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Anno Domini 1000
A la fin du Moyen Age, Brunehilde, meneuse de loups, arrive dans une vallée forestière du sud-ouest de la France. Elle découvre une situation terrible : des cadavres ont été retrouvés dans les bois, atrocement mutilés, et les villageois sont persuadés que c'est l'oeuvre d'un démon ou d'un loup. Première suspecte, Brunehilde, aidée de Paulin, un commerçant itinérant croisé en route, mène l'enquête.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2023
3 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Gilbert
27 books5 followersBorn in 1983, Thomas Gilbert spent a year studying the fine arts in Paris and three more at the Saint-Luc Institute in Brussels, specializing in comics, before beginning his career as an author with two series, Oklahoma Boy (Manolosanctis) and the long-running heroic fantasy series Bjorn le Morphir (Casterman). His primary influences came from L'Association, which taught him the importance of the author's perspective in developing a narrative. In the years since, Gilbert has done books for children (such as Nordics with Sarbacane) and other works skewed more toward adults, including Sauvage ou la sagesse des pierres, with Vide Cocagne). In 2018, Gilbert completed Les Filles de Salem (Dargaud; The Daughters of Salem, Europe Comics), plunging himself and the reader into the oppressive world of Salem, in 17th-century New England. His extensive research of the Salem witch trials led to the creation of this work that goes beyond the facts of the case to explore the place of persecution and even hatred in the judicial
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 20, 2023
This is an ugly world you were born into.
You Will See A lot of violence.
Yes Not all is well in this world.
But you will see, we can resist, little by little we can heal it.
And when we've had enough of misery.
Maybe one day kindness will triumph.
Thanks so much to Thomas Gilbert, Europe Comics, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this Graphic Novel ARC, which is out now by the way, so you don't have to wait this time, Europe Comics puts these out on NetGalley 2 weeks before release date i think, i got so greedy this time and requested all of them, they are always read now.
Read This if you like the next words by the writer, because they embody what i felt this Graphic Novel was about through out the Novel.
I hate all systems that prey on the weak, the miserable, and the invisible, my work aims to expose and examine the violence perpetrated by states, social systems, and those close to us, That has been the through line of my art and my writing, it has been exhausting but, I think necessary.
This book is about animals, the people who understand them, and the fate that many creatures are left to face, the animal side within all of us, and what we do with it, the balance of power between humanity and nature.
This was very good read, Impactful on my mind, eye opening, powerful message, in defense of animals, and powerful message against the regimes that have persecuted them, one way or another, blinding everyone to the atrocities perpetrated on these creatures.
Children die everyday, some are simply too weak, some are too sweet for this world, only the strong survive.
"Some are too sweet for this world" this part was one of the most beautiful perspectives, on children dying i have read.
I like to always talk to trash about a shitty "god" who takes the lives of children before they experience this world, that they were brought into without their choice.
But some are too sweet for this world...
This story is about a serial killer who is killing kids, and the people in each village are targeting wolves instead killing them, and burning down forests around them, killing all animals inside them.
Animals are the invisible that Thomas talks about in his final word on this beautiful work.
We don't see their suffering, out of ignorance, or out of callousness.
I am here to baptize any who have not yet passed from this world, so they do not suffer the fate of this little damned soul!
It's a strong message against religions, in parts of it, past present future?
The Priest quite literally said that in answer to a woman who wanted him to baptize her baby who died after being born, she never even had a chance to baptize him in the first place.
The issue with holy texts and i always say it about Islam, Is they are simply horrible, They were wrote by horrible men, in horrible times, and we worked our asses off, to try and find different meaning to these texts, because our times are not that horrible anymore, so we are trying to find a different meaning, that goes along with our own times, with our own principals, or else the religion dies, or at least it dies in our hearts, one by one, in it's way out.
If you have any doubt concerning those women of yours who have finished with menstruation, then their count is three months; as it is with the ones who are still not menstruating. With those who are pregnant, their term will be whenever they give birth. God makes His matter easy for anyone who heeds Him.
at-Talaq 65:4
The Quran says this about when you are allowed to divorce women, and other men marry them, and it quite literally has this text on underage girls, which is through more than 10 explanations of the Quran by the biggest names in Islamic history, is always translated the same way, underage girls, for them they are saying the most casual thing in the world, it's not horrible, they know their prophet slept with his wife of 9 years old, But only in our age you will find people trying to change the meaning of the text, because it's one of the biggest weaknesses of the entire religion, which is full of weaknesses honestly.
For me i feel we are going around in circles when it comes to religions, it doesn't matter if we are living in the good times, where we can for the most part protect kids from these horrible texts, We still can't protect LGBTQ people from similar texts, we still can't protect atheist people from extremists who would kill them, because they are allowed to by holy texts, we still can't protect women who get beaten by their bigot husbands because they are allowed to by similar texts, There is always countries and people who will vehemently be against such things, even if against the world of "Allah", And there is always those who give passes because of his word.
And there is no allowance to change these texts once and for all, so you can give them a different interpretation now, but maybe in 100 years or 200 years, things go so far down the shit drain, that the extreme interpretations float to the surface again, and again people will suffer because of them.
What other laws are there?
Do Not Deliberately cause suffering.
If in the end we can agree on this, all would be better, We have all these laws in place, but sometimes it feels that we are in a lawless world somehow, It's a big ass world, Russia is at war with a country that quite literally just wanted to make a choice effecting only their lands and their people.
How many countries are fighting in Syria and using it as a test ground for their new weapons? including Russia who used weapons in Syria they would never use in Ukraine?
How many Mass shootings we hear of each year in USA? how many victims?
The Voiceless masses in Islamic countries, who get discriminated against, because of religion, sexuality, gender, each year, i really stopped using facebook, to not be so educated about the misery in our part of the world anymore, and feeling helpless to change it, i got tired of blocking people, nothing is going to change it seems.
I really don't think we are there yet, we are free yet, we are living in a good world yet, since what i was afraid of happened, and i already strayed many times from what the book is about, i ll just go on.
You know Brune, I'm happy to be on the road with you.
and it's fine if you don't want to sleep with me, i like you anyway.
You know what Paulini fuck you, this guy was horrible honestly, He was the traveling partner of the protagonist Brunhild for most of her journey, if a man ever tells you that sentence, block his ass.
A man? what for? we spend enough time in their world, It's a world i don't like, I've endured too much at their hands.
You know i love feminism, I Identify with Feminism, i speak about and defend Feminism to the best of my ability and understanding of it all, could i fail sometimes? yes, Do i look bad when i fail? probably i don't know, i speak about so many touchy subjects, that i am not sure why i get unfriended anymore 😂
But here is the thing, and i notice it a lot, why does Feminism talk always descend to killing men, or cutting their dicks and balls?
It's beyond me, it's stupid i know the writer is male, but i see real females who do this shit, so why does it have to go there?
is that kind of talk helping women? Nope
Is it hurting the movement and giving it needless haters? Probably Yes
Did women in USA and Europe start getting equal pay suddenly that we don't need to talk about such things anymore, and need to instead talk about penile dismemberment?!
I am not sure, but last i heard and that was ages ago, Ricky Gervais gets paid the same money that two women get for doing the exact same job, and actually we should never stop speaking of such matters, because even if you do get equal everything, there are still women in other countries suffering what you used to suffer, we should give them voice, and spotlight, But no forget about all that, let's just speak about killing men, or cutting them up, and totally getting away with it, on the most famous of social platforms, when men wouldn't even dare speak of similar stuff.
Little things like that blind from bigger goals, and i feel that's usually how all movements end, in petty squabbles, being happy with little gains that they got in the start.
I keep getting derailed, and i jinxed myself thinking this was going to be an awesome review after the first two quotes, Read this there is a wolf charmer, a crazy serial killer pastor, and best of all ugly ass angels inside, not sure what else i should say for you to read it, they are really ugly!
September 19, 2024
The drawings are great! Some of them are really impressive! There is some amount of gore in it.
But the problem is that I didn`t find the story very intriguing.
Overall, it felt like a nice effort, but not for me!
But the problem is that I didn`t find the story very intriguing.
Overall, it felt like a nice effort, but not for me!
July 9, 2024
Una lectura amena (aunque abundante en brutalidades) con una protagonista bien desarrollada y un dibujo que retrata muy bien el tema de la historia. Me gusta como refleja todo el simbolismo religioso (tanto cristiano como pagano) y la narración es clara y fluida.
September 14, 2023
Anno Domini 1000 is a brutal (extremely so) yet beautiful story of the eternal fight between kindness and violence. A thrilling and heartbreaking story of preseverance in the face of injustice, and the fading connection between humans and nature.
||✨Disclaimer✨||
I've received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
||✨Disclaimer✨||
I've received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2023
la dinguerie je vais tout casser wsh
August 9, 2024
I loved this novel's art style, characterization, and imagination of historical events. Since French is not my first language, I had to spend lots of time considering syntax and who is addressing who, as pronouns are sometimes omitted for brevity. I finished this book as a better French reader and enjoyed the process more than expected.
December 10, 2023
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Year 1000 a.d., Europe: considered to be the boundary date between the Early Middle Ages and the High Middle Ages, and predicted in the Bible to be the end of the world.
And you can actually see the end approaching by the behaviour of the people living through these times.
There's this theme of division between Christians and pagans, between religion and nature - but isn't nature itself a bigger part of religion? Isn't it the mirror of the faith?
But the hardest subject to reflect upon is madness: what is the (supposed) madness of the single, compared with the madness of the masses? The fear of the other as is unknown; the church's fear of the devil, found in everything that isn't in the schemes of the church itself; the feudal lord's fear of a rebellion from his subjects; the subjects' fear of their lord or of the uncertain times - fear that's turned on scapegoats (the scapegoats being the weak and the lost, and the animals); the animal fear of an attack from your neighbor; the fear of hunger. Fear permeates the air.
The book itself is not divided in chapters, but broadly by theme - like the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse: famine, death, war, and conquest, the last one acting as a substitute for pestilence. If you pay close attention, though, you can spot a page that could represent the plague, which in my opinion is the biggest theme of this book: infestation in the mentality of the masses via religious fervor.
Year 1000 a.d., Europe: considered to be the boundary date between the Early Middle Ages and the High Middle Ages, and predicted in the Bible to be the end of the world.
And you can actually see the end approaching by the behaviour of the people living through these times.
There's this theme of division between Christians and pagans, between religion and nature - but isn't nature itself a bigger part of religion? Isn't it the mirror of the faith?
But the hardest subject to reflect upon is madness: what is the (supposed) madness of the single, compared with the madness of the masses? The fear of the other as is unknown; the church's fear of the devil, found in everything that isn't in the schemes of the church itself; the feudal lord's fear of a rebellion from his subjects; the subjects' fear of their lord or of the uncertain times - fear that's turned on scapegoats (the scapegoats being the weak and the lost, and the animals); the animal fear of an attack from your neighbor; the fear of hunger. Fear permeates the air.
This book is about animals, the people who understand them, and the fate that many creatures are left to face. The animal side within all of us, and what we do with it. The balance of power between humanity and nature.
The book itself is not divided in chapters, but broadly by theme - like the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse: famine, death, war, and conquest, the last one acting as a substitute for pestilence. If you pay close attention, though, you can spot a page that could represent the plague, which in my opinion is the biggest theme of this book: infestation in the mentality of the masses via religious fervor.
October 29, 2025
biblically accurate moyen âge
j’ai du mal avec la violence graphique / gore mais c’était super et il y a des planches vraiment exceptionnellement belles
j’ai du mal avec la violence graphique / gore mais c’était super et il y a des planches vraiment exceptionnellement belles
December 24, 2023
C'était sympa j'aime bien les personnages mais un peu clich�� sur la fin. J'aime beaucoup le contraste graphique et scenaristique entre le réalisme plutôt sombre de l'univers et les visions mythologiques et fantastiques des personnages, et j'apprécie les références à l'époque abordée on voit que l'auteur a fait des recherches. Aussi les dessins sont jolis et y a des anges
July 31, 2024
C'est brute, c'est beau, c'est violent
La violence du monde (des hommes) et le choix de lutter ou vivre avec
J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Brunehilde
La violence du monde (des hommes) et le choix de lutter ou vivre avec
J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Brunehilde
July 30, 2023
J'allais acheter ça pour l'anniv de ma mère, ensuite je l'ai lu & j'ai eu des doutes en voyant les enfants qui se font écraser la tête lol, ça ne va pas passer pour elle. Mais en attendant j'ai dévoré cette histoire en un jour & elle contient tellement de détails qui me parlent personnellement à FOND, du coup ça sera un petit cadeau de moi à moi et je vais trouver autre chose pour ma mère :D
(J'aime d'amour la meneuse de loup poilue qui s'en fout d'être sale + tout le chapitre GUERRE avec cette replique, "Mais... je ne veux pas être une charge..." Merci Thomas Gilbert j'ai chialé comme une gosse à moult reprises)
(J'aime d'amour la meneuse de loup poilue qui s'en fout d'être sale + tout le chapitre GUERRE avec cette replique, "Mais... je ne veux pas être une charge..." Merci Thomas Gilbert j'ai chialé comme une gosse à moult reprises)
Read
July 29, 2023« Tu sais Othon, le monde dans lequel tu es né … il n’est pas très beau. […]
Et quand nous serons las du malheur … un jour peut-être … c’est la douceur qui triomphera. »
Et quand nous serons las du malheur … un jour peut-être … c’est la douceur qui triomphera. »
September 6, 2023
TW; religious trauma, graphic religious imagery and indoctrination, graphic injury, death / murder of a child, animal death / injury, ritual sacrifice, execution,
Set in Europe in the year 1000, Anno Domini (or, as it translates, ‘The Year of our Lord’) follows the nomadic Brunhilde (and her trusty companion, Wolfy). She is a healer and wolf-charmer, traversing the wilderness before becoming caught in a frenzy of famine, death, and of mysterious, brutal child murders. Determined to solve the mystery and appease the lost souls of the children, Brunhilde sets out on a mission - at her own peril.
Please be warned that this graphic novel is precisely that - GRAPHIC. There is truly nothing left to the imagination here; despite the title Anno Domini (‘The Year of Our Lord’), this comic truly caught me off guard with the strength and intensity of the violence in the name of religion throughout. If you are coming into this with any semblance of religious trauma please tread lightly - this is PACKED full of ecclesiastical, pious litany concerning eschatology, cleansing and redemption - spread by zealots of the so-called-apocalypse which they claim is fast approaching. This is an unsettling and potentially upsetting read, but I found myself gripped by it. There were moments when the plot felt it was jumping around a little, which could potentially have used a little refining but ultimately the story and the message was conveyed as intended.
I thought this was a really interesting way to remind us of the violent history not only of religious fanaticism, but of power, poverty and injustice throughout lands - the drastically unjust distribution of wealth between monarchs and peasants, the fight for respect in oppressive systems of societal hierarchies, and even dwells lightly on human nature when it comes to altruism vs self preservation.
I must also add that I was honestly blown away by some of the art throughout this - despite the gore, often the imagery is staggering, arresting and powerful - the horsemen of the apocalypse were a consistent highlight.
Set in Europe in the year 1000, Anno Domini (or, as it translates, ‘The Year of our Lord’) follows the nomadic Brunhilde (and her trusty companion, Wolfy). She is a healer and wolf-charmer, traversing the wilderness before becoming caught in a frenzy of famine, death, and of mysterious, brutal child murders. Determined to solve the mystery and appease the lost souls of the children, Brunhilde sets out on a mission - at her own peril.
Please be warned that this graphic novel is precisely that - GRAPHIC. There is truly nothing left to the imagination here; despite the title Anno Domini (‘The Year of Our Lord’), this comic truly caught me off guard with the strength and intensity of the violence in the name of religion throughout. If you are coming into this with any semblance of religious trauma please tread lightly - this is PACKED full of ecclesiastical, pious litany concerning eschatology, cleansing and redemption - spread by zealots of the so-called-apocalypse which they claim is fast approaching. This is an unsettling and potentially upsetting read, but I found myself gripped by it. There were moments when the plot felt it was jumping around a little, which could potentially have used a little refining but ultimately the story and the message was conveyed as intended.
I thought this was a really interesting way to remind us of the violent history not only of religious fanaticism, but of power, poverty and injustice throughout lands - the drastically unjust distribution of wealth between monarchs and peasants, the fight for respect in oppressive systems of societal hierarchies, and even dwells lightly on human nature when it comes to altruism vs self preservation.
I must also add that I was honestly blown away by some of the art throughout this - despite the gore, often the imagery is staggering, arresting and powerful - the horsemen of the apocalypse were a consistent highlight.
August 5, 2023
La clôture d'un cycle magistral, encore une fois on est bluffé par le dessin, épouvantée par le récit, émerveillée par la morale... (Mais rien ne battra les Sorcières de Salem dans mon cœur)
April 16, 2024
Thomas Gilbert returns to the Middle Ages he already explored in his book on the Salem trials, that kicked of this supposedly (at least for now) concluded cycle around violence and injustice. And while his previous solo book was a little convoluted story wise, and probably pushed people off with its Jodo-adjacent esoterica, it absolutely pushed his art to the next level. So pair the two up, and you've got what might just be his best book yet !
We follow Brunhilde, nicknamed Brune, a "meneuse de loups" on her truck across rural France. "Meneurs de loups" are folkloric characters who are believed to have power of wild beasts and live as nomadic recluses. But in a time where religion takes hold of the people, and civilisation moves towards industrial agriculture, pagans like her are feared and shunned.
Because of this, Brunhilde has seen and suffered her fair share of hurt, and decides to put a stop to the perpetuation of violence. Violence against nature and the animals she cares for. Violence against the weak and the unprotected. As she comes across the tracks of a murdered who's been targeting children, she makes it her mission to bring him to justice.
Mostly, it's quite predictable in its chain of events. And it doesn't necessarily say anything revolutionary. But it's such a gripping story, told in such gorgeously lush and bloody artwork, that contrasts with the pacifist message in a powerful way
We follow Brunhilde, nicknamed Brune, a "meneuse de loups" on her truck across rural France. "Meneurs de loups" are folkloric characters who are believed to have power of wild beasts and live as nomadic recluses. But in a time where religion takes hold of the people, and civilisation moves towards industrial agriculture, pagans like her are feared and shunned.
Because of this, Brunhilde has seen and suffered her fair share of hurt, and decides to put a stop to the perpetuation of violence. Violence against nature and the animals she cares for. Violence against the weak and the unprotected. As she comes across the tracks of a murdered who's been targeting children, she makes it her mission to bring him to justice.
Mostly, it's quite predictable in its chain of events. And it doesn't necessarily say anything revolutionary. But it's such a gripping story, told in such gorgeously lush and bloody artwork, that contrasts with the pacifist message in a powerful way
August 29, 2023
Now available. CW for gory violence: this one puts the *graphic* in graphic novel.
Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this graphic novel for review.
Sharp readers will immediately realize that "Anno Domini" or "The Year of our Lord" is the Latin source of our historical designation for the years of our common era (now denoted by scholars as C.E. for "Common Era, rather than A.D.)
What do we know about the year 1000? It was not a pleasant time in Europe, to be sure. This story is told through Brunehilde, a wolf charmer, The mythical folklore of the time included two types of magics regarding wolves: one charm to tame them, and the other to cause malevolent harm. What at first apppears to be of the second type, occurs in a frightening scene which precedes the appearance of Brunehilde, who is solidly in the first camp, but has the power to protect herself.
There were during this time, men who sold potions, charms and spells, as they wandered the countryside. Our protagonist meets such a hapless pretender of the magic arts, and is tolerant of his company, though she exudes complete and capable control of her world of the wilderness, along with her half-wolf companion. It is clear to us that Paulin experiences a bit of reversed gender roles, with a woman providing the protection for a man. She also keeps her secrets close, adding to her mystery, and by extension, her power.
There's a lightness to the repartee between Paulin and Brunehilde, but that first scene has us ready for something dire, and our travelers find it in the first hamlet they come to. The year 1000 is a time of famine and pestilence, when feudal lords ruled by fear over the peasants, and when desperate times came, it was always the peasants and scapegoats who lost, not the lords, and certainly not the church (example of which appears later).
And like people even now, if they fall victims to what they don't understand, they are likely to lash out at anything that makes sense to them. In this case, the mystery of the first terrible scene is revealed, but not entirely explained. Brunehilde aims to find out the truth, even if it costs her,
This story is definitely not for kids. It starts scary and extremely violent enough for that to be clear, but the brief, but frank sexual talk should cinch it. It's kind of sweet that Paulin isn't exactly like other men typical for the time period, but also it's satisfying that Brunehilde is the one to draw and maintain boundaries. It is at this point that she shares her origin story, one born of Bavarian hospitality and poverty.
It's clear that the author emphasizes both how people should care for one another and share whatever they have with the less fortunate, and that humans should never forget that they exist in a delicate dance with the natural world.
The depiction of the plump monk among the starving yet admiring poplace is quite the juxtaposition. It is certainly clear that the religious envoy cares more for protocol, liturgy and his own elevation than about the starvation, poverty, and death all about him. He would even encourage those with nothing left, to give even more, to build a chapel of dedication in that place. It takes great pride and tremendous pretension to even suggest such a thing. His directive is sealed with the admonition to the people to care less for treasures on earth than that of eternal salvation (though this is the opposite of the way he lives, in his obvious luxury and comfort). This is not in the name of true faith, but in the furtherance of domination, of stomping out the competition from other belief systems much older than his own. It did not take long for the original church to become hopelessly corrupted by greed and lust for power. (This also foreshadows the future schism after the Inquisition culminates in an obvious grab for more money, lands, and power.)
Like most times, people think that they are special, that their time is the End Times, and that there will be a spiritual battle between good and evil, and that this will usher in a new era. Who wouldn't see Death, Pestilence, and War as evidence of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
It is at this point, that we have some clues about the source of evil which has thought itself doing the work of holy purpose. it is so easy to get it all turned around.
Just as a religious fervor can be subverted into a terrible outcome, the people can forget their tethered relationship with nature and choose short-term outcomes over long-term balance. It's a macro version of the way Paulin survives on the ignorance of others.
Brunehilde makes her living as a healer, one who can treat bites and calm savage beasts. She is intolerant of abuse and wishes to impart peace to all the animals. She is the one who speaks for the wolves, who are often blamed when it is humans who cause carnage.
What Brunehilde discovers is that violence is a kind of disease, one that has spread and has infected society, a disease she hopes to heal.
Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this graphic novel for review.
Sharp readers will immediately realize that "Anno Domini" or "The Year of our Lord" is the Latin source of our historical designation for the years of our common era (now denoted by scholars as C.E. for "Common Era, rather than A.D.)
What do we know about the year 1000? It was not a pleasant time in Europe, to be sure. This story is told through Brunehilde, a wolf charmer, The mythical folklore of the time included two types of magics regarding wolves: one charm to tame them, and the other to cause malevolent harm. What at first apppears to be of the second type, occurs in a frightening scene which precedes the appearance of Brunehilde, who is solidly in the first camp, but has the power to protect herself.
There were during this time, men who sold potions, charms and spells, as they wandered the countryside. Our protagonist meets such a hapless pretender of the magic arts, and is tolerant of his company, though she exudes complete and capable control of her world of the wilderness, along with her half-wolf companion. It is clear to us that Paulin experiences a bit of reversed gender roles, with a woman providing the protection for a man. She also keeps her secrets close, adding to her mystery, and by extension, her power.
There's a lightness to the repartee between Paulin and Brunehilde, but that first scene has us ready for something dire, and our travelers find it in the first hamlet they come to. The year 1000 is a time of famine and pestilence, when feudal lords ruled by fear over the peasants, and when desperate times came, it was always the peasants and scapegoats who lost, not the lords, and certainly not the church (example of which appears later).
And like people even now, if they fall victims to what they don't understand, they are likely to lash out at anything that makes sense to them. In this case, the mystery of the first terrible scene is revealed, but not entirely explained. Brunehilde aims to find out the truth, even if it costs her,
This story is definitely not for kids. It starts scary and extremely violent enough for that to be clear, but the brief, but frank sexual talk should cinch it. It's kind of sweet that Paulin isn't exactly like other men typical for the time period, but also it's satisfying that Brunehilde is the one to draw and maintain boundaries. It is at this point that she shares her origin story, one born of Bavarian hospitality and poverty.
It's clear that the author emphasizes both how people should care for one another and share whatever they have with the less fortunate, and that humans should never forget that they exist in a delicate dance with the natural world.
The depiction of the plump monk among the starving yet admiring poplace is quite the juxtaposition. It is certainly clear that the religious envoy cares more for protocol, liturgy and his own elevation than about the starvation, poverty, and death all about him. He would even encourage those with nothing left, to give even more, to build a chapel of dedication in that place. It takes great pride and tremendous pretension to even suggest such a thing. His directive is sealed with the admonition to the people to care less for treasures on earth than that of eternal salvation (though this is the opposite of the way he lives, in his obvious luxury and comfort). This is not in the name of true faith, but in the furtherance of domination, of stomping out the competition from other belief systems much older than his own. It did not take long for the original church to become hopelessly corrupted by greed and lust for power. (This also foreshadows the future schism after the Inquisition culminates in an obvious grab for more money, lands, and power.)
Like most times, people think that they are special, that their time is the End Times, and that there will be a spiritual battle between good and evil, and that this will usher in a new era. Who wouldn't see Death, Pestilence, and War as evidence of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
It is at this point, that we have some clues about the source of evil which has thought itself doing the work of holy purpose. it is so easy to get it all turned around.
Just as a religious fervor can be subverted into a terrible outcome, the people can forget their tethered relationship with nature and choose short-term outcomes over long-term balance. It's a macro version of the way Paulin survives on the ignorance of others.
Brunehilde makes her living as a healer, one who can treat bites and calm savage beasts. She is intolerant of abuse and wishes to impart peace to all the animals. She is the one who speaks for the wolves, who are often blamed when it is humans who cause carnage.
What Brunehilde discovers is that violence is a kind of disease, one that has spread and has infected society, a disease she hopes to heal.
November 3, 2024
El primer cambio de milenio fue un momento totalmente trascendental para la cultura europea. Teniendo especialmente en cuenta la figura de la religión organizada que podía ir con todo a trastocar la existencia del pueblo llano con sus amenazas apocalípticas y de condenación eterna. El progreso también empezaba a cimentarse sobre el aún puro verdor de la naturaleza. Y en todo este contexto, Thomas Gilbert nos invita a un viaje junto al personaje de Brunehilde. Mujer indómita por su condición de "encantadora de lobos" que busca ser el puente entre la Naturaleza y la Humanidad. Pero en todo pueblo que recorre, solo ve la ignorancia y el odio azuzando el espíritu de los hombres. Y últimamente también se tropieza con truculentas muertes de infantes que fácilmente se tratan de ligar a la presencia de los lobos en los bosques que colindan las poblaciones.
"La Voz de las Bestias, El Ansia de los Hombres" tiene en su particular identidad gráfica un gran reclamo y punto de interés para agradecer su lectura. Thomas Gilbert encuentra un estilo muy particular y fascinante en el panorama de la BD franco belga. Aunado a un coloreado de colores planos que resaltan muy bien todo momento y escenario. La historia busca un conflicto más personal y teológico que lo que llega a apuntar en ciertos tramos que parecen encontrar una curiosa épica entre la suciedad y la mugre de estos individuos a la sombra de los déspotas y acaudalados señores feudales y los sibilinos "Hombres de fe" buscando llenar su panza y caprichos con lo poco de sus devotos justificándolo como "pago" por su servicio sagrado. En medio de todos estos elementos que promueven la mayoría de conflictos y desgracias, la quebrada mente de un hombre, le convierte en una peligrosa bestia salvaje de la que "Bruna" tratara de hacerse cargo. Pero esta mujer no busca la disputa fácil. Y sus métodos suelen buscar la paz y sosiego de los bosques y arroyos por los que ha crecido y se ha formado en unas enseñanzas y prácticas que la humanidad quiere olvidar por ciertas comodidades vacuas. Thomas Gilbert culmina una aparente trilogía temática donde las mujeres se convierten en brújula total para la historia y su fondo temático. El acompañar a Bruna en este viaje y encorazonadora antesala a la siguiente etapa de su camino. Sin duda debería implicar al lector en u
"La Voz de las Bestias, El Ansia de los Hombres" tiene en su particular identidad gráfica un gran reclamo y punto de interés para agradecer su lectura. Thomas Gilbert encuentra un estilo muy particular y fascinante en el panorama de la BD franco belga. Aunado a un coloreado de colores planos que resaltan muy bien todo momento y escenario. La historia busca un conflicto más personal y teológico que lo que llega a apuntar en ciertos tramos que parecen encontrar una curiosa épica entre la suciedad y la mugre de estos individuos a la sombra de los déspotas y acaudalados señores feudales y los sibilinos "Hombres de fe" buscando llenar su panza y caprichos con lo poco de sus devotos justificándolo como "pago" por su servicio sagrado. En medio de todos estos elementos que promueven la mayoría de conflictos y desgracias, la quebrada mente de un hombre, le convierte en una peligrosa bestia salvaje de la que "Bruna" tratara de hacerse cargo. Pero esta mujer no busca la disputa fácil. Y sus métodos suelen buscar la paz y sosiego de los bosques y arroyos por los que ha crecido y se ha formado en unas enseñanzas y prácticas que la humanidad quiere olvidar por ciertas comodidades vacuas. Thomas Gilbert culmina una aparente trilogía temática donde las mujeres se convierten en brújula total para la historia y su fondo temático. El acompañar a Bruna en este viaje y encorazonadora antesala a la siguiente etapa de su camino. Sin duda debería implicar al lector en u
September 6, 2023
TW; religious trauma, graphic religious imagery and indoctrination, graphic injury, death / murder of a child, animal death / injury, ritual sacrifice, execution,
Set in Europe in the year 1000, Anno Domini (or, as it translates, ‘The Year of our Lord’) follows the nomadic Brunhilde (and her trusty companion, Wolfy). She is a healer and wolf-charmer, traversing the wilderness before becoming caught in a frenzy of famine, death, and of mysterious, brutal child murders. Determined to solve the mystery and appease the lost souls of the children, Brunhilde sets out on a mission - at her own peril.
Please be warned that this graphic novel is precisely that - GRAPHIC. There is truly nothing left to the imagination here; despite the title Anno Domini (‘The Year of Our Lord’), this comic truly caught me off guard with the strength and intensity of the violence in the name of religion throughout. If you are coming into this with any semblance of religious trauma please tread lightly - this is PACKED full of ecclesiastical, pious litany concerning eschatology, cleansing and redemption - spread by zealots of the so-called-apocalypse which they claim is fast approaching. This is an unsettling and potentially upsetting read, but I found myself gripped by it. There were moments when the plot felt it was jumping around a little, which could potentially have used a little refining but ultimately the story and the message was conveyed as intended.
I thought this was a really interesting way to remind us of the violent history not only of religious fanaticism, but of power, poverty and injustice throughout lands - the drastically unjust distribution of wealth between monarchs and peasants, the fight for respect in oppressive systems of societal hierarchies, and even dwells lightly on human nature when it comes to altruism vs self preservation.
I must also add that I was honestly blown away by some of the art throughout this - despite the gore, often the imagery is staggering, arresting and powerful - the horsemen of the apocalypse were a consistent highlight.
Set in Europe in the year 1000, Anno Domini (or, as it translates, ‘The Year of our Lord’) follows the nomadic Brunhilde (and her trusty companion, Wolfy). She is a healer and wolf-charmer, traversing the wilderness before becoming caught in a frenzy of famine, death, and of mysterious, brutal child murders. Determined to solve the mystery and appease the lost souls of the children, Brunhilde sets out on a mission - at her own peril.
Please be warned that this graphic novel is precisely that - GRAPHIC. There is truly nothing left to the imagination here; despite the title Anno Domini (‘The Year of Our Lord’), this comic truly caught me off guard with the strength and intensity of the violence in the name of religion throughout. If you are coming into this with any semblance of religious trauma please tread lightly - this is PACKED full of ecclesiastical, pious litany concerning eschatology, cleansing and redemption - spread by zealots of the so-called-apocalypse which they claim is fast approaching. This is an unsettling and potentially upsetting read, but I found myself gripped by it. There were moments when the plot felt it was jumping around a little, which could potentially have used a little refining but ultimately the story and the message was conveyed as intended.
I thought this was a really interesting way to remind us of the violent history not only of religious fanaticism, but of power, poverty and injustice throughout lands - the drastically unjust distribution of wealth between monarchs and peasants, the fight for respect in oppressive systems of societal hierarchies, and even dwells lightly on human nature when it comes to altruism vs self preservation.
I must also add that I was honestly blown away by some of the art throughout this - despite the gore, often the imagery is staggering, arresting and powerful - the horsemen of the apocalypse were a consistent highlight.
July 14, 2023
DOUBLE AVIS les filles de Salem / La voix des Bêtes, la faim des Hommes
J’ai décider de regrouper mon avis sur ces deux Bds, non pas que l’histoire soit similaire, loin de là ! Les deux portes un message, des messages tellement fort, m’ont mise toutes les deux dans tout mes états..:
Bienvenu au cœur d’un dénonciation sans censure de la folie des Hommes.
- Les filles de Salem
Avec la première BD nous partons à Salem, dans la fin du XV ème siècle… en plein cœur d’une chasse au sorcière.
Il y a tellement de thématiques abordées, et elles n’ont toutes poignardées en plein cœur.
Cette histoire est non pas une claque mais une véritable gifle !
le travail de Gilbert Thomas est exceptionnel, que ce soit dans le scénario où dans les illustrations.
Un mariage incroyable !
« Plutôt que de chercher le diabolique en nous..
Traquons celui qui nous semble étranger. »
Une histoire qui dénonce ( accessoirement la place de la femme.. et c’est dans ce genre de situation où l’on se dit… que nous avons quand même bien fait du chemin !!) je m’égare pardon, une histoire qui dénonce la folie des Hommes, qu’elle soit collective ou nous, le règne par la peur ( de l’église), ce cercle de haine.. qui n’aura probablement jamais de fin.
- La voix des Bêtes, la faim des Hommes
« Ici comme ailleurs, on adule les brutes »
Un véritable coup de cœur, tout comme les filles de Salem.
Une histoire révoltante, écoeurante, juste. ( et un peu belle aussi, on va pas enlever l’espoir maintenant !)
Cette histoire est axée sur les croyances, la religion, de la manière dont elle est utilisée. ( Que l’on soit bien d’accord, je ne met aucunement la religion au cœur du / des problème (s) je met uniquement les Hommes. )
Et une fois encore, du détournement des problèmes, le fait de chercher le bouc émissaire le plus facile.
Bref, une fois encore, l’Homme est une véritable gangrène !
J’ai décider de regrouper mon avis sur ces deux Bds, non pas que l’histoire soit similaire, loin de là ! Les deux portes un message, des messages tellement fort, m’ont mise toutes les deux dans tout mes états..:
Bienvenu au cœur d’un dénonciation sans censure de la folie des Hommes.
- Les filles de Salem
Avec la première BD nous partons à Salem, dans la fin du XV ème siècle… en plein cœur d’une chasse au sorcière.
Il y a tellement de thématiques abordées, et elles n’ont toutes poignardées en plein cœur.
Cette histoire est non pas une claque mais une véritable gifle !
le travail de Gilbert Thomas est exceptionnel, que ce soit dans le scénario où dans les illustrations.
Un mariage incroyable !
« Plutôt que de chercher le diabolique en nous..
Traquons celui qui nous semble étranger. »
Une histoire qui dénonce ( accessoirement la place de la femme.. et c’est dans ce genre de situation où l’on se dit… que nous avons quand même bien fait du chemin !!) je m’égare pardon, une histoire qui dénonce la folie des Hommes, qu’elle soit collective ou nous, le règne par la peur ( de l’église), ce cercle de haine.. qui n’aura probablement jamais de fin.
- La voix des Bêtes, la faim des Hommes
« Ici comme ailleurs, on adule les brutes »
Un véritable coup de cœur, tout comme les filles de Salem.
Une histoire révoltante, écoeurante, juste. ( et un peu belle aussi, on va pas enlever l’espoir maintenant !)
Cette histoire est axée sur les croyances, la religion, de la manière dont elle est utilisée. ( Que l’on soit bien d’accord, je ne met aucunement la religion au cœur du / des problème (s) je met uniquement les Hommes. )
Et une fois encore, du détournement des problèmes, le fait de chercher le bouc émissaire le plus facile.
Bref, une fois encore, l’Homme est une véritable gangrène !
July 10, 2023
A l’aube de l’an mille, Brunehilde est meneuse de loups et guérisseuse. Elle voyage de village en village, toujours à l’orée des bois, méfiante et discrète. Les meneux sont parfois bien accueillis mais aussi souvent chassés. Dans ce climat déjà violent la jeune femme tombe sur une série de meurtres d’enfants. Les villageois sont persuadés qu’il s’agit d’un loup ou d’une bête sauvage, mais Brunehilde sait qu’il s’agit de l’oeuvre d’un humain et non pas d’un animal. Déterminée à découvrir la vérité elle suit la trace de ce tueur. Enquête policière en plein Moyen-Age, le récit de Thomas Gilbert est une très belle réflexion sur la violence des hommes et sur son rapport à la nature. C’est un récit sur la violence, sur le fanatisme religieux, sur l’endoctrinement et la folie.
Je ne peux que vous recommander cet album dense et passionnant. Thomas Gilbert conclut sa trilogie sur la violence et l’injustice après « Les filles de Salem » et « Nos corps alchimiques ». J’ai adoré deux des parties de ce triptyque, j’avoue être restée de marbre face à son second opus… Avec « La voix des bêtes, la faim des hommes » j’ai trouvé son récitaA plus condensé et percutant. En implantant ce mystère entre montée du christianisme, prosélytisme et vestiges de paganisme, Thomas Gilbert créé un décorum inquiétant, voire paranoïaque où les pauvre sujets sont les pantins des seigneurs et des clercs.
Je ne peux que vous recommander cet album dense et passionnant. Thomas Gilbert conclut sa trilogie sur la violence et l’injustice après « Les filles de Salem » et « Nos corps alchimiques ». J’ai adoré deux des parties de ce triptyque, j’avoue être restée de marbre face à son second opus… Avec « La voix des bêtes, la faim des hommes » j’ai trouvé son récitaA plus condensé et percutant. En implantant ce mystère entre montée du christianisme, prosélytisme et vestiges de paganisme, Thomas Gilbert créé un décorum inquiétant, voire paranoïaque où les pauvre sujets sont les pantins des seigneurs et des clercs.
June 15, 2023
"La Voix des Bêtes, la Faim des Hommes" par Thomas Gilbert est un livre publié par Dargaud le 26 mai 2023. Voici un résumé du livre :
L'histoire se déroule à la fin du Moyen Âge, une époque où le christianisme cherche à conquérir les populations, principalement rurales, par des moyens intenses. Brunehilde, une femme nomade et meneuse de loups, est considérée comme une sorcière et doit faire face aux dangers des brigands, des bêtes sauvages, des esclavagistes et de l'accueil souvent hostile des villageois.
Lorsqu'elle arrive dans une vallée forestière du Sud-Ouest de la France, Brunehilde découvre une situation terrible : des personnes sont sauvagement assassinées et mutilées dans les bois. Le village est convaincu qu'un démon ou un loup-garou est responsable de ces atrocités. En tant que première suspecte, Brunehilde s'associe à Paulin, un commerçant itinérant qu'elle a rencontré en chemin, et se trouve rapidement obligée de mener l'enquête sur ces meurtres.
Le livre explore les thèmes de la méfiance, de la superstition, de l'enquête et de la lutte pour la vérité dans un contexte médiéval.
L'histoire se déroule à la fin du Moyen Âge, une époque où le christianisme cherche à conquérir les populations, principalement rurales, par des moyens intenses. Brunehilde, une femme nomade et meneuse de loups, est considérée comme une sorcière et doit faire face aux dangers des brigands, des bêtes sauvages, des esclavagistes et de l'accueil souvent hostile des villageois.
Lorsqu'elle arrive dans une vallée forestière du Sud-Ouest de la France, Brunehilde découvre une situation terrible : des personnes sont sauvagement assassinées et mutilées dans les bois. Le village est convaincu qu'un démon ou un loup-garou est responsable de ces atrocités. En tant que première suspecte, Brunehilde s'associe à Paulin, un commerçant itinérant qu'elle a rencontré en chemin, et se trouve rapidement obligée de mener l'enquête sur ces meurtres.
Le livre explore les thèmes de la méfiance, de la superstition, de l'enquête et de la lutte pour la vérité dans un contexte médiéval.
March 11, 2025
Un roman graphique super intéressant.
Les thèmes abordés sont complexes, et si c'est parfois un peu fouillis, on sent toute l'intensité de la réflexion de l'auteur.
Pour ma part je suis mitigée, parcequ'à la fois j'ai passé un super moment, vraiment je suis tombée amoureuse de ces dessins, je recommande l'expérience esthétique, en plus les personnages ont une réelle profondeur, une épaisseur qui s'installe dès les premières pages, et ça c'est vraiment agréable. En plus la plume accompagne vraiment bien l'immersion dans cet univers médiéval, à la fois poétique et cruelle. Le récit en lui-même est ma foi plutôt sombre, et même si la violence était fréquente, et dépeinte de façon assez graphique, c'était très bien amené et pas non plus gratuit, donc ça m'a plu.
Ma réticence se porte plutôt dont la manière dont un des thème à été traité, ça m'a beaucoup travaillé (parce que là aussi c'était bien amené), mais il faut encore que j'y réfléchisse.
En bref c'était une lecture passionnante, qui me donne envie d'aller découvrir d'autres de ces œuvres.
Les thèmes abordés sont complexes, et si c'est parfois un peu fouillis, on sent toute l'intensité de la réflexion de l'auteur.
Pour ma part je suis mitigée, parcequ'à la fois j'ai passé un super moment, vraiment je suis tombée amoureuse de ces dessins, je recommande l'expérience esthétique, en plus les personnages ont une réelle profondeur, une épaisseur qui s'installe dès les premières pages, et ça c'est vraiment agréable. En plus la plume accompagne vraiment bien l'immersion dans cet univers médiéval, à la fois poétique et cruelle. Le récit en lui-même est ma foi plutôt sombre, et même si la violence était fréquente, et dépeinte de façon assez graphique, c'était très bien amené et pas non plus gratuit, donc ça m'a plu.
Ma réticence se porte plutôt dont la manière dont un des thème à été traité, ça m'a beaucoup travaillé (parce que là aussi c'était bien amené), mais il faut encore que j'y réfléchisse.
En bref c'était une lecture passionnante, qui me donne envie d'aller découvrir d'autres de ces œuvres.
July 25, 2024
A weird one, and no mistake, as a young wolf-charming girl in French middle ages goes about the land, not realising that also walking the earth is someone or something doing some mighty religious deed, and doing the work of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. While she could have been an interesting character, she's under-served by the plot, which is a right melange of elements, the talking to herself she is forced to do, and the fact that she does tend to stick to generic fantasy life. Elsewhere the aspects that get the archangels and horsemen into things show an impressive sense of design and scale, but not to that great an effect – this is very much a three star read, with the most notable thing being someone who gets an arrow in the eye – only for it to switch eye a couple of pages later.
August 29, 2023
"Have pity, Lord!" "There, there… Do not fear. Only you can swell our ranks with soldiers. You can sense when a soul is pure."
A mysterious killer, haunted by heavenly visions, roams free and kills children, while frightened villagers blame wild animals in the forests besieged by axes and flames.
"Your daughter will be a link between men and nature, so that we do not forget where we came from."
A mysterious girl who talks to wolves, sees things unseen and heals the wounds of flesh and soul roams the forest, accompanied by her half-dog half-wolf guardian.
"A bed of straw... a roof... and some beer will do me fine."
A wise, cynical, thieving, crooked wanderer sells cures and trinkets in the villages he passes (just once).
"Reject Pagan heresy!"
A fat, exalted monk shares the word of God to undernourished villagers.
"What a fine tree. It will yield a magnificent cross for the new refectory."
A young monk, haunted by longings and nightmares, searches for his way.
An earl who imposes his justice. A wandering woodsman. A peasant whose poisoned harvest forces him to seek his fortune elsewhere. Women who weave silence. Invaders. Assassins. Thieves. Angels. Saints. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. So many real and imaginary characters in the tragic saga of a woman trying to follow her own path and stamp out evil in a cruel and violent Middle Ages, when men are beginning to impose order on nature, when women are trying to civilize their men, and when the old gods are being destroyed by the new faith.
A superbly drawn book, with a strong, elegant line and colorful, atmospheric, colors-messages in the service of a rocambolesque and programmatic story, with surprisingly modern themes and messages, despite the medieval clothing. Excellent.
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.
A mysterious killer, haunted by heavenly visions, roams free and kills children, while frightened villagers blame wild animals in the forests besieged by axes and flames.
"Your daughter will be a link between men and nature, so that we do not forget where we came from."
A mysterious girl who talks to wolves, sees things unseen and heals the wounds of flesh and soul roams the forest, accompanied by her half-dog half-wolf guardian.
"A bed of straw... a roof... and some beer will do me fine."
A wise, cynical, thieving, crooked wanderer sells cures and trinkets in the villages he passes (just once).
"Reject Pagan heresy!"
A fat, exalted monk shares the word of God to undernourished villagers.
"What a fine tree. It will yield a magnificent cross for the new refectory."
A young monk, haunted by longings and nightmares, searches for his way.
An earl who imposes his justice. A wandering woodsman. A peasant whose poisoned harvest forces him to seek his fortune elsewhere. Women who weave silence. Invaders. Assassins. Thieves. Angels. Saints. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. So many real and imaginary characters in the tragic saga of a woman trying to follow her own path and stamp out evil in a cruel and violent Middle Ages, when men are beginning to impose order on nature, when women are trying to civilize their men, and when the old gods are being destroyed by the new faith.
A superbly drawn book, with a strong, elegant line and colorful, atmospheric, colors-messages in the service of a rocambolesque and programmatic story, with surprisingly modern themes and messages, despite the medieval clothing. Excellent.
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.
September 27, 2023
It’s 1000 AD and Brunehilde is a wolf-charmer. As she travels from village to village, she hears talk that the End Times are coming, and then children start disappearing. When these children are found brutally, grotesquely murdered, the people turn on the wolves and the woods, but Brune is positive a human is to blame.
This graphic novel is violent, disturbing, and, well, graphic. It’s certainly not a good time, but I’m extremely impressed with it. Though the art isn’t really to my taste, it is beautifully done, and you get a sense of the roughness of the time period it’s set in. There are explorations of systems of oppression, religious trauma and extremism, mob mentality, patriarchy, and exploitation of the poor. It’s about finding compassion in the midst of all these things, and it’s about caretaking the earth we sprang from. It pulls no punches, either in the gory art or in its discussions.
Brunehilde herself is a fascinating character. Shunned her whole life for being a wolf-charmer, she still manages to be so understanding and full of goodwill for the people around her. She is happy to help whoever will allow her to, and she does all she can to understand the motivations of and have compassion for even the most despicable, deplorable people. She is strong-willed and self-sufficient and a boundary-setter.
This story is like nothing I’ve ever read, and if you have the stomach for it, I recommend it.
ARC provided by Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel is violent, disturbing, and, well, graphic. It’s certainly not a good time, but I’m extremely impressed with it. Though the art isn’t really to my taste, it is beautifully done, and you get a sense of the roughness of the time period it’s set in. There are explorations of systems of oppression, religious trauma and extremism, mob mentality, patriarchy, and exploitation of the poor. It’s about finding compassion in the midst of all these things, and it’s about caretaking the earth we sprang from. It pulls no punches, either in the gory art or in its discussions.
Brunehilde herself is a fascinating character. Shunned her whole life for being a wolf-charmer, she still manages to be so understanding and full of goodwill for the people around her. She is happy to help whoever will allow her to, and she does all she can to understand the motivations of and have compassion for even the most despicable, deplorable people. She is strong-willed and self-sufficient and a boundary-setter.
This story is like nothing I’ve ever read, and if you have the stomach for it, I recommend it.
ARC provided by Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2024
“Anno Domini 1000” with story and art by Thomas Gilbert is a graphic novel set in medieval Europe.
Brunehilde is a skilled healer and wolf charmer traveling across a landscape in ruins. As Brunehilde travels from village to village, she encounters death, famine, and fear and various travel companions. The villagers she meets are terrorized by a mysterious wolf, believed to be responsible for a series of child murders. She sets out to solve this mystery and bring peace to the ghostly children that haunt her.
The artwork in Anno Domini 1000 is great, especially the full panel illustrations that show up from time to time. The art is very detailed and intricate. I enjoyed this story of mystery and cruelty.
Brunehilde is a skilled healer and wolf charmer traveling across a landscape in ruins. As Brunehilde travels from village to village, she encounters death, famine, and fear and various travel companions. The villagers she meets are terrorized by a mysterious wolf, believed to be responsible for a series of child murders. She sets out to solve this mystery and bring peace to the ghostly children that haunt her.
The artwork in Anno Domini 1000 is great, especially the full panel illustrations that show up from time to time. The art is very detailed and intricate. I enjoyed this story of mystery and cruelty.
August 29, 2023
Many thanks to Europe Comics and NetGalley for the ARC!
5⭐ for a thoroughly enjoyable comic.
Anno Domini 1000 begins with a beautiful landscape just before a storm with sheep and their shepard boy dotted along it. The colors shift into darkness as the winds pick up and the rain begins to pour, and we're left with a scenery of profound emotion found in the eyes of ewe and child. The scene shifts to that of the main character, Brunehilde, and her companion, Wolfy, as the meet a fellow traveller, Paulini. They become companions on the road as they go from village to village discovering much of the same at each one: famine, death, and the hunting of wolves.
Children are being slaughtered, and at each village, the assumption is the same: wild beasts are after the young. Brunehilde thinks differently though; a wolf-charmer, she speaks and knows the wolves. This is not how they kill or hunt. But to those she tries to redirect, she finds no listening ears and fear of being labeled a witch shuts her mouth before long.
She decides to go on the hunt herself and find the killer, but if she's not careful, she may be the next victim.
I really enjoyed the art style, the use of color, and the heavy dive into depicting angels according to biblical standards. The way memories are depicted and made distinct--mimicking the way images flash in ones mind when hearing a story. There were what felt like Hieronymus Bosch references at points in the novel. And I really appreciated the historical accuracy in depicting crucifixion on an x instead of Christ's t-cross.
Highly recommend it.
5⭐ for a thoroughly enjoyable comic.
Anno Domini 1000 begins with a beautiful landscape just before a storm with sheep and their shepard boy dotted along it. The colors shift into darkness as the winds pick up and the rain begins to pour, and we're left with a scenery of profound emotion found in the eyes of ewe and child. The scene shifts to that of the main character, Brunehilde, and her companion, Wolfy, as the meet a fellow traveller, Paulini. They become companions on the road as they go from village to village discovering much of the same at each one: famine, death, and the hunting of wolves.
Children are being slaughtered, and at each village, the assumption is the same: wild beasts are after the young. Brunehilde thinks differently though; a wolf-charmer, she speaks and knows the wolves. This is not how they kill or hunt. But to those she tries to redirect, she finds no listening ears and fear of being labeled a witch shuts her mouth before long.
She decides to go on the hunt herself and find the killer, but if she's not careful, she may be the next victim.
I really enjoyed the art style, the use of color, and the heavy dive into depicting angels according to biblical standards. The way memories are depicted and made distinct--mimicking the way images flash in ones mind when hearing a story. There were what felt like Hieronymus Bosch references at points in the novel. And I really appreciated the historical accuracy in depicting crucifixion on an x instead of Christ's t-cross.
Highly recommend it.
September 4, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was an interesting tale to read, but also had an odd plot pace. There were several points where I found myself confused about what was happening within the story. This story is from the viewpoint of Brunhilde, a wandering healer, and wolf charmer, though many would call her a witch or heretic. She travels across southern France and sees many terrible things on her journey. Murder, famine, the desolation of the forests, and invading armies. But she also sees good. The plot largely is about Brunhilde and her travels, but in the last part of the book, it turns into a murder mystery. I did find it interesting each chapter starts with a beautiful illustration of one of the four Horsemen. This graphic novel doesn't shy away from the truths of the time period. It is very gruesome at points, though honestly life during that time could be just as gruesome. I did like this novel.
This was an interesting tale to read, but also had an odd plot pace. There were several points where I found myself confused about what was happening within the story. This story is from the viewpoint of Brunhilde, a wandering healer, and wolf charmer, though many would call her a witch or heretic. She travels across southern France and sees many terrible things on her journey. Murder, famine, the desolation of the forests, and invading armies. But she also sees good. The plot largely is about Brunhilde and her travels, but in the last part of the book, it turns into a murder mystery. I did find it interesting each chapter starts with a beautiful illustration of one of the four Horsemen. This graphic novel doesn't shy away from the truths of the time period. It is very gruesome at points, though honestly life during that time could be just as gruesome. I did like this novel.
September 29, 2023
A beautifully illustrated book with the harsh reality of humanity.
From my point of view, it portrays the correct reaction of humans to anything they cannot explain, whether it be a natural phenomenon or supernatural.
Once they are stuck on a notion, they will stick by it regardless of other evidence.
This one was emotional for me with its depiction of the destruction by humankind.
Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this!
From my point of view, it portrays the correct reaction of humans to anything they cannot explain, whether it be a natural phenomenon or supernatural.
Once they are stuck on a notion, they will stick by it regardless of other evidence.
This one was emotional for me with its depiction of the destruction by humankind.
Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this!
December 30, 2023
Un découpage et un dessin magnifique à en pleurer au service d'un très beau récit sur la violence et l'animalité. Moi qui n'aime pas trop la violence trop graphique, je trouve que c'est pour une fois un vrai vecteur de sens. Super super super découverte j'ai hâte de lire les autres bd de l'auteur.
"Oui, c'est ainsi, le monde est mal fichu. Mais tu verras, c'est possible de lutter. Petit à petit on peut le guérir, et quand nous serons las du malheur, un jour peut-être, c'est la douceur qui triomphera"
"Oui, c'est ainsi, le monde est mal fichu. Mais tu verras, c'est possible de lutter. Petit à petit on peut le guérir, et quand nous serons las du malheur, un jour peut-être, c'est la douceur qui triomphera"
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