Trigansko Carstvo, Knjiga 2

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire #2

by Mike Butterworth

Druga knjiga integralnog izdanja vanvremenskog klasika naučne fantastike donosi storije objavljene između maja 1968. i novembra 1970. godine. Delo koje kritika već decenijama ističe zbog izuzetno maštovitog vizuelnog prikaza fantastičnih svetova, epska je priča o usponu i padu Triganskog carstva i herojskim poduhvatima njegovog vladara Trigona. Raskošno slikane table Dona Lorensa iz ovog perioda, sabrane u ovoj knjizi, potvrđuju njegov status jednog od najvećih umetnika stripa svih vremena.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Sequential Art, Comix, Adventure, Fiction

285 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

John Michael Butterworth (10 January 1924 – 4 October 1986) was a British comic book writer, best known for his comic strip The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire in the British weeklies Ranger and Look and Learn.

His first novel, The Soundless Scream, appeared in 1967 followed over the next few years by a number of well-received crime novels which appeared under his full name, which has led to some confusion between his work and that of science fiction writer and Savoy Books publisher Michael Butterworth. Butterworth also turned his hand to Gothic romance novels under the pen-name Carola Salisbury and "bodice rippers" as Janette Seymour.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 62.

Reviews

[Carlex · Rating 4 out of 5]

You must leave aside the absolute male prominence and the simplicity of these auto-conclusive stories published weekly, which if they are read consecutively can be repetitive. If you succeed, delve into the drawings and world-building of the planet Elekton and its people and enjoy yourself.

[Alex Sarll]

Continuing the classic British comic best understood as Gibbon retold in the style of Axe Cop, but much prettier (though I could never altogether work out whether the sea monsters in particular are supposed to come off as derpy as they do). Also, even the fruitier Roman emperors generally had some slight grasp of delegation, whereas Trigo and/or his immediate family will insist on rushing headlong into whatever new ludicrousness erupts. The first couple of stories here involve good Trigan fellows going batshit psycho - in the first story it's direct mind control by an alien; in the second, booze made from plants on which an alien dust has fallen. Does any of this inspire them to adopt a system of government less easily derailed by aliens giving one man a funny turn? No, it does not. We should probably just be grateful, given the offending beverage was called 'Gorbal', that it didn't turn them all stereotypically Scottish into the bargain. Granted, Trigo does eventually realise (and this is not bad going for saying he's been alive since they were nomads) that maybe a republic would work better than an empire - but the new regime almost instantly gets subverted by the planet's richest man (so that bit at least is very plausible – see also, the story in which a simpleton with a mop of blond hair, raised from birth to think of himself as destined ruler, ends up inconsequentially on the throne while the cabal behind him carve things up to their own advantage). Meaning Trigo has to resume the throne, ready to be mind-controlled/kidnapped/generally get into more predicaments than a TikTok-friendly pet all over again.

Artist Don Lawrence's old pupil Chris Weston provides the introduction this time, talking about a surprisingly laid-back, bohemian figure with a joint always on the go - not the thrusting New Elizabethan I inferred from the strips and their improving original context of Look & Learn magazine. Does this mean we should take the whole thing as a deadpan satire on authority figures and imperial pretensions? Who can say; either way, it remains enormous fun.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 4.5. Not as deeply or as primordially mythic as Volume 1, but still great Silver Age adventure work.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recent Reads: The Rise And Fall Of The Trigan Empire Volume 2. More of Mike Butterworth's epic comic, with Don Lawrence and Ron Embleton's painted art. Roman-influenced scifi action, with more alien invasions than you can shake a stick at. But, oh so beautifully illustrated.

[Shyue Chou Chuang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially more of the same, more aliens, evil persons and others seeking to topple or depose the righteous Trigo. The stories are essentially straight forward sword-and-sandal tales set in a 1950s rocket ship science fiction setting with Roman and Greek elements. The artwork is skilfully rendered with generic 1950s rocket planes and rocket ships but there are few distinguishing elements, the ships and planes could just be taken out of any period SF of that time. The art is great but the design is not, it doesn't excite the imagination.

The series didn't date well. It is essentially not unlike looking at Marvel or DC comics of the 1960s and 1970s except with much better art.

[Andri Nugraha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lukisan Don Lawrence selalu jadi yang terbaik.
Dari segi cerita, buku ini adalah anak zamannya. Pengulangan tema dan tidak adanya kontinuitas antar episode adalah hal yang biasa. Kemungkinan besar ini terjadi karena aslinya cergam Trigan adalah sisipan di berbagai majalah di Inggris sana. Lepas kontrak dari satu majalah dan pindah ke majalah baru menyebabkan Mike Butterworth terpaksa mengulang tema yang sama untuk audiensi yang berbeda.

[Gary Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered where this could go after the foundation and solidification of the empire. It turns out that there was plenty of score for extremely interesting stories and characters. Additionally, the artistry remains magnificent.

[John Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah such is the great stuff of childhood. The stories are crazy and full of holes, but also great heros, action, adventure, bravery, and well done art of the sandal and spaceship variety. Gotta love it though, if you did when you were a kid.

[Paul Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously presented volume of an epic tale I’m not otherwise familiar with.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to relive a classic from the pages of Ranger and Look and Learn magazine.

[Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great set of pulp scifi stories and amazing artwork to boot!!!

[Allan Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art was incredible just like first volume. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe this is actually an old comic, the art is breathtaking and the stories and characters are fantastic.

[David Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delve into comic strip history. The lush art of Don Lawrence is worth the price of the book on it's own. The stories are good fun as well

[Barry Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

More gorgeous artwork and decent storylines from the sixties!

[vince weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood legend repackaged...the art is fantastic, the stories a tad simplistically repetitive BUT excellent for all that

[Joe Santoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plots definitely repeat some... there's variations of just a couple different stories over and over, but they're FUN stories, and the art is fantastic. Definitely worth checking out!

[Al Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is fantastic, some of the greatest comic art of all time, but the story and lack of continuity is just so awful, I won’t be reading anymore Trigan Empire.