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Promethea #2
Promethea, Vol. 2
Sophie Bangs was a normal college student until a simple class assignment resulted in her being transformed into Promethea, a two-thousand-year-old mythical warrior woman.
In the second installment of the series that Entertainment Weekly has given an A-, Sophie continues to learn more about her powers, abilities, and predecessors.
But with many answers still missing, Sophie must fend off an attack by a horde of demons and discover and defeat the secrets behind the sinister cult The Temple if she is ever to live up to the full potential of Promethea.
In the second installment of the series that Entertainment Weekly has given an A-, Sophie continues to learn more about her powers, abilities, and predecessors.
But with many answers still missing, Sophie must fend off an attack by a horde of demons and discover and defeat the secrets behind the sinister cult The Temple if she is ever to live up to the full potential of Promethea.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
49 people are currently reading
1684 people want to read
About the author
Alan Moore
1,578 books21.6k followersAlan 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
August 2, 2020
I really enjoy this when we are in the real world but every time there's an issue where Alan Moore tries to teach us some esoteric magic lesson my brain completely shuts down and turns into "Let's look at J.H. Williams beautiful artwork while Alan Moore rambles on about nonsense." The art is amazing. Williams takes it in so many interesting places. The lettering also really stands out. This showcases why Todd Klein is a master of his craft. There are so many different and interesting fonts and bubbles to showcase the sounds of the different characters.
March 25, 2019
The last issue of this volume, Promethea is learning about magic and her caduceus is teaching her. Alan Moore uses the Major Arcana of the Tarot to talk about the development of mankind and how it all fits together. The history of a life or humanity can all be told in those cards. It is a brilliant bit of writing. The rest of the issue was good, but this chapter really got my mind going in a way it hasn't in a while. I'm blown away by it. It was just so brilliant. How the deck starts out is so perfect with the fool. Moore goes through ever single card and explains the course of humanity and it's very well laid out. I'm so impressed.
I have several tarot desks. I really enjoy it, but I don't have the grasp of the cards the way Alan does. I would love to understand things at that level. If you know this larger story, then when a card does come up, you can know where in the progression of things you are at that moment. I love this stuff as it is so much about symbolism. I love symbolism.
The story before is interesting. Promethea saves the city from Y2K technology, she has sex with some creepy man for knowledge and she comes under attack for a horde of assassins and all the woman who've come before her manifest once again in other women to help you out and they survive. All in all, it's a great issue and I look forward to reading more of it.
I have several tarot desks. I really enjoy it, but I don't have the grasp of the cards the way Alan does. I would love to understand things at that level. If you know this larger story, then when a card does come up, you can know where in the progression of things you are at that moment. I love this stuff as it is so much about symbolism. I love symbolism.
The story before is interesting. Promethea saves the city from Y2K technology, she has sex with some creepy man for knowledge and she comes under attack for a horde of assassins and all the woman who've come before her manifest once again in other women to help you out and they survive. All in all, it's a great issue and I look forward to reading more of it.
November 8, 2019
Promethea, Volume 2 was an incredibly disappointing follow-up to a promising comic series. The reader continues to follow the efforts of Sophie, a student who has learned to channel the spirit of a being of enlightenment named Promethea, while battling demons and other nebulous, bad guys.
We have yet to learn more about the villains of the story, except in brief asides, or Sophie's allies, some sort of technological heroes.
This entry is bogged down with a lengthy metaphysical poem about the progression of tarot cards and an unexpected tantric sex primer.
My quibbles with the tarot card piece is it is far too simplistic but also too long. Each card can be interpreted a number of different ways, and not just applied to principles of civilization. It is also a metaphor for the soul's journey, which Alan Moore touches on, but, I feel, never truly explains.
Also, by presenting the whole thing through rhyme, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to Dr. Seuss. I get what Moore was going for, but it didn't work for me.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but wonder if the lead character in this story was a guy if we would have been subjected to the tantric stuff at all. I believe the earthly can be spiritual and the spiritual can be earthly. I think "kundalini rising" is just the lightning flash of inspiration in reverse. But a male hero being pressured into trading his body for secret knowledge? I don't see it happening.
I liked the first entry of Promethea. I thought it was ground-breaking in the way it depicted a strong female character on a spiritual journey. This second book simply isn't of the same quality. Perhaps the series will redeem itself in the next entry. One can only hope.
We have yet to learn more about the villains of the story, except in brief asides, or Sophie's allies, some sort of technological heroes.
This entry is bogged down with a lengthy metaphysical poem about the progression of tarot cards and an unexpected tantric sex primer.
My quibbles with the tarot card piece is it is far too simplistic but also too long. Each card can be interpreted a number of different ways, and not just applied to principles of civilization. It is also a metaphor for the soul's journey, which Alan Moore touches on, but, I feel, never truly explains.
Also, by presenting the whole thing through rhyme, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to Dr. Seuss. I get what Moore was going for, but it didn't work for me.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but wonder if the lead character in this story was a guy if we would have been subjected to the tantric stuff at all. I believe the earthly can be spiritual and the spiritual can be earthly. I think "kundalini rising" is just the lightning flash of inspiration in reverse. But a male hero being pressured into trading his body for secret knowledge? I don't see it happening.
I liked the first entry of Promethea. I thought it was ground-breaking in the way it depicted a strong female character on a spiritual journey. This second book simply isn't of the same quality. Perhaps the series will redeem itself in the next entry. One can only hope.
March 20, 2019
Raise your hand if you want to see a detailed account of tantric sex between a homeless-looking old magician who is obviously a characterization of the author, and a young college student who is doing this as a form of payment for sought after information?
Right. No one. (Maybe Alan Moore, I guess?)
Yeah, that was fuckin' weird. Not good weird. The bad kind. I wish I could say that was my least favorite issue in this trade paperback (yes, it takes up an entire fucking issue!), but it was merely an appetizer for what was to come (pun not intended, but I'm enjoying it).
My very least favorite issue in this trade was the last issue. In the last issue Promethea is led by the snakes that comprise her caduceus through a surreal tour of the meaning of magic explained via the cards in Tarot's major arcana. The snakes speak in rhyme and as if they were one being--because of course they do. I find rhyming to add density and self-importance to writing, and nothing good (my personal bias). Also, doesn't this characterization seem somewhat trite? A lazy regurgitation of the Graeae from Greek mythology? Or the Three Witches from Macbeth? Or the Baba Yaga from Russian folklore? I was just like, oh god, please make it stop.
Ending on that very low note, I am done with this series, which is such a bummer because the potential of the premise and the artwork were out of this world (another accidental pun that I'm keeping). To be fair, all other issues in this trade were much better, and similar to the first trade in their pros and cons (review here).
The reason I gave up on this series isn't because of all of the little things I didn't like added up together. I gave up on this series because I realized what it was and was not going to be.
What it was going to be: like being trapped in a tent at Burning Man with an old hippie who is trying to convince you that he has a deeper understanding of everything because of how learned he is about a various patchwork of new age mysticism, philosophy, and acid. Definitely because of acid. Moore tricks the reader into the tent with a "story." Also, he wanted to fuck Promethea. Unlike the story, the Promethea-fucking actually happens.
What it was not going to be: a story with great character development and an interesting plot.
Right. No one. (Maybe Alan Moore, I guess?)
Yeah, that was fuckin' weird. Not good weird. The bad kind. I wish I could say that was my least favorite issue in this trade paperback (yes, it takes up an entire fucking issue!), but it was merely an appetizer for what was to come (pun not intended, but I'm enjoying it).
My very least favorite issue in this trade was the last issue. In the last issue Promethea is led by the snakes that comprise her caduceus through a surreal tour of the meaning of magic explained via the cards in Tarot's major arcana. The snakes speak in rhyme and as if they were one being--because of course they do. I find rhyming to add density and self-importance to writing, and nothing good (my personal bias). Also, doesn't this characterization seem somewhat trite? A lazy regurgitation of the Graeae from Greek mythology? Or the Three Witches from Macbeth? Or the Baba Yaga from Russian folklore? I was just like, oh god, please make it stop.
Ending on that very low note, I am done with this series, which is such a bummer because the potential of the premise and the artwork were out of this world (another accidental pun that I'm keeping). To be fair, all other issues in this trade were much better, and similar to the first trade in their pros and cons (review here).
The reason I gave up on this series isn't because of all of the little things I didn't like added up together. I gave up on this series because I realized what it was and was not going to be.
What it was going to be: like being trapped in a tent at Burning Man with an old hippie who is trying to convince you that he has a deeper understanding of everything because of how learned he is about a various patchwork of new age mysticism, philosophy, and acid. Definitely because of acid. Moore tricks the reader into the tent with a "story." Also, he wanted to fuck Promethea. Unlike the story, the Promethea-fucking actually happens.
What it was not going to be: a story with great character development and an interesting plot.
November 5, 2016
A bit silly really.
I mean, one can excuse the pagan gender essentialism, the Terence Mckenna psychedelia, the Eurocentric reading of human history, the sense you're being lectured deep into the wee hours by Michael Caine's Children of Men character, but then, you can't excuse forever and ever and ever...
During the sex scene I was waiting for some inevitable qualification to the idea of transcendent male and female 'principles', the former one of penetrating (the wand) and the latter one of receiving (the cup), but none was forthcoming, save for the remark that these principles shouldn't be reduced to physical sex but are rather cosmic, which does not suffice. As a means of social as well as biological reproduction, sexual activity in a variety of forms has been important for human beings and other animals throughout their history. Sexual behaviour thus involves much more than the heterosexual penis-in-vagina form alone, which Moore seems to elevate to a cosmic principle. If this reflects more the position of the magician character who makes these statements than the ideas of Moore himself, there is no critical voice in the story to make this divergence evident. If it can be proven that the long-haired magician having tantric sex with his much younger female student isn't a fantasy-projection of Alan Moore himself, then the book deserves less fierce criticism, but not by much. It's just a story, of course, but since Promethea is such a didactic work, it's legitimate to criticise the ideas in it for being wrong, I think. But in addition to being wrong, the cosmic gender ideology is just drab and hokey. In a series which is all about the power of the human imagination, that power is not best advertised by a flight of fantasy which nonetheless repeats the sex-essentialist and heteronormative ideas we are all too familiar with. Which gets to a more fundamental point: the imagination is, at the end of the day, a human faculty without inevitably good or bad political outcomes. The Nazis themselves were not averse to the occult, which Moore doesn't mention because he needs to represent fascism as an excess of modern materialism in contradiction with the spiritual. As a tool, imagination can be revolutionary, reactionary, or - as here - just boring.
I mean, one can excuse the pagan gender essentialism, the Terence Mckenna psychedelia, the Eurocentric reading of human history, the sense you're being lectured deep into the wee hours by Michael Caine's Children of Men character, but then, you can't excuse forever and ever and ever...
During the sex scene I was waiting for some inevitable qualification to the idea of transcendent male and female 'principles', the former one of penetrating (the wand) and the latter one of receiving (the cup), but none was forthcoming, save for the remark that these principles shouldn't be reduced to physical sex but are rather cosmic, which does not suffice. As a means of social as well as biological reproduction, sexual activity in a variety of forms has been important for human beings and other animals throughout their history. Sexual behaviour thus involves much more than the heterosexual penis-in-vagina form alone, which Moore seems to elevate to a cosmic principle. If this reflects more the position of the magician character who makes these statements than the ideas of Moore himself, there is no critical voice in the story to make this divergence evident. If it can be proven that the long-haired magician having tantric sex with his much younger female student isn't a fantasy-projection of Alan Moore himself, then the book deserves less fierce criticism, but not by much. It's just a story, of course, but since Promethea is such a didactic work, it's legitimate to criticise the ideas in it for being wrong, I think. But in addition to being wrong, the cosmic gender ideology is just drab and hokey. In a series which is all about the power of the human imagination, that power is not best advertised by a flight of fantasy which nonetheless repeats the sex-essentialist and heteronormative ideas we are all too familiar with. Which gets to a more fundamental point: the imagination is, at the end of the day, a human faculty without inevitably good or bad political outcomes. The Nazis themselves were not averse to the occult, which Moore doesn't mention because he needs to represent fascism as an excess of modern materialism in contradiction with the spiritual. As a tool, imagination can be revolutionary, reactionary, or - as here - just boring.
April 23, 2020
I write this as an Alan Moore fan. In fact Promethea is one of two of his series that I am following. It is just that after Promethea #2 I am in no particular hurry to get Number 3. In the Alan Moore signature style, the art work is lush the publication values, color and the like are magnificent. Panel after panel is packed with all sorts of images and knowing Mr. Moore all that background stuff will be important at some point.
But speaking of points. What is the purpose of this installment? We are still doing a lot of background. This time magic, sorta. There is a huge battle but what is the outcome? So huge it takes about a dozen confused over drawn pages. The, that’s with a capital T baddies threw in everybody… thingie they had and I think they were defeated. I think. Then again, we do not see the dead bodies so you know what that means.
After that there is some star-spangled tantric sex with a not exactly greasy old man who walks actually sexes us through the Hindu Chakras. That is supposed to be about magic, but better to ask he snakes . The snakes are into cards, the details of which I guess make you into a magician. This might be spoilers, but it is as much confusion as is the entire book
So here the reader has many pages of densely populated mostly beautiful pictures, very little idea of what is going on and a freshman review of some alt philosophies and not much else. I get that there are like 20 installments to go. I am just winded with the over much input and the overall lack of direction. Unanswered questions works as a buy more gimmick for just so long. I guess I am in for a little longer. I do not feel any particular need to rush.
But speaking of points. What is the purpose of this installment? We are still doing a lot of background. This time magic, sorta. There is a huge battle but what is the outcome? So huge it takes about a dozen confused over drawn pages. The, that’s with a capital T baddies threw in everybody… thingie they had and I think they were defeated. I think. Then again, we do not see the dead bodies so you know what that means.
After that there is some star-spangled tantric sex with a not exactly greasy old man who walks actually sexes us through the Hindu Chakras. That is supposed to be about magic, but better to ask he snakes . The snakes are into cards, the details of which I guess make you into a magician. This might be spoilers, but it is as much confusion as is the entire book
So here the reader has many pages of densely populated mostly beautiful pictures, very little idea of what is going on and a freshman review of some alt philosophies and not much else. I get that there are like 20 installments to go. I am just winded with the over much input and the overall lack of direction. Unanswered questions works as a buy more gimmick for just so long. I guess I am in for a little longer. I do not feel any particular need to rush.
June 1, 2014
Although not as strong as the first volume, this one kicks real and magical ass in artwork. The panels, encapsulations and other layout elements work so well in telling the story. Even the lame Tarot chapter is so magically beautiful to look at. They even have panels with real people (not drawn) there and they fit in the story. Oh yeah, there is this sort of meta-sex scene where stars and white flashes replace blurs and blacks on private parts.
June 17, 2013
Excellent volume. The story of Sophie Bangs as the current Promethea continues. Alan Moore, as usual, did a wonderful work here. Sophie learns a lot about how the magic works but also about the connections of her power with the rest of the fabric of the universe. Promethea is without question one of the best works of Alan Moore that many times the people forget to mention along with the rest of his long line of writing hits.
April 9, 2019
Basic Plot: Sophie learns more about what it means to be Promethea, fights demons, and counters an evil cult.
Again, the art of this series is beyond fantastic, it is superb. The tarot cards are used to absolute perfection to artistically tell a story. The story sometimes takes a back seat to the phenomenal art ideas the author/artist has, so that the two don't always marry in the best fashion, but the book is a glory to look at and never veers too far off the beaten path.
Again, the art of this series is beyond fantastic, it is superb. The tarot cards are used to absolute perfection to artistically tell a story. The story sometimes takes a back seat to the phenomenal art ideas the author/artist has, so that the two don't always marry in the best fashion, but the book is a glory to look at and never veers too far off the beaten path.
January 8, 2023
Still lots of mysteries without many answers. The setting by Alan Moore and the artwork elevate this book beyond most comics.
May 4, 2011
The volume where Moore's work begins to slide. The weakest part of this volume is the final issue, the Tarot issue. In it, Promethea is given a lesson in the significance of the Tarot cards -- each one "represents" some moment in the creation of the universe and signifies a step in the path to enlightenment.
Yeah, whatever.
The issue itself is quite well-done, combining multiple levels of visual and verbal narration. There's one thing you can't deny about Promethea as a series and that's that it pushed the limits of graphic story-telling in fabulously inventive ways. But the structural schematics of Moore's cosmology is, at base, crude, over-simplified, and frankly, very juvenile. As with all attempts to map reality onto a human-made conceptual framework, the supposed "discoveries" of the "truths" within the Tarot are, in fact, projections of Moore's own cultural vocabulary. That is to say, he doesn't uncover any meanings in the Tarot, he creates them based on ideologies that organize his thinking.
But besides this one hiccup, the series itself is still quite good at this point. As a meta-fictional tale about the nature of imagination, it's insightful, if not earth-shattering, and Moore's sense of humor and imagination, when he gives it full rein, is wonderful. He should probably get an award for the single greatest creation ever, the Weeping Gorilla. It's a comic-strip within the world of Promethea; each one is just a sad Gorilla crying while thinking about some utterly banal inconvenience of life that is so pathetic as to be tragic. Example: "Everyone said I should upgrade to Windows 95." Love it.
Yeah, whatever.
The issue itself is quite well-done, combining multiple levels of visual and verbal narration. There's one thing you can't deny about Promethea as a series and that's that it pushed the limits of graphic story-telling in fabulously inventive ways. But the structural schematics of Moore's cosmology is, at base, crude, over-simplified, and frankly, very juvenile. As with all attempts to map reality onto a human-made conceptual framework, the supposed "discoveries" of the "truths" within the Tarot are, in fact, projections of Moore's own cultural vocabulary. That is to say, he doesn't uncover any meanings in the Tarot, he creates them based on ideologies that organize his thinking.
But besides this one hiccup, the series itself is still quite good at this point. As a meta-fictional tale about the nature of imagination, it's insightful, if not earth-shattering, and Moore's sense of humor and imagination, when he gives it full rein, is wonderful. He should probably get an award for the single greatest creation ever, the Weeping Gorilla. It's a comic-strip within the world of Promethea; each one is just a sad Gorilla crying while thinking about some utterly banal inconvenience of life that is so pathetic as to be tragic. Example: "Everyone said I should upgrade to Windows 95." Love it.
February 20, 2018
Una maravilla de punta a punta, el tomo, la historia, la puesta en escena. El diseño de cada página sigue siendo original y cambiante. Puede que tanta data resulte denso por momentos y es que es un cómic que merece su tiempo de lectura, no se lee a la ligera. Con solo decir que el último número es un repaso de la historia de la humanidad, escrita en verso, a través de las veintiún cartas del tarot. Inmejorable.
December 2, 2010
Couldn't stay awake during this one, especially through the tarot card poetry. Yeah, it was over the top. Haven't decided if I'm going to continue to the next.
April 1, 2018
El segundo volumen me ha interesado mucho más, aúnque tiene el capítulo final más anticlimático de la historia.
A lo mejor mi problema es que no creo en la magia.
A lo mejor mi problema es que no creo en la magia.
December 6, 2021
Moore es único hay que agradecer que podemos leer sus obras
January 21, 2008
Promethea is a delight. While of course the second volume cannot match the newness and discovery of the first, it continues to be excellent, and provides many thrills of the unexpected-solution and character-payoff varieties. Containing several episodes in the life of Promethea, as well as issues of her comic book, this one runs the gamut from your basic city-in-peril to a history of the universe in tarot arcana.
October 25, 2014
Four stars only because I couldn't get myself to finish reading the tarot card part at the end. But will definitely continue to the third one of the series.
September 7, 2019
https://leiturasdelaura.blogspot.com/...
http://popoca.com.br/promethea-book-t...
SPOILER FREE
Preciso confessar que enrolei para fazer essa resenha porque ela vai ser difícil. Por causa de diversos motivos, um deles é realmente fazer essa resenha sem nenhum spoiler, acho que nem deveria fazer essa promessa, mas vou tentar. Outro motivo é que ela não vai ser tão positiva quanto os fãs de Alan Moore e de Promethea esperam.
O segundo volume com seis capítulos da série Promethea traz a continuação da saga de Sofie e seu alter ego como Promethea. Depois de um primeiro volume cheio de ação e aventura, os próximos capítulos até começam animados, mas em seguida emendam numa fase de aprendizagem de Sofie/Promethea sobre magia, realidade vs imaginação e como os poderes da Promethea funcionam.
A parte esotérica e simbólica utilizada pelo Alan Moore tem lá uma base nos princípios clássicos dessas coisas. Mas o autor dá uma forçada aqui e ali, que fazem parte de qualquer ficção, então nem posso dizer nada. O que me incomodou nem foi isso, é a forma como Sofie/Promethea conseguem negociar com o mago para ele ensinar. Achei totalmente despropositado, não enobrece em nada as personagens, serviu pura e simplesmente para saciar o lado pervertido do autor. Olha! Sem spoiler!
Além de ficar extremamente incomodada com isso, a coletânea sofre com a quebra de ritmo entre as aventuras e os ensinamentos, porque quando eles começam parece que todo o resto para por muito, muito, muito tempo. Em outras palavras, a leitura fica lerda, e porque não dizer logo, chata.
A parte gráfica continua belíssima, mas sofre exatamente do mesmo problema do volume anterior, é uma personagem feminina que deveria ser muito empoderada, mas é claramente vista e apresentada de um ponto de vista exclusivamente masculino.
Em outras palavras, o segundo volume é bem pior que o primeiro. Confesso que fiquei triste ao perceber isso.
http://popoca.com.br/promethea-book-t...
SPOILER FREE
Preciso confessar que enrolei para fazer essa resenha porque ela vai ser difícil. Por causa de diversos motivos, um deles é realmente fazer essa resenha sem nenhum spoiler, acho que nem deveria fazer essa promessa, mas vou tentar. Outro motivo é que ela não vai ser tão positiva quanto os fãs de Alan Moore e de Promethea esperam.
O segundo volume com seis capítulos da série Promethea traz a continuação da saga de Sofie e seu alter ego como Promethea. Depois de um primeiro volume cheio de ação e aventura, os próximos capítulos até começam animados, mas em seguida emendam numa fase de aprendizagem de Sofie/Promethea sobre magia, realidade vs imaginação e como os poderes da Promethea funcionam.
A parte esotérica e simbólica utilizada pelo Alan Moore tem lá uma base nos princípios clássicos dessas coisas. Mas o autor dá uma forçada aqui e ali, que fazem parte de qualquer ficção, então nem posso dizer nada. O que me incomodou nem foi isso, é a forma como Sofie/Promethea conseguem negociar com o mago para ele ensinar. Achei totalmente despropositado, não enobrece em nada as personagens, serviu pura e simplesmente para saciar o lado pervertido do autor. Olha! Sem spoiler!
Além de ficar extremamente incomodada com isso, a coletânea sofre com a quebra de ritmo entre as aventuras e os ensinamentos, porque quando eles começam parece que todo o resto para por muito, muito, muito tempo. Em outras palavras, a leitura fica lerda, e porque não dizer logo, chata.
A parte gráfica continua belíssima, mas sofre exatamente do mesmo problema do volume anterior, é uma personagem feminina que deveria ser muito empoderada, mas é claramente vista e apresentada de um ponto de vista exclusivamente masculino.
Em outras palavras, o segundo volume é bem pior que o primeiro. Confesso que fiquei triste ao perceber isso.
March 3, 2019
Promethea is one of those books I enjoy rereading when I can. It's amazingly well written and, at the same time, it's terribly clever. I do have a thing for magic-based superheroes, but this is far more than just that.
However, I mentioned before what this book is about (high magic, hermetic beliefs, etc.) so, this time, I'm focusing on the superhero-aspect of Promethea, since there is a lot more action in the book.
I never really enjoyed mainstream superheroes with a magical origin, because the powers were never respected, I feel. In the end, magicians like Doctor Strange were superheroes whose powers waxed and waned according to what was convenient to the plot -- and who could weave illusions and throw energy "mystical" blasts at the enemy.
By comparison, Promethea does it incredibly right. Magic is in the details, and those abound here. Oh, sure, she has fire and magic blasts, but there is power and knowledge and profundity behind them. The occult weaves itself into every bit of the character, and, as if to try and make the contrast steeper, Moore sets it in an almost cyberpunkish, much more futuristic than reality version of 1999 and our world.
This is a terribly clever book, and I can't recommend it any more emphatically to those who like a bit of mindful entertainment, instead of mindless. Just be ready to have to reread bits again and again to be able to digest the information in it.
However, I mentioned before what this book is about (high magic, hermetic beliefs, etc.) so, this time, I'm focusing on the superhero-aspect of Promethea, since there is a lot more action in the book.
I never really enjoyed mainstream superheroes with a magical origin, because the powers were never respected, I feel. In the end, magicians like Doctor Strange were superheroes whose powers waxed and waned according to what was convenient to the plot -- and who could weave illusions and throw energy "mystical" blasts at the enemy.
By comparison, Promethea does it incredibly right. Magic is in the details, and those abound here. Oh, sure, she has fire and magic blasts, but there is power and knowledge and profundity behind them. The occult weaves itself into every bit of the character, and, as if to try and make the contrast steeper, Moore sets it in an almost cyberpunkish, much more futuristic than reality version of 1999 and our world.
This is a terribly clever book, and I can't recommend it any more emphatically to those who like a bit of mindful entertainment, instead of mindless. Just be ready to have to reread bits again and again to be able to digest the information in it.
March 25, 2019
In Alan Moore’s Promethea: Book 2, Promethea finds herself waking from the coma of Imateria to find that the hospital is being attacked by monsters and the Painted Doll. To save everyone on earth, Sophie must come up with a plan more clever than simply turning into Promethea: turning every woman in the room into Promethea.
As the second volume begins, and Sophie continues to learn from the other previous incarnations of Promethea, she must also learn what it means for her to be Promethea. Unlike the other incarnations, who were writers, artists, and a stray poet, Sophie is a young academic, a woman who learns by researching before she experiences. Her research brings her to experiences significantly different from what Promethea previously experienced, and sets her on the path to becoming herself.
Moore’s attempt at connecting different beliefs, religious, scientific, philosophical, and occult, are interesting, and do impart a certain amount of knowledge to the reader. The departure from plot slows down this volume quite a bit, and due to being told in rhyming couplets, loses a bit more of its energy. The fact that it is told by snakes helps, but does not completely overcome the extremely slow pacing and less artful story telling of this section.
Overall, this volume is decent. There is a weird Moore-esque sex sequence, but it was bearable. One of his better series.
As the second volume begins, and Sophie continues to learn from the other previous incarnations of Promethea, she must also learn what it means for her to be Promethea. Unlike the other incarnations, who were writers, artists, and a stray poet, Sophie is a young academic, a woman who learns by researching before she experiences. Her research brings her to experiences significantly different from what Promethea previously experienced, and sets her on the path to becoming herself.
Moore’s attempt at connecting different beliefs, religious, scientific, philosophical, and occult, are interesting, and do impart a certain amount of knowledge to the reader. The departure from plot slows down this volume quite a bit, and due to being told in rhyming couplets, loses a bit more of its energy. The fact that it is told by snakes helps, but does not completely overcome the extremely slow pacing and less artful story telling of this section.
Overall, this volume is decent. There is a weird Moore-esque sex sequence, but it was bearable. One of his better series.
May 10, 2025
Issues 7-12: #10 won single-issue Eisner Award
This was back in my issue days but am glad to have the original issues 10 and 12 which I rate as masterpieces!
This would have been a ***** if it didn't get so deep into the mysticism/tarot/etc. so early in the progression. His complete interpretation was interesting and shouldn't have been abridged but myself and many other readers (I've noticed) were overwhelmed by the onslaught.
The tantric sex issue, on the other hand, was tremendously fun though I'd recommend using an Indian book instead if you're looking for instruction. And wear that condom because you will "emit" until you, if anyone ever does, become a master! Still, the wonderfully weird and original combo is one of things that makes Alan Moore so great.
This was back in my issue days but am glad to have the original issues 10 and 12 which I rate as masterpieces!
This would have been a ***** if it didn't get so deep into the mysticism/tarot/etc. so early in the progression. His complete interpretation was interesting and shouldn't have been abridged but myself and many other readers (I've noticed) were overwhelmed by the onslaught.
The tantric sex issue, on the other hand, was tremendously fun though I'd recommend using an Indian book instead if you're looking for instruction. And wear that condom because you will "emit" until you, if anyone ever does, become a master! Still, the wonderfully weird and original combo is one of things that makes Alan Moore so great.
May 10, 2013
More Moore is good Moore. I think the series hits its stride here, the heroine Sophie Bangs' is allowing her learning of occult and imagination to flow and we ride with her enjoyment.
A couple of minor issues I have around the book are just how powerful Promethea is, when she has still so much to learn. The magickal learning, one of the most thrilling chapters as she is taken through the Tarot deck, allegorising the story of the development of human consciousness, is thrilling and fiendishly clever.
Beautiful artwork, beautiful lettering (Todd Klein AGAIN) and technicolour as a venture through the imagination needs to be.
Vol 3. awaits.
A couple of minor issues I have around the book are just how powerful Promethea is, when she has still so much to learn. The magickal learning, one of the most thrilling chapters as she is taken through the Tarot deck, allegorising the story of the development of human consciousness, is thrilling and fiendishly clever.
Beautiful artwork, beautiful lettering (Todd Klein AGAIN) and technicolour as a venture through the imagination needs to be.
Vol 3. awaits.
November 5, 2018
This book, though still fascinating, slips away from the main plot and delves knowingly deeper into the circus of Alan Moore's mind. It is hard to keep track of different threads of thought and ideas, which on the one hand laid out with such details and ambition, while on the other manifest in a simplified way as if to show the contrast itself. The question is which side of the celestial coin will shine on future reading.
PS I do believe there are some possible errors in the Hebrew characters's order penciling {on the scrabble tiles}.
PS I do believe there are some possible errors in the Hebrew characters's order penciling {on the scrabble tiles}.
October 16, 2018
Yeah...no.
The star is for the artwork which was great...
But wow, a teenager being coerced into sex with an old magician dude as payment for services ... that was creepy, disgusting, and incredibly...tacky.
Like others I also found the last issue hard going but it was too late by then - the 'sex scene' had already turned me thoroughly off.
The star is for the artwork which was great...
But wow, a teenager being coerced into sex with an old magician dude as payment for services ... that was creepy, disgusting, and incredibly...tacky.
Like others I also found the last issue hard going but it was too late by then - the 'sex scene' had already turned me thoroughly off.
January 3, 2025
A lot more heavy with the magicians handbook vibes in volume two. I very much enjoyed the clever tarot explanations. The story itself could use more momentum but I sense it's supposed to be backdrop.
May 4, 2020
Getting far out there, but still very well written and a lot of fun.
September 5, 2019
Joo, tässä taso tippui kyllä romahtaen. Ihan vauhdikasta kerrontaa ja kuvitusta, mutta nyt mentiin niin pitkälle Mooren omaan taikamaailmaan varsinkin tantra- ja tarot-jaksoissa, että enpä tiedä tarviiko lukea pidemmälle. Ehkä vielä kolmoselle annan mahdollisuuden.
May 21, 2020
II.
Sin permanecer contento con su figura cuasi-mitológica, el barbudo estableció una organización secreta que planea enfrentarse y dar muerte a la anti-heroína que parece no poder dejar de existir, a condición de poder estar ligada a un cuerpo físico. Y no sólo hizo eso, sino que, para aquellos morbosos―todos nosotros― que buscan siempre algo de satisfacción propia, ofreció una sesión de sexo tántrico. Uno casi se puede imaginar a los sacerdotes que lo hacían mucho tiempo atrás, creyendo que así podían conocer a su(s) dios(es).
Pero el sexo no es sólo para satisfacer el morbo, tiene su explicación dentro del contexto místico de la historia que el barbudo desarrolla: el falo como símbolo y complemento de la entidad espiritual elevada que es Promethea. Esta requiere, por lo tanto, del...
El resto de la reseña se encuentra en mi blog: https://jsaaopinionpersonal.wordpress...
P. D.:
1. Precedido por lo dicho en el volumen 1.
2. Continúo la reseña en el volumen 3.
Sin permanecer contento con su figura cuasi-mitológica, el barbudo estableció una organización secreta que planea enfrentarse y dar muerte a la anti-heroína que parece no poder dejar de existir, a condición de poder estar ligada a un cuerpo físico. Y no sólo hizo eso, sino que, para aquellos morbosos
Pero el sexo no es sólo para satisfacer el morbo, tiene su explicación dentro del contexto místico de la historia que el barbudo desarrolla: el falo como símbolo y complemento de la entidad espiritual elevada que es Promethea. Esta requiere, por lo tanto, del...
El resto de la reseña se encuentra en mi blog: https://jsaaopinionpersonal.wordpress...
P. D.:
1. Precedido por lo dicho en el volumen 1.
2. Continúo la reseña en el volumen 3.
January 27, 2018
This book contains pages and pages of the most tedious sex scene I've ever seen. Like, you'd think drawings of people getting it on would be enough to make sexy time, well, sexy. And maybe it would. But once the weirdo stuff about putting his wand in her cup or whatever starts, it's like "Dude. Stop talking."
I have an aversion to Promethea which started with the first book, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Now I think it's the exceeding grossness of the "divine feminine" flimflam with which it's infused.
This sex scene is a perfect metaphor for the entire book. Some weird old guy with halitosis who stinks of patchouli and B.O. pawing at you and trying to get you into his crusty unwashed bed with a bunch of pseudo-spiritual guru bullshit about wands and cups and worshiping women.
So. Like. Ew. This whole book makes me feel like I need a shower.
I have an aversion to Promethea which started with the first book, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Now I think it's the exceeding grossness of the "divine feminine" flimflam with which it's infused.
This sex scene is a perfect metaphor for the entire book. Some weird old guy with halitosis who stinks of patchouli and B.O. pawing at you and trying to get you into his crusty unwashed bed with a bunch of pseudo-spiritual guru bullshit about wands and cups and worshiping women.
So. Like. Ew. This whole book makes me feel like I need a shower.
July 24, 2011
Menos impresionante que el #1 pero igual de divertido, interesante y variado, sobre todo esto último: Un capítulo entero que es un polvo tántrico entre dos personajes, otro que cuenta la historia del universo a través de las cartas del tarot, otro que narra una historia de amor intercalando los dibujos con fotos (del capo de José Villarrubia), otro que muestra una batalla entre diosas posesivas y demonios polimorfos, y así durante los 6 capítulos, que dejan con ganas de más. Ni bien pueda me lanzo por el #3...
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