Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold (1997) #1

Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold #1

by Alisa Kwitney, Kent Williams (Penciller), Sherilyn van Valkenburgh (Colorist)

Beginning a 3-issue miniseries delving into the past and future of Destiny of the Endless, with painted covers and framing sequences by Kent Williams. In the year 2009, a small town holds out against a devastating pandemic, its remaining inhabitants desperately hoping to survive the next outbreak of plague. Then a mysterious stranger arrives from nowhere, selling a page that he claims is not only taken from the Book of Destiny, but also foretells the four great plagues of humankind, including where the current one will strike next. To convince them of its worth, he offers to read from the page, revealing Destiny's role-as well as his own-in the previous three plagues, starting with the epidemic that struck the Byzantine empire.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 1997

About the author

I'm the author of YA, graphic novels and novels for adults who still feel young, at least most of the time. Recent works include GILT, a graphic novel about time-traveling women of a certain age; Cadaver & Queen, a YA Feminist Frankenstein meets Grey's Anatomy tale, and Mystik U from DC Comics, which features Zatanna and other magical characters in their first year at college. I also co-host a Sandman podcast, The Endless, with Lani Diane Rich.

My first novel, Till the Fat Lady Sings, is also about college and romance and eating disorders. (It was my thesis at Columbia University's MFA Program, where I felt like an outlier for liking comic books and romance as much as literature.) I was an editor at Vertigo, the mature/dark fantasy branch of DC Comics, before going freelance. (I've also written two hormonal werewolf books as Alisa Sheckley.)

I live near the Vanderbilt Estate in Hyde Park, NY, with two dogs and a frightening number of books.

aka Alisa Sheckley

Reviews

[Lightwhisper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two different types of art,one I enjoyed more than the other and the story somewhat strange yet interesting.

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Destiny does not strike bargains. Do you not understand what I am? I see the end in every beginning I hear the last word echo in the first. I do not desire, or dream, or destroy. I do not despair, or delight. I KNOW."

A plague has infected earth and a stranger comes to town telling of a page ripped from the Book of Destiny. He then proceeds to read aloud to the surviving townsfolk the tale of the Justinian Plague. The are tremendously entertained by this since there's nothing else in this grim world. The story telling is first rate, but the art is horrible. I'm giving it a generous 4 stars because the writing is excellent. Looking forward to the next.

[Paul Nagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual history as allegory

The story surprises in its mix of fantasy with actual history. I find it prophetic giver out pandemic. W I'll definitely read the other parts which may explain some gratuitous
Elements I did not follow in the first part.

[Dane Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this. Very glad all three books live in my house. (Thanks Vaughan)

[Rachel Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not read this before, an entertaining read, though perhaps a little too en pointe given we're still in a pandemic that too many are trying to pretend is over when it's still with us...

[Fugo Feedback]

Lo conseguí en la edición de Norma en tres libros (Colección Vertigo #58, 62 y 65), que subí en un pack para no partir la obra en tres. Aunque no tenga mucho que ver, supongo que me lo leeré después de la obra casi homónima de García Márquez, mirá si llega a ser un homenaje.

[Ash Conklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel ended on such a cliff hanger!! I NEED to read the second one!!!