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Britannia (Collected Editions)
Britannia, Vol. 1
On the fringes of civilization, the world's first detective is about to make an unholy discovery? Ruled by the Fates. Manipulated by the Gods. Commanded by Caesar. In the year 65 A.D., one's destiny was not his own. At the height of Nero's reign, a veteran of Rome's imperial war machine has been dispatched to the farthest reaches of the colonies to investigate unnatural happenings? In the remote outpost of Britannia, Antonius Axia - the First Detective - will become Rome's only hope to reassert control over the empire's most barbaric frontier?and keep the monsters that bridge the line between myth and mystery at bay? From comics mastermind Peter Milligan (X-Statix, Shade the Changing Man) and incendiary artist Juan Jose Ryp (NINJAK, Clone) comes a psychological journey into terror, temptation, and bloodshed in Valiant's latest magnum opus. Collecting BRITANNIA #1-4
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2017
35 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Peter Milligan
1,301 books391 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Peter Milligan is a British writer, best known for his work on X-Force / X-Statix, the X-Men, & the Vertigo series Human Target. He is also a scriptwriter.
He has been writing comics for some time and he has somewhat of a reputation for writing material that is highly outlandish, bizarre and/or absurd.
His highest profile projects to date include a run on X-Men, and his X-Force revamp that relaunched as X-Statix.
Many of Milligan's best works have been from DC Vertigo. These include: The Extremist (4 issues with artist Ted McKeever) The Minx (8 issues with artist Sean Phillips) Face (Prestige one-shot with artist Duncan Fegredo) The Eaters (Prestige one-shot with artist Dean Ormston) Vertigo Pop London (4 issues with artist Philip Bond) Enigma (8 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo) and Girl (3 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo).
Series:
* Human Target
* Greek Street
* X-Force / X-Statix
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Peter Milligan is a British writer, best known for his work on X-Force / X-Statix, the X-Men, & the Vertigo series Human Target. He is also a scriptwriter.
He has been writing comics for some time and he has somewhat of a reputation for writing material that is highly outlandish, bizarre and/or absurd.
His highest profile projects to date include a run on X-Men, and his X-Force revamp that relaunched as X-Statix.
Many of Milligan's best works have been from DC Vertigo. These include: The Extremist (4 issues with artist Ted McKeever) The Minx (8 issues with artist Sean Phillips) Face (Prestige one-shot with artist Duncan Fegredo) The Eaters (Prestige one-shot with artist Dean Ormston) Vertigo Pop London (4 issues with artist Philip Bond) Enigma (8 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo) and Girl (3 issues with artist Duncan Fegredo).
Series:
* Human Target
* Greek Street
* X-Force / X-Statix
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 11, 2019
Britannia Vol. 1 by Peter Milligan is a 2017 Valiant Entertainment, LLC publication.
A genre bending horror/ detective story-
The setting is Rome - 65 A.D.
Antonius Axia, a former war veteran is sent by Nero, on the advice of the Vestal Virgins, to investigate a disturbance in Britannia, located on an outer border. Things are far worse than he could have anticipated. The world’s first detective must face down a demonic force so powerful it could threaten all of Rome.
History, horror and mystery elements are blended together to create a most unusual storyline. I was unsure about this graphic novel due to the horror elements, which is not a genre I gravitate towards very often. Although this first volume leans quite heavily on the paranormal elements, there is enough detective skill applied to balance the story and keep me invested.
It also helped that the historical setting in one I’m partial to reading about. Ancient Rome is always fascinating.
The graphics were not level in this first volume. I'm a novice at this, so I'm sure someone will set me straight, but the artwork was clear and crisp is some places, but occasionally, I was not quite sure what I was looking at.
The plot is quite ambitious and there is perhaps a little too much going on, which is problematic for me in any circumstance, but it was especially difficult to pull off and still adhere to a standard confines of the graphic novel format.
That said, the story is compelling, and this first volume sets the stage for future installments quite nicely.
Overall, this graphic novel was a little outside my comfort zone in some ways, but right up my alley in others. It was a mixed bag, in other words. However, I would be amenable to continuing with the series. I'd like to see what Antonius’s next adventure will consist of and how things work out for him on a personal level.
3 stars
A genre bending horror/ detective story-
The setting is Rome - 65 A.D.
Antonius Axia, a former war veteran is sent by Nero, on the advice of the Vestal Virgins, to investigate a disturbance in Britannia, located on an outer border. Things are far worse than he could have anticipated. The world’s first detective must face down a demonic force so powerful it could threaten all of Rome.
History, horror and mystery elements are blended together to create a most unusual storyline. I was unsure about this graphic novel due to the horror elements, which is not a genre I gravitate towards very often. Although this first volume leans quite heavily on the paranormal elements, there is enough detective skill applied to balance the story and keep me invested.
It also helped that the historical setting in one I’m partial to reading about. Ancient Rome is always fascinating.
The graphics were not level in this first volume. I'm a novice at this, so I'm sure someone will set me straight, but the artwork was clear and crisp is some places, but occasionally, I was not quite sure what I was looking at.
The plot is quite ambitious and there is perhaps a little too much going on, which is problematic for me in any circumstance, but it was especially difficult to pull off and still adhere to a standard confines of the graphic novel format.
That said, the story is compelling, and this first volume sets the stage for future installments quite nicely.
Overall, this graphic novel was a little outside my comfort zone in some ways, but right up my alley in others. It was a mixed bag, in other words. However, I would be amenable to continuing with the series. I'd like to see what Antonius’s next adventure will consist of and how things work out for him on a personal level.
3 stars
March 20, 2022
Kinda weird.
I grabbed this as a freebie with no idea what it was about, and only some vague idea that I'd heard of it somewhere in the ether.
Anyway, it turns out this is a detective story of sorts. Except it doesn't really work well as a detective story. It's more like a Roman detective (the first of his kind) fights a supernatural monster and the druids.
There's a mystery, but it's not a great one.
Maybe this gets better as it goes along, but it seemed to be a mash-up of stuff that just didn't quite work. <--for me, at least
A Roman war hero is given (taught?) to use these supernatural powers, which basically means he is able to remember stuff from a magic book. He uses this to become the world's first detective. And he is continually being put in the middle of a bunch of political & religious intrigues involving Nero and a powerful group of women called Vestigial Virgins.
He's sent to Britannia to battle Druids. Or one bad Druid? But not really. He's actually sent there to discover who is killing soldiers and potentially making it look like a monster did it, even though there is an actual monster doing some of the killings. Then there's a hot druid-y chick, and they like and trust each other for no other reason than Because I Said So.
What?
Side plot: He's also torn about his decision to allow his son to be adopted by a nice family after his wife died in childbirth.
It's not that the plot was confusing, so much as the plot seemed confused about what it wanted out of life. Not sure if that makes complete sense, but it's the only way I can think to describe it.
So unless someone tells me this really gets great later on down the line, I'm going to stop here.
I grabbed this as a freebie with no idea what it was about, and only some vague idea that I'd heard of it somewhere in the ether.
Anyway, it turns out this is a detective story of sorts. Except it doesn't really work well as a detective story. It's more like a Roman detective (the first of his kind) fights a supernatural monster and the druids.
There's a mystery, but it's not a great one.
Maybe this gets better as it goes along, but it seemed to be a mash-up of stuff that just didn't quite work. <--for me, at least
A Roman war hero is given (taught?) to use these supernatural powers, which basically means he is able to remember stuff from a magic book. He uses this to become the world's first detective. And he is continually being put in the middle of a bunch of political & religious intrigues involving Nero and a powerful group of women called Vestigial Virgins.
He's sent to Britannia to battle Druids. Or one bad Druid? But not really. He's actually sent there to discover who is killing soldiers and potentially making it look like a monster did it, even though there is an actual monster doing some of the killings. Then there's a hot druid-y chick, and they like and trust each other for no other reason than Because I Said So.
What?
Side plot: He's also torn about his decision to allow his son to be adopted by a nice family after his wife died in childbirth.
It's not that the plot was confusing, so much as the plot seemed confused about what it wanted out of life. Not sure if that makes complete sense, but it's the only way I can think to describe it.
So unless someone tells me this really gets great later on down the line, I'm going to stop here.
December 19, 2016
During the reign of Nero the Roman Empire stretched across Europe with its northernmost border in the foggy and dark island of Britannia. There the local savages have been acting up, attacking a Roman outpost with reports of demonic powers aiding them. On the advice of the mystical Vestal Virgins, Nero sends out Centurion Antonius Axia, the first detective, to investigate. But Axia is about to discover that monsters take many forms…
Where the hell did this come from?? Valiant usually publish superhero comics and I’m pretty sure Roman horror/detective comics aren’t something they’ve done before but whoever commissioned this deserves a bonus because Britannia is fan-bloody-tastic - an inspired divergence from their regular catalogue!
Peter Milligan’s ambitious storyline takes us from the seat of power in Rome to the wilds of Northern England, weaving an intricate plot involving two warring sides and the struggles within them and on a supernatural plane also. We hit the ground running as Axia and three legionaries mount a rescue mission against cultists for one of the Virgins, before we meet the bloodthirsty Nero and his mad court, and the story jumps ahead six years to Axia’s mission to Britannia.
Like all of Valiant’s books, Britannia is strictly limited to four issues so it’s impressive that Milligan managed to cram in such a complex story within that space. Though some scenes feel rushed as a result, particularly the ending, and they don’t have room to breathe - this is a demanding read inasmuch as you have to pay attention all the time otherwise you’ll easily lose the thread of things. And while the presence of the devilish villain makes sense from the Brits’ standpoint, its motivation is disappointingly weak - it wants chaos and power, like (yawn) every other bad guy ever.
I’ve been a huge fan of Juan Jose Ryp’s artwork since his Avatar books with Warren Ellis, No Hero and Black Summer, and his art on Britannia remains outstanding. He’s obviously done his homework depicting the Ancient World as accurately as possible. I’d like to say Britain isn’t as dank and miserable as it appears here but… (peers out of window at gloomy fog-laden garden)! Ryp does gore so well and this is a very graphically violent comic. He’s gone super-detailed with the imaginative monster design and his Nero is a bit different from how he’s usually depicted as a fat, dark-haired man - here he’s thin(ish) with brown hair with more of a childish/brattish air to his twisted features. And Jordie Bellaire’s colours are magnificent, beautifully vivid and exciting to look at.
I didn’t know what to expect with this one and it certainly wasn’t on my radar until recently but I’m glad I gave it a shot! Britannia is a compelling historical horror detective story that’s not just Peter Milligan’s best book in years but one of Valiant’s best of 2016 – great reading!
Where the hell did this come from?? Valiant usually publish superhero comics and I’m pretty sure Roman horror/detective comics aren’t something they’ve done before but whoever commissioned this deserves a bonus because Britannia is fan-bloody-tastic - an inspired divergence from their regular catalogue!
Peter Milligan’s ambitious storyline takes us from the seat of power in Rome to the wilds of Northern England, weaving an intricate plot involving two warring sides and the struggles within them and on a supernatural plane also. We hit the ground running as Axia and three legionaries mount a rescue mission against cultists for one of the Virgins, before we meet the bloodthirsty Nero and his mad court, and the story jumps ahead six years to Axia’s mission to Britannia.
Like all of Valiant’s books, Britannia is strictly limited to four issues so it’s impressive that Milligan managed to cram in such a complex story within that space. Though some scenes feel rushed as a result, particularly the ending, and they don’t have room to breathe - this is a demanding read inasmuch as you have to pay attention all the time otherwise you’ll easily lose the thread of things. And while the presence of the devilish villain makes sense from the Brits’ standpoint, its motivation is disappointingly weak - it wants chaos and power, like (yawn) every other bad guy ever.
I’ve been a huge fan of Juan Jose Ryp’s artwork since his Avatar books with Warren Ellis, No Hero and Black Summer, and his art on Britannia remains outstanding. He’s obviously done his homework depicting the Ancient World as accurately as possible. I’d like to say Britain isn’t as dank and miserable as it appears here but… (peers out of window at gloomy fog-laden garden)! Ryp does gore so well and this is a very graphically violent comic. He’s gone super-detailed with the imaginative monster design and his Nero is a bit different from how he’s usually depicted as a fat, dark-haired man - here he’s thin(ish) with brown hair with more of a childish/brattish air to his twisted features. And Jordie Bellaire’s colours are magnificent, beautifully vivid and exciting to look at.
I didn’t know what to expect with this one and it certainly wasn’t on my radar until recently but I’m glad I gave it a shot! Britannia is a compelling historical horror detective story that’s not just Peter Milligan’s best book in years but one of Valiant’s best of 2016 – great reading!
July 26, 2018
In 65 A.D, Antonius Axia, former legionnaire turned the worlds first Detective is tasked by Neo to travel to the barbaric frontier of Britannia to investigate strange happenings bordering on the occult. Once there he finds a deadly link to his past; a bloodletting reminiscent of an earlier escapade into the supernatural realm which led to the recovery of a kidnapped Vestal Virgin. What ensues is a delicious blend of fact, fiction and horror-like fantasy depicted through detailed art and well researched storytelling.
The first volume of Britannia is great; Juan Jose Ryp's art is fantastic and Peter Millian's writing is on-point. Whilst the characters are deep and well defined, the plot lacks a little depth, however this is overcome by the broader world building and set-up for future installments.
My rating: 4/5 stars. I really enjoyed the first volume of Britannia, and, despite having read through the story a couple of times now in single issue format, haven't tired of this place-setting and interesting characters.
The first volume of Britannia is great; Juan Jose Ryp's art is fantastic and Peter Millian's writing is on-point. Whilst the characters are deep and well defined, the plot lacks a little depth, however this is overcome by the broader world building and set-up for future installments.
My rating: 4/5 stars. I really enjoyed the first volume of Britannia, and, despite having read through the story a couple of times now in single issue format, haven't tired of this place-setting and interesting characters.
December 27, 2018
Historical fiction mistery meets dark fantasy
Totally enjoyed the ride and former Legio Italica centurion Antonius Axia, the first paranormal detective in history, is just a great character.
Maybe the ending was too abrupt, but it's shocking how many twists Milligan packed inside this 4 issues story from Valiant.
A very nice and unexpected surprise.
May 13, 2020
I felt like I needed a doctorate in the history of Rome to read this thing. There's way too much unnecessary backstory where the main character goes crazy, Vestigal Virgins, Nero, yada, yada. None of it matters to the rest of the story. Our main character is supposed to be the world's first detective but he does very little detecting outside his initial setup in Rome. I think he would have worked much better if they had taken some of the visual cues from the Sherlock BBC series, having him notice small things on the page by enlarging them. None of the characters are likable are relatable. The supernatural aspect is very wishy-washy and very unclear if it is just happening in our detective's mind because he's crazy or if it's real. The only bright spot was Ryp's art. He does horror very well.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley and Valiant in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley and Valiant in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2017
Bullet Review:
This was okay. I can't help but chuckle at some of the anachronisms (they called people "punks"?), the comment about Nero taking up fiddling, just how the artist made Nero look as godawful butt-ugly as possible, and how nearly every female was blonde and looked identical. I was also expecting less fantasy in this historical mystery, but oh well.
This was okay. I can't help but chuckle at some of the anachronisms (they called people "punks"?), the comment about Nero taking up fiddling, just how the artist made Nero look as godawful butt-ugly as possible, and how nearly every female was blonde and looked identical. I was also expecting less fantasy in this historical mystery, but oh well.
July 30, 2022
I bought a copy at the used book store a year or two ago and finally got around to reading it. I figured I would enjoy it since it's set in Ancient Rome. But bad art, bad writing, lame plot. Don't waste your time.
March 10, 2020
This is a story about a Roman who is chosen by the Vestal Virgins to investigate some weird supernatural occurrences in Britain. The supernatural elements are pretty creepy, and it's interesting to see a supernatural story in this setting, which is a bit rare. However, I didn't really feel any connection to the characters. They seemed flat.
February 6, 2017
The story of Britannia was well-conceived, twisty, and incorporated Roman Empire history in an intriguing way. Overall, I enjoyed the story but the writing was sometimes jarring, and I just couldn't get into the art. I was intrigued to pick up this title by the description of it as the story of the "first investigator" (termed "detectioner" in the title), but I was a little disappointed that this wasn't more of a mystery. I'd be interested to see what the next story art brings, and if it's more "investigative."
I don't know if some of the statements were supposed to be tongue-in-cheek funny, but the "period speak" was sometimes interrupted by anachronistic contemporary wording. As for the art, as with the writing, my general sentiment is "It's good, but..." The artwork was detailed, and I think that the colorists made the most of the pencils and inks, but the aesthetic of the human figures really bothered me. Everyone was ugly and blobby and reminiscent of terrible fantasy book covers/fan art from the 80s and 90s. Since the title has a horror component, it worked well when things were supposed to be violent and grotesque (and there's definitely 300-esque blood and large-scale violence), but not during other scenes.
P.S. The nerd in me really enjoyed the essays by academics about Roman history that followed each issue.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to the eARC.
I don't know if some of the statements were supposed to be tongue-in-cheek funny, but the "period speak" was sometimes interrupted by anachronistic contemporary wording. As for the art, as with the writing, my general sentiment is "It's good, but..." The artwork was detailed, and I think that the colorists made the most of the pencils and inks, but the aesthetic of the human figures really bothered me. Everyone was ugly and blobby and reminiscent of terrible fantasy book covers/fan art from the 80s and 90s. Since the title has a horror component, it worked well when things were supposed to be violent and grotesque (and there's definitely 300-esque blood and large-scale violence), but not during other scenes.
P.S. The nerd in me really enjoyed the essays by academics about Roman history that followed each issue.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to the eARC.
March 12, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I was pleasantly surprised by Britannia, the new graphic novel (now in trade paperback) from Peter Milligan. Recently not all my graphic novel experiences have been so good, so my expectations were not so high, but this turned out to be without reason.
Set during the rule of Nero both in Rome and in Britannia it follows Antonius Axia, who is called the first detective. He doesn’t do that much of detecting, but since he Sherlocks his way through life by being observing I guess the title is not that far off. However, it is mostly a horror story, so the detective-part wasn’t big enough for my liking. It is still quite a complete story in the limited amount of pages.
What I did like was that every issue was followed by a short essay on different aspects of the stories, like the Vestal virgins, Nero and life in Roman Britain.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I was pleasantly surprised by Britannia, the new graphic novel (now in trade paperback) from Peter Milligan. Recently not all my graphic novel experiences have been so good, so my expectations were not so high, but this turned out to be without reason.
Set during the rule of Nero both in Rome and in Britannia it follows Antonius Axia, who is called the first detective. He doesn’t do that much of detecting, but since he Sherlocks his way through life by being observing I guess the title is not that far off. However, it is mostly a horror story, so the detective-part wasn’t big enough for my liking. It is still quite a complete story in the limited amount of pages.
What I did like was that every issue was followed by a short essay on different aspects of the stories, like the Vestal virgins, Nero and life in Roman Britain.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 16, 2018
Well-researched and well-written. It's Poirot in Ancient Britain. An excellent romp, I hope that there is more!
December 5, 2018
Valiant takes a swerve away from superheroes for CSI: Roman Empire instead as we meet Rome's first detective, who finds himself embroiled in both a political plot and a magical one in the deep forests of Britannia (hence the title).
After Peter Milligan's last Valiant effort (the dire Shadowman: End Times) I was skeptical about this one, but it's actually pretty good. There are a lot of maneuverings going on, and the ultimate conclusion may be a bit obvious but there are a few twists and turns along the way that make things a bit more complicated than just 'he did it'. The magical element keeps the proceedings slightly off-kilter, and I get the feeling that Milligan has a lot more planned for Antonius given the seeds he's laying here.
Juan José Ryp's art is usually pretty good if a little gory, but I think I've found the one artist who fares worse under Jordie Bellaire's colours than anyone else, which is a rarity since she's one of the best in the business right now. The visuals just come across too flat, and lose their mystique. Compare the pencils in the back of the trade to the finished art and you'll see what I mean; it's not bad at all, it's just not quite right.
Britannia is a welcome diversion from superheroics, but treads a little too pedestrian despite some otherworldly potential. Still, I'm intrigued, and happy to see what comes next.
After Peter Milligan's last Valiant effort (the dire Shadowman: End Times) I was skeptical about this one, but it's actually pretty good. There are a lot of maneuverings going on, and the ultimate conclusion may be a bit obvious but there are a few twists and turns along the way that make things a bit more complicated than just 'he did it'. The magical element keeps the proceedings slightly off-kilter, and I get the feeling that Milligan has a lot more planned for Antonius given the seeds he's laying here.
Juan José Ryp's art is usually pretty good if a little gory, but I think I've found the one artist who fares worse under Jordie Bellaire's colours than anyone else, which is a rarity since she's one of the best in the business right now. The visuals just come across too flat, and lose their mystique. Compare the pencils in the back of the trade to the finished art and you'll see what I mean; it's not bad at all, it's just not quite right.
Britannia is a welcome diversion from superheroics, but treads a little too pedestrian despite some otherworldly potential. Still, I'm intrigued, and happy to see what comes next.
Read
September 7, 2017History mixed with a bit of paranormal fantasy made a great start to Britannia. Antonius Axia is a former legionnaire who is now a detective of sorts for the emperor Nero in ancient Rome. After Antonius helps the mystical Vestals save one of their own he rewrites his destiny and begins to explore the supernatural occurrences in Britannia. I thought the writing, plot, and pace were on point and the whole thing was fun and interesting. The art is really well done crisp and detailed from Juan Jose Ryp, he hit a homerun in my eyes. I am on board for the series
January 30, 2023
Surprisingly for a Valiant work, not a publisher that I`m interested in, this ticked a lot of boxes for me:
- A roman historical background, check
- Paranormal activity going on, check
- Some nicely done creatures roaming around, check
- The art is rough in some instances, but goes very well with the hysterical tone of the story, check
- Vestal Virgins, check ; a good stuff to bring it on, based on true characters of Rome, just saw something these last months that was trying to explain how the mystic ways of the Order worked.
Overall an entertaining volume for me. I will try the second one also, asap.
.
- A roman historical background, check
- Paranormal activity going on, check
- Some nicely done creatures roaming around, check
- The art is rough in some instances, but goes very well with the hysterical tone of the story, check
- Vestal Virgins, check ; a good stuff to bring it on, based on true characters of Rome, just saw something these last months that was trying to explain how the mystic ways of the Order worked.
Overall an entertaining volume for me. I will try the second one also, asap.
.
March 9, 2017
This is how historical fiction in graphic novel form should be done . Brilliant.
February 6, 2017
Britannia is an astonishing graphic novel written by one of the most famous comic masterminds Peter Milligan (the author of X- Men, Justice League, Hellblazer, Red Lanterns, X-Statix and many more) in collaboration with a jaw dropping artist Juan José Ryp (Clone, The Multiversity,...).
Britannia follows the story of a Roman war hero Antonius Axia, who has been trained by the Vestal Virgins to see beyond the obvious. As he travels to Britannia to investigate the unexplained occurences at the battle front he faces and old enemy and some new ones.
I truly, completely and utterly enjoyed this graphic novel! It had everything I like in a graphic novel: witty and multidimensional characters, a well branched out plot, a somewhat believable villain(s) and amazing art.
I really like the fact that at the end of every issue there was a text describing the historical figures or organizations, which were very informational and could provide a better insight in the interaction of the characters.
I find the main character was really amazing, which surprised me because I mostly think the main characters are annoying or simply boring and plat. Antonius was intelligent and courageous, he was troubled by his past and that was shown quite truthfully though his actions.
In conclusion, I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone who enjoys historical and mystery graphic novels, but also to anyone else who is a the moment getting into them.
I received this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
Britannia follows the story of a Roman war hero Antonius Axia, who has been trained by the Vestal Virgins to see beyond the obvious. As he travels to Britannia to investigate the unexplained occurences at the battle front he faces and old enemy and some new ones.
I truly, completely and utterly enjoyed this graphic novel! It had everything I like in a graphic novel: witty and multidimensional characters, a well branched out plot, a somewhat believable villain(s) and amazing art.
I really like the fact that at the end of every issue there was a text describing the historical figures or organizations, which were very informational and could provide a better insight in the interaction of the characters.
I find the main character was really amazing, which surprised me because I mostly think the main characters are annoying or simply boring and plat. Antonius was intelligent and courageous, he was troubled by his past and that was shown quite truthfully though his actions.
In conclusion, I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone who enjoys historical and mystery graphic novels, but also to anyone else who is a the moment getting into them.
I received this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2024
Review
Britannia
2016
Comics
Rating: 4/5
Britannia is an unsettling bleak mystery story that explores Ancient Rome and England through mystical elements and the brutality of the era. Writer Peter Milligan explores Ancient Rome with an X Files structure and when you consider what’s accomplished in four issues, it’s amazingly clever. It’s a complex multi layered story that has a murder mystery setup before subverting all expectations into something unexpected. The central character Antonius the Detectioner is our introduction into this world, and he’s constantly undermined by the power struggles of those above his status. The story arc of 4 issues was concerning at first, but Milligan has managed to shake off this potential problem with a strong story. It’s a mystery and you’re never in the position to find out all the answers. It’s layered with the unexpected, the unpredictability, and it offers carnage for the horror enthusiasts while maintaining a setting that is hostile to the point of despair. This leaves everything opened for future storyline’s and this is a series I could revisit again and again. Valiant Comics and Dark Horse have always frustrated me with their short length structure, but this never had any problems with the length. This was an unexpected treat and I’m eager to see where Milligan takes this next.
#britannia#2016#comics#comicbooks#comicbookcommunity#comicbooklover#booklover#bookworm#comicbookreview#comicbookcollection#comicbookcollector#comicbookcollecting#dupreewenttothemovies#books#bookrecommendations#readingtime#readingaddict#readingcommunity#readinglist#readingbooks#readingisfun#alwaysreading#ilovereading#lovereading#readreadread#readersgonnaread#petermilligan#juanjoseryp#valiantcomics#graphicnovel
Britannia
2016
Comics
Rating: 4/5
Britannia is an unsettling bleak mystery story that explores Ancient Rome and England through mystical elements and the brutality of the era. Writer Peter Milligan explores Ancient Rome with an X Files structure and when you consider what’s accomplished in four issues, it’s amazingly clever. It’s a complex multi layered story that has a murder mystery setup before subverting all expectations into something unexpected. The central character Antonius the Detectioner is our introduction into this world, and he’s constantly undermined by the power struggles of those above his status. The story arc of 4 issues was concerning at first, but Milligan has managed to shake off this potential problem with a strong story. It’s a mystery and you’re never in the position to find out all the answers. It’s layered with the unexpected, the unpredictability, and it offers carnage for the horror enthusiasts while maintaining a setting that is hostile to the point of despair. This leaves everything opened for future storyline’s and this is a series I could revisit again and again. Valiant Comics and Dark Horse have always frustrated me with their short length structure, but this never had any problems with the length. This was an unexpected treat and I’m eager to see where Milligan takes this next.
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March 25, 2020
Entertaining mix of Roman history mixed with mythological monsters. Great for fans of Cthulhu Invictus.
August 23, 2019
I liked it. Not too hard to follow what's going on. The artwork by Ryp is great--just a step down from his more out there work on a number of Avatar titles (which is kind of what this reads like--I wonder if they turned it down before Valiant agreed to publish it). I like the idea of a Roman detective--Steven Saylor has a whole series of mystery novels that follow a similar character, Gordianus the Finder. The whole mystery here is a bit underdeveloped--just what connects the legionnaires and the druids isn't all that clear--but maybe we'll get more answers to that in the follow-up series.
September 12, 2021
It was a story interestingly presented. I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. I really liked the style, but I got a bit spun around the axle trying to find a point to it. What really made it for me was the main character. He’s interesting and I look forward to learning more about him.
The gore was pretty sweet too.
The gore was pretty sweet too.
Read
October 3, 2019Set in 65 CE, Britannia follows Roman detective (“detectioner”) Antonius Axia as he investigates supernatural happenings in northern Britain, the farthest reaches of the Empire. Did I mention he’s sent by Emperor Nero himself? And being coddled by the Emperor’s Vestal Virgins, who see him as some sort of savior? It’s an intriguing premise, and I was pleasantly surprised by the story since I usually don't like Valiant's serious comics. And let’s get this out of the way: Britannia is wildly different from the publisher's usual stuff. As far as I can tell, there's no connection to the larger Valiant universe here. I get the feeling Milligan had this idea in his pocket happy to take it to any publisher, and Valiant obliged.
This volume feels longer than just four issues. Normally that’d be a complaint, but I found myself impressed by how much story Milligan crams into that space he’s given, and that it reads fluidly. A few scenes are rushed, though they hardly bother me. The art by Juan Jose Ryp and Jordie Bellaire is surely the best thing about the book. Every page is expressive, detailed, and beautiful (with frequent bursts of gore). The scenes in the fog are particularly striking - I feel like I’m there with the soldiers, my vision obscured as I peek through the mist at whatever horror awaits. Also, the intro pages to issue one by Raul Allen and Patricia Martin are stunning.
This volume feels longer than just four issues. Normally that’d be a complaint, but I found myself impressed by how much story Milligan crams into that space he’s given, and that it reads fluidly. A few scenes are rushed, though they hardly bother me. The art by Juan Jose Ryp and Jordie Bellaire is surely the best thing about the book. Every page is expressive, detailed, and beautiful (with frequent bursts of gore). The scenes in the fog are particularly striking - I feel like I’m there with the soldiers, my vision obscured as I peek through the mist at whatever horror awaits. Also, the intro pages to issue one by Raul Allen and Patricia Martin are stunning.
February 4, 2017
A good story with good graphics. Set in Roman Britain it tells the story of Antonius Axia, a Roman soldier who is sent to Britain to find out why Roman soldiers are disappearing. Little does he know but the case is linked to the rescue of a vestal virgin which he led some years earlier.
The vestal virgins are a mystical sect tasked with keeping the eternal flame of Rome alight but they have mystical powers themselves and Antonius is left changed by the rescue effort and he has made a new unearthly enemy.
And now in Britannia as he seeks to solve the mysterious deaths he is confronted with the strange powers that lie without and also within himslef.
It is an interesting story from Valiant and very different to others because of its historical setting. I enjoyed reading it and I really liked the paranormal aspects of the story.
Definitely a good one for anyone who enjoys the Valiant graphic novels and who enjoys mystery/horror stories. Lots os blood and guts in this one but still an engrossing read.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The vestal virgins are a mystical sect tasked with keeping the eternal flame of Rome alight but they have mystical powers themselves and Antonius is left changed by the rescue effort and he has made a new unearthly enemy.
And now in Britannia as he seeks to solve the mysterious deaths he is confronted with the strange powers that lie without and also within himslef.
It is an interesting story from Valiant and very different to others because of its historical setting. I enjoyed reading it and I really liked the paranormal aspects of the story.
Definitely a good one for anyone who enjoys the Valiant graphic novels and who enjoys mystery/horror stories. Lots os blood and guts in this one but still an engrossing read.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 19, 2020
Sometimes I comment during my reviews on things I completely forgot about reading even though the book was sitting in front of me while writing the review. Well, this time, I literally forgot I read a digital graphic novel for almost 4 weeks. Woops.
Britannia follows a Roman soldier who has been rehabilitated by some Vestal Virgins, and he is assigned to go to Britannia by the Vestals and Nero to kill spooky stuff… or something. Honestly, I don’t remember much about this book other than 1) It’s sexist as all hell and 2) The resolution is super boring and uninteresting. I’m not sure how this comic got such high praise, actually. Its art is serviceable with good detail and the writing has some decent ideas.
Will I read the two other volumes? Possibly. One involves a female gladiator, I think, so that’s kind of interesting. Nevertheless, I felt like, on this first volume, I wasted my time.
Britannia follows a Roman soldier who has been rehabilitated by some Vestal Virgins, and he is assigned to go to Britannia by the Vestals and Nero to kill spooky stuff… or something. Honestly, I don’t remember much about this book other than 1) It’s sexist as all hell and 2) The resolution is super boring and uninteresting. I’m not sure how this comic got such high praise, actually. Its art is serviceable with good detail and the writing has some decent ideas.
Will I read the two other volumes? Possibly. One involves a female gladiator, I think, so that’s kind of interesting. Nevertheless, I felt like, on this first volume, I wasted my time.
December 23, 2018
No está del todo mal este tebeo, aunque constantemente me he tenido que enfrentar a dos situaciones. Uno, lo gratuito del título. Se llama Britannia pero podría haber sido Germania, Galia, Cantabria o cualquier territorio fronterizo donde le hubiera dado la gana a Milligan situarlo. Lo impersonal de la localización, el hecho de que (prácticamente) todo tenga origen, cauce y desenlace en Roma, convierten el pretendido atractivo central del tebeo en carnada. Lo segundo es el dibujo. Ciertamente espectacular y, también, desequilibrado en su barroquismo. La manera en que se pasa del exceso de detalle a la ausencia de ellos, lo agarrotado de muchas figuras-muñecotes, ocasionales errores de continuidad (plano con las figuras en un orden, cambio de plano y las figuras en otro que no tiene nada que ver con el anterior)... Para fans del peplum y, un poco menos, el weird.
September 29, 2019
Britannia. Peter Milligan isn't the first author to put a detective in ancient Rome. However, Milligan presents a darker, more violent detective than most of his peers: a centurion not afraid to solve his problems at the end of his blade. Milligan also embeds his detective in quite a dark world, ruled by wyrds and haunted by devils. The attractively dark and occasionally grotesque art only improves on the evocative feel of the comic.
The history of Britannia is not overwhelming, but it has a great verisimilitude, feeling quite authentic. At the same time, Milligan keeps his speech modern, to ensure the comic remains approachable. I also adore the essays that Milligan includes at the end of each issue,. They're totally unnecessary to read and enjoy the stories, but they nicely expand upon the historical details of ancient Rome.
I would have liked Britannia to have some connection to the rest of the VH-E universe. I mean, there's people alive back then, such as the three brothers. But as a standalone historic military horror comic, this is still a nice release [4/5].
The history of Britannia is not overwhelming, but it has a great verisimilitude, feeling quite authentic. At the same time, Milligan keeps his speech modern, to ensure the comic remains approachable. I also adore the essays that Milligan includes at the end of each issue,. They're totally unnecessary to read and enjoy the stories, but they nicely expand upon the historical details of ancient Rome.
I would have liked Britannia to have some connection to the rest of the VH-E universe. I mean, there's people alive back then, such as the three brothers. But as a standalone historic military horror comic, this is still a nice release [4/5].
February 6, 2025
Britannia starts out in dark mystery. The excellent writing by Milligan takes us to 60 AD Rome, and centers around the supernatural powers of the Vestal Virgins.
The Centurian Axia, from the 1st Italian Legion, is sent out on duty, only to discover the horroriffic beasts of Britannia.
Milligan's writing is well paced and gripping. Juan Jose Ryp's artwork is fantastic. Color artist Jordie Bellaire's panels greatly compliment the eerie story, and letterer Dave Sharpe suits for text. Very much looking forward more in this series.
A nice addition: the last few end pages give the true story of the Vestal Virgins written by Karen Klaiber Hersh, Associate Proffessor Greek and Roman Studies / Temple University.
The Centurian Axia, from the 1st Italian Legion, is sent out on duty, only to discover the horroriffic beasts of Britannia.
Milligan's writing is well paced and gripping. Juan Jose Ryp's artwork is fantastic. Color artist Jordie Bellaire's panels greatly compliment the eerie story, and letterer Dave Sharpe suits for text. Very much looking forward more in this series.
A nice addition: the last few end pages give the true story of the Vestal Virgins written by Karen Klaiber Hersh, Associate Proffessor Greek and Roman Studies / Temple University.
May 12, 2018
Sherlock of Rome.
March 19, 2020
3.5 stars
Interesting graphic novel with a Roman detective who has set off to find what brutalities lie at the front lines. A mix of sex, magic and war... what's not to like? Good art as well.
Interesting graphic novel with a Roman detective who has set off to find what brutalities lie at the front lines. A mix of sex, magic and war... what's not to like? Good art as well.
Read
January 21, 2017I’m a long-term fan of Peter Milligan’s comics, but he’s written some right stinkers lately, and I’ve never been too taken with Valiant’s serious stuff, so I didn’t pick up this Roman detective adventure on release. Bless Netgalley, then, for having it available as an ARC. First impression: Ryp’s art, which on his Avatar work can sometimes show more detail than soul, looks amazing with Jordie Bellaire colouring. Second impression: still not convinced Milligan is firing on all cylinders. Our hero is a centurion made into Rome’s first ‘detectioner’ by a codex the Vestal Virgins showed him; this ‘codex’ is persistently depicted as a scroll, which is a bit like repeatedly referring to a Kindle while having the hero shown flipping through a paperback. Also, this is apparently what makes him the only person in Rome who thinks in terms of cause, effect and motive rather than gods and superstitions. Which is interesting given, even more than Greece, I’d consider imperial Rome the first period when people were already starting to think in terms we’d recognise as rational, even if obviously their premises were a bit wobbly at times – just look at Cicero, and how much closer he seems to modern arguments than Aristotle, let alone that nut-job Plato.
And then the main plot sees our man sent to the fringes of Empire (as the title suggests) to fight monsters. So why bother painting him as anomalous in Rome itself when he's not going to be there long? The notion of the logical man from the big city fighting demons in the sticks recalls Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, which I love but hardly needed a Roman remake; the idea of reason as another form of magic is potentially resonant, but also potentially tritely post-truth. And ultimately I get no sense of the wider point here, especially when compared to Milligan's last classical foray, the too-soon-cancelled Greek Street.
And then the main plot sees our man sent to the fringes of Empire (as the title suggests) to fight monsters. So why bother painting him as anomalous in Rome itself when he's not going to be there long? The notion of the logical man from the big city fighting demons in the sticks recalls Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, which I love but hardly needed a Roman remake; the idea of reason as another form of magic is potentially resonant, but also potentially tritely post-truth. And ultimately I get no sense of the wider point here, especially when compared to Milligan's last classical foray, the too-soon-cancelled Greek Street.
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