Dracula vs King Arthur: The Siege Perilous (Page 16) (Patreon)

Many different versions of the background story for The Siege Perilous are presented in the various texts that recount the legends of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. We knew we wouldn't be able to fully implement our own take on the meaning of such an important piece of furniture. Rather, we decided to place an homage in the comic for discerning readers to find and make up their own minds as to its purpose. So, you might have already noticed, Galahad sits on a chair that is different than the other seats surrounding The Round Table. It's the fabled Siege Perilous.

Some scribes claimed Merlin wanted the seat of the legendary chair to remain empty -- that only the knight who recovered The Holy Grail could sit in it. All others would find instant death if they attempted to. Writer Mary Jones points out "In the Lancelot - Grail Cycle|Lancelot-Grail and Le Morte d'Arthur|Malory versions, the chair is similar, but takes a different path. Malory says it was made by Merlin; when Galahad appears at court, his name miraculously appears inscribed on the chair, as does the words "Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished after the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ought this siege to be fulfilled" (placing the story around the year 487). He sits in the chair, and the grail appears at the court. everyone feasts from it, and are then inspired to go in search of the grail, with the implication that Galahad is the one who will win it."  It would have been an interesting path to take, but we had already decided which knight would be the one to win The Grail... and lose something in the process.

The Siege Perilous is a great name for a short story, even a novel. We wished we had more time to explore the idea in the comic. But Adam and I often talk of doing more tales set in this world. That would be a fun one to tell.