Promethea, Vol. 4

Promethea #4

by Alan Moore, J.H. Williams III (Artist), Mick Gray (Artist)

The conclusion of Promethea's sprawling tour of the higher realms of the spirit is collected in this softcover reprinting PROMETHEA #19-25! This Eisner-winning saga has been lauded byEntertainment Weekly and Time.com. Don't miss the fourth thrilling volume collecting this trailblazing series!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Comic Book

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this story so far. I almost gave this 5 stars. I probably should have.

We have made it to the top of the Tree of Life. This is the oneness and the god position. Being one with god. They have made it through several realms. I love going through this tree of life in this format. It seems to make more sense what is going on. It does have relationships to the Chakra system and what is happening.

Barb meets her Steve at last and the two are happy. Now, all 3 of them have to jump from the height back into the physical. They all take the leap.

Sophie lands back in her body. She sees Stacie and tries to thank her for being her replacement, but Stacie is not going to give up being Promethea. She likes the power. They end up in a cosmic court battle to determine who gets to be Promethea. It's wonderful.

I'm changing my mind. I've giving this 5 stars. It was a great story. I didn't like the fight between the 2 Promethea's, but it has been a mind-blowing story so far. I only hope the last volume will give us a great ending. I wasn't too happy what happened at the end, but I'm willing to see where it goes.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan Moore (along with Sophie and Barbara) end their acid trip through the Immateria. Moore does a good job explaining heady concepts although these issues read as huge infodumps. The art team does a tremendous job of visualizing Moore's word diarrhea. JH Williams gives each issue a different look, sometimes aping some of the most famous artists from history. Even the lettering by Todd Klein is outstanding. Sometimes he's creating new fonts every issue.

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's one big realization inside Moore's mind after reading the fourth and penultimate volume: everything imagined exists in the world of Immateria. Believing that Immateria exists is believing that all products of the imagination indeed exists and sometimes manifest in the real. It is not a religion. In fact, it precedes religion. The real world is even a part of the Immateria universe as well. I love chapter where the skirmish between two Prometheas is interpreted as a schism of religion between Islam and Christianity.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what's funny about Promethea? It's a comic book that definitely wouldn't appeal to children (vide: the Kabbalah story arc) and which has full frontal nudity and unmistakable sex, and yet the swears are bleeped out. Oh Alan Moore, you crazy, crazy man.

[?0?0?0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

About ninety five percent of Alan Moore's "Promethea, Vol 4" takes place in the immaterial world and for this the reader will either feel disappointed that the terrific and large city is only shown for brief moments and scenes--conversely, the reader could also get, almost, as lost as Moore in his world of magic, ancient mystical systems, and brilliant artwork that goes from Van Gogh homages to just startling beautiful pages of a washed-brown sandy black and white. There is a trial scene that is a highlight (that includes a toad lawyer, I mean, can you top that? Answer: yes, the dog-man in "Top Ten", also by Mr. Moore), and pages with John Dee, and there is also more development for side characters such as Jack Faust. I could not put this down and was left elated, once again, and hungry for more, yet again.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este cómic me sigue fascinando, es distinto a todo, ruputurista, feminista, cabalista, muchos tópicos casi para nada comunes en el mundo del noveno arte. Pero debo reconocer que todo el viaje místico se me hizo muy largo, choclos de texto explicativos que hacen del hilo argumental un bodoque espeso que parece nunca avanzar. Igual creo que por el arte y justamente lo poco habitual de lo visto y leído en el rubro al menos allá lejos hace casi veinte años.
Por eso si bien me parece increíble no puedo marcar este tomo con cinco estrellas.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie and Barbara reach the upper spheres of existence at the beginning of this volume.
Frankly, the mysticism and mythos aspect was becoming a bit trying, so I was glad that Moore brought things back to Earth in the end. This volume ends in a cliffhanger, so I hope the library buys the final book!

[Madeleine Moreland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
A great follow up from the 3rd book and greater development of the kabbalah. Moore clumsily attempts to create spiritual analogies with the war between Christians and Muslims / the West and the Middle East. He's a bit too on the nose with the comparisons he's drawing, but perhaps it is intended for a more ignorant audience. Even so, the false equivalency he makes between the two sides shows his lack of material analysis and this is an issue I've had in his other works; it makes his otherwise agreeable arguments wither. Nevertheless, the ending was gripping and I can't wait to finish the series!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still absolutely amazing! I love when the comic panels get all bugging and out of order and in loops and stuff, and all the different art styles of the spheres of the Tree of Life. Very beautiful! I'm pleased that this series has the same artist all the way through, it always jars me when a comic's style changes significantly due to a new artist.

The only con of this book is that I can definitely tell that things are wrapping up, and I want MORE! (Of course I knew Book 5 was the last volume, but I just hate seeing the final plot so soon in Book 4... can't we just pretend it's going to go on a little longer?)

Also, I don't like the enlightened Promethea's new outfit. :P Her old one was way cuter!

I'd also like more plots involving her being Promethea and kicking science-villain ass and more material worldly plots like with Stacia and her mom and Jack Faust. I definitely enjoyed the Immateria Tree of Life stuff, but it went on a long time and I feel like it needs to connect more to the worldy plots somehow. Well, I suppose it is connected with the impending Earthly Armageddon... but I'm not enjoying that aspect of the final plot. I don't want Armageddon to happen either! Why can't Sophie jaunt around Immateria and Earth as Promethea just a little longer? Why is she thrust into this world-ending role so soon in her career? I like this overarching plot arc, but wish there was a little bit more filler and side adventures in between...

Also, I'd like more stories about the past Prometheas. There's one that we never got a background story for (the Egyptian braided hair one with the shift that falls open in the front).

I'd love to be one of the Prometheas for Halloween but I don't think anyone would recognize her! :P

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started "Promethea" was so awesome, since she is the embodiment of imagination, and on the first 7 issues, Sophia Bangs, the newly Promethea was knowing about the previous incarnations that they represented the important forms of the new literature genres of the XX Century, like comic books, pulps, etc... also the art was consistent on each issue according to the visited genre. It was awesome and perfect. But after that, Sophia made a travel to understand magic and with that, she met the Taroth, and to find Barbara in the afterlife, she made a travel through Kabalah, and it was truly imaginative, high concepted and beautifully drawn, however I think that part of the early expectation about the book was lost in the journey. I am still enjoying the comic, since it's something quite different and quite insightful. However, we started with the foundations of the new styles of literature on the XX Century and we change to metaphysical stuff, cool that I enjoy that kind of things, but I don't blame the readers that complain about the path that the storyline took, since it's quite different from what you get in the first seven issues, easily a heaven to read for any fan of the comic books, pulps, comic strips, etc...
I am a huge Alan Moore fan, so I am happy to read this series and I recommend it to any other Alan Moore fan, however, I wouldn't surprised if some readers were lost in the way of the progress of the storyline due the drastic change in the core message of the series.

[Marjorie Jensen]

The art in this series is incredibly dense and integrates a wide variety of styles to help convey the content. I think using (beautiful) visual representations to teach magical concepts is brilliant. I've come across many of the ideas in Promethea before, but the art by J.H. Williams III enhances and deepens my knowledge. This is part of the reason why I like studying magic--it's not about following one text, but about comparing many different texts (that are usually amalgamations themselves).

[David Schwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

We continue our tour through Heaven and Hell viewed through Kaballah from Volume 3. The storyline in Volume 3 was compelling and the graphics stunning, in this Volume they are both a bit disappointing although not enough to detract from the big storyline.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is exceptional but the story has completely lost me..

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

See review for Vol. 3
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sophie and Barbara are still waltzing around in the 'higher realms of the Sepher. Some interesting things are happening back on Earth, but we don't see too much of them. I enjoyed the use of Qlippoth in #18 which added some much needed variety and the notion of a missing path always intrigued me; always meant to follow it up, never did.

Also, my collection ends with Vol. #25; this is when Sophie returns to the real world - no spoilers- but it is not the end of the story. I can't remember why I religiously bought ever single episode up to now and then stop. Perhaps, I too, went traveling? Perhaps I had just lost care factor? I did really enjoy the trial, but as I don't own the final volume and have only read it once I can't comment on the end of the series.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating: 2.5

Definitely skipped some of this. I don't think the underworld needed to be nearly as long as it was and a lot of it just had chronic written by a man disease this time around so it's nice to be past all that now! Rounding this one up to 3 because I think the stuff that happened once they got back to the real world was really good with Sophie and Stacia fighting and the parallel with some of the previous versions of Promethea. Hoping the last volume ends on a high note with most things wrapping up in the material world and feeling more like volume 1 again.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series more than any other allows a glimpse into the mind of Alan Moore, the anarchic ceremonial magician who also wrote that one graphic novel that everyone has read.

Equal parts superhero comic and metaphysical primer, Promethea is the champion of human imagination; a hero who derives her power from magical systems like the tarot and kabbalah. A lot of stuff to love here, especially the message that poets are magicians.

Also, the layouts are some of the most amazing I've ever seen, almost as good as JH Williams III's work on Sandman: Overture.

Can't wait to read the final volume.

[Wreade1872 · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times when i was considering 3-stars for this. Not necessarily on it alone but because the 'journey' involved i still feel has a level of diminishing returns, due to being spread over so many issues.
However the production values are still as high as ever. Even is you don't enjoy some of the artistic choices in places one would be hard pressed to say it lacks in effort.

There are also many sections of greatness, even revelation and the journey does eventually complete with 2 issues to spare, which made for an exciting ending.

Looking forward to the final volume.

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come :)

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joka kirjassa on hyviä jaksoja ja todella omaperäistä ja kokeellista taidetta, mutta ei tämä pidemmän päälle taida oikein mennä mihinkään. Taitaapa jäädä omalta osalta tähän neljänteen tämä saaga.

[Danny Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art in this one was so good that it really made me wish I liked the story more, but what can you do.

[David Cordero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is back after her trip through the Kabbalah but nothing is as it seems. Friends become enemies and enemies are still enemies.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story picks up in this issue, wrapping up the arc wherein Sophie and Barbara are on an odyssey through the Immateria. I didn't mind that section too badly, but I can understand how some readers would find it slow and sermonizing. I enjoy that type of story, though (I am a fan of Dante, after all). The conclusion of that journey is quite satisfying and beautiful.

I'm trying to keep these reviews as objective as I can, commenting only on the art/writing, or on the merits of the theology which Moore presents. To say that I 'object' to anything presented in these books is patently untrue. But I must say that while in Vol. II, I found the most that I philosophically enjoyed, it is in Vol. IV that I struggle the most to swallow. I don't want to risk getting into all of it and rambling, but I think I can say that I'm not alone in my skepticism on Moore's beliefs.

I feel that I haven't talked enough about Klein's lettering in my reviews. Lettering is an under appreciated art, even within comic creator circles. But in each issue, Klein is doing something inventive and new, and wonderfully appropriate for the story. When many letterers just give standard balloons and texts, he (there might be no way of knowing how much was provoked by the infamously meticulous and control-freak Moore) shows how to explore the art of lettering, while not getting gaudy or distracting.

A quick comment on Williams, too: the issue with all the ink wash gave me such joy. Ink wash is the medium I have committed to, and it's not a common one. So I'm always pleased to see it used; it's often used as an under layer to watercolor or digital coloring, so it was a real treat to see it simply in its grey tones.

With Sophie back to the material world, things kicked into high gear very quickly and I must also say that this volume has the best cliffhanger of the series.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alan Moore continues exploring the world of magic through his Wonder Woman analogue. Two of our characters spend much of this volume on a literal journey to heaven, recounting their feelings as they pass through various mystic planes aligned with the Kabbalah and our Solar System. It's really indulgent--a dive into Moore's mindset, with plenty of references to Alesiter Crowley and other mystics. J.H. Williams III does hero's work trying to portray the magical landscape, and his art is the only thing that keeps this portion readable.

Finally, we reach the end of the journey and return to Earth, but that part doesn't work so well either. There's a schism over who gets to embody Promethea, as our wanderer tries to take the role back from the caretaker she installed in the position. This leads to a funny Solomon joke, but it's also the source of more mystical metaphoring, this time on the schism between Christianity and Islam.

Surprisingly, the character work here is pretty heavy handed. Sophie (the main Promethea) and her mom have a magical reconciliation that's too smooth to be believable. Her friend Stacia, always a prickly presence, shifts into selfish villain mode here. It's not entirely unbelievable, given her background, but it's awfully convenient.

Things fall apart at the end of the volume, which stirs enough for me to read the last arc. If you're considering getting started with the series, though, I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a high tolerance for astrological mumbo jumbo.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I didn't go to London Film and Comic Con this weekend I decided to treat myself going to Forbidden Planet and picking up the next Promethea book. While not quite as good as three this one was still very enjoyable. Promethea and Barbara continued their journey up the Kabballa tree and exploring the higher realms where things were disjointed and creepy but also VERY happy. The art in this book is really amazing, the layout and colour schemes really blending perfectly to each imagined realm, and the details in the "real world" and wonderful too. Alas I did notice a flaw in the Chinese they used in the page of many people praying in many languages. (It was a literal english to chinese translation but unfortunately you don't use the very "am" the same way in Chinese). But at least it wasn't as Eurocentric as the history of the world! I'm enjoying this series quite a lot. I like the essays on what magic is and how imagination relates to and shapes reality and the journey of life. I also like the struggles of the main characters back on "earth". I think more than the other books this one captured their lives better. I also really liked Sophie's reunion with her mom (and dad) and cried lots! I'm looking forward to finishing this series soon.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia's journey into the Immateria continues all the way to the top, so to speak. The art in this book, as in the rest of the series is great, and it is one of the highlights of this work. While the whole Kabbalah angle is interesting, it does get a bit lengthy after a while for readers. The action itself is not that much complicated as Sophia has to reclaim her role as Promethea from Stacia, who was serving as caretaker. To be honest, after all that Sophia went through, this seemed a little anticlimactic. I mean, the way they situation is solved, if you can call it a solution, is a nice reimagining of some things, but as I said, a little anticlimactic. The series overall is well worth reading, and I will continue on to the last volume, since it seems that things may pick up in terms of pace. Overall if you like mythology and folklore, this series is a must read. I think people who do like myths will appreciate them better as a result of reading it, and in some cases, it may urge people to learn more. That can only be a good thing.

[Emily Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Alan Moore’s Promethea: Book Four, we find Promethea still traveling with Barbara through the sephirot of the afterlife, trying to find her dead husband. Meanwhile, Grace and Stacia are becoming chummier and chummier.

This volume focuses more on philosophy than actual plot. Moore works hard to combine beliefs from different religions, so that there is a multitude of afterlife experiences, which will be pleasant to every flavor of believer. Light on plot, but heavy on emotional experience, I was not as impressed with this story as I was the first two volumes. Using comic books as a medium to discuss religious points of view is a difficult challenge, and to my taste, this book has not conquered the challenge. Instead, it falls significantly short of reaching excitement and interest.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book is spent watching Sophie and Barbara become more and more enlightened as they: identify a sigil as Hebrew! meet legendary magicians! get in touch with their emotions! have kinky sex! etc. Luckily, Sophie and Barbara eventually meet God and thus, end their quest. Their stupid, boring, intermidible quest.

Luckily, Sophie's return to earth also marks a return to plot. Though that she's met God and been assured of her purpose, some of the other Prometheas are less sanguine about her role. A battle and then a metaphysical court case ensues. Meanwhile, two (awesome) FBI agents try to track down the roots of Promethea, and a sociopath villain (the Doll, who should have died many trade paperbacks ago) makes yet more trouble.

[Jesse Field · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sophie and Barbara tumble through the Kabbala going "wah?" And in case you forgot, Sophie is just an ordinary teenage girl who wants to do what the Godhead tells her (in the guise of the whore of "Babalon"). But she can't avoid a cat fight with her best friend. Meh.

The Kabbalah tour has some very nice art but runs longer than my patience. The action following has too many half-baked efforts to be clever, like a cameo appearance from Philomenus Phrog (his catch-phrase is "*Orruk*").

The art also degrades as we turn the pages. Majestic vistas of the Kabbala meta-cosmos and epic battle scenes alike lack motion; color and detail fade. I'm guessing this was a rush job, or else Williams and company have grown tired of their theme. (Probably both.)

[Lady Entropy · Rating 5 out of 5]

And my Promethea marathon continues.

Not much to say in this one other than I started to realize that reading Promethea is a quest on itself -- it starts simple and accessible, easy to begin, but then it become progressively harder. Each sephiroth becomes more complicated to understand, the text and the surrounding bits are a struggle, sometimes it borders the nonsensical...

... and then, you're through. You go through the looking glass, and you can breathe again, and you understand.

The main quest ends here, but it's not entirely done. We return to the normal world, but the path home is a difficult one. I particularly enjoyed the "Higher Planes" section of the book, and Solomon's trial was highly amusing.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start...

It's fascinating stuff, Moore's theories on existence, humanity, God, life and all of that. Some went over my head, some were sublimely profound, some seemed absurdly goofy, but it all made for an engaging, very challenging read.

Parts of Promethea's Kaballah tour seemed to bog down, narratively, but Williams ASTONISHING artwork kept my interest engaged and my short attention span excited, if only to see how he would visualize and structure the next moment of this remarkable journey. I can't imagine how Moore could have made this series work with any other artist.

Promethea is definitely a series that I intend to revisit frequently to see how my life journey affects how I see Sophie and Promethea's journey.