Agripinia, depois de ter conseguido casar com o Imperador Cláudio, procura formas de o eliminar. Ela tem um fillho, Néron, de um outro casamento, que Cláudio adoptou ao casar com Agripinia; contudo, Cláudio aproxima-se do seu verdadeiro filho, Britannicus, e decide que este último será o seu sucessor, decisão que Agripinia não pode aceitar, pois pretende que a coroa de louros vá para Néron. Cláudio tem também uma amante, Lolia Paulina, por quem já está apaixonado há bastantes anos e coloca mesmo a possibilidade de repudiar Agripinia e casar com Lolia, a mãe de Murena. Informada dos projectos do imperador pela acção de Pallas, seu espião, Agripinia está decidida a reverter a situação em seu favor e está disposta a tudo para que o seu filho aceda ao trono… Estamos em plena Roma Antiga. O Imperador Cláudio assiste aos combates dos gladiadores desde o amanhecer. O calor torna-se insuportável e, apesar disso, os oponentes lutam no meio da arena com a única esperança de sobreviver. E, na sombra, tecem-se as intrigas.
Jean Dufaux is a Belgian comic book writer. Beginning his professional career as a journalist for "Ciné-presse", Dufaux started writing comic books in the 1980s. Perhaps his most well-known, and certainly his most long-running, series is Jessica Blandy.
PT Esta é uma série que já queria ter começado a ler há bastante tempo, mas como a disponibilidade não é infinita, nem sempre conseguimos ler tudo o que queremos.
"Murena" insere-se muito na linha de "Alix, o Senador" e "As Águias de Roma", sendo também passada na Roma Antiga. No entanto, a julgar por este primeiro volume, parece-me que se focará mais nas intrigas e nos jogos de poder que marcavam a vida política romana — uma espécie de "Guerra dos Tronos" à Romana.
Este volume inicial não me encheu totalmente as medidas, mas foi suficientemente bom para me deixar agradado. Funciona quase como uma introdução ao universo e às personagens — e, como seria de esperar, com esta temática, despedimo-nos de algumas delas logo neste primeiro tomo.
É, sem dúvida, uma série para continuar a acompanhar.
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EN This is a series I had been wanting to start for quite some time, but since availability isn't infinite, we can't always read everything we want.
"Murena" falls very much in line with "Alix Senator" and "The Eagles of Rome", as it's also set in Ancient Rome. However, judging by this first volume, it seems it will focus more on the political intrigue and power plays that shaped Roman life — a kind of Roman Game of Thrones.
This first volume didn’t completely win me over, but it was good enough to leave a positive impression. It works almost like an introduction to the universe and its characters — and, as expected with this kind of theme, we say goodbye to some of them right from the start.
A tale of political intrigue and backstabbing set in Roman times. Lots and lots of nudity. The story wasn't bad and the art was solid but it was very difficult to tell the characters apart. There were a lot of similar character designs.
Received a review copy from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel depicts a young emperor Nero prior to his ascension to emperor. It depicts a violent and gritty Rome, which serves as an appropriate backdrop for the intrigue and betrayal that appear in this story. However, there is not even a single likable or relatable character, which makes it difficult to care about what happens to the characters in this story.
Depois de lido em 2017, voltei a pegar nesta série, para a relembrar antes de ler o capítulo 11 (que terá saído recentemente, se não estou em erro). Mantenho as 5 estrelas, pois acho que o argumento está muito bem escrito e as ilustrações, apesar de não serem "inovadoras" (são bastante clássicas, no estilo histórico da BD franco-belga), servem bem a história que está a ser contada.
20 jaar geleden was deze 'Alex met kloten' voor mij één van de albums van het jaar, zelfs al was de inkleuring zéér lelijk. (Voor latere herdrukken hebben ze inkleuring opnieuw gedaan.) Heb dit sindsdien meerdere keren herlezen.
Bof, platement raconté et platement dessiné. Ça se veut sulfureux, mais c’est juste agace. L’intrigue est pas plus interessante que ça et les personnages sont transparents. Beaucoup de pénis pour rien.
La puntuación de la serie en general estaría entre 4,5 - 5. Como apasionada de la Historia Antigua en general, y de Roma en particular, sólo tengo palabras de elogio para esta serie de novelas gráficas, ambientadas en la Roma de Nerón. Están tan bien ambientadas y documentadas que sólo por eso ya se llevarían las 5 estrellas. Pero es que, además, la trama es muy interesante y plagada de intrigas (no podía ser menos, tratándose de la época en la que se ambienta) y los personajes son memorables. Los dibujos me han gustado muchísimo, aunque en algunas ocasiones me ha costado distinguir las caras, sobre todo de los personajes femeninos. Pero vamos, que he disfrutado muchísimo leyendo esta serie, así que le planto 5 estrellas y me quedo tan ancha.
So if you are in the mood for something in the I Claudius vein, this is it. Actually quite good start to a series. There was some areas where the chronological squence seemed a bit off, but it has everything that made I Claudius a joy to read.
This is my first time review a comic/graphic novel, so it might not be too perfect. I got a copy from Netgalley in order to give an honest review. Thank you for Europe Comics for this copy.
Story
For the first book, I like the story. It’s not too complicated, easy to understand and to follow. Not too many characters and the words are not too long. So, it’s perfect as a comic book. Something that you could read for relaxing while enjoying the story and artwork.
I’ve always been interested in historical fiction, like Greek and Roman history. The time of Nero is one of the most intriguing stories. Given he’s quite cruel in his own way, I think he makes a good background story. However, in this first book, Murena’s story is not really clear. I hope it become clearer in the next book.
Artwork
Love the artwork. It’s real, as close to human. Not being too exaggerated like big muscles or long legs, but just normal human being. I also like how the lines are accentuated in each drawing, many small lines that create effects like shadows and strengthening each character and background. It gives the comic some serious and dark feeling, but not too dark. The blood in the drawings are also not too much, which is good. It’s just quite a normal amount of blood.
Recommendation
Recommended for those who like historical fiction especially Roman history and won’t squirmed with nudity and blood. Also, if you like some serious drawings, this is the graphic novel for you.
Murena é uma série de BD ambientada no Império Romano, muito focada em intrigas da corte e lutas pelo poder, com muita ambição e poucos valores. Neste 1º volume o foco é no fim do consulado de Cláudio e nas maldades de Agripina para impor o seu filho como sucessor. O argumento parece seguir a verdade histórica mas as personagens são unidimensionais, pouco interessantes e por vezes o enredo é um pouco confusas. O arte gráfica de Delaby é de boa qualidade. O ambiente e a parte gráfica fazem claramente lembrar a série Alix, mas a qualidade é claramente inferior (do que recordo pois há várias décadas que deixei de ler). Fiquei pouco entusiasmado mas vou dar uma oportunidade ao 2º volume.
This is the first in a sequence of at least ten graphic novels set in the time of the emperor Nero and exploring his life and reign. Events are seen from the point of view of the young aristocrat Murena who befriends Nero and his half-brother Britannicus in the last days of Claudius’ reign. The book acts as a teasing first chapter, introducing the dramatis personae, Nero, Burrus, Seneca, Acte and the villainous Agrippina working with Pallas, her freedman lackey.
The artwork is excellent – it reminds me slightly of the Trigan Empire strip in Look and Learn magazine (that certainly dates me!); events closely follow the historical record and the narrative is convincing in a grim and violent way. This is not for the faint hearted: the violence is graphic and there is much nudity, but no more shocking than in recent TV series set in Rome. This opening episode would certainly encourage the reader to follow the series.
Silly, ugly drawn story about a past the authors never knew. Gratuitous full frontal male nudity for shock value, but not much more. And a touch of racism. But not the authors, of course, the characters, mind you.
Parfaitement réalisé, l'époque romaine est fascinante et on y est jeté dès les premiers dessins. Du peu que je me rappelle des descriptions de Néron dans les livres d'Histoire (en particulier l'incendie de Rome), j'ai hate de lire les autres tomes.
L'histoire promet d'être passionnante suite à ce premier tome, mais le récit manque à mon goût de fluidité et je n'ai pas vraiment eu le temps de m'attacher aux personnages. À voir sur le long terme.
Rome antique, 1er siècle de notre ère. Néron et Lucius Murena sont amis. Claude l'empereur est marié en seconde noces avec Agrippine, championne des complots, qui a fait adopter par Claude son fils Néron. L'empereur entretient une relation avec Lollia Pauline, mère de Murena. Britannicus est le fils légitime et, donc, descendant direct de l'empereur Claude. Qui a lu Racine est au fait de l'histoire.
L'album commence par un combat de gladiateurs dont un nubien sort vainqueur et gracié par Claude. le nubien obtient sa grâce suite à l'intervention de Britannicus et devient, donc, le protecteur du jeune homme. Ce nubien aura, au fil de la série, un rôle prépondérant à jouer.
Cet album, et la série qui en découle, est certainement ce qui se fait de mieux sur cette période. L'album est fastueux, élégant, beau à regarder et à toucher. L'agencement et la pagination sont remarquables pour la lecture. Le scénario est aussi proche que possible de la vérité historique et le texte se lit facilement. Un glossaire en fin d'album aide le lecteur pour certains termes de l'époque. Un bémol l'écriture manuelle des bulles est parfois difficile à appréhender. Quant au dessin, c'est une réussite absolue. le crayon est figuratif, mais un figuratif attractif, attirant à l'oeil, ce qui fait qu'il appelle la relecture pour le plaisir des dessins. Si je devais m'imaginer cette période, c'est ainsi que je la penserais, y compris pour les vêtements, les édifices, les moeurs, les sculptures, l'ambiance, les fêtes, etc. C'est une réussite. Je conseille aux amoureux de l'histoire et à ceux des BD's également cela va de soi.
Story: 2 (Murder, death, sex, more sex, and a little mysticism) Characters: 2 (Loathsome, but they probably do something in future) Accuracy: 5 (Narrative is alright, but the details are all wrong)
Melodramatic, woefully inaccurate, and filled with hedonistic smut. It has everything I didn’t know I never wanted from a historical graphic novel series. It is, in its own way, unintentionally hilarious. Especially in the gratuitous nudity. Penises everywhere. There’s something to be said for the relaxed standards of nudity in European comics, particularly when compared with American prudishness, but here it’s hilariously overdone, even in places where it doesn’t make sense. Like, why are gladiators fighting completely nude? And why do we need to see Claudius’ 13-year-old son sleeping on his bed naked? Or Claudius’ generous bush for that matter? Perhaps the most complimentary answer is that it’s meant to enhance the sense of hedonism on display, which brings me back to my original conclusion that this is basically the stationary equivalent of an exploitation film. And while it does have some nice visuals here and there and a cast of interchangeable men who look nothing like their historical counterparts, I really have no patience for entertainment that seeks to shock but nothing else. If I really needed my fill of that I’d just go and watch Caligula since then at least I’d get the pleasure of watching trained Shakespearean actors struggling to pretend they’re not in a porno.
"Murena: Le Pourpre et l'or" is a truly magnificent start to a long series of European (French-Belgian) BD comics set in the mid-first century AD during the Julio-Claudian dynasty. In this first volume, Lucius Murena and Lucio Aenobarbus Nero are secondary characters, shaped by events and powerful puppeteers such as Agrippina, Afranius Burrus, and Pallas.
The artwork is exceptional, and the historical research meets a very high standard for 1997. Although our knowledge has expanded significantly in the last 30 years, making the historical accuracy not perfect by today's standards, it is still impressive, especially compared to the often less accurate portrayals seen in modern TV shows and films.
Agrippina's plots are dangerous and deadly, establishing her as a great villain—intelligent, ruthless, and driven by purpose. The author avoids intellectual anachronism, meaning the characters possess moral values quite different from our own, which are heavily influenced by Christianity and Humanism. This may pose a challenge for some readers who might find it difficult to empathize with a Roman patrician, but in terms of storytelling and character development, this series truly shines.
While the story follows the main historical sources, which are referenced in the bibliography, it also deviates and enriches the plot with artistic license. This adds depth and intrigue, enhancing the narrative.
This title is quite difficult to acquire in English, but if you're fluent in French or Portuguese, you will easily find copies in hardcover or softcover.
À Rome vers 54 après JC, l'empereur régnant est Claude, qui a épousé en secondes noces Agrippine. Celle-ci est prise d'ambition démesurée et est prête à tout pour prendre et garder le pouvoir. Elle cherche à mettre son fils, Néron, sur le trône car elle pense pouvoir le contrôler. Celui-ci se prend d'amitié pour Lucius Murena mais Néron est dans une position délicate: entre les griffes de sa mère et son amitié il est difficile de manoeuvrer. Pendant ce temps, le premier fils de Claude, Britannicus, demeure une menace pour Néron dans la succession. Jusqu'à où Agrippine ira t-elle pour arriver à ses fins? Et jusqu'à où Néron ira t-il pour sauver son amitié?
Premier tome d'une série qui fait maintenant autorité concernant la période de l'antiquité romaine, ce livre ouvre un grande fresque dans une période tourmentée de Rome. Manigances politiques, empoisonnements, combats de gladiateurs, bagarres mortelles de rue, il ne fait décidément pas bon vivre dans la capitale du plus grand empire de l'époque. Le tout est accompagné d'une reconstitution magnifique de la ville éternelle avec des des détails authentiques de la vie locale. On est fasciné par le déroulement de l'histoire et de son cadre. On se prend également d'un certain attachement pour le personnage de ce jeune Neron, encore empreint d'une certaine innocence, avant qu'il ne devienne tristement célèbre. Le début d'une série incontournable pour les amateurs d'histoire sur la Rome antique.
I love the cover image. A living statue with blood on her hands, and the curtain that looks like books...
The story starts with emperor Claudius' murder, and focuses on Claudius' mistress' son, Lucius Murena. Lucius is Nero's friend. As far as I can tell, this is fairly historically accurate. The author says to follow in Alexandre Dumas' footsteps, that is, interpreting the history within the history, that is, following the historical facts, while freely fabulating with details :-D The illustration is realistic, but I don't much like it. I think everyone is ugly. Galigula's sisters were all beautiful. There's a lot of nudity, both male and female, so if that bothers you, this is not for you.
Même si j’ai mis du temps à rentrer dans l’histoire et à situer tous les personnages, la fin me donne envie de connaître la suite et m’a captivé. Murena se lit rapidement, les dessins sont jolis bien que les scènes d’esclavage m’aient dérangé et que la nudité soit extrêmement présente (ce qui devait être le cas à l’époque évidemment, tout comme l’escalavage). Cette série historique est très bien construite, bien que je doute de la véracité de tous les détails. L’histoire permet au moins de connaître les grandes lignes de cette période romaine. Gros plus pour le glossaire qui précise certaines anecdotes ou éclaire certains points. Je lirais la suite avec plaisir.
Une plongée dans les tribulations à la cour de (des) Césars, les trahisons et ambitions disproportionnées et mortelles...à laquelle s'ajoute une dose surprenante de nus et de poses langoureuses, un peu posés la sans que l'on en sache vraiment la raison, sauf pour se demander si le nu masculin est vraiment très rependu en BD...peut être un aspect unique de la BD, mais qui fausse ou égaie un peu l'aspect historique du récit.
et on y va à vollo que Rome c'est la ville du sang des meurtres et du SEXE. Et que les femmes c'est soit des innocentes damoiselles soit des gorgones sexy assoiffées de pouvoir et de SEXE. Bref la série des pires instincts. Intéressant ça et ça, voire fascinant, bien dessiné, mais bon à un moment ça s'engouffre dans des trucs genre Néron en fait a une demi soeur gladiatrice née des amours d'Agrippine et de Sénèque (oui lol) et bon à un moment ça suffit.
Ce premier tome campe les personnages de cette histoire: Aggrippine, Néron et bien sûr Lucius Murena. Nous sommes à la fin du règne de Claude et les intrigues politiques et les complots amoureux vont bon train. Nous assistons dans ce tome à la montée sur le trône de Néron dirigée par la main d'Aggripine. Ce premier tome accroche l'attention et donne envie de connaître la suite.
Une très belle série, les dessins sont très beaux, spécialement les couvertures des livres. Pour ceux qui sont interessés par la Rome des Césars et surtout par la période de Néron, vous ne serez pas déçus.
Un début prometteur. Ce premier tome retrace la façon dont Neron est arrivé au pouvoir. L'intrigue politique est captivante et semble suivre fidèlement le déroulement historique. Les dessins, sombres et détaillés, appuient bien cette période à la fois complexe et violente.
Interesting graphic. So many nude penises! I'm glad it's not all female nudity, but I can't say it's refreshing. Were men circumcised in this era of Rome? I'll only accept historically accurate nudity!
The illustrations in "Murena" are really good but the characters look a lot alike and it got me confused at times. The story is interesting enough but I prefer stories with more details.