THE SHADOWS OF THE PAST - WHY BILAL & CHRISTIN'S 'RANKS OF THE BLACK ORDER' IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE

The Shadows of the Past: Why Bilal & Christin’s Ranks of the Black Order Is An Absolute Masterpiece 

If there is one single graphic novel that I have read and re-read countless times over the last 30 years it’s Enki Bilal and Pierre Christin’s Ranks of the Black Order.  Why I picked it off the shelf in the first place owes much to Bilal’s distinctive art style and my tastes in both comics and novels broadening as I entered my late teens. Over those years I have come to appreciate the story not just as a historical/political thriller, but one that’s a reminder that the ghosts of fascism, civil war and political extremism are rarely laid to rest.

Evil Never Truly Dies: Plot & Themes

The narrative plunges us into a 1970s Europe still haunted by the ghosts of the Spanish Civil War. Forty years on from the conflict a group of aging fascists, the titular "Ranks of the Black Order," resurface to commit a brutal massacre in a small Spanish village that was the scene of bitter fighting in the Civil War. In response, a group of their former adversaries—now elderly veterans of the International Brigades—reunite to hunt them down across Europe.

Christin’s story masterfully echoes the real-world Cold War anxieties of the era, with both groups mirroring the cold-blooded tactics of groups like the Red Brigades. Bilal once stated, "The past is never really past. It constantly informs our present, sometimes in ways we don't even realise.’

Publication History and English Translations:

Ranks of the Black Order first appeared in serial form in Métal Hurlant, (or as we know it Heavy Metal Magazine) the highly influential French science fiction and fantasy comics anthology, with the complete story then being published by Les Humanoïdes Associés in 1979 under the title Phalanges de l'Ordre Noir. 

The English translation was initially brought to a wider audience in 1986 by Catalan Communications, a key publisher responsible for introducing a wealth of European comics previously unseen to lots of American and UK readers. This translation was crucial in establishing Bilal's international presence and showcasing his unique blend of intricate narratives and melancholic visuals.  It was later re-published by Titan Books as part of their showcase of European comics in 1989, the edition I still have it to this day.

A Symphony of Shadows: Plot and Themes

The narrative explores the lingering trauma of the Spanish Civil War, a conflict that became a grim proving ground to World War II and a crucible for many of the ideological battles that shaped 20th Century Europe. The graphic novel highlights how the brutal legacy of that war, particularly the rise of fascism and the fight against it, continues to haunt the characters and the landscape forty years on.

The re-emergence of the "Black Order" also powerfully evokes the real-world anxieties of post-WWII Europe in the 1970’s, particularly the rise of left-wing terrorist groups like the Red Brigades in Italy and the Baader-Meinhof Group in Germany. These groups, often comprised of disillusioned idealists and radicalised young men and women who sought to dismantle what they perceived as corrupt capitalist states through violent means. Christin’s work taps into the fear and confusion surrounding these movements, depicting a society grappling with extremism born from historical grievances.

Art That Haunts: Bilal's Visuals

From the cover of the book showing the members of the International Brigade in their suits, fur coats and hats to the back cover showing the Black Order driving away in the snow, Bilal's art in Ranks of the Black Order is nothing short of superb. His distinctive style—a blend of gritty realism, melancholic impressionism, and subtle surrealism—perfectly complements the story's somber tone., His characters are rendered with a profound sense of world-weariness which grows as the narrative plays out. The decaying urban landscapes, scarred by time and conflict such as French farmhouses, Italian monasteries and Basque cafes all develop their own character. Bilal's use of muted colours, often dominated by greens, browns, and grays, with stark contrasts of red for moments of violence, creates an oppressive atmosphere that mirrors the story’s bleakness.

The aging faces of the International Brigade and their foes from the Black Order are etched with the memories of their past, their eyes holding on to the ghosts of idealism or the shadows of violence. Bilal himself has often spoken about the importance of visual storytelling. "For me," he explained in an interview, "the image is not just an illustration of the text; it is the text. It must carry as much meaning, as much emotion, as the words themselves." In Ranks of the Black Order, this philosophy is evident on every page.  The composition of each panel is meticulously crafted, with a sense of foreboding amplified by Bilal's masterful visual storytelling.

The Enduring Legacy

What truly elevates Ranks of the Black Order to be my most-read graphic novel is its masterful weaving of historical fact with fiction and Bilal’s breathtaking art. It's a graphic novel that doesn't just entertain; it provokes thought, forces introspection, and reminds us of the precarious balance between justice and vengeance, revolution and fanaticism.

Bilal brilliantly illustrates how the fight against fascism, while undeniably crucial, could also leave its own set of scars, leading to a complex moral landscape where former heroes could, under different circumstances, become feared figures. It challenges the reader to confront the nuanced and often uncomfortable truths of history, demonstrating that righteousness can be a powerful, yet also perilous and destructive, motivator.

In an era where political extremism and historical revisionism continue to plague global discourse, Ranks of the Black Order serves as a powerful cautionary tale. It reminds us that understanding the past, in all its messy complexity, is essential if we are to avoid repeating its darkest chapters. Bilal & Christin’s masterpiece is a historical thriller not just because of its thrilling plot, but because it fearlessly confronts the reality of history's inescapable grip on the present. As the philosopher and essayist George Santayana wrote in his famous phrase, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

Current Availability

While you won't find the original 1989 Titan paperback sitting on a new-release shelf, Titan Comics released a hardcover collection in 2016 titled Century’s End.

• What's inside: This volume collects The Black Order Brigade (an alternate title for Ranks of the Black Order) alongside another Bilal/Christin masterpiece, The Hunting Party.
  
• Status: As of early 2026, Century’s End is still available through major retailers like Amazon (where it will cost you a mere £23) and specialised graphic novel distributors, as well as on the secondary market like eBay
  

Whether you track down a vintage Titan copy or pick up the new (ish) Century’s End, this graphic novel serves as an essential reminder that the "Black Orders" of the world are never truly defeated—they are merely waiting for the right time and moment of historical amnesia to resurface.