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Battlefields #8
Battlefields, Volume 8: The Fall And Rise Of Anna Kharkova
Acclaimed graphic novelist Garth Ennis (Preacher, Punisher) chronicles the two-decade journey of Anna Kharkova, the Russian ace pilot and war hero of World War II. When Anna's aircraft crashes behind enemy lines, her harrowing survival through Nazi prison conditions unwittingly makes her an outcast among her own people. Years later, she joins her longtime friend, Mouse, for a tour of duty in Korea, where an old adversary, now a higher-ranking officer, proves just as deadly as the American jet fighters overhead. But it won't be until 1964, when - after languishing in a remote Siberian punishment camp - the last of the women warriors is called to duty once more, and Anna Kharkova finally meets her destiny!
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2013
2 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,621 books3,167 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 13, 2019
Continues the story of the Night Witch from volumes 1 and 6 of Battlefields. Anna is shot down behind enemy lines and spends time in a concentration camp. Then details the lives of not only female soldiers after WWII but how Russian's taken as prisoners were treated as traitors post war. It's a mostly dour story with some bright moments. Ennis shows he can write powerful women who don't take gruff from anyone. Russ Braun once again delivers a gem with the art.
May 9, 2017
A fantastic story of true heroism, honour, sacrifice and friendship.
Ennis really does have an excellent way of writing powerful women. Anna is just as tenacious, wild and as beautiful as Tulip from Preacher.
A highly recommended series, different from most of Ennis' comics in the fact that the swearing and violence only appears when necessary to tell the story.
Ennis really does have an excellent way of writing powerful women. Anna is just as tenacious, wild and as beautiful as Tulip from Preacher.
A highly recommended series, different from most of Ennis' comics in the fact that the swearing and violence only appears when necessary to tell the story.
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May 14, 2013If two women are talking about how the Soviet system fucked them over - without naming names, but on the mutual understanding that it's because the men felt threatened by them - then does that pass the Bechdel test? Because if it doesn't - whereas a conversation about dresses or pretty flowers would have done - one rather has to conclude that the Bechdel test is unfit for purpose.
Also, there's stuff here where Ennis is totally ripping off his own Hellblazer issue about the Hurricane pilot, but that was one of the best single issues in comics history, so who's counting? It still works second time around, too.
Also, there's stuff here where Ennis is totally ripping off his own Hellblazer issue about the Hurricane pilot, but that was one of the best single issues in comics history, so who's counting? It still works second time around, too.
March 12, 2017
a great finale to the Battlefields series.
we catch up with the Russian fighter Anna, a member of the night witches, as the war with Germany comes to a close. how will she cope with life after conflict, and can be checked post keep her out of trouble? (spoiler: nope)
we catch up with the Russian fighter Anna, a member of the night witches, as the war with Germany comes to a close. how will she cope with life after conflict, and can be checked post keep her out of trouble? (spoiler: nope)
May 16, 2019
The humor of previous volumes is done away with here. The Communists have a way of putting politics ahead of the individual. The main character should have been treated as a hero after the war. Instead an NKVD and then KGB officer takes a personal interest in destroying her. 'They made our lives a prison.'
Anna Kharkova crashlands when her fighter plane's engine fails. She is taken to a prisoner of war camp where a British pilot heals her. This is a grand opportunity for political debate regarding each side's failings. The Russian forces soon reach the camp and arrest her as a traitor for allowing herself to be captured.
Anna Kharkova crashlands when her fighter plane's engine fails. She is taken to a prisoner of war camp where a British pilot heals her. This is a grand opportunity for political debate regarding each side's failings. The Russian forces soon reach the camp and arrest her as a traitor for allowing herself to be captured.
November 13, 2016
Remembrance Day ahoy again!
The final Anna Kharkova volume recounts Anna's miseries during the Cold War, and how socialism without feminism is a very useless endeavor indeed.
Top stuff. Russ Braun kills it as always.
The final Anna Kharkova volume recounts Anna's miseries during the Cold War, and how socialism without feminism is a very useless endeavor indeed.
Top stuff. Russ Braun kills it as always.
November 25, 2021
A perfect finish and a heartbreaking story
August 28, 2019
There were a group of Soviet female fighter pilots during World War II. This is a fictionalized account of their exploits as the war ends and after the war.
Garth Ennis is one of the best writers in comic books today.
Garth Ennis is one of the best writers in comic books today.
June 9, 2014
This story brings the Night Witch sequence to a satisfying conclusion. The most fanciful (in someways) of the Battlefields stories so far but still a good read and the artwork is good.
June 5, 2016
The whole arc of Anna Kharkova comes to a fitting end in this final chapter. Great story telling on this one.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews