampire and lycan clans, and are trying to eradicate both species. A fifth film titled Underworld: Blood Wars was released internationally on November 24, 2016, and in the United States on January 6, 2017.

In the 2003 movie of Underworld, movie-goers and comic book readers alike were privy to the big–screen debut of the centuries long, ongoing battle between werewolves and vampires. Now IDW presents this prequel to the movie showing how the war began by following the origins of Raze, the Lycan werewolf, who was one of the more popular characters from the movie. In East Africa around 1379 A.D., Raze was known as Koro, a normal man concerned about the mysterious deaths of his tribe’s cattle. When he attempts to investigate the cause, Koro discovers himself caught up in a battle between a clan of werewolves and a group of vampires. The Lycan need a new, powerful warrior to help them survive against the blood suckers and for this purpose, Koro has been chosen to join their ranks.

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, Begins with Raze facing-off against Kraven’s enforcer, Soren, after having found Lucian seemingly dead, Raze transforms and takes the opportunity to kill Soren. Raze then tries to kill Viktor, but Viktor grabs him by the throat. Raze’s life flashes before his eyes, as he thinks back to 1373 AD, when he was still human. His name back then was Koro, and he was a mighty East African warrior, with strength to kill an adult male lion with his bare hands. He believes the lion to be the real culprit behind the ‘Devil’ that the ‘Mganga’ of Koro’s village had been telling the villagers that he alone could protect them from. Despite what Koro tells his fellow villagers, they persist in believing that the con man who poses as a Mganga is real. Meanwhile, out in the veldt, as the sun sets, a group of Lycans are making camp within a rock formation. They argue whether or not the ‘City of Sanctuary’, that Lucian told them of is really worth looking for, as they are all hungry. Lucian appears, telling them show some discipline, and that ‘Axum’ “is no fool’s quest”, and that there, they will be able to regroup and build a new army to fight back against the Vampires. He also warns them to be careful, as there are Death Dealers in the area. That night, the team of Death Dealers in question have already sighted some of the Lycans, having followed the trail of slaughtered livestock. The Leader of the team, Vayer, an experienced Lycan Hunter, wants to wait until the Lycans are vulnerable before they strike, while a more fool-hardy Death Dealer wants to strike then and there. Three warriors from Koro’s village are on guard over their slaughtered livestock when they hear the howls of creatures they not familiar with. When they investigate, they discover that their livestock have been slaughtered. They rally to hunt and kill whatever’s responsible and bring glory to their tribe. However, only two return to their village later, one near death. The charlatan Mganga starts to stir-up the villagers fears, proclaiming how that he-alone can protect them from the ‘Evil-that-comes-by-Night’, the Black-Hearted Devil. Koro alone does not buy into the false Mganga’s words, and argues that it may more likely just be another Mnyama, and that they should put together a hunting party. When no-one will go with him, Koro declares that he will go alone. On his hunt, Koro finds the remains of a lion, and, not recognizing the tracks of beast that attacked, fears that the Mganga may have spoken true after all. Following the track, Koro comes across the pack of Lycan, who have brought down an elephant. At the same time, the Death Dealers, who are also tracking the Lycans, lie in wait for the Lycans to become vulnerable before they strike. Knowing none of this, Koro charges at the Lycans, only to be confronted by Lucian, but keeps charging. Vayer, the leader of the team of Death Dealers, instructs his team to wait for his signal. Koro kills one of the Lycans, (still in human form), with his bare hands, which impresses both Vayer and Lucian. One of the other Vampires, Lazar, impatient, fires his crossbow. With the element of surprise lost by Lazar, Vayer is left with no choice but to order his team to open fire. A number of the Lycans flee, and the Death Dealers take the injured one captive. One of the Death Dealers want to kill a restrained Koro, as he has seen too much, but Vayer wants instead to turn Koro, as he has never seen a human with such physical strength, and gain a true warrior for their cause, as opposed to Lazar, who could not control himself. They interrogate the Lycans, who refuse to talk. Lazar kicks Koro and arrogantly comments about how it’s too bad he can’t ‘drain him dry’. Vayer reprimands Lazar for his actions as they report to Marcus, who does not favor those who would take the Elders’ bans on feeding off of humans lightly. Meanwhile, Lucian and the other Lycans are spying on the Death Dealers and observe what Koro does as he frees himself and drives away the Vampires for the moment, freeing the wounded Lycan. Lucian calls the other Lycans to attack the Death Dealers while they are distracted. They all change and attack. As Koro escapes he is confronted by Lucian, and is startled by Lucian’s speed. Lucian tells Koro, “Fear not, Warrior… I have plans for you!” before biting him.

Next in issue #2, After Lucian’s bite… prepare for the pain and terror of transformation, as Raze is born into his new, blood-soaked reality! Meanwhile, not far away, the vampires regroup after coming under attack by the Lycans hours earlier. Vayer confronts Lazar about the werewolf attack and blames him for the vampire defeat. Lazar flees into the night. After transforming into a werewolf, Raze/Koro is attacked by his tribe from his village but manages to escape and flees into the night. A short while later, Lazar tumbles to the ground in another part of the valley and discovers the escaped Lycan prisoner. Lazar interrogates the Lycan, then kills him by putting arrows through his eyes. Koro greets his lunar master as he howls at the moon. Koro knows that his life with the tribe is over and determines to seek out his new own.

Finally in issue #3, Once he was Koro, mightiest of all the warriors in the African valley he called home. But now – somehow – he has become… something else… a beast, a werewolf. In the woods the transformed Koro comes across the dead escaped Lycan prisoner that Lazar recently killed and his blood boils with rage as if he had lost a brother. Lazar returns to the vampires with the Lycans plans and the Vampires make a plan of their own… to ambush the werewolves once and for all. But Koro/Raze hot on the trail of Lazer has plans of his own for the vampires. Later Lucian welcomes Koro into the Lycans and gives him the name Raze.

Comics lot contains: Underworld: Red in Tooth and Claw (2004) Issues #1-3.  IDW Publishing

Comics are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: 2004
Format per comic: FC, 32 pages, Comic, 10.25″ x 6.75″
UPC: 827714211443

Collectible Entertainment note: Comics 1,2,3 are in Very Fine to Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Underworld, Werewolf, Vampire and/or Horror collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Recommended.

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