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Marvel Graphic Novel #21
Marada the She-Wolf
Marada has captured the imagination since her first appearance in Epic Illustrated in 1982.
Descended of Caesar, and preceeded by her legendary reputation as a warrior, Marada's adventures carry her across the Roman Empire.
Written by X-Men co-creator Chris Claremont and stunningly illustrated by John Bolton, Marada the She-Wolf is collected in its totality for the first time, in full-color and accompanied by never-before-seen material.
Descended of Caesar, and preceeded by her legendary reputation as a warrior, Marada's adventures carry her across the Roman Empire.
Written by X-Men co-creator Chris Claremont and stunningly illustrated by John Bolton, Marada the She-Wolf is collected in its totality for the first time, in full-color and accompanied by never-before-seen material.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1985
6 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,287 books890 followersChris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 13, 2024
Claremont tira de sus temas habituales, pero los encaja muy bien en este ambiente, mientras que Bolton hace un excelente trabajo y desarrolla de maravilla su estilo entre realista e ideal que tan buenos resultados le da. Una gran serie de espada y brujería y una gran colaboración entre los dos autores, una pena que no continuaran con ella.
February 3, 2013
Let's see now. There's Red Sonja, then Ghita of Alizaar, let's not forget Zeenah, then Marada the She-Wolf.
The story is a pretty classic graphic novel of warrior woman loses her will to be and becomes submissive, then regains her fighting skill when others are threatened. A lot of places the story doesn't even seem to hold up or seems to be missing important parts, such as the time between the rescue of the girl and their journey, but I suppose those may have been left "open" for maybe future stories (that never came, by the way). A classic Chris Claremont yarn a bit better than most of what he's used to writing and that would be probably go unnoticed except for...
The art, wow, John Bolton delivers the goods. Although some pages are better than others, almost as if he concentrated more on some and rushed thru others, even the rushed ones come out nice. And if the rough ones are nice, I'll let you imagine what the ones he poured his heart and soul came out as. And damn does he draw sexy women, landscapes and armor!
You can never have enough of John Bolton's art, I always say. and yes, I do say that, frequently
;-)
The story is a pretty classic graphic novel of warrior woman loses her will to be and becomes submissive, then regains her fighting skill when others are threatened. A lot of places the story doesn't even seem to hold up or seems to be missing important parts, such as the time between the rescue of the girl and their journey, but I suppose those may have been left "open" for maybe future stories (that never came, by the way). A classic Chris Claremont yarn a bit better than most of what he's used to writing and that would be probably go unnoticed except for...
The art, wow, John Bolton delivers the goods. Although some pages are better than others, almost as if he concentrated more on some and rushed thru others, even the rushed ones come out nice. And if the rough ones are nice, I'll let you imagine what the ones he poured his heart and soul came out as. And damn does he draw sexy women, landscapes and armor!
You can never have enough of John Bolton's art, I always say. and yes, I do say that, frequently
;-)
May 17, 2018
É um clássico bacana dos anos 1980 que ganha uma edição caprichada e acabamento de colecionador.
Para quem é fã do gênero "fantasy" e "dungeons and dragons" #Marada é uma das obras que não podem faltar na sua biblioteca.
Para quem é fã do gênero "fantasy" e "dungeons and dragons" #Marada é uma das obras que não podem faltar na sua biblioteca.
February 7, 2016
Very good fantasy story. Great art and characters. Very recommended
May 14, 2024
I read Black Dragon, by Claremont and Bolton, a fews ago and although I'm a fan of both men's work, I found it to be a bit long and a bit tedious. So I didn't bother with Marada until I came across it online for dirt cheap.
It's a very different beast. In a good way.
I'll get it out of the way straight away and say that, as usual, Bolton's work is phenomenal. That's a given really.
Claremont is very much your classic Claremont here. So not for everyone.
Marada is your strong willed but not invulnerable female character. She can fight but she's not invincible. Claremont put's her through quite a bit in these 3 stories and she get's battered and bruised (and worse) in all of them.
I got strong Ororo/Kitty vibes from Marada's relationship with Arianrhod, which is unsurprising as Marada's stories began being published only a couple of years after Kitty's first appearance in Uncanny X-Men. The relationships between characters has always been a strength of Claremont's and it was a nice part of this volume and I can imagine it would have grown and developed as the title continued.
But alas, it wasn't to be. Epic Illustrated (the magazine where these were originally published) folded, and although the third story doesn't end on a cliff-hanger as such, it's clear there were meant to be many more adventures for Marada the She-Wolf that we didn't get to see. It's a real shame as to me it just felt like it was finding it's groove.
Ah well.
It's a very different beast. In a good way.
I'll get it out of the way straight away and say that, as usual, Bolton's work is phenomenal. That's a given really.
Claremont is very much your classic Claremont here. So not for everyone.
Marada is your strong willed but not invulnerable female character. She can fight but she's not invincible. Claremont put's her through quite a bit in these 3 stories and she get's battered and bruised (and worse) in all of them.
I got strong Ororo/Kitty vibes from Marada's relationship with Arianrhod, which is unsurprising as Marada's stories began being published only a couple of years after Kitty's first appearance in Uncanny X-Men. The relationships between characters has always been a strength of Claremont's and it was a nice part of this volume and I can imagine it would have grown and developed as the title continued.
But alas, it wasn't to be. Epic Illustrated (the magazine where these were originally published) folded, and although the third story doesn't end on a cliff-hanger as such, it's clear there were meant to be many more adventures for Marada the She-Wolf that we didn't get to see. It's a real shame as to me it just felt like it was finding it's groove.
Ah well.
December 26, 2018
I loved these stories when I was a giant fantasy nerd as a teen, but re-reading them they aren't quite as great as I remembered. I'm less enamored of Chris Claremont's style of writing than I was when I was younger (though I still consider him one of the greats for other works). John Bolton's art is good, but again not as great as I remembered. Still, it was a good read for nostalgia and it's nice that Titan collected everything in one volume, though a shame that the character was never developed further.
July 23, 2018
Nota: 3,5
June 13, 2021
Un clásico de ambos autores quizá no muy bien conocido pero de enorme calidad. Una de las primeras grandes incursiones de un personaje femenino en la espada y brujería. Un cómic lleno de magia, erotismo, maldiciones y eficaz épica. Imprescindible en cualquier estantería de aficionados al género.
December 30, 2013
The story was a little too straight-forward and I wish it continued onward but man the artwork is amazing. Not as wet or unrealistically voluptuous as Boris Vallejo/Julie Bell/the Hildebrandts' style and it's realistic, sexy and detailed and more importantly, a great visual narrative. I could feel an amazing cinema or novel at work, even through the somewhat shortened plot (and most of that is because the publisher line was canceled early on in the comic's development I think).
Also mega props to the creators for doing a piece of fantasy with demons, magic et. al. set in ancient Rome, while still keeping a semi-plausible and gritty real feel to it. A great read that left me wishing for more.
Also mega props to the creators for doing a piece of fantasy with demons, magic et. al. set in ancient Rome, while still keeping a semi-plausible and gritty real feel to it. A great read that left me wishing for more.
April 26, 2020
This is a graphic novel written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Bolton. Most people who are familiar with Claremont's work will probably know him from his time of turning the X-Men into one of Marvel's biggest properties. I'm not familiar with Bolton's work.
This is a story no less fantastical than the X-Men, being set in a fantasy version of the Roman Empire, but is certainly not as well told. The story is not badly written, but it's certainly not great, and it's very predictable. The graphic novel is saved however, by Bolton's gorgeous artwork, and is worth reading for that alone.
This is a story no less fantastical than the X-Men, being set in a fantasy version of the Roman Empire, but is certainly not as well told. The story is not badly written, but it's certainly not great, and it's very predictable. The graphic novel is saved however, by Bolton's gorgeous artwork, and is worth reading for that alone.
April 24, 2018
Tive contato com o trabalho de Chris Claremont na sua fase clássica como roteirista dos X-Men. Responsável por todo o sucesso do grupo de mutantes, Claremont esteve presenta na minha adolescência quando eu comprava avidamente os gibis para saber o que aconteceria a seguir com Ciclope, Wolverine e todos os outros. Mal sabia eu que isso era a ponta do iceberg do trabalho do autor. Quando me deparei com este trabalho lindo, fiquei encantado com o que o autor era capaz de nos apresentar.
Lá vou eu elogiar novamente o trabalho do Pipoca & Nanquim. Uma edição primorosa, como já é costumeiro deles, com um cuidado inacreditável em todos os conceitos. A capa é absurda com uma ilustração do John Bolton da protagonista e os tentáculos de um monstro que ela enfrenta na terceira aventura envernizado. Isso dá um efeito gosmento muito legal. Aliás, é uma clara influência do terror lovecraftiano nos desenhos do Bolton. O título da HQ é em hot stamp dourado que chama a atenção assim que pomos os olhos. A borda das páginas foi feita com uma espécie de poeira de coloração dourada que dá uma riqueza incrível à edição. O tamanho da HQ é grande, quase em tamanho europeu o que ajuda e muito a valorizar o desenho do Bolton. Internamente temos alguns artigos extras como prefácios a edições anteriores e até uma fala do Claremont sobre como foi trabalhar com o Bolton.
A narrativa do Claremont é bem eficiente nos apresentando rapidamente a personagem, suas motivações e o que se sucedeu a ela. Aos poucos o autor vai formando o núcleo ao redor da personagem, mesmo ela sendo uma solitária por natureza. Nesta HQ temos três histórias de Marada cada uma interligada de forma sutil à outra. As histórias são legais e a gente acaba lendo-as de uma só vez, mesmo o Claremont usando uma escrita um tanto verborrágica para os quadrinhos. Não é cansativo até porque as ilustrações do Bolton ajudam a dar um plus à história. Uma pena que a série parou com três histórias porque Marada é uma personagem rica em histórias a serem exploradas.
Já o traço do Bolton é de uma beleza ímpar. Posso imaginar o impacto que o artista teve na época de sua publicação. E ele não esconde a sua inspiração em gênios como Barry Windsor-Smith. É aquele traço limpo que transformou histórias como A Espada Selvagem de Conan em um sucesso absoluto. O cuidado com a modelagem do corpo dos personagens, a influência da magia, do absurdo e do sobrenatural estão ali na nossa cara. Bolton pegou inspirações de vários lugares: no primeiro, temos uma história típica de um gênero de capa e espada com feiticeiros malignos e demônios infernais; na segunda, a presença de uma corte africana; e no terceiro temos uma clara inspiração árabe. Os cenários de fundo também dão uma aparência de amplitude em que tudo parece grandioso. O deserto onde ocorre a caçada mortal é vasto e nos passa uma agonia de que aquele terreno se estende pelo infinito. Outra coisa legal de se observar é que Bolton precisou colorir as duas primeiras edições a pedido da Marvel enquanto que o terceiro já foi pensado para incluir cores. A gente consegue visualizar isso na forma como Marada é desenhada no capítulo 1 e no 3. Percebam as diferenças nos cabelos da personagem e até na fluidez dos movimentos.
Não tem como não comentar sobre a temática do primeiro capítulo. A decisão do Claremont de explorar a temática do estupro e de como ele afeta psicologicamente e emocionalmente uma personagem é elogiável. Claro que vão haver inconsistências e exageros na forma como ele aborda a temática e os leitores mais sensíveis vão perceber isso. Mas, pensem que esse quadrinho foi feita no escopo do gênero capa e espada, que é machista por natureza (ora, basta ler qualquer volume do Conan para se certificar disso). Claremont nos coloca diante de uma mulher forte e magnífica, que foi marcada por um acontecimento terrível que a tornou fragilizada. Ela não deixou de ser uma guerreira, mas sua impotência diante dos atos cruéis que lhe foram feitos a afetaram. Marada sabe que vai viver com essa mácula para sempre, e não é que ela supera o problema, mas ela tenta tocar a vida adiante. A protagonista não permite que o estupro defina quem ela é, mas procura transformar o que lhe aconteceu como uma fornalha para fortalecer a sua decisão sobre o que ela é.
No segundo capítulo temos uma caçada mortal. É engraçado como essa narrativa já foi usada e abusada por vários filmes que vieram antes e depois de Marada. Uma história simples, mas colocada de uma maneira dinâmica pelo autor. Não há grandes firulas de roteiro aqui e a história é o que é e funciona bem. Gostei principalmente do momento da perseguição que fazia o próprio leitor suar diante de uma adversária feroz que estava à espreita. A qualquer minuto uma flecha poderia perfurar o seu coração. E no deserto não há lugares para se esconder. O embate final entre Marada e a candace é sensacional e demonstra o tato que Bolton tinha com combates entre guerreiros.
Não vou comentar sobre o terceiro capítulo de forma a deixar alguma surpresa para os leitores. Só recomendo demais que vocês adquiram esta obra sensacional. Claremont está de parabéns pela coragem de escrever essa história na década de 1980 demonstrando ser um autor de vanguarda diante de tantas outras coisas apresentadas no período. Com a arte deslumbrante de John Bolton, o pacote é completo. E, mais uma vez, o Pipoca & Nanquim arrasa na edição do livro.
Lá vou eu elogiar novamente o trabalho do Pipoca & Nanquim. Uma edição primorosa, como já é costumeiro deles, com um cuidado inacreditável em todos os conceitos. A capa é absurda com uma ilustração do John Bolton da protagonista e os tentáculos de um monstro que ela enfrenta na terceira aventura envernizado. Isso dá um efeito gosmento muito legal. Aliás, é uma clara influência do terror lovecraftiano nos desenhos do Bolton. O título da HQ é em hot stamp dourado que chama a atenção assim que pomos os olhos. A borda das páginas foi feita com uma espécie de poeira de coloração dourada que dá uma riqueza incrível à edição. O tamanho da HQ é grande, quase em tamanho europeu o que ajuda e muito a valorizar o desenho do Bolton. Internamente temos alguns artigos extras como prefácios a edições anteriores e até uma fala do Claremont sobre como foi trabalhar com o Bolton.
A narrativa do Claremont é bem eficiente nos apresentando rapidamente a personagem, suas motivações e o que se sucedeu a ela. Aos poucos o autor vai formando o núcleo ao redor da personagem, mesmo ela sendo uma solitária por natureza. Nesta HQ temos três histórias de Marada cada uma interligada de forma sutil à outra. As histórias são legais e a gente acaba lendo-as de uma só vez, mesmo o Claremont usando uma escrita um tanto verborrágica para os quadrinhos. Não é cansativo até porque as ilustrações do Bolton ajudam a dar um plus à história. Uma pena que a série parou com três histórias porque Marada é uma personagem rica em histórias a serem exploradas.
Já o traço do Bolton é de uma beleza ímpar. Posso imaginar o impacto que o artista teve na época de sua publicação. E ele não esconde a sua inspiração em gênios como Barry Windsor-Smith. É aquele traço limpo que transformou histórias como A Espada Selvagem de Conan em um sucesso absoluto. O cuidado com a modelagem do corpo dos personagens, a influência da magia, do absurdo e do sobrenatural estão ali na nossa cara. Bolton pegou inspirações de vários lugares: no primeiro, temos uma história típica de um gênero de capa e espada com feiticeiros malignos e demônios infernais; na segunda, a presença de uma corte africana; e no terceiro temos uma clara inspiração árabe. Os cenários de fundo também dão uma aparência de amplitude em que tudo parece grandioso. O deserto onde ocorre a caçada mortal é vasto e nos passa uma agonia de que aquele terreno se estende pelo infinito. Outra coisa legal de se observar é que Bolton precisou colorir as duas primeiras edições a pedido da Marvel enquanto que o terceiro já foi pensado para incluir cores. A gente consegue visualizar isso na forma como Marada é desenhada no capítulo 1 e no 3. Percebam as diferenças nos cabelos da personagem e até na fluidez dos movimentos.
Não tem como não comentar sobre a temática do primeiro capítulo. A decisão do Claremont de explorar a temática do estupro e de como ele afeta psicologicamente e emocionalmente uma personagem é elogiável. Claro que vão haver inconsistências e exageros na forma como ele aborda a temática e os leitores mais sensíveis vão perceber isso. Mas, pensem que esse quadrinho foi feita no escopo do gênero capa e espada, que é machista por natureza (ora, basta ler qualquer volume do Conan para se certificar disso). Claremont nos coloca diante de uma mulher forte e magnífica, que foi marcada por um acontecimento terrível que a tornou fragilizada. Ela não deixou de ser uma guerreira, mas sua impotência diante dos atos cruéis que lhe foram feitos a afetaram. Marada sabe que vai viver com essa mácula para sempre, e não é que ela supera o problema, mas ela tenta tocar a vida adiante. A protagonista não permite que o estupro defina quem ela é, mas procura transformar o que lhe aconteceu como uma fornalha para fortalecer a sua decisão sobre o que ela é.
No segundo capítulo temos uma caçada mortal. É engraçado como essa narrativa já foi usada e abusada por vários filmes que vieram antes e depois de Marada. Uma história simples, mas colocada de uma maneira dinâmica pelo autor. Não há grandes firulas de roteiro aqui e a história é o que é e funciona bem. Gostei principalmente do momento da perseguição que fazia o próprio leitor suar diante de uma adversária feroz que estava à espreita. A qualquer minuto uma flecha poderia perfurar o seu coração. E no deserto não há lugares para se esconder. O embate final entre Marada e a candace é sensacional e demonstra o tato que Bolton tinha com combates entre guerreiros.
Não vou comentar sobre o terceiro capítulo de forma a deixar alguma surpresa para os leitores. Só recomendo demais que vocês adquiram esta obra sensacional. Claremont está de parabéns pela coragem de escrever essa história na década de 1980 demonstrando ser um autor de vanguarda diante de tantas outras coisas apresentadas no período. Com a arte deslumbrante de John Bolton, o pacote é completo. E, mais uma vez, o Pipoca & Nanquim arrasa na edição do livro.
November 12, 2021
The art is spectacular the story less so.
November 14, 2018
(This review may contain SPOILERS of the book)
Marada is a three-part story originally intended to be a Red Sonja story. Though it's not amongst the best Chris Claremont has done in the 80s, it manages to be a fun read, specially for those who enjoy his prominantly famale-driven stories. Marada is a warrior that's been through a traumatic experience and has to find her way back into battle when a girl she sees as a daughter is in danger. Unfortunatly the story has no end, which makes the reader feel like this is the first part of a larger story that has never been published. It leaves you with the feeling there are too many elements that was teased but never fully developed, it makes you want to see more which is quite frustrating. It's different from those stories that are so satisfying you want them to never end, Marada just makes you feel like it's incomplete and that most of the interesting elements (like Marada's past and Ari's inherited magic powers) weren't well developed. It's still a fun book, a classic Claremont story, and there is a great X-Men's Storm reference that not every Marvel reader may catch. One thing still bugs me in this story which is the use of rape as a plot point for a female character. I know this is a trope that wasn't as scrutinized back then as it is today, but it's still a weird one used in this story, since it could've been replaced by any kind of traumatic supernatural experience that Claremont's creative mind could've easily imagined. It feels like an unnecessary use of a bad, bad trope. The star of this book is by far Bolton's art. If not for the story, Bolton's beautiful, realistic drawings and colors is a very good excuse to have this book on the shelve.
Marada is a three-part story originally intended to be a Red Sonja story. Though it's not amongst the best Chris Claremont has done in the 80s, it manages to be a fun read, specially for those who enjoy his prominantly famale-driven stories. Marada is a warrior that's been through a traumatic experience and has to find her way back into battle when a girl she sees as a daughter is in danger. Unfortunatly the story has no end, which makes the reader feel like this is the first part of a larger story that has never been published. It leaves you with the feeling there are too many elements that was teased but never fully developed, it makes you want to see more which is quite frustrating. It's different from those stories that are so satisfying you want them to never end, Marada just makes you feel like it's incomplete and that most of the interesting elements (like Marada's past and Ari's inherited magic powers) weren't well developed. It's still a fun book, a classic Claremont story, and there is a great X-Men's Storm reference that not every Marvel reader may catch. One thing still bugs me in this story which is the use of rape as a plot point for a female character. I know this is a trope that wasn't as scrutinized back then as it is today, but it's still a weird one used in this story, since it could've been replaced by any kind of traumatic supernatural experience that Claremont's creative mind could've easily imagined. It feels like an unnecessary use of a bad, bad trope. The star of this book is by far Bolton's art. If not for the story, Bolton's beautiful, realistic drawings and colors is a very good excuse to have this book on the shelve.
September 26, 2025
I loved this, the art was fantastic, and the story was heavier than I thought it would be. Though the ending did leave me disappointed. It felt a bit rushed, and the fact that it just ended (not on a cliff-hanger at least) but it ended just as it was picking up. It is a shame that the Marada series did not get picked up after the third issue, but I am glad this collection exists. A piece of what could and should have been. I enjoyed it.
March 22, 2022
The art in this book is just so beautiful! And the story reads like lyrics. It's so intense, and achy and strong.
Marada is a badass and her story makes my heart break. Her will to survive and fight and overcome is an inspiration.
And I love her relationship with Arian was the best thing ever.
So enjoyable!
Marada is a badass and her story makes my heart break. Her will to survive and fight and overcome is an inspiration.
And I love her relationship with Arian was the best thing ever.
So enjoyable!
May 9, 2019
Aqui o grande problema é que a dupla criadora não deu uma conclusão para as aventuras da guerreira. No entanto o arco de histórias é fechado e a edição da Pipoca e Nanquim é um absurdo de perfeição! Não da pra ser fã de Espada e Feitiçaria e não ter lido Marada.
March 31, 2020
The art is amazing - so lovely pictures <3 <3 <3 First tale of three were best. Second and third only decent. But really worth reading and buying, This is classic, maybe little out of date, but classics stands proud time after time =)
March 10, 2022
So-so writing from Chris Claremont supports some really fantastic (no pun intended) art from John Bolton. Every time I read a caption from the protagonist's point of view, it feels like I'm reading the X-Men. This guy's style never changes.
June 13, 2017
Claro ejemplo de cómo se eleva un cómic con un gran dibujante como Bolton. El guion es espada y brujería de toda la vida y el dibujo es espectacular
June 6, 2018
Um épico da fantasia. Edição linda, o roteiro tem altos e baixos mas vale pelo histórico e pela arte.
December 10, 2018
DPL hoopla
November 20, 2019
Awesome!
June 2, 2020
Uma história muito boa com arte espetacular.
July 25, 2021
Uma pena não ter final continuação.
August 16, 2021
Empoderamento feminino numa época onde a mulher era vista como frágil.
Arte muito bonita e fluida com bastante detalhe
Arte muito bonita e fluida com bastante detalhe
January 15, 2023
Extremely well-executed sword and sorcery in the tradition of Robert E. Howard. Bolton's artwork is astonishing.
December 17, 2023
Cheesy, formulaic swords and sorcery. I'd only rate it two stars at best for the plot, but the artwork and printing is good.
June 7, 2019
Exquisite comic collection about a fearless warrior Marada, the She-Wolf. You can think of her as a Red Sonja equivalent (albeit with silvery hair - her surname is Starhair) and placed into the historical period of first decade or two AD.
Story is great (a bit short though but nevertheless excellent) and art is ... what can I say. Art is gorgeous and it brought me back to works of Hal Foster but in more epic scale (there are fantastic two page art here that can be framed and hang on the wall). John Bolton is true master of the craft.
Highly recommended for fans of sword and sorcery and especially beautiful art.
Story is great (a bit short though but nevertheless excellent) and art is ... what can I say. Art is gorgeous and it brought me back to works of Hal Foster but in more epic scale (there are fantastic two page art here that can be framed and hang on the wall). John Bolton is true master of the craft.
Highly recommended for fans of sword and sorcery and especially beautiful art.
March 6, 2017
I read these stories in Epic Illustrated when they came out. Loved them and I am thrilled to have found them all together. It is too bad the story never moved on.
January 20, 2021
I've heard about this for years -- the amazing talents of Bolton and Claremont set out to write a Red Sonja tale and for various reasons ended up having to create a new character, set in the early days of the Roman Empire. There were only a handful of stories, all published in Epic and the graphic novel prints two.
So, is it any good?
Hmm...Bolton's art is excellent as ever, but has nothing to do with the first century AD; his costumes, weapons, clothes, etc. are all just Ye Olde, with absolutely nothing to distinguish time or place, and very much feels like what we'd see in 1980s Conan comics.
Claremont's two stories are separate adventures -- the first ends with Marada and her adopted daughter all the way in Africa and trying to return to Britain, obviously the conceit of the planned storyline; the second story takes place in the Horn of Africa. The first story is a weird mishmash of 70s sword & sorcery tropes, including rape-peril, dimension hopping and lost-race. For what it is, it is well-done, but does nothing to establish the setting. The second story, essentially a "Most Dangerous Game"-style story is actually very good, with some nice twists and details that suggest how things might have proceeded.
All in all, perfectly serviceable sword & sorcery fluff of the era, but a far cry from The Black Knight, the two men did together in the same era, and certainly not the height of either's career.
So, is it any good?
Hmm...Bolton's art is excellent as ever, but has nothing to do with the first century AD; his costumes, weapons, clothes, etc. are all just Ye Olde, with absolutely nothing to distinguish time or place, and very much feels like what we'd see in 1980s Conan comics.
Claremont's two stories are separate adventures -- the first ends with Marada and her adopted daughter all the way in Africa and trying to return to Britain, obviously the conceit of the planned storyline; the second story takes place in the Horn of Africa. The first story is a weird mishmash of 70s sword & sorcery tropes, including rape-peril, dimension hopping and lost-race. For what it is, it is well-done, but does nothing to establish the setting. The second story, essentially a "Most Dangerous Game"-style story is actually very good, with some nice twists and details that suggest how things might have proceeded.
All in all, perfectly serviceable sword & sorcery fluff of the era, but a far cry from The Black Knight, the two men did together in the same era, and certainly not the height of either's career.
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