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Bloody Mary
IN 1999, WE ALL WENT BACK TO WAR
In a world only slightly worse than our own, a third great European conflict has dragged the major powers into a lethal war of attrition. Whole nations are ruined, with the death toll running into many millions. Now, Mary Malone, the most dangerous assassin in a land of killers, finds herself set against adversaries whose evil insanity knows no bounds.
Together with her sidekick the Major- delusional but deadly- Mary must face both a man who cannot die and a crazed cult leader whose flock are all too ready to die for him. Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys, War Story) and Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Adventures in the Rifle Brigade) present an action-packed tale of future warfare- and a heroine whose faith lies firmly in firepower.
In a world only slightly worse than our own, a third great European conflict has dragged the major powers into a lethal war of attrition. Whole nations are ruined, with the death toll running into many millions. Now, Mary Malone, the most dangerous assassin in a land of killers, finds herself set against adversaries whose evil insanity knows no bounds.
Together with her sidekick the Major- delusional but deadly- Mary must face both a man who cannot die and a crazed cult leader whose flock are all too ready to die for him. Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys, War Story) and Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Adventures in the Rifle Brigade) present an action-packed tale of future warfare- and a heroine whose faith lies firmly in firepower.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
3 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,624 books3,170 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 25, 2016
A reprint of the 2 Bloody Mary miniseries first published by Vertigo back in 1997. The book still holds up, especially if you're a fan of Garth Ennis's. Set in a world where World War III is going on between Europe and Great Britain / USA. Mary is the 2nd deadliest soldier on the planet and her team is sent after the deadliest one to retrieve a bioweapon. Full of the violence and humor you've come to expect from Ennis.
Received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so this one was a re-release by Image Comics. And it was very corny.
Okay, so this one was a re-release by Image Comics. And it was very corny.
February 12, 2019
Continental Europe has united under Rochelle, an extremist president who starts World War 3. Britain and the US are the Allies and are on the losing side this time around. A rogue operative is selling a formula that can win the war, so both sides scramble to aquire it.
The infantryman's equipment has evolved to the point where planes and tanks have become obsolete. A man named Anderton offers Rochelle a solution to turn his soldiers into super-soldiers. Rochelle hires the assassin Vatman to aquire the formula. The Allies can't aford the one billion dollar asking price, so they decide to steal the formula as well. Anderton was the best of the best, the leader of a kill team working for the Allies. He went rogue and killed his teammates, except Mary who must now face him after years of wanting vengeance on his betrayal
The second story features Achilles Seagal, a religious extremist who has convinced the women of Manhattan that apocalypse is coming and only new born babies are going to inherit heaven. Of course he, the anointed one, offers to be the father of the 144,000 babies in the prophecy. How conveninent. He gets the husbands riled up to defend him in this endevor, so his cult status is ensured.
Mary is asked by the army to kill Seagal and she accepts on condition that the Statue of Liberty be rebuilt after being destroyed by Seagal's followers, the Achilleans. She is joined by the Major who, while happy in his home together with his wife, is haunted by the desire to return to the field of battle.
The infantryman's equipment has evolved to the point where planes and tanks have become obsolete. A man named Anderton offers Rochelle a solution to turn his soldiers into super-soldiers. Rochelle hires the assassin Vatman to aquire the formula. The Allies can't aford the one billion dollar asking price, so they decide to steal the formula as well. Anderton was the best of the best, the leader of a kill team working for the Allies. He went rogue and killed his teammates, except Mary who must now face him after years of wanting vengeance on his betrayal
The second story features Achilles Seagal, a religious extremist who has convinced the women of Manhattan that apocalypse is coming and only new born babies are going to inherit heaven. Of course he, the anointed one, offers to be the father of the 144,000 babies in the prophecy. How conveninent. He gets the husbands riled up to defend him in this endevor, so his cult status is ensured.
Mary is asked by the army to kill Seagal and she accepts on condition that the Statue of Liberty be rebuilt after being destroyed by Seagal's followers, the Achilleans. She is joined by the Major who, while happy in his home together with his wife, is haunted by the desire to return to the field of battle.
Read
April 3, 2016When this kicked off, in 1996, its vision of a wartorn 2012 was standard near-future dystopianism. But as the years have caught up, an ingenious relocation has been necessary: the blurb now says it takes place "in a reality even worse than our own". And what perfect wording that is. But still within spitting distance, more's the pity: Britain at loggerheads with the EU, anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise ("thirty million people died by fire because it was cheaper than giving them their airfare home"), the US menaced by a demagogue whose followers seem incapable of seeing through what an absurd hypocrite he is. There are plenty of fairly standard Ennis touchstones here - the badass lead, the war which comes down to the poor bloody infantry, the religious leader with scandalous desires. But the tone is a little odd; normally, at least in the shorter work, he has a clear dividing line between his full-on war-is-Hell stories and the piss-takes like Adventures in the Rifle Brigade. Here, though, they move hand in hand, so ruthless, war-weary Mary Malone is partnered with the ridiculous yet deadly Major, a pastiche of every 'What ho!' British officer in every war film of a certain vintage. And somehow it works, though I think these two miniseries were probably enough. Having begun at DC's Matrix imprint, which was promptly renamed Helix because of some arthouse film or other, then briefly stopped at Vertigo, the rights have now ended up at Image, hence getting chance for this reread on one of their Netgalley ARCs.
September 18, 2011
2012 and the world is a different place. Europe has become a dictatorship and is at war with Britain who has joined America as the 51st state. Britain is losing the war but a small group of guerrilla fighters is out to assassinate the European leader and end the war.
"Bloody Mary" is as close a book to Garth Ennis has ever done on autopilot. The dreary dystopian future, the mandatory violence, the uninspired heroine, and the overall story is handled with the utmost lack of ingenuity. Mary's backstory is a snoozer as is the "villain" of the story who is easily dispatched.
Ennis' whacky characters that he usually employs in his books are present here in the form of "Sarge" a stereotypical Brit and "Vatman" a hitman who loves wine. I can't believe I finished this book.
Besides the story of a bad guy out to kill everyone in the first book, the second story has an utterly ridiculous pseudo-religious story that's barely thought out and even Mary's reasons for taking on the mission are paper thin stupid.
Carlos Eszquerra's art is good but his character designs have always been limited and he doesn't do anything here beyond his usual standard.
Ok art, poor story, crap book. If you're a Garth Ennis fan wondering why you've never heard of "Bloody Mary", it's because it sucks. Read anything else.
"Bloody Mary" is as close a book to Garth Ennis has ever done on autopilot. The dreary dystopian future, the mandatory violence, the uninspired heroine, and the overall story is handled with the utmost lack of ingenuity. Mary's backstory is a snoozer as is the "villain" of the story who is easily dispatched.
Ennis' whacky characters that he usually employs in his books are present here in the form of "Sarge" a stereotypical Brit and "Vatman" a hitman who loves wine. I can't believe I finished this book.
Besides the story of a bad guy out to kill everyone in the first book, the second story has an utterly ridiculous pseudo-religious story that's barely thought out and even Mary's reasons for taking on the mission are paper thin stupid.
Carlos Eszquerra's art is good but his character designs have always been limited and he doesn't do anything here beyond his usual standard.
Ok art, poor story, crap book. If you're a Garth Ennis fan wondering why you've never heard of "Bloody Mary", it's because it sucks. Read anything else.
March 20, 2016
Not sure what prompted the reprinting of these series, neither of which is Ennis' best work. I can remember reading the first four-issue series back when it came out (1997?) at a time when I was reading anything with Ennis' name on it. I never did get around to reading the second go-around, but didn't miss much. These are goofy, violent, bloody, completely unsubtle stories of a "future" war (in 2012) caused when the European Union basically decides "to hell with immigrants," etc., and the UK and US are the only ones to stand against them. Following some limited nuclear exchanges, the war settles into a high-tech, infantry-based confrontation and continues year after year with no progress in sight. Bloody Mary is a bad-ass female assassin whose modus operandi is to dress up as a nun. Her sidekick, the Major, is a British soldier who's forgotten his name, forgotten everything but how to be a soldier. It's all quite juvenile, on par with the sort of stuff that used to get published in the old 2000 A.D. magazine. Artist Carlos Ezquerra has trouble drawing normal human faces--most of the men have these flat noses and little else to distinguish them. All in all, it makes for some quick reading, but it's really quite disposable, nothing that has any real lasting value. Which again makes me wonder why Image is bothering to reprint it now.
April 2, 2016
In an alternate reality that features World War 3, a female assassin who dresses like a nun and looks like Annie Lennox goes around the European continent dishing out her brand of justice.
Though she’s very much stone-hearted—some flashbacks explain why—there’s still humanity in her; it’s both hilarious and sad that in all the chaos around her she’s lamenting her upcoming 40th birthday. And I will say she’s drawn with great legs, when she’s not wearing the nun stuff.
In the first story she’s given the chance to go after her nemesis, along with a buddy from the British Army who’s simply gone nuts because of a head injury. There’s one point where he’s telling the other soldiers the story of how she got to be the way she is, which was a good use of exposition; then she adds to it by telling him a new story.
However, just when we’re supposed to think these are good guys—or at least better than the other side—they gun down some innocent cops responding to a call in the free city of Amsterdam. I was not happy with that, and if it’s done to prove these guys are no heroes, mission accomplished.
But of course the bad guy is worse, saying he needs to kill in order to not go insane. . . ugh. The only way she can match him is to become just as crazy, and at that point I thought they story went downhill. Plenty of carnage, such as people falling into helicopter blades. At one point she shoots a grenade strapped to one soldier to take the whole squad out.
There’s a second story, in which a religious nut takes over Noo Yawk City, and she’s sent to kill him. Her price: rebuild the Statue of Liberty. These authors and illustrators seem to find great joy in killing characters in the most gruesome ways possible, but they also include a flashback to her as a child, explaining why the Statue of Liberty is so important to her. This small moment of humanizing was important, considering what she’s become.
If there’s one moment I won’t forget it’s when Clara snipers the chopper pilot! Never seen that before. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
Though she’s very much stone-hearted—some flashbacks explain why—there’s still humanity in her; it’s both hilarious and sad that in all the chaos around her she’s lamenting her upcoming 40th birthday. And I will say she’s drawn with great legs, when she’s not wearing the nun stuff.
In the first story she’s given the chance to go after her nemesis, along with a buddy from the British Army who’s simply gone nuts because of a head injury. There’s one point where he’s telling the other soldiers the story of how she got to be the way she is, which was a good use of exposition; then she adds to it by telling him a new story.
However, just when we’re supposed to think these are good guys—or at least better than the other side—they gun down some innocent cops responding to a call in the free city of Amsterdam. I was not happy with that, and if it’s done to prove these guys are no heroes, mission accomplished.
But of course the bad guy is worse, saying he needs to kill in order to not go insane. . . ugh. The only way she can match him is to become just as crazy, and at that point I thought they story went downhill. Plenty of carnage, such as people falling into helicopter blades. At one point she shoots a grenade strapped to one soldier to take the whole squad out.
There’s a second story, in which a religious nut takes over Noo Yawk City, and she’s sent to kill him. Her price: rebuild the Statue of Liberty. These authors and illustrators seem to find great joy in killing characters in the most gruesome ways possible, but they also include a flashback to her as a child, explaining why the Statue of Liberty is so important to her. This small moment of humanizing was important, considering what she’s become.
If there’s one moment I won’t forget it’s when Clara snipers the chopper pilot! Never seen that before. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
September 18, 2011
2012 and the world is a different place. Europe has become a dictatorship and is at war with Britain who has joined America as the 51st state. Britain is losing the war but a small group of guerrilla fighters is out to assassinate the European leader and end the war.
"Bloody Mary" is as close a book to Garth Ennis has ever done on autopilot. The dreary dystopian future, the mandatory violence, the uninspired heroine, and the overall story is handled with the utmost lack of ingenuity. Mary's backstory is a snoozer as is the "villain" of the story who is easily dispatched.
Ennis' whacky characters that he usually employs in his books are present here in the form of "Sarge" a stereotypical Brit and "Vatman" a hitman who loves wine. I can't believe I finished this book.
Besides the story of a bad guy out to kill everyone in the first book, the second story has an utterly ridiculous pseudo-religious story that's barely thought out and even Mary's reasons for taking on the mission are paper thin stupid.
Carlos Eszquerra's art is good but his character designs have always been limited and he doesn't do anything here beyond his usual standard.
Ok art, poor story, crap book. If you're a Garth Ennis fan wondering why you've never heard of "Bloody Mary", it's because it sucks. Read anything else.
"Bloody Mary" is as close a book to Garth Ennis has ever done on autopilot. The dreary dystopian future, the mandatory violence, the uninspired heroine, and the overall story is handled with the utmost lack of ingenuity. Mary's backstory is a snoozer as is the "villain" of the story who is easily dispatched.
Ennis' whacky characters that he usually employs in his books are present here in the form of "Sarge" a stereotypical Brit and "Vatman" a hitman who loves wine. I can't believe I finished this book.
Besides the story of a bad guy out to kill everyone in the first book, the second story has an utterly ridiculous pseudo-religious story that's barely thought out and even Mary's reasons for taking on the mission are paper thin stupid.
Carlos Eszquerra's art is good but his character designs have always been limited and he doesn't do anything here beyond his usual standard.
Ok art, poor story, crap book. If you're a Garth Ennis fan wondering why you've never heard of "Bloody Mary", it's because it sucks. Read anything else.
March 17, 2018
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Bloody Mary is a reprint of an original series from 1997. So, I assumed that at least some people thought it had stand up to time and was worthy of a new edition.
However, not often I've been able to say that I didn't like a book more convincingly than with Bloody Mary. It really wasn't for me. Neither style, story or art could bother me. A struggle to finish.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Bloody Mary is a reprint of an original series from 1997. So, I assumed that at least some people thought it had stand up to time and was worthy of a new edition.
However, not often I've been able to say that I didn't like a book more convincingly than with Bloody Mary. It really wasn't for me. Neither style, story or art could bother me. A struggle to finish.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 25, 2016
18th book read in 2016.
Number 272 out of 511 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
Number 272 out of 511 on my all time book list.
Review Pending:
December 27, 2016
'Bloody Mary' by Garth Ennis with art by Carlos Ezquerra is a reprint of 2 4-issue mini-series from 1996 and 1997. If you are a Garth Ennis fan, this is probably not the kind of thing you are looking for.
In an alternate future of 2012, things have gone pretty badly. Our heroine is Corporal "Bloody Mary" Malone. Her mouthy sidekick is a British guy nicknamed the Major. In the first series, they are sent out to retrieve a new weapon that could be used to create super soldiers. It will be a blast from the past since Mary will have to face off against one of her old teammates. Some of the over the top violent action takes place in Vatican City. Mary takes drastic action to stop her former team mate.
In the second series, a lunatic cult leader has taken over what used to be New York and his plan is to personally impregnate 144,000 women. Mary is sent in to stop him and brings along her friend the Major.
It's all hyper-violent and short on plot, to be honest. Ir reminds me a lot of the type of thing 2000 AD published once upon a time. Due to something Mary has done, she is virtually indestructible, so any number of violent things can happen to her and she comes back firing bullets and having no facial expression. While there is some back story, and we get some intriguing glimpses, she's just never made that interesting in the present. On the other hand, her sidekick the Major is a blustering, mouthy character who never shuts up, and continually spouts out stereotypical British-isms. If you are looking for a violent comic that is light on plot, then this is for you. If you are looking for the kind of thing that the name Garth Ennis might intrigue you in, this is probably not it.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In an alternate future of 2012, things have gone pretty badly. Our heroine is Corporal "Bloody Mary" Malone. Her mouthy sidekick is a British guy nicknamed the Major. In the first series, they are sent out to retrieve a new weapon that could be used to create super soldiers. It will be a blast from the past since Mary will have to face off against one of her old teammates. Some of the over the top violent action takes place in Vatican City. Mary takes drastic action to stop her former team mate.
In the second series, a lunatic cult leader has taken over what used to be New York and his plan is to personally impregnate 144,000 women. Mary is sent in to stop him and brings along her friend the Major.
It's all hyper-violent and short on plot, to be honest. Ir reminds me a lot of the type of thing 2000 AD published once upon a time. Due to something Mary has done, she is virtually indestructible, so any number of violent things can happen to her and she comes back firing bullets and having no facial expression. While there is some back story, and we get some intriguing glimpses, she's just never made that interesting in the present. On the other hand, her sidekick the Major is a blustering, mouthy character who never shuts up, and continually spouts out stereotypical British-isms. If you are looking for a violent comic that is light on plot, then this is for you. If you are looking for the kind of thing that the name Garth Ennis might intrigue you in, this is probably not it.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
October 24, 2022
Not Ennis's strongest work, but still fun. Ezquerra's art is always top-notch. This is a sci-fi social satire filled with dark humor. The only problem is that it feels rushed. The compilation includes the 2 series and still, it feels like Garth Ennis was running towards the finishing line the fastest he could.
Has a tiny bit of a Verhoven feel, which I really liked. I would recommend only to hardcore Ennis fans.
Has a tiny bit of a Verhoven feel, which I really liked. I would recommend only to hardcore Ennis fans.
March 29, 2023
Enough is enough.
Mary Malone AKA Bloody Mary is ex-Special Forces.
I’ve been reading Garth Ennis’s books from the library. I’ve had this one in my room for a month and finally read it completely. Garth Ennis did his research. Bloody Mary takes the cake!!!
September 27, 2017
Great art meets a fun story.
Memorable characters, tight writing and a heaping helping of blood/guts/gore make this an amusing read.
Memorable characters, tight writing and a heaping helping of blood/guts/gore make this an amusing read.
November 3, 2017
Par for the course for Ennis.
February 1, 2018
Very nice old fashioned story. Loved the art and writing
April 14, 2019
I think maybe a 3.5. Bloody and very violent. Interesting world building.
January 18, 2019
Awesome and so Pulpy
May 12, 2019
The premise is interesting and the story is short, so it's easy to get through. There's lots of action and killing, so a good read if you're into that.
August 25, 2022
Very Ennis. Lots of blood and guts. O this best but was amusing.
July 9, 2023
its actually a 3 and a half but goodreads doesnt want to fuck around and find out saur bhdf
September 9, 2024
Bottom tier Ennis, some decent Ezquerra art at least.
January 7, 2025
GEs (based on) real war comics are much better than his purely fictional ones. Read (or reread) those instead.
May 25, 2014
You know how you sometimes find things when closing out a storage unit? Well this and the following review fall into that category. I had the original floppies, and wanted some light reading the other night and opted for the first four issue mini-series (yes I know the description says the TPB collects both mini-series, and I'll be good and plow thru the second some night soon).
The good is that Ennis still gets across the hard facts of war. One fact being the grunt, the infantryman bears the brunt of the carnage even in this dystopian near future tale. While Mary herself does not get much depth added to her character, there was enough to keep me engaged as far as her part of the story went.
What failed was the addition of a British soldier whom I supposed was meant to be comic relief, much like the characters in Ennis' Rifle Brigade stories. Well that story point falls flat, as does the characterization for most of those in this brief tale.
Mary herself is of the two remaining soldiers from an American kill team. That was all they did. The officers pointed and they killed. To avoid spoilers something happened, and by the time we meet Mary in this story while she excels at her job she is burned out and drinking too much.
The set up for the British-Euro War is good enough. But the real problem is that except for Mary I didn't care about any character even the villain.
______________
As I said above I did read the second 4 issue series to officially complete the TPB. I liked it a little better but not much. And, that is frustrating. I think Mary is a good character stuck in crap stories. She is a little bit of a stereotype, the burned out soldier/assassin, but Ennis makes her engaging enough I would read a good story with her in it, especially one that gives her a little more characterization.
The good is that Ennis still gets across the hard facts of war. One fact being the grunt, the infantryman bears the brunt of the carnage even in this dystopian near future tale. While Mary herself does not get much depth added to her character, there was enough to keep me engaged as far as her part of the story went.
What failed was the addition of a British soldier whom I supposed was meant to be comic relief, much like the characters in Ennis' Rifle Brigade stories. Well that story point falls flat, as does the characterization for most of those in this brief tale.
Mary herself is of the two remaining soldiers from an American kill team. That was all they did. The officers pointed and they killed. To avoid spoilers something happened, and by the time we meet Mary in this story while she excels at her job she is burned out and drinking too much.
The set up for the British-Euro War is good enough. But the real problem is that except for Mary I didn't care about any character even the villain.
______________
As I said above I did read the second 4 issue series to officially complete the TPB. I liked it a little better but not much. And, that is frustrating. I think Mary is a good character stuck in crap stories. She is a little bit of a stereotype, the burned out soldier/assassin, but Ennis makes her engaging enough I would read a good story with her in it, especially one that gives her a little more characterization.
April 9, 2016
A really fun book, well worth a reprint and a revisit since its 1990s origins. Two four-part arcs, the first with the most feisty and indestructible war agent up against, er, an even more feisty and indestructible war agent; the second with her tasked at taking out the head man of a religious army that has captured New York and besmirched the spirit of America. Spirit is to the fore here, as well as the bloke who only likes the finest of wines, for there is a bit of 2000AD when it comes to the near-future war, a bit of old-school comics writing with the info-dump that sets it all out early on, and a great joie de vivre and devil may care about the goriness and gutsy drama. Very funny and well-conceived, and to all intents and purposes just as fresh and vital as when first printed. Thanks be to those who gave it a new lease of life – even with no extras this deserves being lauded and to be popular.
February 23, 2013
This is not Ennis's best work. The plot an setting are the biggest let down - they don't work for me. It would have worked better as a psuedo WWII story (like American Vampire) rather than a bad (and poorly informed) prediction of the European union. That said, there is enough Ennis extreme violence and gross stuff to drag a fan through. Many of these ideas I have seen executed more fully and to better effect in later works.
The saving grace is Ezquerra's artwork getting properly colourised. Though even this is a bit lazy with many of extras looking like Nelson Bunker Kreelman with different hair colours.
I am not surprised that Mary and the Major didn't make a 3rd outing, and I would probably give it a miss. Though it does make want to see another collaboration between the pair in a better realised story.
The saving grace is Ezquerra's artwork getting properly colourised. Though even this is a bit lazy with many of extras looking like Nelson Bunker Kreelman with different hair colours.
I am not surprised that Mary and the Major didn't make a 3rd outing, and I would probably give it a miss. Though it does make want to see another collaboration between the pair in a better realised story.
April 10, 2016
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
A reprinting of the two Garth Ennis/Carlos Ezquerra "Bloody Mary" miniseries, this book presents an alternate history where we meet an elite assassin named Mary Malone (aka Bloody Mary), fighting against evil in the third great European war, started in 1999. The writing is trademark Ennis- lots of action, sharp dialogue, black humor- and the art by Carlos Ezquerra is gorgeous. The only issue I have is the pacing of the stories; coming into the fourth chapter of each series the story gets rushed, making the reader wonder what was left out and if this could have been fleshed out a little more. As much as I hate to say that the last chapters were phoned in, it certainly can feel like it, although phoned in Garth Ennis is still pretty good. If you enjoyed this duos work on Adventures Of The Rifle Brigade you should enjoy this one as well.
A reprinting of the two Garth Ennis/Carlos Ezquerra "Bloody Mary" miniseries, this book presents an alternate history where we meet an elite assassin named Mary Malone (aka Bloody Mary), fighting against evil in the third great European war, started in 1999. The writing is trademark Ennis- lots of action, sharp dialogue, black humor- and the art by Carlos Ezquerra is gorgeous. The only issue I have is the pacing of the stories; coming into the fourth chapter of each series the story gets rushed, making the reader wonder what was left out and if this could have been fleshed out a little more. As much as I hate to say that the last chapters were phoned in, it certainly can feel like it, although phoned in Garth Ennis is still pretty good. If you enjoyed this duos work on Adventures Of The Rifle Brigade you should enjoy this one as well.
April 9, 2016
I guess Bloody Mary rode the Bad Girl™ wave in the 90s printed by DC under an imprint. There were 2 volumes in 1996 and 1997 (Bloody Mary and Bloody Mary: Lady Liberty) combined into a single trade in 2005. Image's 2016 reprint also includes both volumes.
With all the over-the-top violence you might expect from an Ennis book.
The story does seem a bit dated. It's interesting. But 20 years later, it doesn't seem fresh or new. And some of the writing is weird and eye-rolling.
There was one funny line.
Though I have to say I can appreciate the villain from volume 2. If America falls to fascism, this will be how it's done.
Of course, the 2nd volume was even sillier than the first.
Not my cup of tea, old thing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
With all the over-the-top violence you might expect from an Ennis book.
The story does seem a bit dated. It's interesting. But 20 years later, it doesn't seem fresh or new. And some of the writing is weird and eye-rolling.
There was one funny line.
Though I have to say I can appreciate the villain from volume 2. If America falls to fascism, this will be how it's done.
Of course, the 2nd volume was even sillier than the first.
Not my cup of tea, old thing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
March 25, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways program.
As a fan of Ennis' Punisher & Preacher series, I was excited to dig into some of his lesser known work, only to be disappointed. Bloody Mary maintains a lot of style without any of the substance.
The characters lack development and the plot is plodding. Thankfully Ennis' dark humor shines through in a few spots which prevents this book being a complete waste. Ezquerra's art is hit and miss, but overall it is visually enjoyable.
Worth a look only if you're a devoted fan of Ennis or Ezquerra. Otherwise give it a pass.
As a fan of Ennis' Punisher & Preacher series, I was excited to dig into some of his lesser known work, only to be disappointed. Bloody Mary maintains a lot of style without any of the substance.
The characters lack development and the plot is plodding. Thankfully Ennis' dark humor shines through in a few spots which prevents this book being a complete waste. Ezquerra's art is hit and miss, but overall it is visually enjoyable.
Worth a look only if you're a devoted fan of Ennis or Ezquerra. Otherwise give it a pass.
December 7, 2018
Special ops action in imaginary war
Bloody Mary is a Special Ops operative working for the US/UK alliance in a war against the rest of Europe (this should stoke the Brexit tribe!). In the first story, the enemy get a new super-weapon which can transform soldiers into fighting machines and violent carnage ensures until Bloody Mary resolves the issue. In the second story, she returns to the US to find a religious fanatic who wants to sire an entire generation to save America.
Engaging story but pretty bloody at times: a lot of killing. Also it’s as one-off which is great as some series just seem to go on forever.
Bloody Mary is a Special Ops operative working for the US/UK alliance in a war against the rest of Europe (this should stoke the Brexit tribe!). In the first story, the enemy get a new super-weapon which can transform soldiers into fighting machines and violent carnage ensures until Bloody Mary resolves the issue. In the second story, she returns to the US to find a religious fanatic who wants to sire an entire generation to save America.
Engaging story but pretty bloody at times: a lot of killing. Also it’s as one-off which is great as some series just seem to go on forever.
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