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Skybourne #1-5
Skybourne
Arthurian legend is alive and well in the modern world, including mythical creatures, fantastical locales, and the one true sword of the king, Excalibur. But when the evil Merlin returns to lay claim to the impossible weapon, only one man can stand in his way—the immortal Thomas Skybourne. Written and illustrated by industry legend Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Savage Wolverine), Skybourne is a thrilling blend of fantasy and espionage action that updates the legends of King Arthur for a modern-day reader.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2018
6 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Frank Cho
397 books94 followersThe second of three children, Frank Cho was born in Seoul, Korea in 1971, but moved to the United States at the age of six and was raised in Beltsville, Maryland.
Cho received no formal training as an artist. He got his start writing and drawing a cartoon strip called University2 for The Diamondback, the student newspaper at the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduation, Cho adapted elements of this work for use in a professionally syndicated strip, Liberty Meadows.
Cho received no formal training as an artist. He got his start writing and drawing a cartoon strip called University2 for The Diamondback, the student newspaper at the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduation, Cho adapted elements of this work for use in a professionally syndicated strip, Liberty Meadows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 17, 2018
AMAZING! This was amazing in every aspect of a graphic novel. I loved the characters and the graphic work. I read the first 4 issues in the series last day of the last year and was waiting for this issue since then.
This comic series has Greek Mythology elements. And I highly recommend this to mythology-lovers.
This comic series has Greek Mythology elements. And I highly recommend this to mythology-lovers.
November 18, 2018
This random purchase was a real blast of a quick read for me, found it in a comic shop today and gorgeous artworks made me buy it.
Frank Cho's Skybourne creator-owned mini-series from BOOM! Studios is a real blockbuster of a comic book, a funny and sexy action/ultraviolence-packed genres mash up of creature feature, arturian mythos, Highlander (1986) and Cabin in the Woods (2012).
My only criticism is that Cho is a far better artist than storyteller and a few profanity and a pointless author signature boobs scene could have been skipped, but it was a more than good read.
August 19, 2020
Frank Cho + mythological creatures = A rip, roaring good time. Sure the plot is a bit simple, but who cares? You've got one of the best comic book artists on the planet, plus an immortal brother and sister fighting supernatural creatures. Do you really need anything else?
May 21, 2019
Story: ok. Art: spectacular.
A couple super-beautiful immortals running around messily killing stuff, ultimately going up against Merlin who wants to open Pandora’s Gate.
The story is pretty thin and it never feels like there are any stakes. It mostly acts as an excuse for super-cool drawings of battles between various mythological beasties. The whole setup is lifted right out of Cabin in the Woods, which is fine, but it’s so obviously derivative. Good thing Cho is a real good drawer.
A couple super-beautiful immortals running around messily killing stuff, ultimately going up against Merlin who wants to open Pandora’s Gate.
The story is pretty thin and it never feels like there are any stakes. It mostly acts as an excuse for super-cool drawings of battles between various mythological beasties. The whole setup is lifted right out of Cabin in the Woods, which is fine, but it’s so obviously derivative. Good thing Cho is a real good drawer.
June 28, 2020
There were a couple decent chuckles in the final battle, especially from a particularly anticlimactic rocket launcher.
Other than that, it's just your generic mythological monster-mash with mediocre artwork and not much of a plot: it feels like a tiny part of a much greater story, never truly realized or properly fleshed out, with cardboard-cutout characters in unremarkable and overdone situations. The main characters don't seem to be anyone important at all - though you could have cast them as a great many mythical heroes that were immortal for some reason - Merlin's heel turn didn't convince me, and the bit of lovecraftian horror at the end was just a glimpse that didn't do a thing for me.
Overall, not terrible but pretty forgettable.
Other than that, it's just your generic mythological monster-mash with mediocre artwork and not much of a plot: it feels like a tiny part of a much greater story, never truly realized or properly fleshed out, with cardboard-cutout characters in unremarkable and overdone situations. The main characters don't seem to be anyone important at all - though you could have cast them as a great many mythical heroes that were immortal for some reason - Merlin's heel turn didn't convince me, and the bit of lovecraftian horror at the end was just a glimpse that didn't do a thing for me.
Overall, not terrible but pretty forgettable.
October 5, 2019
If enjoyed correctly, you'll spend more time basking in the artwork than actually reading the story. It doesn't do much in the way of world building, mostly borrowing elements from Arthurian legend plus a little from The Cabin in the Woods. The paper thin plot is just enough to string you along from one beautiful panel to the next, and that's quite alright for me.
Skybourne doesn't ask the reader to do much beyond setting aside a few minutes of your day and enjoying the beautifully rendered escapism.
Skybourne doesn't ask the reader to do much beyond setting aside a few minutes of your day and enjoying the beautifully rendered escapism.
February 14, 2019
Frank Cho is a master at work in his standalone series, Skybourne. The problem that is oft-cited is that despite his clean, modern style, and exquisite colors, there is little substance, no real plot. There are too many plotholes and deus ex machinas, but it is a rather average affair and nothing too bad. Frank Cho also has a way of drawing the same woman with the same exact body type, which gets boring after awhile.
November 19, 2018
Sarebbe 3/5, ma il 4/5 se lo becca per i disegni fenomenali di Frank Cho.
Per il resto, la storia è veloce e piena di azione ed adrenalina, spesso ben bilanciata tra umorismo e serietà. Però Frank Cho si dimostra ancora un narratore acerbo, avente un buon soggetto di fondo, ma ancora incapace di sviscerarlo in ogni minimo dettaglio, dosando bene ogni sua idea.
L'uso del protagonista, poi, mi è sembrato abbastanza ad cazzum, oltre che personaggio superfluo, rispetto all'attenzione che dà al resto del cast.
Tutto sommato però è stata una bella e spensierata lettura.
Per il resto, la storia è veloce e piena di azione ed adrenalina, spesso ben bilanciata tra umorismo e serietà. Però Frank Cho si dimostra ancora un narratore acerbo, avente un buon soggetto di fondo, ma ancora incapace di sviscerarlo in ogni minimo dettaglio, dosando bene ogni sua idea.
L'uso del protagonista, poi, mi è sembrato abbastanza ad cazzum, oltre che personaggio superfluo, rispetto all'attenzione che dà al resto del cast.
Tutto sommato però è stata una bella e spensierata lettura.
October 15, 2018
The Frank Cho artwork is great, (of course.)
October 6, 2022
Se lee del tiron esta aventura. Dragones, armas, chicas… solo falta sexo aqui! Muy recomendable
September 22, 2020
Zábavná jednohubka! Scénář není žádné veledílo. Příběh je velmi jednoduchý a přímočarý. Zároveň ale rychle uteče a pobaví. Frank je především kreslíř a výtvarná stránka tohoto komiksu je prvotřídní. Snad jen je tam málo ženských "předností" na Frankovy poměry…
July 17, 2020
Frank Cho's writing is so bad it fucks with his other artistic talents.
October 1, 2018
Enjoyed the read. Good art and interesting story. I would read more in this universe.
December 8, 2025
Boy, they went all-out with the intro to the story. It's mostly over-the-top action with gorgeous artwork. This world has both supes and some kind of magic, apparently. It sure keeps you on your toes. It's funny, too. And '47' pops up mid-way, so it gets 5 stars easily.
Grace Skybourne is one of three super-powered individuals. She is sent to acquire a special sword. The seller reneges on the deal after learning its true value. His men can't protect him from Grace's impenetrable skin and super-strength. With the sword in tow, Grace heads to extraction. She is stopped by a man with a magical staff and medieval vocabulary who overpowers her and then uses the sword, Excalibur, to run her through. Though immortal, Grace dies. Immortality is not what it once was. That was such a cool start to the story!
Grace Skybourne is one of three super-powered individuals. She is sent to acquire a special sword. The seller reneges on the deal after learning its true value. His men can't protect him from Grace's impenetrable skin and super-strength. With the sword in tow, Grace heads to extraction. She is stopped by a man with a magical staff and medieval vocabulary who overpowers her and then uses the sword, Excalibur, to run her through. Though immortal, Grace dies. Immortality is not what it once was. That was such a cool start to the story!
July 31, 2020
I don't want to promote the idea that artists can't (or shouldn't) write the stories they're illustrating, but Skybourne is definitely an example of an artist whose work I enjoy telling a story better told by someone else. It's an interesting, if not particularly original idea, but the execution is just weak and the dialogue is sometimes utterly atrocious.
On the title page we get a few lines of introduction:
Chapter one: I'm slightly intrigued by the prologue-ish bit (a man falling out of the sky). Hard cut toLiberty Meadows Grace Skybourne in action and I'm *very* intrigued. She's badass! But when she encounters Merlin, much of his dialogue reads like a late-60s Marvel villain ("ENOUGH! Such insolence. I have toyed with you, wench." Come to think of it the other bad guy called her an 'insolent wench.' Seems like a theme). Merlin *does* call her a whore though, so that's not exactly up to Comics Code standards. Edgy!
Chapter two: We meet 'Swiggy' a.k.a. Cardinal McSwiggin (is that a drunken priest joke?) and Thomas Skybourne, who is Grace's brother and the ostensible hero of this book. Of the two, Swiggy is more interesting.
Chapter three: Stuff, some backstory, more stuff setting up...
Chapter four: Action, inter-cryptid sex humor, bazooka jokes (the bazooka bit is actually kinda funny).
Chapter five: More action, and ha! Girls have boobies! Boobies are fun (literally four panels of underboob whileLiberty Grace puts on a shirt. Literal dialogue:
Grace: "What? Haven't you seen boobs before?"
Random dude serving no purpose but comic relief: "Not that big and perky.").
Also .
As others have noted, Skybourne feels like the reader has been dropped into the middle of a longer story (probably intentional). I found Grace to be a far more interesting character than Thomas (probably not intentional). She gets shit done, he does some semi-effective ass-kicking but spends more time being emo and the butt of many a situational joke. Yet, all the blurbs (GR, back cover) all talk about 'modern-day James Bond' Thomas Skybourne.
And where the hell is Abraham?
On the title page we get a few lines of introduction:
Lazarus, after his miraculous resurrection, fathered three children:
Abraham Skybourne, Thomas Skybourne, and Grace Skybourne.
All three children were blessed with superhuman strength, impenetrable skin, and immortality.
This is their story.
Chapter one: I'm slightly intrigued by the prologue-ish bit (a man falling out of the sky). Hard cut to
Chapter two: We meet 'Swiggy' a.k.a. Cardinal McSwiggin (is that a drunken priest joke?) and Thomas Skybourne, who is Grace's brother and the ostensible hero of this book. Of the two, Swiggy is more interesting.
Chapter three: Stuff, some backstory, more stuff setting up...
Chapter four: Action, inter-cryptid sex humor, bazooka jokes (the bazooka bit is actually kinda funny).
Chapter five: More action, and ha! Girls have boobies! Boobies are fun (literally four panels of underboob while
Grace: "What? Haven't you seen boobs before?"
Random dude serving no purpose but comic relief: "Not that big and perky.").
Also .
As others have noted, Skybourne feels like the reader has been dropped into the middle of a longer story (probably intentional). I found Grace to be a far more interesting character than Thomas (probably not intentional). She gets shit done, he does some semi-effective ass-kicking but spends more time being emo and the butt of many a situational joke. Yet, all the blurbs (GR, back cover) all talk about 'modern-day James Bond' Thomas Skybourne.
And where the hell is Abraham?
January 15, 2019
Esta obra es entretenida pero nada más. Admito que el mundo que pinta es interesante, y el diseño de personajes y arte de Frank Cho, es maravilloso, Y si esta obra tuviera más volúmenes podría evolucionar a algo extremadamente interesante lamentablemente eso es todo lo que hay.
El problema de esta obra es que introducen muchas cosas maravillosas: Los hijos del Lázaro biblíco son una especie de súper hombres que se encargan de proteger a la humanidad de la magia y otras cosas igualmente extrañas. En los primeros números te muestran el paradero de dos de los tres hermanos, a qué se dedican, qué están haciendo, etc. Y mientras sigue transcurriendo la historia, introducen más personajes y más aspectos interesantes, lamentablemente no alcanza a crear algo sólido y profundo. Y no hay problema, se entiende que eso suceda en el primer volumen de algo, lamentablemente no hay más historia que continuar, al menos no de momento.
Los personajes me parecieron unidimensionales y aunque Thomas tenía algunos secretos y dolores del pasado, nunca son ahondados, y en cambio nos muestran tres veces las mismas viñetas de su pasado. Tres veces.
En su apartado artístico y de narrativa visual, Frank Cho es excelente, líneas muy cuidadas, colores agradables y una distribución de viñeta muy cinematográfica.
Si hubiera un segundo volumen sin duda lo leería.
El problema de esta obra es que introducen muchas cosas maravillosas: Los hijos del Lázaro biblíco son una especie de súper hombres que se encargan de proteger a la humanidad de la magia y otras cosas igualmente extrañas. En los primeros números te muestran el paradero de dos de los tres hermanos, a qué se dedican, qué están haciendo, etc. Y mientras sigue transcurriendo la historia, introducen más personajes y más aspectos interesantes, lamentablemente no alcanza a crear algo sólido y profundo. Y no hay problema, se entiende que eso suceda en el primer volumen de algo, lamentablemente no hay más historia que continuar, al menos no de momento.
Los personajes me parecieron unidimensionales y aunque Thomas tenía algunos secretos y dolores del pasado, nunca son ahondados, y en cambio nos muestran tres veces las mismas viñetas de su pasado. Tres veces.
En su apartado artístico y de narrativa visual, Frank Cho es excelente, líneas muy cuidadas, colores agradables y una distribución de viñeta muy cinematográfica.
Si hubiera un segundo volumen sin duda lo leería.
June 16, 2025
Jag älskar Frank Cho. Men insåg med denna serie att det finns något religöst över hans berättelser. De är alla lite snällanuskiga, roliga, försöker vara lite edgy. Som att han vuxit upp i ett religöst hem och utifrån det perspektivet försöker provocera.
Denna gång blir man förvirrade över vilken sida man ska hålla på. De snygga och oövervinnliga syskonen som slåss för Vatikanen (fast i historien gör de inte det längre - känns som en censurering för att tillmötesgå förläggare?) eller de magiska väsen med Merlin i spetsen. Jag håller på de magiska varelserna alla dar i veckan och blir på riktigt upprörd när de spränger huvudet på en efter en av dem. Men syskonen är ju så snygga och balla att man ändå vill att de ska vinna. Kanske borde serien sluta med en incestscen för att toppa den udda känslan av förvirring som uppstår.
Hur som helst. Den är rolig, makaber, den får en att tänka hur absurd kristendomen är på samma sätt som man tänker när man sett Starship troopers.
När jag stänger ihop boken känner jag än en gång att USA är en märklig plats. Där man censurerar nakenhet men frossar i våld utan att förstå det sjuka i det hela.
Denna gång blir man förvirrade över vilken sida man ska hålla på. De snygga och oövervinnliga syskonen som slåss för Vatikanen (fast i historien gör de inte det längre - känns som en censurering för att tillmötesgå förläggare?) eller de magiska väsen med Merlin i spetsen. Jag håller på de magiska varelserna alla dar i veckan och blir på riktigt upprörd när de spränger huvudet på en efter en av dem. Men syskonen är ju så snygga och balla att man ändå vill att de ska vinna. Kanske borde serien sluta med en incestscen för att toppa den udda känslan av förvirring som uppstår.
Hur som helst. Den är rolig, makaber, den får en att tänka hur absurd kristendomen är på samma sätt som man tänker när man sett Starship troopers.
När jag stänger ihop boken känner jag än en gång att USA är en märklig plats. Där man censurerar nakenhet men frossar i våld utan att förstå det sjuka i det hela.
December 22, 2021
Frank Cho is lauded as a storytelling luminary in the comic world. Based on this series, I'm not sure why. There's an interesting idea here -- two of the three immortal children of Lazarus work for an international organization that rounds up mythical artifacts and creatures -- that goes absolutely nowhere by the end of the final chapter. Left open for a sequel series that never came, Skybourne instead comes off as half-baked.
Readers will instead be left with fundamental narrative questions, like who is the third Skybourne child who is literally mentioned in the inside cover of each chapter? How did antagonist Merlin survive beheading in the Middle Ages (likely because he's the third Skybourne child, though this is never stated)? And why can some things (like Excalibur) harm the Skybournes, but others (like nuclear weapons) can't?
Readers will instead be left with fundamental narrative questions, like who is the third Skybourne child who is literally mentioned in the inside cover of each chapter? How did antagonist Merlin survive beheading in the Middle Ages (likely because he's the third Skybourne child, though this is never stated)? And why can some things (like Excalibur) harm the Skybournes, but others (like nuclear weapons) can't?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
Pero mira tu , nunca pense que me fuera a gustar tanto.
A mi Frank Cho me aprece un gran artista, al cual su detalle y trabajo no lo deja hacer muchas cosas seguidas y por eso su producción es un poco mas baja de lo que se merece, pero habia algo en esta historia de seres casi inmortales que pelean contra bestias mitologicas, con creaturas magicas por aqui y por alla, y BANG!!!, 160 paginas bien contadas, que no descuben nada nuevo pero entretienen, y mucho, con bestialidades y bizarreadas que parecen de Mark Millar , pero no, todo es Frank cho que deja la piel en cada pagina, cada diseño y cuenta una hostoria coherente( hasta donde se puede) y divertida, aunque al final, anunciaba un megamoustrio jefe final, y lo despacha muy rapido y sencillo, pero solo por poner un pero.
A mi Frank Cho me aprece un gran artista, al cual su detalle y trabajo no lo deja hacer muchas cosas seguidas y por eso su producción es un poco mas baja de lo que se merece, pero habia algo en esta historia de seres casi inmortales que pelean contra bestias mitologicas, con creaturas magicas por aqui y por alla, y BANG!!!, 160 paginas bien contadas, que no descuben nada nuevo pero entretienen, y mucho, con bestialidades y bizarreadas que parecen de Mark Millar , pero no, todo es Frank cho que deja la piel en cada pagina, cada diseño y cuenta una hostoria coherente( hasta donde se puede) y divertida, aunque al final, anunciaba un megamoustrio jefe final, y lo despacha muy rapido y sencillo, pero solo por poner un pero.
December 3, 2018
Frank Cho's latest - Skybourne - is a hell of a lot of fun. Featuring fantastic artwork and a great story, this is one of those graphic novels that seem destined for the big screen. Its got a great central concept - three immortal children fathered by Lazarus, the guy that Jesus brought back from the dead in the bible, fight magical monsters to keep the world safe - and artwork and writing combine to tell a thrilling story. The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel and I'm really hoping we get one. Recommended!
June 11, 2019
44) Skybourne by Frank Cho
The children of Lazarus (from the Bible) are born with super-strength, invulnerability and incredibly long life spans. Two of them (we don't meet the third one yet) work for a clandestine organization that acquire magical artifacts and creatures and lock them away. That's almost the entire story right there. Its a bit thin for a book that collects five issues but the artwork is beautiful which is to be expected from Frank Cho. I think I read the entire thing in about 45 minutes but I want to read the next one if there is a next one.
The children of Lazarus (from the Bible) are born with super-strength, invulnerability and incredibly long life spans. Two of them (we don't meet the third one yet) work for a clandestine organization that acquire magical artifacts and creatures and lock them away. That's almost the entire story right there. Its a bit thin for a book that collects five issues but the artwork is beautiful which is to be expected from Frank Cho. I think I read the entire thing in about 45 minutes but I want to read the next one if there is a next one.
October 12, 2020
This book showed me that industry legend Frank Cho doesn’t just draw wonderfully, he’s also able to write. The mix of Arthurian mythology with our modern world is not only interesting, it is also fun and entertaining. The character of Thomas Skybourne is badass and funny, I really we’ll see more of him in a possible sequel. The story isn’t very complex, but it was enough for me to greatly enjoy the comic in itself. Merlin wasn’t a great vilain thought, he was just ok, wasn’t charismatic enough. The ending got me really surprised too.
November 7, 2025
Stepping a little out of my comfort zone with this one, so take this review with a grain of salt. I guess if you want to see lots of violence and at least one gorgeous, badass gal, and an easy to follow story, this one is a fun ride. Personally, I'm kind of over the hero who's lost the will to live due to a love lost trope. That being said, I did love the ironic ending. I'm also glad I found all five issues of this in the cheap bin.
My rating: 3 Stars
My rating: 3 Stars
January 30, 2023
I was contemplating 4 stars because I like the premise and there is so much more that I could envision being fleshed out but ultimately it was a very quick read. Because of the lack of depth, it's getting the 3 stars. Art is great, love Frank Cho's women and if another book came out I would pick it up to see if they do expand further in this world.
February 18, 2018
Two immortals pick up their swords and go up against Merlin with the fate of the world in the balance. It's an ambitious story that's under-written and beautifully illustrated in this graphic novel.
It's a pretty read.
It's a pretty read.
December 18, 2018
Frank Cho is particularly good at drawing gorgeous women. Grace is wearing such skin-tight clothes that you can see her six-pack. The only problem with indestructible people like the Skybourne clan is that you need a formidable foe. They don't even have a kryptonite problem.
March 30, 2020
A fun adventure fantasy story. Nothing too deep or anything, but good art and a fast moving action story made this comic a nice diversion. My only real complaint is how little of the book Grace was in it.
January 11, 2021
Basically a summer blockbuster in comic book form. And that is not a bad thing. Simple but fun story with immortals and magic artifacts and Merlin as the bad guy. Art by Frank Cho looks great. Fun light quick read.
December 10, 2023
Wasted potential. There were some interesting ideas here, with the setting, the lore of the villain and what drives our hero himself. But what did he even do? Nothing at all, if you ask me. Good art though, Frank Cho is THE guy for when you want to see hot babes in comics.
December 1, 2018
Una diversión ligera estupendamente ilustrada. Para pasar un buen rato.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews