Graphic Novel Review: 'Orion's Outcasts' by Éric Corbeyran & Jorge Miguel

'Orion's Outcasts', a two volume series adapted and written by Éric Corbeyran and illustrated by Jorge Miguel, is my second foray into the science fiction worlds of Julia Verlanger / Gilles Thomas, the pen names of Eliane Grimaître, one of the most celebrated French authors of science fiction of the 1970s, and is an enjoyable return.

Set on the planet Orion-XB12557 in the 'Retroworlds' universe, a term the the Galactic Federation calls worlds that have regressed into a more primitive and isolationist way of life, Kolhen, a warrior tricked by a seducing temple priestess, is imprisoned and sentenced to slavery where he meets Tryana, witness to an offworlder trading in outlawed weapons, and together they find a way to escape their captivity. They soon meet a mysterious blonde woman, who’s armed with strange and powerful weaponry, and collectively, they band together to help stop the arms dealer's meddling.

This is a quick and fun read. As with my previous encounter with Verlanger's work, the graphic novel series 'Retroworld' (my review here), I found the world building to be pretty good, giving you sense of the culture, politics and environments of planet Orion-XB12557. The character development isn't as well fleshed out as the world seems to be, as we don't get much of an exposition into the backgrounds of the main characters, but the story's fast paced nature breezes along with decent (and sometimes violent) action and plot set pieces and is enough to keep you interested and drag you along for the ride.

The art by Jorge Miguel is impressive and really suits the story and the setting. The characters and the world they inhabit are very detailed, but not overly so. I also liked the use of colour, giving the different locales and scenes a distinct personality and standing out across the comic panels.

'Orion's Outcasts' hooks its sharp world building claws into you quickly and together with the impressive art and simple, but fast paced story, is an exciting read that's worth picking up if you fancy reading some Sci-Fi adapted from one of Europe's most celebrated authors.

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Graphic Novel Review: 'Retroworld' by Patrick Galliano, Cédric Peyravernay & Bazal

'Retroworld', is a two volume series written by Patrick Galliano and illustrated by Cédric Peyravernay & Bazal, adapted from 'Horlemonde', by Julia Verlanger / Gilles Thomas, the pen names of Eliane Grimaître, one of the most celebrated French authors of science fiction of the 1970s.
 

I must admit, as although I love sci-fi, their names have not come across in my reading before, but the cover art of this adaptation did intrigue me. Never judge a book by its cover they say, but it is what catches my eye.

The set up for the series is as follows; Humans have scattered and occupied the known universe for so long that many worlds have forgotten their Earthly origins. The planets which still retain the memory of their beginnings have banded together, forming a Galactic Federation, whereas the rest are worlds that have regressed into a more primitive and isolationist way of life - the Retros. The Federation deploys its best agent, Marce, with a vital mission to help one of these retro worlds advance and evolve. But when he gets caught up in political machinations, on a world with brutal living conditions, and fighting against deadly creatures, the mission proves to be more difficult than first thought.

With the stage set in the first few pages, we get into the story. And it's a story that doesn't feel particularly original, as it hits a few familiar genre fiction story beats and tropes, but it doesn't need to be unique. It just needs to be entertaining, and I definitely found it that. Even though there seems to be a lot going on, the story pacing had a sense of urgency about it, helping push the narrative forward, but didn't feel too rushed, in my opinion. The character development isn't too deep, however, but you still got a sense of their motivations, especially from our main trio of Agent Marce, Jatred and Orval. The world building however, was pretty good. Most of the story is on the Retroworld of Almagiel, and through the pages of both graphic novels we get to see quite a bit of it. The different environments, peoples, political factions and gangs, plus the killer wildlife! It gave the world a real sense of depth especially with Peyravernay's artwork, which for me, the quality never faltered at all over the two volumes, giving it a consistent visual feast for the eyes. I've seen some comments say that the artwork is a bit too busy and compact, but I found it suited the story just right. 

'Retroworld' is an exciting, fast paced read that feels familiar, but there is enough in it's execution for you to savour and keep you engaged throughout.

 

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Graphic Novel Review: 'Millennium' by Richard D Nolane & François Miville-Deschênes

'Millennium', is a five part series written by Richard D Nolane and illustrated by François Miville-Deschênes, that follows Raedwald the Saxon and Arnulf, collectors and sellers of Holy relics, as they travel across Europe investigating reports of demonic creatures, strange lights in the sky, as well as a sinister conspiracy that threatens the Continent’s entire political and religious structure.

Billed as 'The Name Of The Rose' meets 'The X-Files', 'Millennium' was a really enjoyable read. A medieval mystery series with some very fantastical twists and turns throughout.

Set in the year 997, the series begins with the brutal ambush of a Royal carriage convoy, where all were killed except for one horrifically maimed survivor. Our heroes, Raedwald and Arnulf, happen to discover on the massacre, but when they later run into the King's men who decline to answer Raedwald's questions about the convoy, and demand that the survivor is taken to a specific hospice, this sparks an interest in Raedwald that there may be more to the ambush than at first it seems.

Although part of a series, each volume also feels like a standalone episode, with Raedwald and Arnulf off on adventures around Europe, using their brains and brawn respectively, to investigate mysteries that have elements of the fantastic, from holy relics to aliens, as well as meeting some quite memorable characters along the way too. But as they investigate these seemingly individual mysteries, they end up uncovering more pieces of the puzzle in the greater conspiracy. It's a series that is definitely more of a slow burn, than one that is action-packed, but I liked that about this series. Sometimes a slower pace is needed, as the clues are uncovered and more layers of the conspiracy are dicovered, the whole picture begins to slowly reveal itself amd it draws you in deeper, just like any great detective series.

 

'Millennium' is an engrossing read set in the medieval past with a fantastical conspiracy woven throughout each volume, with artwork by the always fantastic Miville-Deschênes!

 

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Graphic Novel Review: 'Throne Of Ice' by Alain Paris & Val & Saverio Tenuta & Notaro

'Throne Of Ice' is a four part heroic fantasy epic set in a mythical pre-glacial Antarctica 10,000 years ago - long before it becomes a frozen wasteland we know of today. 

 

The premise isn't an original one, it's one that has been told numerous times before in classical literature through to modern times - a scheming Royal aims to rule the kingdom by killing the current ruler and putting their son on the throne, but the illegitimate son is smuggled away before they are discovered and killed, and is then mentored over the years before coming back to fulfill his destiny and reclaim their right to the throne.

 

There is a reason why this plot is so familiar, it's because it works, classic hero's journey type stuff. And it does the job here, carrying the plot along at a decent pace in a good story, but unfortunately it's a very familiar one that doesn't really seem to step out of first gear and stand out from other similarly told stories. The development of the characters suffered as a result for me, as they did seem a bit flat and two dimensional at times however, meaning that I wasn't too invested in some of them.

The lore of this mythical Antarctica is quite interesting though, not heavy handed info dumps but just enough to pique my interest of the world. The glimpses of the other kingdoms and tribes, as our hero travels the continent to fulfill his destiny, and even ancient Atlanteans hinted at for good measure, all add to the story and world building, which I liked.

 

The artwork, by three different artists over the course of the 4 book series, is pretty good, consistent and fits in with the storytelling. There is violence and nudity, although nothing really gratuitous, and there's plenty of details in the panels to keep your attention, allowing you to flow along with the story without getting distracted.

It's an decent read with a set of characters and plot that are very recognizable. With a similarity in its title, if you're a fan of the 'A Song Of Ice And Fire / Game Of Thrones' series, then this could be a quick read for you.

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Graphic Novel Review: 'Izuna' by Saverio Tenuta & Bruno Letizia & Carlita Lupatelli

'Izuna', written by Saverio Tenuta & Bruno Letizia, and illustrated by Carlita Lupatelli, first published in 2014, is a bandes dessinées (comic), set in the world of a mythical Japan, where the spirits of nature have created the Kamigakushi, a magical veil that hides them from the eyes of man. One day, the Noggo, the corrupted spirits of murdered innocents, appear and begin to infect the world of the Kami with their dark shadows. The sacred life-giving tree, Munemori, created the Izuna, white wolf-like protectors, to battle the terrible scourge, but the mysterious birth of a wolf cub in the shape of a young human girl threatens to upset the delicate balance between the two worlds and plunge both sides into chaos.

This is a really engaging and fantastical story, that keeps gently nudging you forward in the plot, weaving elements of Japanese folklore, giving it an ethereal and magical feel that matches the strikingly beautiful world that it is set in, that may also feel somewhat recognizable to those familiar with Studio Ghibli's 'Princess Mononoke', and Capcom's 'Okami' video game.

The artwork by Carita Lupatelli is wondrously illustrated, as seen in her beautiful cover art for the series also, and full of details that the comic panels demand without being over burdened, complimenting the mystical, as well as the human elements of the story.

'Izuna' spans over four volumes, with the first two; 'Kamigakushi' and 'Yamibushi' following Aki as she grows up and has to deal with the initial threat of the Noggo, with the last two volumes; 'Namaenashi' and 'Wunjo', skipping forward in time and finishing off the threat. There are also intriguing subplots blended into the main story, keeping things interesting outside of the fantastical main story. 

It's an engaging read with good set of characters in a beautifully rendered mystical world, and with the ending kind of left open, suggesting the possiblities of future stories, it's a world that I'd like to return to. If you're a fan of the Studio Ghibli films, especially 'Princess Mononoke', then this is essential reading.

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Graphic Novel Review: 'The Metabarons' by Alejandro Jodorowsky & Juan Gimenez

'The Metabarons', written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and illustrated by Juan Gimenez, first published in 1992, is a science fiction, space opera comic series that tells of the lineage of the ultimate warrior, The Metabaron, first seen as a minor character in Jodorowsky's 'The Incal', as narrated through two abandoned robots left in the impregnable 'Metabunker' for maintenance issues.

The first in this eight part series introduces Othon von Salza, the first Metabaron, on the planet of Marmola, and after a freak accident, how the revelation of epiphyte - a secret anti-gravity substance - becomes the catalyst for an all out war above the planet for the substance, and with the creation of the Metabaron.

As well as introducing Othon, Volume One also reveals the origins of the code of principles that runs through the Metabaron bloodline, their cybernetic implants, and why the only way to become the next Metabaron is for the son to defeat his own father in a mortal combat. 

This is classic Jodorowsky. Weird, crazy, and at times intriguing, with a mix of violence, sex, a good dose of deus ex machina to speed up the narrative, paper thin characters, some dodgy sci-fi and the use of 'Paleo', 'Techno', 'Meca' etc as prefixes to make it sound futuristic can be a bit annoying at times. The art by Gimenez is the highlight of this series for me though. The space battles, violence, characters and more are beautifully rendered by his artwork. Nice big panels capture all the action in loving detail, and a lot of detail there is to admire!

It's not as engaging as 'The Incal' was, but there is still enough there to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next, and how the Metabaron legacy continues as they battle against forces corrupted by greed, power, and terror throughout the galaxy. If you're a fan of Jodorowsky or Gimenez, then this is essential reading.

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Artist Spotlight: The Art Of . . . Juan Gimenez

Showcasing art from some of my favourite artists in the field of visual arts, including vintage; pulp; pop culture; books and comics; concert posters; fantastical and imaginative realism; classical; contemporary; new contemporary; pop surrealism; conceptual and illustration.

The art of Juan Gimenez.