Black Fire

by Hernán Rodríguez

Two soldiers in Napoleon’s army retreating from his disastrous campaigns in Russia are separated from their unit by a Cossack attack and stumble across an isolated Slavic town, where strange and bizarre doings are afoot. The ancient town is deep, forbidden territory, the prison of a dark monster-god out of Slavic legend and nightmare, which seeks to use the newcomers to escape. An historical horror story in the vein of HP Lovecraft and Brotherhood of the Wolf.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Historical, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 20, 2011

Reviews

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cast of starving dysfunctional shell-shocked soldiers, a dark and incomprehensible entity hunting for them, something resembling shelter in the middle of bloody nowhere (with no food anywhere, of course), and a borderline schitzophrenic art style to tell the story in. This book has all the building blocks for good supernatural horror.

[JL Shioshita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. That's really all I can say. If you dig comicbooks, and you dig Lovecraftian horror, then you'll probably dig this. Yes, the art is highly stylized, and that might put off some people which I totally get. I usually like the art in my horror comicbooks a little more natural and realistic, but in the end I found it didn't detract a thing from my experience. In fact, it all seemed to come together perfectly, and I couldn't imagine it any other way. And yes, the plot is a very familiar one (survivors in a harsh environment, isolated, and stalked by some unknown entity), but personally for me, that particular setup never grows old. It's how the creator riffs on it that I enjoy. In this case, the historical setting and mythological monster really left an impression on me. I recommend it to anyone who wants a horror comicbook that's not recycling some zombie or vampire trope. It's interesting, it's different, and you should give it a chance.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starnge story, although the "Cabin in the Woods" story has been over-used, this one has some nice twists. Gone are the teenagers, replaced by soldiers of different nationalities serving under Napoleon and some war-groupies. I liked that it was set in a different time-period than we're accustomed to and that even the location is different than anything I've ever come across.

Although you can't really get the cinematic effect within a graphic novel (eerie sounds, creepy music, then BOOM!, you jump out of your seat), this graphic novel may be one of the closest to giving it's readers the suspense one would feel at the movies.

The art is very strange... it ain't pretty... it's rough around the edges... you don't ever get a sense of sympathy for the characters...
But it works!

Also, as some have mentioned, this is a very nicely packaged book.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and an engaging story to match! I couldn't help but feel as I was reading that this would make a great movie. The story is something that would translate well to the screen and bring some much-needed revitalization to the Hollywood horror genre.

Initially attracted by the premise and setting (I love the period, and Russian history/mythology generally), I was pleased to find my high expectations met.

[S G-W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and the artwork is evocative, but unfortunately the action itself is often obscure, as is evidenced by the characters often taking time to explain what has just happened in the plot. And not much of a showing in the female character department, perhaps because of the time period, but it would have been a nice break from the often indistinguishable male soldier types.

[dianne b. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this has a lot more gore than i usually like - the Slavic legend /nightmare, the Russian winter, Cossacks and doomed Napoleonic soldiers more than made up for some pretty vivid imagery.
Take home message: don't lose your gloves when lost in Russian netherlands in the dead of winter. Oh, and avoid angry Cossacks and awakened demon-gods.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated Horror tale in the Lovecraftian tradition. Awesome.

[Clint · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're into horror, then you're more likely to enjoy this book. It seems to me that even when the lore of the story is interesting (as is the case with Black Fire) it gets bogged down in horror story tropes and pacing. The most egregious of which is jumping to conclusions. Whenever the characters make a direct inference, it's interesting. Whenever they come up with a theory and immediately accept it as gospel, it's mind-numbing.

[Mersini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why people are obsessed with werewolves and vampires when folklore like this exists. It's scary, it's different, it's great.

I don't think the story was told as well as it could have been. And although I loved the art style, some of the characters were difficult to tell apart. I really appreciated the style though, the watercolours that you could see the pattern of.

Enjoyable, but not fantastic.

[Gilbert Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well drawn & well written! I love learning more about mythologies & comics are the perfect art form for this. The setting of the story is fascinating as well, I know less than I'd like to know about the napoleonic period & it's consequences. This graphic novel reminds us that much is still hidden from us in this world & often should stay that way

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on HorrorTalk: http://www.horrortalk.com/comic-revie...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once and awhile a comic catches my eye. Some disappoint and some leave me looking for more. This comic didn't disappoint.

[Rachel Nabors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and scary. Sometimes hard to tell the characters apart, but definitely a good read on a dark and stormy night ;)

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but the art was sometimes unclear. Nicely historical though.

[Joro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise realised through a distinct visual style. Very graphic and grim just like the perilous Russian winter during which it takes place. Definitely recommended.

[Brian Puerto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Fire is a fantastic debut. The influence of an eclectic mix of writers and artists is evident but Black Fire does enough to still be excellent on its own terms.

The historic setting of Napoleon’s failed invasion and Russian tundras were what intrigued me but the moments of good visual direction, moments of good character writing, and body horror made me glad I was reading.

The translation is a little rough around the edges so dialogue was a bit distracting early on and in some action moments, the visuals are confusing or flat. It’s a worthwhile read since good horror comics are rare and I hope to see more from Mr. Rodriguez as he progresses.

This seems to be the last thing he published so if you’ve found anything else, be sure to pick it up and share with the world!

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extreme Book Nerd Challenge 2022
Challenge Topic: Book from a Display

Perhaps there might be spoilers.....


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This book kind of jumped out at me when I passed it sitting on the display shelf at the end of one of the isles in my library. It is a graphic novel about an old evil God trapped in a mine and realeased into the town by greedy miners, but held by a secondary trap. Sound kind of familiar? It did to me too. But then a group wanders into the mining town and discovers with horror what is happening and it is up to them to make sure the God is never released on the world before they all die... and one of them is the key to the God's escape.

It was a pretty good story and the art work is pretty graphic

[Prince B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally had bit higher expectations for this book based on reading the blurb. The art work is cool and a bit unsettling which helps with the thriller aspect of the book. I also did like the folklore aspects that take part within the story.

I found that the story was just overall hard to get into and keep staying into it. I found myself not really caring about the characters and often mixed up who was who.

I think if you have more background of what is historically going on during this time and historic fiction is your thing, then you may enjoy this more than I.

[Md. Amin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional horror story set in the time after the failed French invasion of Russia. Amazing artwork and quite captivating story with two soldiers from the Nepolean army retreating and trying to survive while they go on a long path to go back to France.

The story was interesting and the survival fact was quite real. The ending was good and satisfying.

[Pearse Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Napoleonic War Russian Eldritch horror graphic novel sounds fun, and this was fine, but if it was adapted it would be more Vin Diesel than Robert Eggers, you feel? A bunch of dudes, who, by the end, all blended together, killing zombies and coming to some strange conclusions without that much evidence. Nice masked beast character, tho. 6/10

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great journey. Distinctive artwork. I'm a sucker for mixing history and story and this is done very well. I'm not the biggest fan of horror, even so this book stands on its own merits. Well done, haunting and also compelling.

[Soup · Rating 3 out of 5]

The public seems to constantly overuse and misuse words in an effort to make themselves seem cultured and intellectual. The word lovecraftian is constantly used to describe this story, when it truly isn't Eldritch at all.

[Brittany Caddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Black Fire” is a dark tale with fantastic macabre art.

[Redwan Orittro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not finish the book

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but the characters all looked alike making it hard to tell what was happening.

[Amris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one. However, the mythology seem half-baked and I feel that the suspense never reached it full potential.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Fire is a single-minded success of a graphic novel. In some ways it trends plenty of old ground. The story is classic horror, the crowd of unfortunates getting knocked off one by one until the bad guy reveals himself, but also part mythological thriller, with an otherworldly ending that echoes the parallel, alien dimensions of Lovecraft and King. It is clad in the chilly trappings of a historical document, a horrible picture of the ice-cold retreat of Napoleon's armies from Russia, the chaos, the panic and the selfishness of survival.

Two fleeing soldiers find themselves trapped without food or hope of escape in an abandoned, snow-cased village, holed up in the church with a crew of half-starved refugees. None of the characters are given time to shine or for you to care about them. They serve the bloody purpose of slowly topping up the horror stakes with gruesome, liberally painted set pieces. Rodriguez's artistic style fits the mood perfectly - it is gorily realistic yet comically, exaggeratedly colourful and flashy, painting swathes of blood and guts across his dark, monotone environments of stone, snow and shadow.

As the investigations of the remaining sane characters reaches its climax and the Lovecraftian tones grow more and more garish, the story takes a supernatural turn with buried gods and tales of ancient curses. The final escape is frantic and exciting, while the artwork turns epic and circus-like, with hints of Japanese manga in its ambiguous, shapeless foes. For something built on unoriginal bricks, dug out of true rubble in the forgotten stone of Carcassonne, Black Fire is a characterful piece of violent horror with its own definite style and ambition. Great entertainment too. 6

[Rick Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A war comic with a heavy Lovecraftian undertone to it. This book genuinely took me by surprise. A pair of straggling soldiers from Napoleon's broken army take refuge in a deserted mining town. Cosmic horror is difficult to pull off, but I'd argue "Black Fire" comes as close as one can get. There are several disturbing sequences littered throughout the book, but they are spaced so well that the existential dread is really allowed to take root. Hernán Rodríguez's artwork is cinematic, which really allows chunks of the book to feel visceral and atmospheric. My only criticism is the thin characterization of most of the cast of characters, some of whom become difficult to distinguish from each other.

[Woowott · Rating 2 out of 5]

During the Napoleonic Wars, some of Napoleon's imperial soldiers and hangers-on get stuck in a sinister, abandoned village. Death and gore and mayhem ensue. But one of these soldiers might be a mystical key that could unleash havoc upon the world. Havoc named Czernobog.

I love mythology. But this was obtuse, vague, and sometimes difficult to follow. The script was needlessly choppy. I wanted much more from this. And from the art.

At least, the gore was kinda cool.

[Monty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed plot, and equally poorly supported by graphics which were at best ambiguous, with many of the characters, inadequately defined and all looking the same. Badly executed and quite frankly not worth the time (20 minutes) I spent reading...Such a poor effort in fact, that a synopsis of the plot would do it greater service than it deserves. To the prospective reader...DON'T BOTHER!