In this review of Corpse Knight #2, Foy and her father get a lead on where to search for Joan, and take an ill-advised shortcut.
Corpse Knight #2
Writer: Michael Chaves
Art and Main Cover: Matthew Roberts
Variant Covers: Matías Bergara, Tonči Zonjić, Nimit Malavia, Michael Walsh
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 27, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Corpse Knight #2 begins during Foy’s trek with her dad, as she remembers what he was like while alive, also wondering what he remembers about her. Also during their trip, they encounter various opponents, who all fall to his blade.
At some point, they see a wagon approaching, and Foy goes to ask the driver for his help. Her father is sick…like “death warmed over”, one might say. The man points out where they might find Joan, and Foy realizes that there’s a shortcut they could take to get there quicker. But he warns that people go into that forest, but never come out alive.
So naturally, Foy decides that they’ll take the horror movie route and cut through that forest anyway. Along the way, they’re attacked by diseased-looking wolves and are separated. The creatures are taken down by another party. One of the men, Jacques, is looking for his son Gabriel, and these wolves have been attacking his home for a bit.
One of the men then notices the armor Foy’s dad is wearing, and how it marks someone as a Warden. And so, he’s re-killed.
For a few seconds.
Meanwhile, Foy finds a creepy house while on her way to reunite with her father, going to investigate. She finds evidence of witchcraft, and a hand reaches out to her. Turns out there’s another frightened child there. He warns her about the White Mask, who sacrifices kids to the devil.
The pair make a run for it, but White Mask catches up. Foy narrowly escapes, and she and her new friend—who introduces himself as Gabriel—catch their breath just in time for her father to catch up to them.
When he does, his sword is covered in fresh blood.
Immediately, I wonder a few things, story-wise, with Corpse Knight #2. 1) Just what is the cause behind Papa’s resurrection? It’s one thing for someone to be undead, but for them to be undead and able to recover the way he did adds to the sheer WTF-ery of the situation. 2) Would any sort of friendship between Foy and Gabriel be possible? On the one hand, she’d helped get him away from a horrific fate. On the other, though, unless Jacques was fortunate, her dad just killed his dad, and that can make things awkward.
And that depends on if they put things together, since neither of them witnessed the fight.
In terms of character stuff for Corpse Knight #2, Foy’s choice to take the shortcut that this guy explicitly warned her about is probably not the brightest of decisions. But at the same time: 1) desperation is a huge motivator, 2) she’s a young child, and wouldn’t likely think things through, 3) things outside of that forest are already dangerous enough as it is, so how much worse could this forest be?,and 4) horror movies can’t be used as a frame of reference in that time period. Sure, other sorts of cautionary tales existed, but she likely wouldn’t be thinking of those at that time.
No, she’s singularly focused on finding a cure to her father’s “illness”, and that focus is what makes her journey so interesting to watch. I also keep enjoying some of her expressions, here. Her face when she sees the covered bundle on the floor, a hand raised, eyes narrowed, is kind of fun.
The design for the White Mask stands out to me in this installment. That mask is beautifully unsettling, with its wing motif along the sides,and it pairs quite well with his shirt. It looks like he might be from money of some kind.
The panel layouts in Corpse Knight #2 are nicely done, as well. Especially some of the perspectives.
Very curious about Wardens in this world. If someone’s reaction is to kill a guy in that armor on sight, it’s a bit of a red flag. Add to that the crap its previous owner pulled back in issue one, and I start wondering if that guy’s gang was just known as The Wardens, or if it’s a particular classification of none-too-pleasant.
Final Thoughts
The world of Corpse Knight brings more danger into an already dangerous world with Corpse Knight #2, and leaves one wondering if there is, in fact, a cure to undeath. It’s an engaging continuation of the journey.
