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Rasputin (single issues) #1-5
Rasputin #1
DRACULA AT DOWNTON ABBEY! In one night Rasputin was poisoned, beaten, stabbed, shot in the head, drowned, then tied up and thrown in a frozen river. It was really bad timing. His beard was just coming in nicely. New York Times bestselling author ALEX GRECIAN and fan favorite artist RILEY ROSSMO reunite for the first time since their critically acclaimed series PROOF!
29 pages
First published October 29, 2014
6 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Alex Grecian
59 books1,629 followersGrecian is the author of several bestselling thrillers, including THE SAINT OF WOLVES AND BUTCHERS, and five novels featuring Scotland Yard's Murder Squad: THE YARD, THE BLACK COUNTRY, THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP, THE HARVEST MAN, and LOST AND GONE FOREVER, plus the original Murder Squad ebook, THE BLUE GIRL.
He also created the six-volume graphic novel series PROOF, and the two-part graphic novel RASPUTIN.
He currently lives in the American Midwest with his wife and son. And a dog. And a tarantula.
He also created the six-volume graphic novel series PROOF, and the two-part graphic novel RASPUTIN.
He currently lives in the American Midwest with his wife and son. And a dog. And a tarantula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 18, 2015
If you don’t know anything about Rasputin, this review might be considered to contain spoilers even though (most of) these events actually happened and are a part of history. Such is the world we live in today, though.
The circumstances of Rasputin’s death are by far more interesting than his life. His assassination involved several men who poisoned, beat, stabbed, shot, and drowned Rasputin before tying him up and throwing him in the Malaya Nevka River. He just wouldn’t die! And even when they found his corpse, the myth goes, he’d somehow freed himself and his fingers were rubbed raw from scrabbling beneath the icy river to try to break the surface!
But who was Rasputin? Writer Alex Grecian and artist Riley Rossmo takes the reader through Rasputin’s life interspersed with scenes from his final hours. Most of the book is based on fact - he was a self-proclaimed holy man from a Siberian peasant family who, it was told, could heal anybody. This faith healing took him from the Russian tundra to the Winter Palace itself where he became a confidante of Tsar Nicholas II (the last Tsar of Russia) and his wife Alexandra after healing their son Alexei of “the royal disease”, haemophilia.
But Rasputin became a lightning rod for the public’s hatred of the royal family and had to die. Shortly after his death, the Russian revolution took place, and the rest is history.
The comic is informative if you know little or nothing about Rasputin and even if you do, it’s a story told well so you get a good sense of his life in a short space. It is a reimagining though, even if the parts newly imagined are few and far between. Grecian emphasises Rasputin’s healing powers and hints at their origin, which would also explain why it took so much to kill him.
Grecian is also content to do without constant narration, which is refreshing and means that it’s a fast-moving tale. Rossmo’s art is good too, his figures as fluid as the script and the two work together very well.
The whole time I was reading though I kept wondering where it was all going. Why retell Rasputin’s life? It seems like such an arbitrary premise! However this is the first volume in a series so I’m guessing this was table-setting to familiarise the reader with this man before going somewhere completely different in the next book - the old bait’n’switch! Maybe. I’ll definitely check back to see if I’m right.
Rasputin Volume 1 is a fine comic if a puzzling one with regards to where it’s headed. At any rate, The Mad Monk’s life was a remarkable one and anyone interested in him will find plenty to enjoy in this book.
The circumstances of Rasputin’s death are by far more interesting than his life. His assassination involved several men who poisoned, beat, stabbed, shot, and drowned Rasputin before tying him up and throwing him in the Malaya Nevka River. He just wouldn’t die! And even when they found his corpse, the myth goes, he’d somehow freed himself and his fingers were rubbed raw from scrabbling beneath the icy river to try to break the surface!
But who was Rasputin? Writer Alex Grecian and artist Riley Rossmo takes the reader through Rasputin’s life interspersed with scenes from his final hours. Most of the book is based on fact - he was a self-proclaimed holy man from a Siberian peasant family who, it was told, could heal anybody. This faith healing took him from the Russian tundra to the Winter Palace itself where he became a confidante of Tsar Nicholas II (the last Tsar of Russia) and his wife Alexandra after healing their son Alexei of “the royal disease”, haemophilia.
But Rasputin became a lightning rod for the public’s hatred of the royal family and had to die. Shortly after his death, the Russian revolution took place, and the rest is history.
The comic is informative if you know little or nothing about Rasputin and even if you do, it’s a story told well so you get a good sense of his life in a short space. It is a reimagining though, even if the parts newly imagined are few and far between. Grecian emphasises Rasputin’s healing powers and hints at their origin, which would also explain why it took so much to kill him.
Grecian is also content to do without constant narration, which is refreshing and means that it’s a fast-moving tale. Rossmo’s art is good too, his figures as fluid as the script and the two work together very well.
The whole time I was reading though I kept wondering where it was all going. Why retell Rasputin’s life? It seems like such an arbitrary premise! However this is the first volume in a series so I’m guessing this was table-setting to familiarise the reader with this man before going somewhere completely different in the next book - the old bait’n’switch! Maybe. I’ll definitely check back to see if I’m right.
Rasputin Volume 1 is a fine comic if a puzzling one with regards to where it’s headed. At any rate, The Mad Monk’s life was a remarkable one and anyone interested in him will find plenty to enjoy in this book.
October 11, 2015
There lived a certain man in Russia long ago
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire
RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen...da da da da!
I must admit I've always been intrigued about the story of Rasputin. I first heard of him when I watched the Hellboy film not Boney M. He's almost mythical and paranormal.
In real life he was a peasant and allegedly a mythical healer and we all know what people thought about magic back in the 19th century! Burn them!
Anyway turns out that he was poisoned, stabbed, shot and still didn't die, so they drowned him allegedly and so the legend began!
This story plays on the mythical healing, with a twist. When he heals someone or something that thing becomes part of him.
Rasputin tells the story beginning with his abusive father and then tells the story about how he met his fate in the future/past.
Overall, promising, but a bit short. I'm not certain I'll continue with this. A bit shallow for my liking.
He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow
Most people looked at him with terror and with fear
But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear
He could preach the bible like a preacher
Full of ecstacy and fire
But he also was the kind of teacher
Women would desire
RA RA RASPUTIN
Lover of the Russian queen...da da da da!
I must admit I've always been intrigued about the story of Rasputin. I first heard of him when I watched the Hellboy film not Boney M. He's almost mythical and paranormal.
In real life he was a peasant and allegedly a mythical healer and we all know what people thought about magic back in the 19th century! Burn them!
Anyway turns out that he was poisoned, stabbed, shot and still didn't die, so they drowned him allegedly and so the legend began!
This story plays on the mythical healing, with a twist. When he heals someone or something that thing becomes part of him.
Rasputin tells the story beginning with his abusive father and then tells the story about how he met his fate in the future/past.
Overall, promising, but a bit short. I'm not certain I'll continue with this. A bit shallow for my liking.
June 28, 2023
I liked this series even though the time jumps were confusing. I liked the idea of Rasputin surviving all the assassination attempts because he had super-powers. Some of the why just wasn't very clear though. Like the whole scene with the fairies and lady winter. I felt you had to know Russian mythology to have a clue about what was going on. I'm also confused why certain ghosts follow him around.
February 3, 2016
The wizarding world of Rasputin. I like the folklore element.
March 7, 2016
Very short and minimal dialogue but still a very interesting story about this infamous man named Rasputin.
September 19, 2017
The art and layout of this is absolutely stunning. Also I really love the covers, and all the back covers have a different quote on them which is really cool. The story in this first volume was just okay though. I mean it was interesting but by the end of it I wasn't really sure what the point was - like is this just as straight forward as it seems or is there gonna be a huge twist in the next volume? Also there are a lot of pages with little to no dialogue, which I know some people really enjoy but generally just leaves me feeling a little bit lost most of the time, although it is great for the aesthetic.
May 23, 2017
The art is amazing
October 10, 2015
Grigori Rasputin, turned by popular legend (and disco) into a near-superhuman, has been an understandably attractive figure for comics creators. He's mostly served comics time as a dark, indeed devilish figure - Hellboy probably the best example. This is a different Rasputin - a kinder, gentler, and certainly spindlier Mad Monk, possessed of genuine and rather benign supernatural powers, and unlikely to make it far up the league table of Russia's love machines.
Alex Grecian's Rasputin is ultimately a likeable fellow, which is all to the good in a protagonist, but the comic lacks tension, and his progress into the Tsar's inner circle feels rather low-stakes. Still, it's an evocative read, and if the story ambles, Riley Rossmo makes everything well worth looking at: his Russian forests are as atmospheric as his World War One trenches are dank, and his talent for action choreography is obvious (a bar fight, taking up most of #3, is the kinetic high point of the volume). Volume 2 promises to take this incarnation of Rasputin into a very different setting, which might give the comic the adrenalin shot it needs.
Alex Grecian's Rasputin is ultimately a likeable fellow, which is all to the good in a protagonist, but the comic lacks tension, and his progress into the Tsar's inner circle feels rather low-stakes. Still, it's an evocative read, and if the story ambles, Riley Rossmo makes everything well worth looking at: his Russian forests are as atmospheric as his World War One trenches are dank, and his talent for action choreography is obvious (a bar fight, taking up most of #3, is the kinetic high point of the volume). Volume 2 promises to take this incarnation of Rasputin into a very different setting, which might give the comic the adrenalin shot it needs.
December 10, 2016
Okay, I actually really liked this. Yes, it's a rehashed tale of Slavic mythology and totally ignores much historical detail (deliberately), but the artwork and the flow of the work made it a quick and satisfying read.
July 3, 2024
I was obsessed with the animated film Anastasia as a kid, and honestly I think it would have been kind of cool of me to get more into the Rasputin history and myth but I sadly never had that era. I guess it’s never too late now, huh?
This graphic novel begins telling the life story of Grigori Rasputin as he develops and grows his powers to heal the dead and dying. Unfortunately with each person healed, he takes a bit of themselves into himself. How long until there’s none of the original Rasputin left? Dun dun DUNNN
I really loved the images when he heals, and I really really loved the images when he’s in the Water of Life.
I’m disappointed that this volume ended with comic #5. Yes, it left us in a cliffhanger, but I think #4 did as well whereas #5 shifted tones/stories so seemed randomly thrown in at the end. Having not read the following issues, I don’t know how much the story from #5 continues on in the next issue, but I think it would have been better organization to end this volume with #4 instead.
This graphic novel begins telling the life story of Grigori Rasputin as he develops and grows his powers to heal the dead and dying. Unfortunately with each person healed, he takes a bit of themselves into himself. How long until there’s none of the original Rasputin left? Dun dun DUNNN
I really loved the images when he heals, and I really really loved the images when he’s in the Water of Life.
I’m disappointed that this volume ended with comic #5. Yes, it left us in a cliffhanger, but I think #4 did as well whereas #5 shifted tones/stories so seemed randomly thrown in at the end. Having not read the following issues, I don’t know how much the story from #5 continues on in the next issue, but I think it would have been better organization to end this volume with #4 instead.
June 22, 2025
An unexpected take on one of history’s most mysterious villains. Artwork was exceptional.
May 25, 2017
did i read this in its entirety when i was supposed to be pricing it at work in a plot to put it towards my goodreads goal? i can neither confirm nor deny
February 5, 2022
Definitely an interesting take on Rasputin.
Enjoying the story.
The art is simply fantastic.
Enjoying the story.
The art is simply fantastic.
February 17, 2022
Complete fiction, but also a lot of fun. The authors imagine a Rasputin with legitimate supernatural powers and a purer heart than the real life figure. Some of the supernatural elements had me scratching my head; I don't think the authors always needed to try so hard to explain where Rasputin's powers came from. Who cares? Otherwise it was an enjoyable story of magic and intrigue.
March 29, 2016
1.5 stars rounded up for the art work's sake.
I'm sure this is a fun read for most people who enjoy a good historical twist, but I honestly could not separate what I already knew about Rasputin from this fantasy which seemed to glorify him and his actions.
While I understand that the mystery of Rasputin's life, and more so his death, makes him an interesting character for a story like this. It was just too hard to separate fact from fiction here especially when it feels like Rasputin was more than likely a charlatan who took advantage of a family who, in desperation for their son's health, would have believed in anything that would've saved their family. But, perhaps, I am too biased in this opinion.
If you're the type of reader who can get around those preconceived ideas and likes a good historically based, supernatural, mystery, then perhaps this might be up your alley.
I'm sure this is a fun read for most people who enjoy a good historical twist, but I honestly could not separate what I already knew about Rasputin from this fantasy which seemed to glorify him and his actions.
While I understand that the mystery of Rasputin's life, and more so his death, makes him an interesting character for a story like this. It was just too hard to separate fact from fiction here especially when it feels like Rasputin was more than likely a charlatan who took advantage of a family who, in desperation for their son's health, would have believed in anything that would've saved their family. But, perhaps, I am too biased in this opinion.
If you're the type of reader who can get around those preconceived ideas and likes a good historically based, supernatural, mystery, then perhaps this might be up your alley.
Read
April 4, 2016Russia's greatest love machine is a much-explored figure of history's strange side, and at first it's not clear what this telling adds: is making it clear that his healing powers do work really such a twist? Except then we learn *how* they work, and the story starts diverging more definitely from the known facts - despite being told entirely in flashback from that final, fatal supper. Plus, Riley Rossmo's art makes even the initial issues a joy, really capturing the sheer size and strangeness of Russia's great wildernesses and wild settlements. Not exactly a satisfying read in itself, but I'm intrigued to see where the story goes next.
February 12, 2022
A very comic book version of Rasputin and The Russian Revolution. Great artwork and ideas
October 3, 2015
An interesting take on what made Rasputin what he is. Intriguing and novel without losing the spirit of what we expect of Image: Quality and creativity.
January 18, 2019
There is little direction to the story so far. Its threads are left wide open at the end of the volume. Maybe the second volume will clear the waters. The historical facts seem to be there, but the mysticism behind the Mad Monk is explained with a supernatural ability.
It's hard to tell what type of character Rasputin is. His intentions are good, so it's difficult to label him as the bad guy like history has, more or less, done. Rasputin's death has always been a topic for debate. He was poisoned, stabbed, shot and ultimately drowned. This story attributes his resilience to a supernatural power he has full control over. It allows him to heal others, even bring them back from the death. Using it also transfers some of their life force into him.
It's hard to tell what type of character Rasputin is. His intentions are good, so it's difficult to label him as the bad guy like history has, more or less, done. Rasputin's death has always been a topic for debate. He was poisoned, stabbed, shot and ultimately drowned. This story attributes his resilience to a supernatural power he has full control over. It allows him to heal others, even bring them back from the death. Using it also transfers some of their life force into him.
May 3, 2019
Excellent short collection opening this story. Rasputin makes for a fascinating character, partaking as he does of vague mystery and darkness while existing as a historical figure. I don't know a thing about Rasputin, historically speaking, except the bare minimum--he was a priest (the "mad monk") associated with the last days of Tsar Nicholas II's regime in Russia before the 1917 revolution.
That was enough to intrigue, and the Rasputin Grecian and co. have created was a fascinating character to follow. We see him discover and explore his powers--a phenomenal set of fantastic abilities demonstrated most often in miraculous healings--and see him move slowly to ever more power and prominence. The story begins en media res with a brutal attempt to murder its protagonist and proceeds from there, backward, forward and sideways as the story is told. I hope this runs long enough to build the kind of layered depth long running serial stories gain, because with this first volume as a measuring stick it could be great indeed.
That was enough to intrigue, and the Rasputin Grecian and co. have created was a fascinating character to follow. We see him discover and explore his powers--a phenomenal set of fantastic abilities demonstrated most often in miraculous healings--and see him move slowly to ever more power and prominence. The story begins en media res with a brutal attempt to murder its protagonist and proceeds from there, backward, forward and sideways as the story is told. I hope this runs long enough to build the kind of layered depth long running serial stories gain, because with this first volume as a measuring stick it could be great indeed.
August 2, 2018
When I saw this supernatural story about Rasputin I IMMEDIATELY had to get my hands on it. And I am pleased to that I was thoroughly surprised by this. Firstly, the artwork is incredible! It may be my favorite artist work so far. It really captures the somber tone during this period of Russian history which is then juxtaposed next to these bright and whimsical panels of the supernatural elements. Absolutely stunning! I don't know much about Rasputin, but I recall watching a segment about Anastasia and just remember seeing those cold dead eyes staring straight into my soul. That piqued my interest in him and I learned more about him by reading about the Romanov family. A lot of mystery surrounds Rasputin and this Russian folklore inspired tale takes an interesting and refreshing look into the life of this polarizing figure. Definitely worth the read!
March 22, 2020
This graphic novel retelling of the life of Rasputin focuses on the mad monk's ability to heal, adding a supernatural spin whereby he takes on a small portion of the people, and animals, he heals, such as the strength of a bear, bravery of his mother, etc. He is also followed by the spirit of his father wherever he goes. This first volume (of two) gives us glimpses of Rasputin's death, which is as suitably infamous as his life (look it up if you don't know about it), as well as tracing his life up to the first world war. However, with this power, will his life follow the path that we know or will it deviate somewhere altogether different.
A very enjoyable read and volume 2 has been ordered as it has to be read!
A very enjoyable read and volume 2 has been ordered as it has to be read!
May 17, 2018
As someone who was once interested in Russian and Soviet history in high school, this book was pretty topical for me. I was drawn in by the red, white and black cover and as someone who was interested in Rasputin, but never did much research. It was an interesting retelling, focusing on his healing and prophetic powers and the addition of how it affected him throughout his life. It was a bit fast paced for me, but I liked the aesthetic even if I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It was building up pretty well, but the last scene just left me wanting something... if not more dramatic... at least a bit more drawn out emotionally.
October 1, 2018
Just wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this comic series about Rasputin in that Volume #1 series. This something that I ever enjoyed in comic genre literature. There's many things to say about this comic series. But for now I am going to quit as I at first site made the plan myself that I would give it a full review after I finished the entire comic series including Volume #2. So for now it's a short review but after reading the entire comic I will definitely going to give it a full review...
5 out of 5...
5 out of 5...
June 6, 2021
I've thoroughly enjoyed it even though it does show a magical side that could never be real in our life. I enjoyed the artwork, the large panels, the way that the characters were sketched. I've enjoyed even the new elements to the good old story of Rasputin. I love the idea of him knowing what would come next... of him being a Prince of its own :) I also enjoyed the tie-ins with the Russian mythology & stories. Loved the bear fight! 🐻 Loved also the idea of a part of the person he had healed flowing into him... made me think of connections with the Force ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2025
I enjoyed this story immensely. I know a LOT about the titular fellow. This is more of a speculative fiction of what if Rasputin actually could heal others magically.
It pulls in Russian mythological elements.
In this Grigori is more likable, more “modern” in sensibilities.
I tore through this first volume and would go through the second one had I ordered it. I am hoping the second volume is just as enthralling and entertaining.
My ONLY complaint is the timeline bounces around. Hopefully volume two resolves this.
It pulls in Russian mythological elements.
In this Grigori is more likable, more “modern” in sensibilities.
I tore through this first volume and would go through the second one had I ordered it. I am hoping the second volume is just as enthralling and entertaining.
My ONLY complaint is the timeline bounces around. Hopefully volume two resolves this.
November 6, 2016
Both bloodier and more magical than I expected, this was an interesting take on the Rasputin story. I'm familiar with it, but more culturally than specifically. Although this was more gory than I usually read, I'm going to request #2 and #3, because I want to see how these creators keep the story going! (I also really enjoyed the material at the end, showing how the script and images came together.)
December 12, 2019
I love any book that is set in Russia- fictional or otherwise- and this was no exception.
I adored how the author took the well known history of Rasputin and added a little bit of magic there, along with a likeable character and interesting motives from the rest!
The colouring is sublime, the soft colour schemes that change and define each chapter that hinted a subtle difference between each part of time!
Will definitely read the next volume!
I adored how the author took the well known history of Rasputin and added a little bit of magic there, along with a likeable character and interesting motives from the rest!
The colouring is sublime, the soft colour schemes that change and define each chapter that hinted a subtle difference between each part of time!
Will definitely read the next volume!
September 8, 2017
As a Rasputin fangirl I do like anything about him and I did enjoy the supernatural elements of this but my main gripe is with the wealth of information and speculation surrounding this enigma of a man, this graphic novel could have been so much more. Maybe the next installment will flesh it out a bit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews