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Murena #1
El púrpura y el oro
El mejor fresco histórico que haya podido descubrir, según Michael Green, profesor del King's College de Oxford y Consejero histórico de la película Gladiator. La acción se sitúa en Roma pocos días antes del idus de octubre. El emperador Claudio muere envenenado por su mujer, Agripina, justo antes de que éste la repudie para casarse con Lolia Paulina, la madre de Murena. Nerón, el hijo de Agripina, se convierte en emperador, a pesar de tener sólo 17 años. Un guión de pulso certero y de documentación indiscutible se une a un dibujo realista y elegante para relatar esta historia de sangre, traición y ambición en un ciclo de 4 volúmenes especiales imprescindibles.
60 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 1997
6 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Jean Dufaux
477 books86 followersJean 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 7, 2025
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.
--
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.
Definitely a series I’ll keep reading.
"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.
--
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.
Definitely a series I’ll keep reading.
January 22, 2018
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.
Received a review copy from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2021
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.
July 29, 2021
My review is going to be for the first 4 volumes of the "Murena" graphic novel series, which I reread in English this time, a while after originally reading them in the language they were published in. This compilation of four volumes is known as "The Cycle of the Mother" (I'll explain why ahead), and is the first cycle of the series, and although on Goodreads the English translations aren't listed, they can be bought from online comics stores, like from here.
The books in this cycle have the following titles in English:
1. Murena I: The Crimson and the Gold
2. Murena II: Of Blood and Sand
3. Murena III: The Best of Mothers
4. Murena IV: Those Who Are About to Die
When I first read the first two issues a couple of years back, I wasn't impressed and rated them on the low range, leaving a short review along the lines of: "This has some similarities with the second volume of I, Claudius but is not nearly as compelling." Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for this or perhaps it's that back then I had a different view on graphic novels than now, but whatever the reason, my second read has changed my mind radically, and now I can appreciate the qualities of this series much better.
Despite the title that leads to think it's a single protagonist, this is in reality a story with two co-protagonists, a story of two men who share one name and one life: Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (a.k.a. Nero Claudius Augustus Caesar, a.k.a. Nero, a.k.a. Emperor Little Shit) and his childhood bosom friend the patrician Lucius Murena, starting in 54 AD, the last year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, Nero's uncle and adoptive father and aspiring stepfather to Murena, whose mother Lollia Paulina he loves. Claudius is starting to take an interest in his own biological son, Britannicus, and is restless about finally marrying his Lollia, all of which has him reconsidering his will and thinking of divorcing his niece-wife. Unfortunately, ambitious Agrippina won't hear of it, for she wants to rule through the son she deems weak and that she forced Caesar to adopt as his own despite having an heir already. To avoid his changing his will, she manipulates her stay in power by first having Lollia assassinated with the unwitting complicity of Nero, and then having Claudius poisoned without her son knowing, and finally getting rid of potential rival Britannicus.
And there's where the similarities with Graves's novel end, not just because the Emperor is dead early on, but also because of the storytelling style and the tone of this series. "Murena" is full of mature content, violence, blood, and overt sexuality (for all tastes), and can be gruesomely shocking at times. But with all that, it's so well crafted and narrated. It depicts Nero like you've never seen him before. He's still the bastard he's known as in history, but unlike many cartoonish depictions of him in film and books, he's not unidimensionally evil. He starts out as a normal if slightly insecure youth, very fondly attached to his bosom chum and his auntie Domitia, leading a happy and peaceful life in a country villa with her, until his pushy and unscrupulous mother snatches him out of his sheltered paradise and thrusts him into the seat of the Caesars, for which he isn't prepared and that he doesn't want. From then on, his slow descent into psychotic cruelty starts, because Agrippina won't stop at anything and makes sure she has leverage against him by forcing him to be complicit in a horrid crime that'll affect his friendship with Murena forever, and that'll lead to a string of worse deeds in order to cover up for that first one, all of which eventually makes of his best friend his worst enemy and leaves Nero with absolutely nobody he can trust.
Parallel to this Nero vs Murena rivalry and the vicious partisanship at the imperial court between the Empress' Party and the Emperor's Party, which will result in endless bloodshed and eventually the ultimate crime, the series also tells other side stories like that of two gladiators caught in the mess between factions: Balba, a Numidian gladiator who'd belonged to Britannicus and that's made a vow to avenge his master, and Massam, a Thracian gladiator who belongs to Agrippina and that does all dirty jobs for her with more gusto than advisable. These two will take their former clashing in the sand out of the colosseum and into the patrician, imperial, and low-class circles, doing their masters' bidding. And there's also the story of Peter. Yes, that Peter from the Gospels, the disciple of Jesus, who's arrived in Rome to do the Lord's work, and who is able to earn Nero's amused good will and Murena's respect through his endearing outright honesty and kind-heartedness.
If both Nero and Murena are at first a good-natured pair of youths who become increasingly flawed and tormented as their deeds taint their souls the further the story progresses, Empress Agrippina is by far one of the most ruthless villains ever to grace a historical novel! You thought Livia Drusilla was bad? She pales beside Agrippina. The woman is truly frightening for what she's capable of doing, and some of the things she dares to do would've surprised even Livia. One almost pities poor young Nero for having that mama, for although it's seemingly implied that Nero had always it in him to become what he eventually did, it's also clear that had he not been under the pressures and influence of the dysfunctional Julio-Claudian clan's matriarch, he'd have turned out more balanced. The tragedy for him is that he becomes a monster by necessity, corrupted by his mother, and once she is gone by the end of the Cycle, he stays a monster because he hasn't learnt another and fairer way in life from anyone and what he's done means it's too late to look back anyway. His mother left him the legacy that the only way to rule is with poison and blood.
But bad as she is, Agrippina moves the plot quite well, she brings in the drama, and plays the role of Big Bad the story needs, and in her own way is a courageous person. I did like her as a villain more than I did Poppaea, who's introduced as a cunning slut rather than a born political manipulator like Agrippina, and who doesn't inspire the sense of horrified awe that the Empress does. Early on, you can see that Poppaea, whose time in the sun comes in the "Cycle of the Wife" doesn't have the same weapons Nero's mother did, and is more of a femme fatale and temptress than anything.
The art by Delaby is also very deserving of praise; it's way more realistic than your average graphic novel and as the author seems to have wanted to convey the sense of grandeur of Rome, there's plenty of beautiful landscape-like panels showing the city and the surroundings. They have had a historian as consultant, which accounts for the overall correctness of the plot in terms of accuracy, and it's likely they also had scale models or maps or something for recreating ancient Rome. I really loved seeing the city come to life! Art has that advantage over films, in that you can draw the settings without a worry for modern stuff to suddenly pop up in the line of vision whilst filming. The costume is also period-accurate, again a sign of care for History. The faces are not cartoony but instead on the realistic side, a matter of style on one hand and also of fitting with the plot.
The books in this cycle have the following titles in English:
1. Murena I: The Crimson and the Gold
2. Murena II: Of Blood and Sand
3. Murena III: The Best of Mothers
4. Murena IV: Those Who Are About to Die
When I first read the first two issues a couple of years back, I wasn't impressed and rated them on the low range, leaving a short review along the lines of: "This has some similarities with the second volume of I, Claudius but is not nearly as compelling." Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for this or perhaps it's that back then I had a different view on graphic novels than now, but whatever the reason, my second read has changed my mind radically, and now I can appreciate the qualities of this series much better.
Despite the title that leads to think it's a single protagonist, this is in reality a story with two co-protagonists, a story of two men who share one name and one life: Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (a.k.a. Nero Claudius Augustus Caesar, a.k.a. Nero, a.k.a. Emperor Little Shit) and his childhood bosom friend the patrician Lucius Murena, starting in 54 AD, the last year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, Nero's uncle and adoptive father and aspiring stepfather to Murena, whose mother Lollia Paulina he loves. Claudius is starting to take an interest in his own biological son, Britannicus, and is restless about finally marrying his Lollia, all of which has him reconsidering his will and thinking of divorcing his niece-wife. Unfortunately, ambitious Agrippina won't hear of it, for she wants to rule through the son she deems weak and that she forced Caesar to adopt as his own despite having an heir already. To avoid his changing his will, she manipulates her stay in power by first having Lollia assassinated with the unwitting complicity of Nero, and then having Claudius poisoned without her son knowing, and finally getting rid of potential rival Britannicus.
And there's where the similarities with Graves's novel end, not just because the Emperor is dead early on, but also because of the storytelling style and the tone of this series. "Murena" is full of mature content, violence, blood, and overt sexuality (for all tastes), and can be gruesomely shocking at times. But with all that, it's so well crafted and narrated. It depicts Nero like you've never seen him before. He's still the bastard he's known as in history, but unlike many cartoonish depictions of him in film and books, he's not unidimensionally evil. He starts out as a normal if slightly insecure youth, very fondly attached to his bosom chum and his auntie Domitia, leading a happy and peaceful life in a country villa with her, until his pushy and unscrupulous mother snatches him out of his sheltered paradise and thrusts him into the seat of the Caesars, for which he isn't prepared and that he doesn't want. From then on, his slow descent into psychotic cruelty starts, because Agrippina won't stop at anything and makes sure she has leverage against him by forcing him to be complicit in a horrid crime that'll affect his friendship with Murena forever, and that'll lead to a string of worse deeds in order to cover up for that first one, all of which eventually makes of his best friend his worst enemy and leaves Nero with absolutely nobody he can trust.
Parallel to this Nero vs Murena rivalry and the vicious partisanship at the imperial court between the Empress' Party and the Emperor's Party, which will result in endless bloodshed and eventually the ultimate crime, the series also tells other side stories like that of two gladiators caught in the mess between factions: Balba, a Numidian gladiator who'd belonged to Britannicus and that's made a vow to avenge his master, and Massam, a Thracian gladiator who belongs to Agrippina and that does all dirty jobs for her with more gusto than advisable. These two will take their former clashing in the sand out of the colosseum and into the patrician, imperial, and low-class circles, doing their masters' bidding. And there's also the story of Peter. Yes, that Peter from the Gospels, the disciple of Jesus, who's arrived in Rome to do the Lord's work, and who is able to earn Nero's amused good will and Murena's respect through his endearing outright honesty and kind-heartedness.
If both Nero and Murena are at first a good-natured pair of youths who become increasingly flawed and tormented as their deeds taint their souls the further the story progresses, Empress Agrippina is by far one of the most ruthless villains ever to grace a historical novel! You thought Livia Drusilla was bad? She pales beside Agrippina. The woman is truly frightening for what she's capable of doing, and some of the things she dares to do would've surprised even Livia. One almost pities poor young Nero for having that mama, for although it's seemingly implied that Nero had always it in him to become what he eventually did, it's also clear that had he not been under the pressures and influence of the dysfunctional Julio-Claudian clan's matriarch, he'd have turned out more balanced. The tragedy for him is that he becomes a monster by necessity, corrupted by his mother, and once she is gone by the end of the Cycle, he stays a monster because he hasn't learnt another and fairer way in life from anyone and what he's done means it's too late to look back anyway. His mother left him the legacy that the only way to rule is with poison and blood.
But bad as she is, Agrippina moves the plot quite well, she brings in the drama, and plays the role of Big Bad the story needs, and in her own way is a courageous person. I did like her as a villain more than I did Poppaea, who's introduced as a cunning slut rather than a born political manipulator like Agrippina, and who doesn't inspire the sense of horrified awe that the Empress does. Early on, you can see that Poppaea, whose time in the sun comes in the "Cycle of the Wife" doesn't have the same weapons Nero's mother did, and is more of a femme fatale and temptress than anything.
The art by Delaby is also very deserving of praise; it's way more realistic than your average graphic novel and as the author seems to have wanted to convey the sense of grandeur of Rome, there's plenty of beautiful landscape-like panels showing the city and the surroundings. They have had a historian as consultant, which accounts for the overall correctness of the plot in terms of accuracy, and it's likely they also had scale models or maps or something for recreating ancient Rome. I really loved seeing the city come to life! Art has that advantage over films, in that you can draw the settings without a worry for modern stuff to suddenly pop up in the line of vision whilst filming. The costume is also period-accurate, again a sign of care for History. The faces are not cartoony but instead on the realistic side, a matter of style on one hand and also of fitting with the plot.
December 29, 2017
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.
August 28, 2023
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.
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.
April 17, 2025
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.
June 17, 2019
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.
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.
July 22, 2017
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.
December 14, 2017
Posted too in my blog https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/
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.
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.
December 12, 2017
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.
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.
November 28, 2016
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.
September 9, 2017
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.
July 28, 2012
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.
May 22, 2023
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.
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.
February 3, 2018
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.
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.
July 28, 2024
"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.
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.
August 26, 2024
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.
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.
April 29, 2024
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.
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.
August 15, 2020
3,5/5
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.
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.
December 2, 2021
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.
September 14, 2025
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.
April 10, 2020
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.
April 18, 2019
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.
September 5, 2020
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.
May 20, 2025
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!
February 22, 2017
La mise en scène est très bien menée, les dialogues sont convaincants, dommage que l'action soit si rapide !
November 26, 2017
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.
June 26, 2020
This is amazing, loved it.
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