What do you think?
Rate this book
The Autumnlands #1-6
The Autumnlands, Vol. 1: Tooth and Claw
SPECIAL LOW INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF $9.99! The debut collection of the hit epic-fantasy series. When the wizards of the Autumnlands reach through time to bring back a legendary hero, they don't get the savior they expected. But in a shattered, besieged city, he's their only hope of survival-and possibly their entire world's, as well.
Collects THE AUTUMNLANDS: TOOTH & CLAW #1-6.
Collects THE AUTUMNLANDS: TOOTH & CLAW #1-6.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
32 people are currently reading
1526 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,859 books627 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
December 13, 2016
Excellent introduction to a world where anthropomorphized animals live on cities that float in the sky with the help of a magic that is fading from existence. To combat this magic shortage, a talented magic user gathers a coalition of wizards to bring a great warrior from the past to the present in order to reawaken the powers. The warrior is surprising, his summoning has unintended consequences, and the reader, after just a few pages, finds herself quickly caught up in a strange new world.
Highly recommended for adult readers who enjoy fantasy graphic novels. There is a bunch of graphic violence and full frontal male nudity in here so, head's up librarians. Make sure to shelve The Autumnlands in the appropriate section.
Some similar graphic novels, though I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as this book: Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening or Wild's End, Vol. 1: First Light.
Highly recommended for adult readers who enjoy fantasy graphic novels. There is a bunch of graphic violence and full frontal male nudity in here so, head's up librarians. Make sure to shelve The Autumnlands in the appropriate section.
Some similar graphic novels, though I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as this book: Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening or Wild's End, Vol. 1: First Light.
January 22, 2016
Pros: magnificent artwork, fun Evil Dead/Army of Darkness vibe (in terms of a character dropping in from the future and being a little rough around the edges), interesting world building and magic system
Cons: most of the main characters are annoying and/or pretentious, naked owl chicks are not hot (even less so when they’re mangled and dead), less interesting to read than to look at
Upshot: the first volume of this series is like the sweet, dorky guy with the bad haircut in a teen rom-com—he could ditch the glasses for contacts, put in some hair gel, find some quality deodorant, get a new wardrobe not picked out by Screech Powers, and correct his posture to become the charming underdog who gets the girl (or guy), or he could just go full-on dork and cover himself with a layer of Cheeto dust, use the sticky remnants of a 2-liter of Mountain Dew for cologne, and permanently retire to his parents’ basement to watch Cowboy Bebop on an endless loop. In other words, it’s got potential, but it could also end up going downhill fast.
Still, it’s at least piqued my interest sufficiently to check out volume 2, if only for more of that gorgeous art.
Let’s call it 3.4 stars.
Cons: most of the main characters are annoying and/or pretentious, naked owl chicks are not hot (even less so when they’re mangled and dead), less interesting to read than to look at
Upshot: the first volume of this series is like the sweet, dorky guy with the bad haircut in a teen rom-com—he could ditch the glasses for contacts, put in some hair gel, find some quality deodorant, get a new wardrobe not picked out by Screech Powers, and correct his posture to become the charming underdog who gets the girl (or guy), or he could just go full-on dork and cover himself with a layer of Cheeto dust, use the sticky remnants of a 2-liter of Mountain Dew for cologne, and permanently retire to his parents’ basement to watch Cowboy Bebop on an endless loop. In other words, it’s got potential, but it could also end up going downhill fast.
Still, it’s at least piqued my interest sufficiently to check out volume 2, if only for more of that gorgeous art.
Let’s call it 3.4 stars.
October 15, 2018
This is the closest thing I've came to reading a fantasy novel in comic book form. It starts off very slowly in an anthropomorphic world. The magicians name probably 50 spells as they cast them which is beyond annoying. After the first 2 issues things start to get rolling and the book gets much better.
I was unfamiliar with the artist but the art is stunningly beautiful and reminds me quite a bit of Fables in color palette and tone.
I was unfamiliar with the artist but the art is stunningly beautiful and reminds me quite a bit of Fables in color palette and tone.
August 30, 2015
Well. That was disappointing.
I just found the whole story rather boring and the artwork too dim and undetailed for my liking.
It doesn't explain either why they're all over evolved humanoid animals.
I just found the whole story rather boring and the artwork too dim and undetailed for my liking.
It doesn't explain either why they're all over evolved humanoid animals.
July 9, 2015
Firstly, before anything else, the artwork in this volume is absolutely beautiful and worth buying the book for on it's own. Ben Dewey manages to draw animals every bit as expressive and varied as humans, and his world building is second to none. Even the desolate landscapes of the Autumnlands are gorgeous to look at, and the painted pages in each issue are a joy.
But of course, it's all tied together with Kurt Busiek's words, and as anyone knows, Busiek knows how to tell a good story. It's a slow burn across six issues as the characters and their conflicts are introduced, but it all explodes in the final issue of the book that has a horrible cliffhanger and keeps the story moving where it could easily have stagnated.
If you like fantasy at all, this book will be right up your alley.
But of course, it's all tied together with Kurt Busiek's words, and as anyone knows, Busiek knows how to tell a good story. It's a slow burn across six issues as the characters and their conflicts are introduced, but it all explodes in the final issue of the book that has a horrible cliffhanger and keeps the story moving where it could easily have stagnated.
If you like fantasy at all, this book will be right up your alley.
Want to read
January 23, 2017I went looking for something that wasn't DC to read so I picked this up.
.... why does this cat-person have boobs?
*closes book*
.... why does this cat-person have boobs?
*closes book*
October 23, 2018
This is a promising beginning for an epic fantasy series. Busiek channeled his inner Robert E. Howard for this one. It's a world populated by anthropomorphic animals. Wizards use their power to float entire cities in the air. But magic seems to be running out. In an attempt to solve this problem, a group of wizards pool their resources in an attempt to summon a legendary champion from the past. They succeed, but the drain on local magic brings their city crashing to the ground. Those who dwell on the ground have long harbored a resentment of the floating city residents, and see their chance for a payback. And then there's the matter of the legendary champion, who looks like no animal ever seen before. He claims to be something called a “human” …
There's a fun, retro, pulp-y feel to this title, which recalls classics like Flash Gordon, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Robert E. Howard. I note that the lettering on the logo is intentionally retro, and I like the pulp homages that kick off each chapter. This series has sweep and scope and fun characters to boot. Recommended!
There's a fun, retro, pulp-y feel to this title, which recalls classics like Flash Gordon, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Robert E. Howard. I note that the lettering on the logo is intentionally retro, and I like the pulp homages that kick off each chapter. This series has sweep and scope and fun characters to boot. Recommended!
July 3, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
Also a thank you to Merry Meerkat who read and reviewed this. It was because of her(?) review that I picked it up.
This collects issues 1-6 of Autumnlands, which quite frankly, just might be enough to get me to actually by comics as single issues again.
Because seriously – hot damn!
This is what comics should be. Screw that. This is what story telling should be.
Autumnlands opens in a world where a class of animal people is losing magic. There is a second class of animal people – homogeneous, dare I saw Natives, - buffalos who deal the high class - various animal people (owls, dogs, cats, warthogs what not) who have magic and live in the sky. It is hard not to see a comparison between Aboriginal people of various continents and European settlers because of the style of the “cultured” animal group and the buffalo tribe.
Because the magic seems to be fading, there is an attempt to bring back a champion to restore magic.
Is it too much of a spoiler to say that it works as well as you would think?
And I love who the champion is.
The story is told largely by and though the view of Dusty, a young magic user who lives in the city above. He’s a dog, a bull terrier. There is some humor when Dusty points this out to the champion that anyone who has a dog will totally love.
The world building is solid, and while the reasons for why things are the way they are in this world is not revealed in this collection, there are enough hints and flashes to see some connections. The greatest selling point of the story is all the questions about morality and ethics as well as the study of sexism and racism. For instance, there is the issue of the air city dwellers and the buffalo tribe. This, in the book itself, is specism. Yet, it is very easy to see a parallel in history. Additionally, it is quite easy to see similarities to how Lady Gharta is treated by some of the other magic users and how women are treated in society today. Is it because she is too radical or, as it seems here, because she is too smart and not traditionally attractive? Is she being judged by her skill or by her gender and looks? And her significant other, that was an awesome development, I must say. Though I do have to wonder certain things, even if they are none of my business.
Highly recommended.
Also a thank you to Merry Meerkat who read and reviewed this. It was because of her(?) review that I picked it up.
This collects issues 1-6 of Autumnlands, which quite frankly, just might be enough to get me to actually by comics as single issues again.
Because seriously – hot damn!
This is what comics should be. Screw that. This is what story telling should be.
Autumnlands opens in a world where a class of animal people is losing magic. There is a second class of animal people – homogeneous, dare I saw Natives, - buffalos who deal the high class - various animal people (owls, dogs, cats, warthogs what not) who have magic and live in the sky. It is hard not to see a comparison between Aboriginal people of various continents and European settlers because of the style of the “cultured” animal group and the buffalo tribe.
Because the magic seems to be fading, there is an attempt to bring back a champion to restore magic.
Is it too much of a spoiler to say that it works as well as you would think?
And I love who the champion is.
The story is told largely by and though the view of Dusty, a young magic user who lives in the city above. He’s a dog, a bull terrier. There is some humor when Dusty points this out to the champion that anyone who has a dog will totally love.
The world building is solid, and while the reasons for why things are the way they are in this world is not revealed in this collection, there are enough hints and flashes to see some connections. The greatest selling point of the story is all the questions about morality and ethics as well as the study of sexism and racism. For instance, there is the issue of the air city dwellers and the buffalo tribe. This, in the book itself, is specism. Yet, it is very easy to see a parallel in history. Additionally, it is quite easy to see similarities to how Lady Gharta is treated by some of the other magic users and how women are treated in society today. Is it because she is too radical or, as it seems here, because she is too smart and not traditionally attractive? Is she being judged by her skill or by her gender and looks? And her significant other, that was an awesome development, I must say. Though I do have to wonder certain things, even if they are none of my business.
Highly recommended.
July 2, 2015
Amazing world and I'm in love with all the different character's looks, but the story was a bit disappointing. I started getting bored with it in the second half. Hopefully the next issues will be better!
September 11, 2016
Fine, I guess. Army of Darkness meets Watership down. Art was nice but the story was a bit dull. Not sure if I'll continue or not.
October 10, 2019
A floating city falls down into the Autumnlands, where the inhabitants must face their mortal enemies.
The artwork is sleek and polished, and with the cast of characters being made up almost entirely of animal-faced-humanoids, it's a beautiful graphic novel. This is a bit of an odd one story-wise though.
The wizards have brought back a hero from long ago to try to restore magic to their world. These wizards are made up of warthogs, owls, giraffes, cats and the like. The hero shows up as a human, something none of them have ever seen before.
This is where I kind of fell out of love with the story.
The "good guys" seemed a bit foolish.
The "bad guys" seemed to make some good points.
The enemy just seemed mistreated and kind of enslaved.
The hero showed up swearing in every other sentence, which could have been funny but it sort of just messed with the vibe created by the first 50 pages of the book.
I would have loved to see more of Dunstan, the first character we're introduced to in the book, but he takes on a bit of an observant background role in this volume.
3. 5 stars.
The artwork is sleek and polished, and with the cast of characters being made up almost entirely of animal-faced-humanoids, it's a beautiful graphic novel. This is a bit of an odd one story-wise though.
The wizards have brought back a hero from long ago to try to restore magic to their world. These wizards are made up of warthogs, owls, giraffes, cats and the like. The hero shows up as a human, something none of them have ever seen before.
This is where I kind of fell out of love with the story.
The "good guys" seemed a bit foolish.
The "bad guys" seemed to make some good points.
The enemy just seemed mistreated and kind of enslaved.
The hero showed up swearing in every other sentence, which could have been funny but it sort of just messed with the vibe created by the first 50 pages of the book.
I would have loved to see more of Dunstan, the first character we're introduced to in the book, but he takes on a bit of an observant background role in this volume.
3. 5 stars.
May 5, 2016
So I've now read the entire volume for this and I have to say I loved the first issue the most. In the first issue we're introduced to a world only inhabited by animals. I loved seeing the way that these civilised animals had built up a culture and the reliance on magic for this culture was super interesting.
As the book went on we get the introduction of a human character and this completely shifted the focus of the book in my opinion. I kind of wish that the human character wasn't coming into the story as the 'hero' as I actually liked the realm of animals and magic, and I think adding humanity to the balance has just made things a lot bloodier.
The artwork within this is by no means my favourite and whilst I did like the way that the animals were drawn and coloured the way that the man was drawn and coloured was pretty disturbing and not really what I wanted to see. There is a definite tendency towards a dark colour palette and fight scenes later on, and whilst I did like the story I'm not sure if I liked it enough with the new character to continue. 3*s overall.
As the book went on we get the introduction of a human character and this completely shifted the focus of the book in my opinion. I kind of wish that the human character wasn't coming into the story as the 'hero' as I actually liked the realm of animals and magic, and I think adding humanity to the balance has just made things a lot bloodier.
The artwork within this is by no means my favourite and whilst I did like the way that the animals were drawn and coloured the way that the man was drawn and coloured was pretty disturbing and not really what I wanted to see. There is a definite tendency towards a dark colour palette and fight scenes later on, and whilst I did like the story I'm not sure if I liked it enough with the new character to continue. 3*s overall.
March 2, 2018
Es un trabajo excelente. El arte, los colores, la historia, los personajes, el mundo, etc. Pero mis espectativas eran tan elevadas, que era imposible cumplirlas.
Esperaba que fuera el mejor comic de todos los tiempos, no lo es.
No deja de estar entre los mejores, cualquier persona que aprecie la fantasia le va a encontrar lugar en su coleccion a este material. Pero es cuatro o cinco estrellas como mucho. No van a encontrar la perfeccion absoluta.
Fue mi error en realidad, no de los creadores.
PD: Recomiendo tenerlo en papel y no solo digital. Una lastima que no se consigue en el pais (Argentina), pero vale la pena traerlo.
Esperaba que fuera el mejor comic de todos los tiempos, no lo es.
No deja de estar entre los mejores, cualquier persona que aprecie la fantasia le va a encontrar lugar en su coleccion a este material. Pero es cuatro o cinco estrellas como mucho. No van a encontrar la perfeccion absoluta.
Fue mi error en realidad, no de los creadores.
PD: Recomiendo tenerlo en papel y no solo digital. Una lastima que no se consigue en el pais (Argentina), pero vale la pena traerlo.
August 6, 2018
Fantasy comics can be hard to nail, but Image has served me well with Monstress and Birthright, so I decided to try out The Autumnlands too! Though this is my least favourite of those mentioned, it is a fair start to what could be a very fun series. Nothing blew my socks off, but a fine way to spend an hour on the weekend. I’ll be back for the next volume!
PS: I've been meaning to get into Kurk Busiek's Astro City, but I've no idea where to start. Feel free to point me in the right direction!
PS: I've been meaning to get into Kurk Busiek's Astro City, but I've no idea where to start. Feel free to point me in the right direction!
November 4, 2019
Very nice different type of Fantasy comic that blends a nice amount of SiFi into the story. Good and interesting different read. Recommended if you want to try something totally new
February 17, 2023
دوتا ستاره برای طراحی و یکی هم برای دنیاسازی خیلی قویی که داره. متاسفانه بخشهای خوب این کمیک همینجا تموم میشه، به حدی دیالوگها ضعیف و به درد نخورن که بعضی وقتها باید چندبار میخوندم تا بفهمم چی میگه، وقتی هم میفهمیدم باز مصنوعی و مسخره بودن. تا بخش سوم همه چیز جالبه، داستان خوب پیش میره، اما بعدش دیگه هیچی برای ارائه دادن نداره، انگار نمیدونه چی میخواد. شخصیتها سطحی و مسخره میشن.
و اینکه الان فهمیدم این کمیک رو نصفه ول کردن، هیچ وقت جلد سومش نیومد. پیشنهاد میکنم نخونینش.
و اینکه الان فهمیدم این کمیک رو نصفه ول کردن، هیچ وقت جلد سومش نیومد. پیشنهاد میکنم نخونینش.
August 7, 2015
Ugh. This could have been (and was almost) a five-star, Saga-quality, Animal Farm/Watership Down/Monkey Wars/Castle Waiting grownup animal story comic with its gorgeous art and great plot, but -- and this is a big *BUT* because this kind of shizz should not be getting past editors and being published in 2015 -- the borderline-if-not-outright-racist stereotype depiction of the American bison characters as broken-English-speaking Plains tribal members, even as sympathetic as those characters are made to be, is still A BORDERLINE IF NOT OUTRIGHT RACIST STEREOTYPE. Seriously, the choice to use Tonto-speak is a huge failure. (I'm choosing to leave aside the depiction of the bison tribe as a simple warrior-agricultural/hunter-gatherer type people at the moment.) I really wanted to like this, and I did genuinely love parts of this, but I cannot in good conscience as a librarian or a human being recommend this to, oh, anyone.
May 11, 2019
Classic example of awesome drawing talent paired with some pretty shitty story telling. The story is all over the place and chaotic and the fast progression leaves no room for world building. The magical flying city is frighteningly empty and lifeless; the proportions are sometimes off and a lot of actions and aspects are neither explained nor elaborated any further. The poor story/event building affects the drawings too: there is no natural flow between stills and dramatic scenes, which makes it confusing to see what is even happening: persons seem to have moved miles between two panels and a badger sitting at a table seemingly turns into a bird in the next panel. Also the only human character is butt-ugly and his crude drawing style clashes with the other personas. A shame, but I will not continue reading this series.
Edit: this was before I found out the creator is kinda a big deal from Marvel? I wouldn't have guessed from this work. Which is a tell-tale sign really...
Edit: this was before I found out the creator is kinda a big deal from Marvel? I wouldn't have guessed from this work. Which is a tell-tale sign really...
June 4, 2015
If you liked Dinotopia or the Katurran Odyssey, buy this right now. Is the symbolism of the English White Terrier oppressing the brown buffalo more than a little heavy-handed? Certainly. Is the art and whimsical fantasy worldbuilding enough to make up for it? Absolutely. Put Audiomachine on while you read and strap in for the kind of fantasy adventure you thought had disappeared twenty years ago. Parents, do take a gander through this before handing it to you child, though. Animals + Fantasy does not mean there isn't profanity and violence. Which reminds me, "wooly-faced cocksucker" is my new favorite insult.
February 27, 2016
That was pretty good. There was a flood of weird names and lingo at the beginning that was a little off putting, but once I started to get a sense of the characters and the relationships, I settled into the story and enjoyed it.
I'm not happy it ended on a cliffhanger, but I'm in for the next installment.
I'm not happy it ended on a cliffhanger, but I'm in for the next installment.
August 11, 2015
Ben Dewey can draw animals like no one else, and that together with Kurt Busiek's writing makes this gorgeous first volume feel like an entire world. I would give this an extra star if I could because I can't think of another comic that features an anthropomorphic tapir, even in a bit part.
July 5, 2023
However beautifully illustrated, a story about rampant incompetence and an assortment of cliches (magic stratifies society; magic is failing, oh noes; obstructionism from puffed up egos and religious zealots; duplicitous extremely honest and trustworthy traders and advisors; using gunpowder to gain an advantage in a fantasy setting...) is still not a great story.
August 31, 2020
I had issues with the visual representations of animals with human physique - hands, feet, clothes ...
It took some time to get used to that.
Story was interesting enough and it really intrigued me.
It took some time to get used to that.
Story was interesting enough and it really intrigued me.
September 16, 2020
Great in a slightly different way from Astro City, more serially urgent than AC’s epic winding anthologies, though Busiek‘s ability to quickly conjure myth-making around this all new world reminds me a lot of AC. The fantasy story about an anthropomorphic animal world staring down the loss of magic is compelling and thrilling, and given more depth by light allegorical elements around class conflict and existential environmental crisis. The hoped-for-hero also stands apart interestingly from the rest of this world for his shrewd calculation and unsentimental nature; fittingly, he feels a bit like he’s from another story altogether.
And the art, oh wow, the art. This would be worth reading if the story were mediocre just for the art alone. Beautifully drawn and colored throughout, and each issue opens with painterly double splash pages that mimic an illustrated history book’s framing of the current story (often ironically skewing the truth of the moment for good measure).
Its cliffhanger ending has me excited to follow up with Vol2.
And the art, oh wow, the art. This would be worth reading if the story were mediocre just for the art alone. Beautifully drawn and colored throughout, and each issue opens with painterly double splash pages that mimic an illustrated history book’s framing of the current story (often ironically skewing the truth of the moment for good measure).
Its cliffhanger ending has me excited to follow up with Vol2.
April 3, 2017
pretty bad fantasy, that is overloaded with crappy lore. Animal people that live in a time of fantasy and magic that pray to several gods including.. the goddess of housing and urban devoplment? what the shit? this is page 2 and it nose dives right away. It is such a terrible start that is filled with meaningless names and lore that you just want to throw the book out the window. I pushed the book away for a few days and came back and basically speed read through it to see if it goes anyways, it gets a tad better but it is like going from a 1 to a 2-3. The story is about animal people who wield magic but are losing their powers so they decide to summon some champion who helped the create the magic in the first place. This champion is also a waste of space, he is so out of step with the book it is jarring. im tempted to see where the story goes but if I ever come back to this it will be to speed past all the lore garbage.
January 8, 2016
This is truly different from most comics, and as something that is innovative often is, it is uneven. Busiek's vision of epic fantasy is different (although some of the tropes and symbolism are heavy-handed). Benjamin Dewey's art does a lot of the heavy-lifting and creates the atmosphere extremely well. The one human in the book is literally from a different universe--a far future soldier and he is placed in the middle of a anthropomorphic high-magic universe and it is awkward. The character does really seem to fit. Busiek's symbolism though gets annoyingly heavy-handed. The plot seems to rely on a lot of fairly well-trod tropes as well but the world is fairly unique for comics. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
July 13, 2015
3.5 Stars
Re-iterating what everyone else is saying about this book, the artwork is stunning. Seriously.
The storyline is good, though somewhat unoriginal at the moment. I do suspect Busiek will be doing much more with our conception of saviors in future issues, and I look forward to that.
To be honest, I really enjoyed this first volume and I probably would have rated this book somewhat higher pre-Wild's End, as somehow all animal-based stories are suffering in comparison to WE's unique storytelling.
Re-iterating what everyone else is saying about this book, the artwork is stunning. Seriously.
The storyline is good, though somewhat unoriginal at the moment. I do suspect Busiek will be doing much more with our conception of saviors in future issues, and I look forward to that.
To be honest, I really enjoyed this first volume and I probably would have rated this book somewhat higher pre-Wild's End, as somehow all animal-based stories are suffering in comparison to WE's unique storytelling.
August 20, 2020
Look man, sometimes you just need a really well-illustrated, solidly-plotted talking animal book that doesn't misstep, and like, if that's what you need right now, you absolutely should read The Autumnlands.
That's it. That's the tweet.
That's it. That's the tweet.
July 4, 2017
Bullet Review:
3...or 4? It's a decent read, if predictable. I am curious what happens next.
3.5?
Damn this Champion is a royal a-hole!
3...or 4? It's a decent read, if predictable. I am curious what happens next.
3.5?
Damn this Champion is a royal a-hole!
July 27, 2015
I wasn't sure what to make of this when I first picked it up. There seem to be an awful lot of comics on the stands these days that require you to buy into some weird fantasy world with rules that are only very slowly parceled out, and Autumnlands fits this description, too. At first. Slowly, the more I read, the more I realized just how much I was enjoying this and wanted to see the story continue. I was quite disappointed when I reached the end of the sixth issue, which closes out this first volume. Will definitely be looking for more of this. The story follows a group of talking animal-people who rely on magic to keep their city afloat in the clouds. There are native peoples below, tribes of buffalo and bat people, too, who are considered to be "lesser." The magic users are aware that the supply of magic in the world is running out and they attempt a ritual to bring back the historical "Champion," who will renew magic and bring about a golden era. In the process, they use up the magic keeping them aloft, the city crashes to the ground, and the survivors are left to squabble with each other, not knowing quite what to make of the hairless "ape" (a human soldier named Learoyd, equipped with some sort of Google-glasses) who appears when the magic ritual is performed. While the various factions squabble about who should be in charge, the buffalo people are closing in, preparing to wipe out the survivors. A capsule description like this might sound a bit goofy, but Busiek really brings this story to life and the artwork by Ben Dewey is exceptional in bringing the characters to life and imagining the flying cities and other aspects of this fantasy land. This is really well-done and highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews