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Antarès #1
Antares, episode 1
Humanity migrates to a new planet, the secrets of which Kim Keller will have to unravel. After the failure of the Betelgeuse colonisation mission, Kim is back on Earth, where she is an increasingly popular figure. Meanwhile, advance scouts on planet Antares have witnessed some distressingly strange events. Worried about the future of this new mission, the sponsors of the Antares project call upon Kim to accompany the first colonists, offering legal amnesty for Alexa and Mark in exchange. It’s the beginning of a new adventure for the young woman and her friends.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
9 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira (Leo)
106 books172 followersLuiz Eduardo de Oliveira (born on December 13, 1944 in Brazil),[1] more famous under his artist name LEO is a Brazilian comics creator.
After having graduated as an engineer in mechanics, Oliveira left Brazil because of the military dictatorship that was in power at the time. He went first to Chile, but the following year saw the Chilean coup of 1973. This led Oliveira to leave, moving to Argentina, from where he finally returned to Brazil in 1974.
He found work as an illustrator in the advertising industry of São Paulo, before once more leaving Brazil, in 1981, this time moving to France, hoping to illustrate comics. However as the Franco-Belgian comics industry was in recession at the time, he was forced to work in advertising once again, although he managed to get the occasional piece published in L'Écho des savanes and Pilote.
In 1986, with the assistance of Jean-Claude Forest, Oliveira began contributing to the youth dedicated magazines of Bayard Presse. He illustrated true stories for Okapi magazine. He then recounted Mahatma Gandhi's life in the album Gandhi, le pèlerin de la paix, for Astrapi.
In 1988, the comics writer Rodolphe asked him to provide the artwork for his stories. Their collaboration proved fruitful, producing 8 albums of material for their Trent series and 5 for their Kenya one.
In 1993, Oleveira finally achieved an old dream when Dargaud agreed to publish his first solo series: Aldébaran. In 2000, after 5 volumes of Aldébaran, he launched Bételgeuse, which was nominated for the Prize for a Series at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2004.
After having graduated as an engineer in mechanics, Oliveira left Brazil because of the military dictatorship that was in power at the time. He went first to Chile, but the following year saw the Chilean coup of 1973. This led Oliveira to leave, moving to Argentina, from where he finally returned to Brazil in 1974.
He found work as an illustrator in the advertising industry of São Paulo, before once more leaving Brazil, in 1981, this time moving to France, hoping to illustrate comics. However as the Franco-Belgian comics industry was in recession at the time, he was forced to work in advertising once again, although he managed to get the occasional piece published in L'Écho des savanes and Pilote.
In 1986, with the assistance of Jean-Claude Forest, Oliveira began contributing to the youth dedicated magazines of Bayard Presse. He illustrated true stories for Okapi magazine. He then recounted Mahatma Gandhi's life in the album Gandhi, le pèlerin de la paix, for Astrapi.
In 1988, the comics writer Rodolphe asked him to provide the artwork for his stories. Their collaboration proved fruitful, producing 8 albums of material for their Trent series and 5 for their Kenya one.
In 1993, Oleveira finally achieved an old dream when Dargaud agreed to publish his first solo series: Aldébaran. In 2000, after 5 volumes of Aldébaran, he launched Bételgeuse, which was nominated for the Prize for a Series at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 21, 2017
Do yourself a favour and read this series, starting with The Catastrophe. It's such an amazing series. I like this even more than Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, and that's saying a lot!
August 10, 2024
"Антарес" е първия албум от третия цикъл посветен на човешката колонизация в Космоса.
Предстои заселването на нова планета, а Ким и приятелите ѝ ще са част от експедицията.
Лео е все така оригинален в историята, рисунките му са чудесни и веднага продължавам със следващата част!
Предстои заселването на нова планета, а Ким и приятелите ѝ ще са част от експедицията.
Лео е все така оригинален в историята, рисунките му са чудесни и веднага продължавам със следващата част!
June 3, 2023
Surprenant
November 27, 2022
Of all of the many chapters that I've read in Leo's space odysseys, this is the creepiest! Kim's _____ and what happens to the other female lead were totally unsettling.
Cinebook (UK English edition) logic:
CensErase Betelgeuse Mai Lan's (now adult) side-view areonip but leave Antares Mei's full-frontal breasts and cleft since she's in an x-ray situation- even though the only difference to the naked (ha!) eye is that her "dirty" parts only changed in colour from pink to pale. I guess that's because it's a "medical" view?
Cinebook (UK English edition) logic:
CensErase Betelgeuse Mai Lan's (now adult) side-view areonip but leave Antares Mei's full-frontal breasts and cleft since she's in an x-ray situation- even though the only difference to the naked (ha!) eye is that her "dirty" parts only changed in colour from pink to pale. I guess that's because it's a "medical" view?
Read
August 4, 2011Les séries Aldébaran, Beetlguice me font de l'oeil depuis longtemps. Sans savoir de quoi il s'agit. La couverture m'a toujours intrigué. J'ai reçu pour mon annif, les 2 premiers tomes de Antares, suite des 2 séries pré-citées.
Clairement j'adhère à la l'histoire et à ce monde science fiction 100% à mon gout... Coté dessin, ce n'est pas tout à fait le style que j'apprécie... j'aime les mondes et univers, mais pas trop le style des personnages, un peu trop rétro... Ceci dit, lire Antares sans avoir lu les 2 premières séries me donne l'impression de peut-être manqué de tous les éléments nécessaire à bien profiter de l'histoire...
Clairement j'adhère à la l'histoire et à ce monde science fiction 100% à mon gout... Coté dessin, ce n'est pas tout à fait le style que j'apprécie... j'aime les mondes et univers, mais pas trop le style des personnages, un peu trop rétro... Ceci dit, lire Antares sans avoir lu les 2 premières séries me donne l'impression de peut-être manqué de tous les éléments nécessaire à bien profiter de l'histoire...
October 14, 2012
This was actually the best book in the series so far. I loved the first two volumes of the Aldebaran series, a coming-of-age story set against a totalitarian background. In this cycle, Antares, all of the humanitarian themes of the series are present and new themes & mysteries are introduced. The artwork is in the characteristic style of Franco/Belgian comics (no digital colouring).
April 17, 2022
In the third cycle of Léo's Worlds of Aldebaran series which began with Aldebaran, followed by Betelgeuse, we are introduced to a trio of explorers who have been sent to the planet Antares 5. Their job is to document the environmental conditions, in particular the fauna and flora, as part of an assessment for potential colonisation. They make a troubling discovery: some strange phenomenon causes one of the native animals to vanish into thin air, a clear sign of the existence of a technologically advanced alien intelligence... yet no such aliens are in evidence. It remains a mystery, and - from the viewpoint of the Earth-based corporation which plans to invest heavily in the colonisation project - a very costly inconvenience. The planet is not a safe place for humans... but will such a concern sway those who are motivated by huge profit margins?
Meanwhile or heroine Kim Keller is relaxing on Earth after her strenuous adventures on Betelgeuse 6. Staying with a friend in Paris, on a polluted Earth, she is contacted by a representative of Forward Enterprises. They want her to join their proposed colonisation of Antares 5; a blatant exploitation of her popularity to create increased confidence in their brand. Kim is in no mood to go gallivanting off on yet another adventure on an unknown world, but is emotionally blackmailed into doing just that when the proposition is put to her that her friends Mark and Alexa - imprisoned for stealing a spacecraft in order to rescue her in the previous cycle - will be conditionally released and join her on the expedition. Mysteries lie ahead for our intrepid protagonists, and Kim also has a little secret of her own that she has yet to reveal...
If you enjoyed the first two cycles of Léo's grand opus, you will be in comfortably familiar territory here: high drama, rich worldbuilding, perilous journeys through frightening alien landscapes, struggles against corrupt and oppressive authorities, all blended expertly into a compelling narrative.
As before, the writer/artist brings us a whole bestiary of imaginative exotic animals, plus very stylish vehicle designs. He excels himself in this regard in the third cycle, creating a truly inspiring alien wonderland. So much popular science fiction leans mostly on action and thrills; it is much more rare to find a work that delights so much in sheer artistic inventiveness. There is more than a nod to the approach of Mœbius here, but Léo's creations are uniquely his own. There is nevertheless the same lovingly crafted originality that lifts this work above the mainstream. It is very satisfying to find a graphic novel that fully develops both the narrative and visual dimensions of the medium (as, ideally, they always should be); for both to be the creation of the same person is the mark of an exceptional talent.
In terms of the story, this is part of a greater arc which weaves the personal journeys of the main players in with grand themes of social development and the destiny of humankind. The perennially popular trope of questioning our race's readiness to participate in the affairs of the universe beyond our humble homeworld is never far from the focus. What constitutes a healthy, mature civilisation, though? Léo is unashamedly in the liberal camp when it comes to this conundrum; again religious orthodoxy raises its ugly head, in a not very thinly-veiled swipe at Islam and its traditional gender roles and restrictions. More than once the scientific experience of the (largely female) main characters wins out against the faith-based instincts of some (rather stereotypical) spiritual antagonists.
Antares covers new ground; although many themes are repeated from previous cycles the story as a whole is nevertheless moved forward with a few key revelations in store. Overall, for the reader this is a very rewarding stretch of the quest, with tantalising hints at more wonders to come in the next instalment.
Meanwhile or heroine Kim Keller is relaxing on Earth after her strenuous adventures on Betelgeuse 6. Staying with a friend in Paris, on a polluted Earth, she is contacted by a representative of Forward Enterprises. They want her to join their proposed colonisation of Antares 5; a blatant exploitation of her popularity to create increased confidence in their brand. Kim is in no mood to go gallivanting off on yet another adventure on an unknown world, but is emotionally blackmailed into doing just that when the proposition is put to her that her friends Mark and Alexa - imprisoned for stealing a spacecraft in order to rescue her in the previous cycle - will be conditionally released and join her on the expedition. Mysteries lie ahead for our intrepid protagonists, and Kim also has a little secret of her own that she has yet to reveal...
If you enjoyed the first two cycles of Léo's grand opus, you will be in comfortably familiar territory here: high drama, rich worldbuilding, perilous journeys through frightening alien landscapes, struggles against corrupt and oppressive authorities, all blended expertly into a compelling narrative.
As before, the writer/artist brings us a whole bestiary of imaginative exotic animals, plus very stylish vehicle designs. He excels himself in this regard in the third cycle, creating a truly inspiring alien wonderland. So much popular science fiction leans mostly on action and thrills; it is much more rare to find a work that delights so much in sheer artistic inventiveness. There is more than a nod to the approach of Mœbius here, but Léo's creations are uniquely his own. There is nevertheless the same lovingly crafted originality that lifts this work above the mainstream. It is very satisfying to find a graphic novel that fully develops both the narrative and visual dimensions of the medium (as, ideally, they always should be); for both to be the creation of the same person is the mark of an exceptional talent.
In terms of the story, this is part of a greater arc which weaves the personal journeys of the main players in with grand themes of social development and the destiny of humankind. The perennially popular trope of questioning our race's readiness to participate in the affairs of the universe beyond our humble homeworld is never far from the focus. What constitutes a healthy, mature civilisation, though? Léo is unashamedly in the liberal camp when it comes to this conundrum; again religious orthodoxy raises its ugly head, in a not very thinly-veiled swipe at Islam and its traditional gender roles and restrictions. More than once the scientific experience of the (largely female) main characters wins out against the faith-based instincts of some (rather stereotypical) spiritual antagonists.
Antares covers new ground; although many themes are repeated from previous cycles the story as a whole is nevertheless moved forward with a few key revelations in store. Overall, for the reader this is a very rewarding stretch of the quest, with tantalising hints at more wonders to come in the next instalment.
May 15, 2017
This review includes all 6 books in the 3rd cycle and remains spoiler-free.
Story: the story follows the MC after she had made contact with an advanced species on her home planet Alderaan, where she and new friends fought an imperialistic dictatorship that once was an early colony of Earth. In the this cycle, the MC travels to a new planet to find out about the missing humans and animals that mysteriously disappear within seconds. The intergalactic trip is sponsored by a religious corporation from Earth which interferes in the ongoing investigation and creates a dramatic tension between 'progressive' humans who want to find out the truth behind the disappearing and 'fanatics' who see a religious meaning behind the phenomenon.
Drawing style: the realistic depictions and traditional colors remind me of the old Franco-Belgian comics of the 70s/80s. Despite the story playing in the far future, the technology seems strangely outdated. Hundreds of years in the future, humans still wear regular uniforms, use mostly bullet-based rifles reminiscent of AK-47's and have no upgrades whatsoever. However, the human expressions are detailed and realistic. The artist excels in depicting emotions and personal interactions. The exotic planetary landscapes and its crazy alien animal populations are exciting to observe. Every new page is ripe with new and dangerous flora and fauna.
Conclusion: despite a low-tech far future, the ideas , story and diverse characters are addicting to read/watch. The story deals with the future of humanity, spiritual and political tensions, the search for new and sentient life forms and presents them in a low-key, but competent and easy-to-read drawing style. Highly recommended for any graphic novel aficionado who is interested in 'First Contact' and 'Colonization' stories delivered with a European touch.
Story: the story follows the MC after she had made contact with an advanced species on her home planet Alderaan, where she and new friends fought an imperialistic dictatorship that once was an early colony of Earth. In the this cycle, the MC travels to a new planet to find out about the missing humans and animals that mysteriously disappear within seconds. The intergalactic trip is sponsored by a religious corporation from Earth which interferes in the ongoing investigation and creates a dramatic tension between 'progressive' humans who want to find out the truth behind the disappearing and 'fanatics' who see a religious meaning behind the phenomenon.
Drawing style: the realistic depictions and traditional colors remind me of the old Franco-Belgian comics of the 70s/80s. Despite the story playing in the far future, the technology seems strangely outdated. Hundreds of years in the future, humans still wear regular uniforms, use mostly bullet-based rifles reminiscent of AK-47's and have no upgrades whatsoever. However, the human expressions are detailed and realistic. The artist excels in depicting emotions and personal interactions. The exotic planetary landscapes and its crazy alien animal populations are exciting to observe. Every new page is ripe with new and dangerous flora and fauna.
Conclusion: despite a low-tech far future, the ideas , story and diverse characters are addicting to read/watch. The story deals with the future of humanity, spiritual and political tensions, the search for new and sentient life forms and presents them in a low-key, but competent and easy-to-read drawing style. Highly recommended for any graphic novel aficionado who is interested in 'First Contact' and 'Colonization' stories delivered with a European touch.
December 12, 2018
On est reparti pour des planètes lointains avec Leo et cette fois-ci, on va à la planète Antarès où une petite équipe de trois personnes essaye de déterminer si la planète serait habitable pour des terriens. Encore une fois, Leo nous offre des créatures fantastiques, et comme d’habitude, pas toujours paisible. Car bien sûr, il y a toujours des herbivores ET des carnivores dans un écosystème…
On revoit aussi nos amis d’Aldébaran et Bételgeuse : Kim, Marc, Alexa, Maï Lan, Hector, et l’irrépressible Monsieur Pad, pour qui les situations ont bien changé depuis les évènements sur Bételgeuse. Surtout pour Kim…
En plus, on voit un peu la vie sur Terre – une Terre polluée, ravagée par des guerres de religion, changée en son climat et surpeuplée. Mais c’est aussi avec les expériences de Kim et des autres sur Terre qu’on peut commencer à voir le fil du patriarcat et de la puissance religieuse qui courent tout au long de ces mondes d’Aldébaran.
Comme d’habitude, Antarès cache ses propres secrets, donc il ne reste que de continuer à lire pour en savoir d’avantage, d’avoir des révélations de ce qui se passe sur cette planète lointain aux animaux dangereux, variés, et qui peuvent disparaître un par un à n’importe quel moment sans préavis…
On revoit aussi nos amis d’Aldébaran et Bételgeuse : Kim, Marc, Alexa, Maï Lan, Hector, et l’irrépressible Monsieur Pad, pour qui les situations ont bien changé depuis les évènements sur Bételgeuse. Surtout pour Kim…
En plus, on voit un peu la vie sur Terre – une Terre polluée, ravagée par des guerres de religion, changée en son climat et surpeuplée. Mais c’est aussi avec les expériences de Kim et des autres sur Terre qu’on peut commencer à voir le fil du patriarcat et de la puissance religieuse qui courent tout au long de ces mondes d’Aldébaran.
Comme d’habitude, Antarès cache ses propres secrets, donc il ne reste que de continuer à lire pour en savoir d’avantage, d’avoir des révélations de ce qui se passe sur cette planète lointain aux animaux dangereux, variés, et qui peuvent disparaître un par un à n’importe quel moment sans préavis…
January 31, 2019
Un de mes collègues m'a demandé si je voulais emprunter son livre; censément, il a des concepts exotiques et différents de la science-fiction. Je peux confirmer que c'est partiellement comme ça. L'auteur a conçu des bête exotiques, parmi eux un tapis noir voulant et une créature à deux têtes ressemblant à un mouton... Nous finissons le livre sans savoir beaucoup de ce qui se passe en Antarès, sauf que certaines choses se dissèquent ou meurent à l'improviste. Enfin, une grande majorité du temps est consacré à l'histoire du personnage principal, qui est le point faible du livre: il est plus ou moins banal et pas très bien racontée. Ah, l'art est très pauvre, malheureusement... Cependant, c'était le livre parfait pour solidifier mon français!
July 30, 2022
After the Aldebaran and Betelgeuse series, we now have the Antares series, currently available on Kindle Unlimited in English.
See volume one of the Aldebaran series for general comments. There’s still some interesting visual imagination here, but the soap opera of a story is getting tiresome and the art is suitably stiff and tired where human characters are concerned. All the returning characters are just whining and griping and bickering in this episode. It’s barely an adventure at all, just a slice of life with less and less interesting characters.
The random disintegration of creatures and people is intriguing, so I’ll read on as long as this series is on Kindle Unlimited, but I certainly won’t go out of my way.
See volume one of the Aldebaran series for general comments. There’s still some interesting visual imagination here, but the soap opera of a story is getting tiresome and the art is suitably stiff and tired where human characters are concerned. All the returning characters are just whining and griping and bickering in this episode. It’s barely an adventure at all, just a slice of life with less and less interesting characters.
The random disintegration of creatures and people is intriguing, so I’ll read on as long as this series is on Kindle Unlimited, but I certainly won’t go out of my way.
April 6, 2023
Very much in the style of the two previous cycles, this episode sets the scene for the rest of the series. Kim is the hero again, now with the extra challenge of a daughter in tow, having been knocked up by creepy alien stalker guy from the last series. Certainly leaves you wanting to see what develops in the later volumes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
Nuova storia, vecchi protagonisti. E questa volta il pianeta é Antares, molto più pericoloso di quanto non lo fossero Aldebaran e Betelgeuse. Quali segreti nasconde? Cosa lo rende così pericoloso? L’inizio é subito deciso. Mi mantengo sulle 4 stelle, per adesso, per vedere come procede la storia.
June 5, 2020
For Antares, the plot starts thick with Kim and her group spread over many locations and with imminent issues they need to fix following the Betelgeuse storyline. A major surprise and a new expedition to Antares completes the first part of the story.
May 3, 2022
Recent Reads: Antares - Episode 1. A new cycle in Leo's ecological SF BD saga takes us to a dangerous world, which a religious sect wants to colonise. Back on Earth Kim is tasked with finding out what has happened, but she is pregnant. Who is the father? And what is her daughter?
November 24, 2017
This is good science fiction. I should have started with the earlier series, though. I might go back and read them sometime, but so far it's not innovative or different enough to pique my interest.
October 10, 2019
Ravie de retrouver Kim et les autres. L’aperçu que l’on a de la planète Aldebaran est assez effrayant. Encore des mystères à éclaircir...
October 10, 2020
Les mondes de Leo sont toujours fascinants !
January 12, 2021
Here we go! After the Aldebaran and Betelgeuse series new adventures are coming up!!
December 24, 2023
"COUNTING" all 6 in the series as one Book for my year.
Translated from Portugese .
Not as gory as many adventure series.
Graphics are crisp.
Translated from Portugese .
Not as gory as many adventure series.
Graphics are crisp.
February 26, 2020
The story was terrible. There are mysterious aliens, frustrated love affairs, and reckless corporate greed, but none of them are compelling and all of them are insufficiently developed. I understand there is a backstory (since this is volume 1 I assumed I was starting from the beginning) under another title, but there isn't a backstory that could have saved this.
The art was alright, but fell down on the aliens which looked badly drawn rather than strange and 'alien.'
The art was alright, but fell down on the aliens which looked badly drawn rather than strange and 'alien.'
October 25, 2016
This is the first album in the third cycle of Leo's fine science fiction epic The Worlds of Aldebaran, and it picks up some time after the events in
Betelgeuse: The Other
, which closed the second cycle.
Introducing a number of new characters, Leo presents the reader with a new colonisation project under way - Antares. But the people behind the project are experiencing difficulties and manage to engage Kim Keller and some of her other Mantrisse enhanced friends (like Alexa and Mark) on this brave new adventures, with its own fair share of problems.
I would recommend any reader to start with the first cycle, Aldebaran, but I would equally much recommend doing that heartily. Leo's expanding saga is one of the better science fiction comics in the last decade or so, and I for one aim to stick with his extended narrative.
Introducing a number of new characters, Leo presents the reader with a new colonisation project under way - Antares. But the people behind the project are experiencing difficulties and manage to engage Kim Keller and some of her other Mantrisse enhanced friends (like Alexa and Mark) on this brave new adventures, with its own fair share of problems.
I would recommend any reader to start with the first cycle, Aldebaran, but I would equally much recommend doing that heartily. Leo's expanding saga is one of the better science fiction comics in the last decade or so, and I for one aim to stick with his extended narrative.
December 11, 2016
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2752452.html
This first album in the new sequence has two strands, the problems of a reconnaissance team on the planet known as Antares (not of course in orbit around Antares, just a star in roughly the same direction as seen from Earth), and the efforts of the Forward Enterprises corporation of New York to persuade Kim, the heroine of the first two series, to lead an expedition to find out what is going on. Kim has her own problems, having been impregnated by an alien being in the middle of the previous book and producing a little girl with fins and gills. By the end of this volume she has reluctantly agreed to return to space with her old comrades and her child, and we are braced for the next volume.
This first album in the new sequence has two strands, the problems of a reconnaissance team on the planet known as Antares (not of course in orbit around Antares, just a star in roughly the same direction as seen from Earth), and the efforts of the Forward Enterprises corporation of New York to persuade Kim, the heroine of the first two series, to lead an expedition to find out what is going on. Kim has her own problems, having been impregnated by an alien being in the middle of the previous book and producing a little girl with fins and gills. By the end of this volume she has reluctantly agreed to return to space with her old comrades and her child, and we are braced for the next volume.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews