Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run. Hawk locates his old friends: Gort, a giant who wields a war hammer; Crow, an elf who uses a bow; and Baldin, a dwarf skilled with a whip. The five warriors travel to the convent and fight Voltan's men. It is not enough though and Voltan threatens to kill the Abbess. Voltan still demands the ransom. Hawk steals gold from a slave trader to pay the ransom.

the official Hawk the Slayer sequel - Geek Native Take a look at the official Hawk the Slayer sequel - Geek Native

Garth Ennis: Very much so. I let various publishers know I was interested in Hawk over the years – you often get asked if there’s a franchise you’re particularly interested in, something they’re hoping to relaunch and make a fortune off, and then you get to watch their faces twist in bewilderment when you say Hawk the Slayer . Beyond that, when it’s a movie or book you love, there’ll be questions you’ve been wondering about the answers to since the first time you encountered it. In this case, forty years. A few years have passed since Hawk and his trusty band of warriors defeated the evil wizard Voltan, but Hawk is still uneasy, fearing that the Dark wizards have only temporarily disappeared and are due to return. In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle. Marcel had been working with Harry Robertson when they realized that they both were fans of the sword and sorcery genre. Marcel has stated that it was not intended to include magic at all, and was supposed to be a historical film. In the course of writing the script, he then introduced the magical mind stone, changing the overall nature.

More from SFX

Ennis: They’re full issues, but we’re saving Greg’s covers for the US format release in April. They’ll be worth the wait.

INTERVIEW: GARTH ENNIS continues the saga of HAWK THE SLAYER INTERVIEW: GARTH ENNIS continues the saga of HAWK THE SLAYER

Bill Bailey’s character, Bilbo, in the sitcom Spaced is depicted as a passionate fan of the film, reconciling with Simon Pegg’s Tim after Tim’s brief replacement angered Bilbo by calling Hawk The Slayer ‘rubbish’ in the 2001 episode ‘Change’. The tale left an impression on a young Ennis, and now the writer known for The Boys and Preacher gets to share a continuing saga with art by Judge Dredd artist Henry Flint and covers by Magic the Gathering artist Greg Staples .

NEED TO SET UP A SUBSCRIPTIONS ACCOUNT?

Ranulf arrives at the fortress of Daneford. The High Abbot tells him to find the warrior called Hawk. The High Abbot gives Ranulf a token to give to Hawk when he finds him. Hawk and Gort head off to find new adventures leaving Crow to be tended to by the nuns. An evil wizard carries off Voltan's body.