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The Manara Library, Vol. 2: El Gaucho and Other Stories
Dark Horse continues to bring the works of Italian comics master Milo Manara to American audiences with Volume 2 of The Milo Manara Library! This deluxe hardcover, newly translated by Eurocomics expert Kim Thompson, features the sweeping historical epic El Gaucho, the second of Manara''s storied collaborations with his mentor Hugo Pratt, author of the internationally acclaimed Corto Maltese. Rounding out this volume is "Trial by Jury," a series of shorts, never before published in the US, in which some of history''s most notorious figures undergo a mock trial. The Manara Library offers English-language readers a chance to experience the illustrative storytelling of a true comics master.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2012
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About the author
Milo Manara
603 books356 followersMaurilio Manara – known professionally as Milo Manara – is an Italian comic book writer and artist, best known for his erotic approach to the medium.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 15, 2020
I came to Manara’s- Manara Library Volume 2: El Gaucho and Other Stories as a price driven decision. I had read his Caravaggio and felt the art work to be wonderful but the story/biography to have been thin. I would have preferred to start these Manara/ Dark Horse Books reprint with volume I but because of price and my reaction to the book I had pushed me read out of order. Then again these collections are not in order so maybe this is less of a problem.
The combination of Milo Manara and Hugo Pratt (Sharing credit as artists and author) produces very thoughtfully written and historically interesting fiction. Throughout the collection the art work is superior. Some thought has been given to being historically accurate with levels of detail that make graphics worthy no matter the strength of the story.
This collection is in two parts. The first is a nicely told story (El Gaucho) of competing English and Spanish conquests in South America. The predominate point of view is that of a young English drummer boy in love with a prostitute carried over in an invasion fleet for the pleasure of the Officers. Be aware there will be nudity, sex and violence. Some of it in the same sequence. Some will disparage this as fan service teasing. It is consistent with the story line. This is not “costume failure”. Working women work. Others are ruthlessly attacked.
These are nuanced story tellers so good and bad tend to ride together, often in the same person. As a story it is long enough to develop complexity, but tends to spread among too many characters and too many plot points. Still the art work is more than enough to carry the readers experience.
The balance of the book is a series of trials charging fictional and historic figures. Most of us would assume that the case against Gen. George Custer would be his many crimes against the native peoples. That would have been a fairly easy approach. Instead he is charged with incompetence in leading his men in an attack that had little change of succeeding. This is a more creative approach and one for which a prosecution and a defense can be made. The conclusion for all of the trials is that the reader should vote their conclusion. The writing is relatively even handed such that readers could justify either an innocent or guilty vote.
Because of changes in the generations of the readership there are a few visual jokes in the artwork that some may miss. Tucked away in the illustrations for the Trial of Custer is a soldier looking a lot like John Wayne. Poor miss Helen of Troy faces several trials, but in all of them she carries a resemblance to a young Brigitte Bardot with perhaps a little of young Jane Fonda.
Totaling out at 280 pages there is a fair amount of material collected in Manara’s Manara Library Volume 2. I enjoyed it and will be looking to get more of the collected works. Second hand copies will be good enough.
The combination of Milo Manara and Hugo Pratt (Sharing credit as artists and author) produces very thoughtfully written and historically interesting fiction. Throughout the collection the art work is superior. Some thought has been given to being historically accurate with levels of detail that make graphics worthy no matter the strength of the story.
This collection is in two parts. The first is a nicely told story (El Gaucho) of competing English and Spanish conquests in South America. The predominate point of view is that of a young English drummer boy in love with a prostitute carried over in an invasion fleet for the pleasure of the Officers. Be aware there will be nudity, sex and violence. Some of it in the same sequence. Some will disparage this as fan service teasing. It is consistent with the story line. This is not “costume failure”. Working women work. Others are ruthlessly attacked.
These are nuanced story tellers so good and bad tend to ride together, often in the same person. As a story it is long enough to develop complexity, but tends to spread among too many characters and too many plot points. Still the art work is more than enough to carry the readers experience.
The balance of the book is a series of trials charging fictional and historic figures. Most of us would assume that the case against Gen. George Custer would be his many crimes against the native peoples. That would have been a fairly easy approach. Instead he is charged with incompetence in leading his men in an attack that had little change of succeeding. This is a more creative approach and one for which a prosecution and a defense can be made. The conclusion for all of the trials is that the reader should vote their conclusion. The writing is relatively even handed such that readers could justify either an innocent or guilty vote.
Because of changes in the generations of the readership there are a few visual jokes in the artwork that some may miss. Tucked away in the illustrations for the Trial of Custer is a soldier looking a lot like John Wayne. Poor miss Helen of Troy faces several trials, but in all of them she carries a resemblance to a young Brigitte Bardot with perhaps a little of young Jane Fonda.
Totaling out at 280 pages there is a fair amount of material collected in Manara’s Manara Library Volume 2. I enjoyed it and will be looking to get more of the collected works. Second hand copies will be good enough.
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September 14, 2014Manara's been in the public eye of late over a rather butt-heavy variant cover for Spider-Woman. It's very much not his best work, and nor is it necessarily a good idea, but much of the criticism has betrayed a fundamental ignorance of his oeuvre*. For starters, if Manara draws someone in a weird, spidery posture, it's probably because the character has weird, spidery DNA. For unlike eg Spidey creator Steve Ditko - who managed a weird, spidery Peter Parker pretty well, but was less competent at making everyone else look like actual people - Manara can draw pretty much whatever you want, and have it look dead right. More than that - his world looks realer than reality. Yes, everyone focuses on his women, and yes, they're generally beautiful. But so are his young men. His architecture. His animals. And oh, his landscapes! Hell, even Manara's ugly bastards have such fascinating faces you could almost call them beautiful. When he draws a battleship, or a likeness of a particular person (several of the stories here are accounts of controversial figures from world history**), I'm reminded of the illustrations in my old children's encyclopaedia, or Ladybird books. Which might not sound like a compliment, but I remember those pictures having a numinous authority to them, a sense that - at its most noteworthy - this is how the world looks. Manara has that same yearning solidity.
*Not to mention a fundamental ignorance of how variant covers work. This is not the face the comic will generally present to the public, nor need it have any connection to the contents - cf all those ludicrous Deadpool variants Marvel did a year or two back for comics in which Deadpool did not feature.
**Several have not a woman to be seen - which admittedly presents problems of its own, but if you're discussing Little Big Horn or the planning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it's basically unavoidable. Not that the Helen of Troy episodes are going to win any feminist plaudits, granted, but the point remains - he's not the pure T&A artist as which he's often caricatured, or why would this blokey military stuff even exist, let alone be getting handsomely reprinted?
*Not to mention a fundamental ignorance of how variant covers work. This is not the face the comic will generally present to the public, nor need it have any connection to the contents - cf all those ludicrous Deadpool variants Marvel did a year or two back for comics in which Deadpool did not feature.
**Several have not a woman to be seen - which admittedly presents problems of its own, but if you're discussing Little Big Horn or the planning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it's basically unavoidable. Not that the Helen of Troy episodes are going to win any feminist plaudits, granted, but the point remains - he's not the pure T&A artist as which he's often caricatured, or why would this blokey military stuff even exist, let alone be getting handsomely reprinted?
July 31, 2017
I received this from Edelweiss and Dark Horse Comics in exchange for an honest review.
Not sure how to review this one. The first story, El Gaucho, wasn't bad, and the artwork was very good, detail was incredible. The other stories, all part of the Trial by Jury line, weren't nearly as good, and definitely lost something because of the lack of color (they were black and white).
Not sure how to review this one. The first story, El Gaucho, wasn't bad, and the artwork was very good, detail was incredible. The other stories, all part of the Trial by Jury line, weren't nearly as good, and definitely lost something because of the lack of color (they were black and white).
July 2, 2023
Jakoby ostrá a brutální historie, ale všichni furt prcaj a je to jejich hlavní důvod existence.
January 8, 2025
3.4 biblio English edition
March 7, 2020
Again Pratt/Manara collaboration hasn't impressed me. Could be that the real reason is that Pratt imagined a much longer story (as stated in the introduction) but died shortly after this was finished. My main issue is with characters being superficial (young Tom) or unsufficiently believable in their actions (like Molly and hunchback). The backdrop, however, is what is worthwile here in historical, political, cultural and geographical sense, as expected from Pratt.
The true gem here is Trial by Jury. The writing is perfect achieving to put the focus on the most important acts of presented historical (or mythological) characters. It reminded me a lot of La découverte du monde en bandes dessinées by Larousse only it provided closer look to the persons in question and moral issues they faced and dire consequences that followed from them. Thought provoking and engaging.
And a beautiful edition, of course.
The true gem here is Trial by Jury. The writing is perfect achieving to put the focus on the most important acts of presented historical (or mythological) characters. It reminded me a lot of La découverte du monde en bandes dessinées by Larousse only it provided closer look to the persons in question and moral issues they faced and dire consequences that followed from them. Thought provoking and engaging.
And a beautiful edition, of course.
January 1, 2019
This is a good read. I expect that it might be the weakest in the series because it really only contains one fictional story in the entire volume, followed by some historical pieces. "El Gaucho" is a good story. It's grim, so grim that you feel like any bad thing could and will happen to the characters. To me, the only detractor is when it lapses into political conversations that are confusing and a bit slow. The rest of this volume consists of mock trials of real historical figures. This seems boring. But, to me, it's like "history for dummies". I never knew how dynamite was invented before; it's kind of interesting.
August 9, 2017
The art is excellent. The first story was rather open ended but still interesting. The second part of the book with the imaginary trials of historical figures was a bit boring after a while. I would rather have had an additional story.
December 4, 2017
4.5 really
August 13, 2024
The art is great and El gaucho was a really good story. The second part lost me a bit
July 16, 2021
Indiánské léto - vůbec jsem nevěděl, co od toho mám čekat. Jestli Manarovy prasárničky, historickou tragédii, nebo romantický příběh. Ono je to nakonec od všeho něco. V závěru tohoto příběhu se píše, že to vychází ze skutečných událostí. To zajímavé tam ale dodal až Hugo Pratt a Nathaniel Hawthorne v románu Šarlatové písmeno, že kterým je tento komiks inspirovaný. Zajímavá je morálka všech zúčastněných. S její znalostí zcela přehodnotíte přiměřenost činu, který celý příběh odstartoval a vyeskaloval do tragického konce. Ač se to odehrává v okolí puritánské osady, a nebo právě proto, tak si tam potají rád vrzne každý s každou, indiány nevyjímaje. Poměrně zajímavý je i přístup indiánů k pomstě a přátelství. Vyprávění má vysoké tempo a nenechá vás chvíli vydechnout. Milo Manara zde odvedl svůj standardní dobrý výkon. Ne tak skvělý jako v Caravaggiovi, ten je jeho vrcholem, ale prostě dobrý.
El Gaucho - Druhý příběh také vychází z historických událostí a popisuje příběh několika lidí na pozadí dobývání Buenos Aires britským námořnictvem. Stejně jako první příběh se i tento odehrává jen v několika málo dnech a dokonale vás vtáhne do děje. I tady si Manara přišel na své a irské prostitutky zde zcela bez ostychu dávají na odiv svůj "vercajk". Kresba se zde Manarovi opravdu povedla. Oproti Indiánskému létu je prokreslenejší a má lepší barvy. Vypíchnout zde musím kresbu přírody.
Indiánské léto je povedená kniha s velmi dobře vyprávěnými historickými příběhy a povedenou kresbou Milo Manary. Podle informací na konci obou příběhu je evidentní, že si Hugo Pratt dal hodně záležet, aby byl co nejvíce historický věrný. To rozhodně oceňuji.
El Gaucho - Druhý příběh také vychází z historických událostí a popisuje příběh několika lidí na pozadí dobývání Buenos Aires britským námořnictvem. Stejně jako první příběh se i tento odehrává jen v několika málo dnech a dokonale vás vtáhne do děje. I tady si Manara přišel na své a irské prostitutky zde zcela bez ostychu dávají na odiv svůj "vercajk". Kresba se zde Manarovi opravdu povedla. Oproti Indiánskému létu je prokreslenejší a má lepší barvy. Vypíchnout zde musím kresbu přírody.
Indiánské léto je povedená kniha s velmi dobře vyprávěnými historickými příběhy a povedenou kresbou Milo Manary. Podle informací na konci obou příběhu je evidentní, že si Hugo Pratt dal hodně záležet, aby byl co nejvíce historický věrný. To rozhodně oceňuji.
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August 1, 2012Manara is an extremely talented artist, and he really enjoy drawing young women. Currently Dark Horse is making his work available in English in a gorgeous format. Included in this volume is his second collaboration with the legendary Hugo Pratt, "El Gaucho", and a number of short stories with the common title "Trial by jury" written by Mino Milani all depicting historical persons on trial for their deeds.
"El Gaucho" was to be one of Pratt's last contributions to comics (originally published in 1991, Pratt died in 1995). Unfortunately it is not one of his best. A rather complex historical background about the British trying to invade spiced up with some free masons is rapidly introduced and then more or less forgotten. It is hard to understand why the characters make the choices they do. Finally I find some of the images of seemingly happy young prostitutes brought from Ireland to Argentine to entertain British officers quite disturbing. Although the story has its downsides you are still pulled into it. It is two masters telling us a story and even on a bad day their workmanship standard is very high.
"Trial by jury" is from 1975 originally the stories appeared in a comics magazine aimed at younger readers. When collected like this the formula character of the stories become all to obvious. However, it is of some interest to see a younger Manara learning the craft of telling a story.
To summarize this volume is good for the real enthusiasts for someone just looking for a good read I think volume 1 in this series is a better place to start.
"El Gaucho" was to be one of Pratt's last contributions to comics (originally published in 1991, Pratt died in 1995). Unfortunately it is not one of his best. A rather complex historical background about the British trying to invade spiced up with some free masons is rapidly introduced and then more or less forgotten. It is hard to understand why the characters make the choices they do. Finally I find some of the images of seemingly happy young prostitutes brought from Ireland to Argentine to entertain British officers quite disturbing. Although the story has its downsides you are still pulled into it. It is two masters telling us a story and even on a bad day their workmanship standard is very high.
"Trial by jury" is from 1975 originally the stories appeared in a comics magazine aimed at younger readers. When collected like this the formula character of the stories become all to obvious. However, it is of some interest to see a younger Manara learning the craft of telling a story.
To summarize this volume is good for the real enthusiasts for someone just looking for a good read I think volume 1 in this series is a better place to start.
October 12, 2019
A. El Gaucho written by Hugo Pratt
B. Historical Hindsight Atrocities Trials:
1. Custer (U.S.)
2. Yamamoto (Japan)
3. Nobel (Sweden)
4. Helen* (Troy)
5. Cortes (Spain)
6. Attila (Huns)
7. Robespierre (France)
8. Oppenheimer (U.S.)
9. Nero (Rome)
10. Helen's appeal*
______________________
4.5 rounded up.
Love his art especially the invisi-noses on the ladies which baffle me in their simplicity.
This is a LONG READ because the second half is heavily worded trials of historical figures which causes heavy consideration and keen attention to detail for the sake of your personal knowledge of history.
* The judge emphasizes that the trial is solely based upon Homer's account yet uses the Roman names of the dieties- Manara is blindly Italian to not realize that Homer was strictly Greek!
B. Historical Hindsight Atrocities Trials:
1. Custer (U.S.)
2. Yamamoto (Japan)
3. Nobel (Sweden)
4. Helen* (Troy)
5. Cortes (Spain)
6. Attila (Huns)
7. Robespierre (France)
8. Oppenheimer (U.S.)
9. Nero (Rome)
10. Helen's appeal*
______________________
4.5 rounded up.
Love his art especially the invisi-noses on the ladies which baffle me in their simplicity.
This is a LONG READ because the second half is heavily worded trials of historical figures which causes heavy consideration and keen attention to detail for the sake of your personal knowledge of history.
* The judge emphasizes that the trial is solely based upon Homer's account yet uses the Roman names of the dieties- Manara is blindly Italian to not realize that Homer was strictly Greek!
February 12, 2012
Another beautifully crafted piece from the pencils of Milo Manara. The Trial by Jury pieces that form the latter half of the book were enlightening and educational to say the least.
March 1, 2012
Provided by Netgalley.
A 1.5 star rating. To raw for my taste. Not as good as the first one, but the trial by jury were kind of interesting. The first story were just downright a no for me.
A 1.5 star rating. To raw for my taste. Not as good as the first one, but the trial by jury were kind of interesting. The first story were just downright a no for me.
July 20, 2016
Disappointing. El Gaucho is the only decent story. Trial by Jury is incredibly illustrated, but the decision to present it in black and white is mind blowing.
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