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Britannia (Collected Editions)
Britannia, Vol. 2: We Who Are About to Die
Valiant's critically acclaimed, 10-time sold-out magnum opus returns with a brand-new journey into myth and mystery, from comics master Peter Milligan (Shade, the Changing Man) and incendiary artist Juan Jose Ryp (Britannia!)
Fifty thousand Romans stand on their feet, watching from the rafters of the coliseum with captured breath as Achillia, a Gladiator unlike any that Rome has seen before, faces incredible odds - one lone warrior against five of Rome's greatest. Such is the tradition, when a female gladiator enters the fray. When the carnage is complete, the coliseum roars its approval as Achillia stands victorious. Now only one match away from winning her freedom, she has begun to gain renown.
The women of Rome, suppressed by their husbands and fathers, have noticed. The men of Rome, husbands and fathers to a growing horde of women entertaining ideas of independence, have noticed as well. On the other side of Rome, a strange mystery swirls through the Palatine Hill. In the dead of night, down winding alleys, Rome's elite swear that they see visions of a blood-soaked Apollo walking thecity...visions that are driving them mad. Even more are becoming sick with weird fever god-dreams. Panic ensues in the city.
The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is arrested by Emperor Nero and threatened with crucifi xion unless the deadly curse that's fallen on Rome is lifted. She asks Antonius Axia, hero of Britannia and Rome's only detective, for help. She offers only one clue...the gladiator Achillia.
Collecting BRITANNIA: WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1-4.
Fifty thousand Romans stand on their feet, watching from the rafters of the coliseum with captured breath as Achillia, a Gladiator unlike any that Rome has seen before, faces incredible odds - one lone warrior against five of Rome's greatest. Such is the tradition, when a female gladiator enters the fray. When the carnage is complete, the coliseum roars its approval as Achillia stands victorious. Now only one match away from winning her freedom, she has begun to gain renown.
The women of Rome, suppressed by their husbands and fathers, have noticed. The men of Rome, husbands and fathers to a growing horde of women entertaining ideas of independence, have noticed as well. On the other side of Rome, a strange mystery swirls through the Palatine Hill. In the dead of night, down winding alleys, Rome's elite swear that they see visions of a blood-soaked Apollo walking thecity...visions that are driving them mad. Even more are becoming sick with weird fever god-dreams. Panic ensues in the city.
The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is arrested by Emperor Nero and threatened with crucifi xion unless the deadly curse that's fallen on Rome is lifted. She asks Antonius Axia, hero of Britannia and Rome's only detective, for help. She offers only one clue...the gladiator Achillia.
Collecting BRITANNIA: WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1-4.
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2017
12 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Peter Milligan
1,309 books393 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 64 reviews
July 20, 2017
Antonius Axia, Rome’s first (and only) detective, is back with a new case: temple statues of the gods are coming to life and killing young nobles and a popular female gladiator is somehow connected. Can he solve the case before Emperor Nero loses patience and feeds him and his son to the lions?
Peter Milligan and Juan Jose Ryp reunite to bring us the sequel to one of Valiant’s best books of last year, Britannia. But while We Who Are About To Die isn’t bad, it’s unfortunately not as good as the first one was either.
As talented as Peter Milligan is, his script is flawed - though not fatally. I wouldn’t say it’s his fault entirely either - Valiant’s rigid four issue arc structure means his complicated mystery has to be rushed in places to fit the mould. Like in the Praetorian Guard scene when Axia and Achillia should be completely focused on fighting for their lives, they decide that now is the perfect time to awkwardly spout a ton of exposition. Yeah the superhero comics do it all the time but that doesn’t mean it’s good or that you should do it either!
And that scene played out in a very silly way. Even if they’re both seasoned fighters, both of them should’ve been skewered seven ways to Sunday! Also when Axia confronts the Senator’s wife who’s pretending she’s upset, she instantly breaks down when challenged and tells him the truth! Space constraints make the story look really amateurishly plotted in these instances.
The villain is unconvincing and overly powerful while the ending is unsatisfying and made me feel the whole thing wasn’t that well thought out. The feminist angle is anachronistic too - all that “girl power” stuff definitely wasn’t around back then!
All that said, the gods’ statues coming to life was an intriguing storyline and I still enjoy Nero’s unpredictable moods, making him the most insane “police chief”-type ever - he’s Axia and the Vestals’ protector but could also turn on a dime and be their killer too! Juan Jose Ryp’s remarkable art is easily the best part of the book. Bloody scenes are his speciality and there’s a lot of blood in these pages! Frankie D’Armata’s vivid colours enhance the art perfectly - the art team work wonders in bringing Ancient Rome to life; this is a gorgeous book.
The story is a little shaky but Milligan does enough to make the book readable, and Ryp’s outstanding art definitely helps keep them eyeballs on the page. Britannia: We Who Are About To Die is a disappointingly weak sequel but still worth a look if you enjoy stories about the Romans. The good news is that Britannia is going to be an ongoing so here’s hoping the next one’s better.
Peter Milligan and Juan Jose Ryp reunite to bring us the sequel to one of Valiant’s best books of last year, Britannia. But while We Who Are About To Die isn’t bad, it’s unfortunately not as good as the first one was either.
As talented as Peter Milligan is, his script is flawed - though not fatally. I wouldn’t say it’s his fault entirely either - Valiant’s rigid four issue arc structure means his complicated mystery has to be rushed in places to fit the mould. Like in the Praetorian Guard scene when Axia and Achillia should be completely focused on fighting for their lives, they decide that now is the perfect time to awkwardly spout a ton of exposition. Yeah the superhero comics do it all the time but that doesn’t mean it’s good or that you should do it either!
And that scene played out in a very silly way. Even if they’re both seasoned fighters, both of them should’ve been skewered seven ways to Sunday! Also when Axia confronts the Senator’s wife who’s pretending she’s upset, she instantly breaks down when challenged and tells him the truth! Space constraints make the story look really amateurishly plotted in these instances.
The villain is unconvincing and overly powerful while the ending is unsatisfying and made me feel the whole thing wasn’t that well thought out. The feminist angle is anachronistic too - all that “girl power” stuff definitely wasn’t around back then!
All that said, the gods’ statues coming to life was an intriguing storyline and I still enjoy Nero’s unpredictable moods, making him the most insane “police chief”-type ever - he’s Axia and the Vestals’ protector but could also turn on a dime and be their killer too! Juan Jose Ryp’s remarkable art is easily the best part of the book. Bloody scenes are his speciality and there’s a lot of blood in these pages! Frankie D’Armata’s vivid colours enhance the art perfectly - the art team work wonders in bringing Ancient Rome to life; this is a gorgeous book.
The story is a little shaky but Milligan does enough to make the book readable, and Ryp’s outstanding art definitely helps keep them eyeballs on the page. Britannia: We Who Are About To Die is a disappointingly weak sequel but still worth a look if you enjoy stories about the Romans. The good news is that Britannia is going to be an ongoing so here’s hoping the next one’s better.
December 27, 2018
Vote: ☆☆☆½
Gladiator (2000) meets Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) in a weak mistery second volume set in Nero's imperial Rome.
Not bad at all, but I liked much more the first fantasy/horror themed volume set in misterious and cloudy Britannia, and the 4 issues story-arc format by Valiant rushed again the storyline to its abrupt ending.
Ryp's awesome artworks saved the day.
August 7, 2018
In the second volume of Britannia, Antonius Axia, the former legionnaire turned the world’s first Detective is tasked with investigating an alleged supernatural source responsible for turning the Gods against the Roman people. Whilst the plot outline lends itself towards the fantasy-horror of the first volume, We Who Are About To Die is more a traditional Private Detective story with a smattering of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.
I love the world building and blending of factoids with this kind of fiction; Britannia reads real with elements of Roman history seeping into the fictional tapestry of the broader Valiant comics universe. I particularly liked the inclusion of the female Gladiator, Achillia into this story as it not only provided some nice depth to the second volume but made for a unique pairing with Axia.
My rating: 3.5/5. Not as good as the first volume but still very enjoyable. The art is great and the characters are very well written. Whilst We Who Are About To Die is new reader friendly, I recommending reading the first volume prior to delving in. As a bonus, each issue comes with a 4 page essay based on a Roman topic, those alone are great reads.
I love the world building and blending of factoids with this kind of fiction; Britannia reads real with elements of Roman history seeping into the fictional tapestry of the broader Valiant comics universe. I particularly liked the inclusion of the female Gladiator, Achillia into this story as it not only provided some nice depth to the second volume but made for a unique pairing with Axia.
My rating: 3.5/5. Not as good as the first volume but still very enjoyable. The art is great and the characters are very well written. Whilst We Who Are About To Die is new reader friendly, I recommending reading the first volume prior to delving in. As a bonus, each issue comes with a 4 page essay based on a Roman topic, those alone are great reads.
Read
June 22, 2017What a dispiriting mess. And I say that as, until the last couple of years anyway, a massive Peter Milligan fan. The first volume of this seemed to be founded in all sorts of weird and lazy assumptions about Roman society and thought, with our ‘detectioner’ hero the one (Ro)man seeking rational answers while everyone else just said ‘Eh, the gods’ and considered that explanation enough. As fucking if. No real change here, except that we’re not even in Britain anymore so the title no longer makes even that much sense. The theme this time is the male fear of female power, tangled with murders tied to a seeming renascence of the gods, and you could get a very good story out of that…but this isn’t it. Roman society was sexist, sure – but there was much more nuance to it than here, where it’s just Nero and a gaggle of interchangeable Roman dick men muttering about how the women are getting ideas above their station since this new gladiatrix started doing well in the arena, and plotting to bring down her, the Vestals and any other vestige of female independence as if Rome were merely Gilead or Da'esh in togas. Indeed, if you’d presented me with this clumsy Pat Mills-esque script and not told me who was responsible, I’d probably have lamented that the job hadn’t been given to Peter Milligan instead. After all, he did the vexed relationship of an empire and its deities in Egypt, he did such things with gender identity and anxiety &c in Enigma, Shade et al…he’d be ideal for the job, instead of whoever penned this farrago! "But doctor...I am Pagliacci.”
So disappointed was I already that, when the last issue of the Edelweiss ARC turned out to lack the lettering and then cut off before the end, I wasn’t even particularly bothered, because it’s not as if I’m likely to be missing much. Ryp and Bellaire’s art has its flaws – there’s no real distinction of look between the lead’s Briton sidekick and the Romans, our hero’s son appears to be having his first fighting lesson using metal rather than wooden swords – but the basic storytelling is clear enough, and it’s not as if anything said up to this point has been terribly enlightening, or as if there look to have been any unexpected turns I would have needed explaining. It’s not as if Milligan has entirely lost the plot - Counterfeit Girl was still recognisably him – but between this, The Discipline, New Romancer and the last Bad Company, there’s a real sense of his recent work failing to live up to the impressive standards he once set. And not even all that long ago – Hell, the man made a really good read out of a New 52 book devoted to the sodding Red Lanterns, for heavens’ sake!
So disappointed was I already that, when the last issue of the Edelweiss ARC turned out to lack the lettering and then cut off before the end, I wasn’t even particularly bothered, because it’s not as if I’m likely to be missing much. Ryp and Bellaire’s art has its flaws – there’s no real distinction of look between the lead’s Briton sidekick and the Romans, our hero’s son appears to be having his first fighting lesson using metal rather than wooden swords – but the basic storytelling is clear enough, and it’s not as if anything said up to this point has been terribly enlightening, or as if there look to have been any unexpected turns I would have needed explaining. It’s not as if Milligan has entirely lost the plot - Counterfeit Girl was still recognisably him – but between this, The Discipline, New Romancer and the last Bad Company, there’s a real sense of his recent work failing to live up to the impressive standards he once set. And not even all that long ago – Hell, the man made a really good read out of a New 52 book devoted to the sodding Red Lanterns, for heavens’ sake!
March 15, 2023
I really enjoy the artwork on these books, they really bring the bygone world of early imperial Rome to life even if one has to excuse numerous anachronisms- open the following spoiler to read my amateurish quibbles .
Thumb hidden for this one!
Thumb hidden for this one!
August 2, 2017
+DigitalArc gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
In Emperor Nero's times, we encounter the first 'detectioner' - Antonius Axia. This is my first view of this series, but is easy follow where this come from, as opposed to the messy current plot. The investigator is searching for some missing young noblemen , the rumor in the streets talk about the ire of the gods and blame the Vestals for their fail to protect them.
Between murders, suspected magical means, death threats, the raising of a son, feminist aspirations ... something is rotten in dear old Rome.
The strangest part is the idea that an encounter with a demon produced a change -thanks to the Vestals- in the Roman legionary that leads him to believe in logical thinking and not in the gods...
*Characters like Nero are cartoonish (pun intended), and so the patricians and usual villains. But I was pleased to see that the gladiator (Achillia) as a strong character.
*Good Art.
In Emperor Nero's times, we encounter the first 'detectioner' - Antonius Axia. This is my first view of this series, but is easy follow where this come from, as opposed to the messy current plot. The investigator is searching for some missing young noblemen , the rumor in the streets talk about the ire of the gods and blame the Vestals for their fail to protect them.
Between murders, suspected magical means, death threats, the raising of a son, feminist aspirations ... something is rotten in dear old Rome.
The strangest part is the idea that an encounter with a demon produced a change -thanks to the Vestals- in the Roman legionary that leads him to believe in logical thinking and not in the gods...
*Characters like Nero are cartoonish (pun intended), and so the patricians and usual villains. But I was pleased to see that the gladiator (Achillia) as a strong character.
*Good Art.
January 16, 2018
I read this immediately after the first volume, so I was still coming off the high. The second outing with Rome's first detective is good, but not as good as the first volume. I still love the characters. I love the setting and the amount of research and care that Milligan puts into these books. The art is phenomenal. But the denouement seems cheap. Not to spoil anything, but I liked the nebulous aspect of the gods in the first volume. I could never quite decide if Orkus was real or just an idea that drive men mad. I liked that. This ending is more like the end of Murder on the Orient Express: big, fantastic, but sort of a cop-out.
I will still read Volume 3.
I will still read Volume 3.
September 13, 2021
Good, nice art. The character depth and story were compelling. It was a good volume.
My issue was the pacing and page layouts. Things were just a little too cluttered for my liking. It didn’t diminish my enjoyment too much, but it did make for slower reading.
All in all, this definitely kept me interested, and from the looks of it, the next one will be awesome!
My issue was the pacing and page layouts. Things were just a little too cluttered for my liking. It didn’t diminish my enjoyment too much, but it did make for slower reading.
All in all, this definitely kept me interested, and from the looks of it, the next one will be awesome!
October 1, 2019
Great story, great drawing and great coloring. Someone is killing off the youth of the Roman nobility . Nero is going off the rails and is threatening to Sacrifice The Vestal Virgins at the coliseum. The Detector is assigned to the case and chases down the curse affecting Rome.
September 11, 2018
Britannia: We Who Are About to Die takes the foundation that was established in Britannia and expands upon it flawlessly.
What works?
Britannia: We Who Are About to Die builds upon the notions of the first Book, keeping pace with the thematic story universe of Ancient Roman pagan superstition, whilst building upon the idea of Lucius being Rome's first Detectioner (Detective) by delivering a story that takes Lucius to the territory of a hard-boiled homicide investigator, instead of the supernatural investigator we saw in the first installment of the Britannia series. This is achieved, as previously mentioned, without stepping away from the elements of pagan superstition that the series is known for; with a well-crafted mystery of deified statues of the Gods that would appear to be killing entranced teenagers. Add to this the fact that the role of Lucius' Celtic slave-come-personal friend, Bran, is expanded out in to more of a sidekick role, which further adds to the thematic nod to the Noir genre; and it's done flawlessly, without ever feeling apparent enough to be considered an "on-the-nose" aspiration to Dr. John Watkins.
The Art style is still just as flawless as the first installment and the flow of the visuals and the story's pacing are just as Filmic as the first Book too.
What doesn't work?
It's almost impossible to find a criticism of this Book.
For a more thorough review of the series so far, be sure to check out my review for Britannia here on Goodreads
What works?
Britannia: We Who Are About to Die builds upon the notions of the first Book, keeping pace with the thematic story universe of Ancient Roman pagan superstition, whilst building upon the idea of Lucius being Rome's first Detectioner (Detective) by delivering a story that takes Lucius to the territory of a hard-boiled homicide investigator, instead of the supernatural investigator we saw in the first installment of the Britannia series. This is achieved, as previously mentioned, without stepping away from the elements of pagan superstition that the series is known for; with a well-crafted mystery of deified statues of the Gods that would appear to be killing entranced teenagers. Add to this the fact that the role of Lucius' Celtic slave-come-personal friend, Bran, is expanded out in to more of a sidekick role, which further adds to the thematic nod to the Noir genre; and it's done flawlessly, without ever feeling apparent enough to be considered an "on-the-nose" aspiration to Dr. John Watkins.
The Art style is still just as flawless as the first installment and the flow of the visuals and the story's pacing are just as Filmic as the first Book too.
What doesn't work?
It's almost impossible to find a criticism of this Book.
For a more thorough review of the series so far, be sure to check out my review for Britannia here on Goodreads
December 5, 2018
Antonius Axia returns for a second mini-series, combining his unique brand of mystery, magic, and good ol' fashioned deductive reasoning to save Rome once more.
The plot of this second installment of Britannia is very similar to the first, at least in the broad strokes. The new addition of Achillia as a secondary character is good move, since Antonius isn't really that interesting on his own, but it's nice to see the many machinations of the factions of Rome coming into play too - something we didn't get much of during the first volume since they were so far away.
I was right about Ryp's art suffering under Jordie Bellaire (sacrilege, I know), but Frank D'Armata's colours are much more appropriate for his pencils, allowing the art to really pop where before it felt a bit flat.
More of the same, but prettier than before. A step up, if a small one.
The plot of this second installment of Britannia is very similar to the first, at least in the broad strokes. The new addition of Achillia as a secondary character is good move, since Antonius isn't really that interesting on his own, but it's nice to see the many machinations of the factions of Rome coming into play too - something we didn't get much of during the first volume since they were so far away.
I was right about Ryp's art suffering under Jordie Bellaire (sacrilege, I know), but Frank D'Armata's colours are much more appropriate for his pencils, allowing the art to really pop where before it felt a bit flat.
More of the same, but prettier than before. A step up, if a small one.
March 4, 2019
¡Joder, Peter!. Todos tenemos nuestros buenos y malos días, pero con lo que tú has sido... ¡qué narices haces firmando un guión tan deplorable, nivel Maciste!
January 31, 2022
I've been down on Peter Milligan's writing for some time now. His run on Shadowman, in particular felt really stale and out of touch for me. While this book didn't at all endear him to me, it did give me a better perspective on why I don't like his work. It's too moored in the late 80's/early Vertigo mold when I first became aware of his work.
Usually when people talk about comic book writers not evolving, the focus is on them being problematic. That's not really the issue here. Yes, the book starts with a rape scene (not graphic, porny, or exploity), it's clearly meant to place us in the Roman time and show how they treated women. There were just so many better ways to show us that, but this is the way Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, or Warren Ellis would have written it in 1988. Milligan just can't get out of that mindset.
The good news is, if you're trying to read through the Valiant universe and keep track of all the characters, you still don't have to read this. It exists entirely outside every other title. There's no Shadowman, no Eternal Warrior, nobody. It's just a mediocre, exploity historical fiction adventure with the Valiant logo on it.
If you're into early Vertigo style storytelling or exploity historical fiction, this might be your jam. For me, it's a series I am happy is wrapping up inthe next volume.
Usually when people talk about comic book writers not evolving, the focus is on them being problematic. That's not really the issue here. Yes, the book starts with a rape scene (not graphic, porny, or exploity), it's clearly meant to place us in the Roman time and show how they treated women. There were just so many better ways to show us that, but this is the way Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, or Warren Ellis would have written it in 1988. Milligan just can't get out of that mindset.
The good news is, if you're trying to read through the Valiant universe and keep track of all the characters, you still don't have to read this. It exists entirely outside every other title. There's no Shadowman, no Eternal Warrior, nobody. It's just a mediocre, exploity historical fiction adventure with the Valiant logo on it.
If you're into early Vertigo style storytelling or exploity historical fiction, this might be your jam. For me, it's a series I am happy is wrapping up inthe next volume.
November 20, 2017
'Britannia, Vol. 2: We Who Are About to Die' by Peter Milligan with art by Juan Jose Ryp continues the journey of detectioner Antonius Axia in the weird and supernatural world of ancient Rome.
Antonius is back, and all he wants is to raise his son in peace, but there is no peace in Rome as some strange phenomenon is creating talking statues and men are being violently killed. In addition, there are a bunch of suppressed women and a new gladiator hero named Achillia that they cheer and follow. Antonius has enough on his plate, and then he finds that his son might be a target of whatever is plaguing Rome.
It's a visceral series, with gruesome and amazing art by Jean Jose Ryp. The story this time around feels a bit more procedural in nature and not as interesting as the first volume. That volume also featured some interesting historical essays that were missing this time around. I felt those helped make it a richer reading experience.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Antonius is back, and all he wants is to raise his son in peace, but there is no peace in Rome as some strange phenomenon is creating talking statues and men are being violently killed. In addition, there are a bunch of suppressed women and a new gladiator hero named Achillia that they cheer and follow. Antonius has enough on his plate, and then he finds that his son might be a target of whatever is plaguing Rome.
It's a visceral series, with gruesome and amazing art by Jean Jose Ryp. The story this time around feels a bit more procedural in nature and not as interesting as the first volume. That volume also featured some interesting historical essays that were missing this time around. I felt those helped make it a richer reading experience.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
July 2, 2017
I have been reading comic books since I was a child, and I am well past my half century. I have read everything from regular super hero books to what was known as Underground, to just about anything that had pictures and was in a comic book form.
This is all to say I am aware of bloody, fighting comics. Read them as super hero comics. Read them as underground or independent comics. Doesn't mean I have to like them. This book is set in the time of Nero, and involves a detective trying to find out what is killing all the noble children.
There are vestal virgins, and talking statures, and gladiators, and slaves, and you know what? I really didn't care about the any of them.
So, perhaps this book is for you. Perhaps you like fighting and blood, and mysteries of the gods, and emperors. But I never really got into any of this, and when, as another reviewer pointed out, our review copy's last chapter lacked words, it didn't really make a difference.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is all to say I am aware of bloody, fighting comics. Read them as super hero comics. Read them as underground or independent comics. Doesn't mean I have to like them. This book is set in the time of Nero, and involves a detective trying to find out what is killing all the noble children.
There are vestal virgins, and talking statures, and gladiators, and slaves, and you know what? I really didn't care about the any of them.
So, perhaps this book is for you. Perhaps you like fighting and blood, and mysteries of the gods, and emperors. But I never really got into any of this, and when, as another reviewer pointed out, our review copy's last chapter lacked words, it didn't really make a difference.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
October 6, 2019
We Who Are About to Die. The second Britannia series is quite a bit different from its predecessor. Whereas the first book was about the very real demons of Britain, this one instead is about pragmatic rationalism in Rome and the rejection of the supernatural. Perhaps the contrast is intentional, as a difference between the wild frontier and the center of civilization, but it feels like a pretty big heel turn.
This book also focuses much more on investigation and detective work, and though that initially creates a more interesting mystery, by the end of the volume, it's a bit dry, leaving this second miniseries not quite as good as the first [3+/5].
This book also focuses much more on investigation and detective work, and though that initially creates a more interesting mystery, by the end of the volume, it's a bit dry, leaving this second miniseries not quite as good as the first [3+/5].
July 23, 2017
Full review to come!
April 10, 2022
2,5
El dibujo no acaba de gustarme y la trama va como a saltos, no tiene malas ideas detrás pero no están bien desarrolladas.
El dibujo no acaba de gustarme y la trama va como a saltos, no tiene malas ideas detrás pero no están bien desarrolladas.
November 7, 2017
I missed out on reading the prior volume of this series, and cannot help but wonder if I had read that if I would have gotten more out of this title and enjoyed it more. I mean it does have the right blend of action and history to keep me reading but I didn't really feel for the characters. The art was very interesting such as seeing designs of ancient culture. It was an okay read and I would definitely read more of this series.
January 1, 2020
A much better story and mystery than the first volume. I am excited for the new cast member to return in volume 3!
April 12, 2023
Antonius Axia is a detectioner. He uses observation, logic, and psychological assessment to make sense of the world around him. That makes him peculiar. What also makes him peculiar is that he does not believe in gods. As the detectioner, he looks for clues to solve mysteries.
This second volume of the series takes place in Rome, where sons of noble families are murdered in mysterious and gruesome circumstances. Antonius must thus find out the source of the killings and put a stop to it. However, this time, his son's life is directly threatened. In his quest to prevent the death of his son, he enlists the help of Achilla, a deadly female gladiator who only seeks one thing: her freedom. The two of them will make an unlikely duo.
The story itself is not exceptional, although it is certainly entertaining. What makes it actually worth reading is the clever way the author implements elements of Roman history or culture, which help shed light on this fascinating period to people who have little to no knowledge of it or act as a pleasant nod at those who do know a bit about it. For example, the source of the killings is linked to the struggle that took place centuries ago between Rome and Carthago, where the latter faced the cruel wrath of the former. This brings us to another point that is recurrent in the story: the cruelty and harshness of what is often heralded as the greatest empire in history. It's those elements that make the story stand out beyond its simple detective narrative and horror dimension.
I found that the idea of the female gladiator was an interesting one, and it is an established fact that they existed. However, I found that this was a predictable turn of the story right from the moment we saw her first appearing but did not yet see her face. Thankfully, her role in the story will not be limited to this second volume, and we'll expect to see her in the third volume.
On a more personal note, while the story tends to be violent and bloody, it is actually quite surprising in a good way to see that there are no sex scenes, which is something we could have expected in a story where Nero, known for his particular temperament, is present. I found this approach to be a smart one as there is no need to have the excessive presence of sex to make a story worth reading and, let's face it, a lot of stories set in ancient Rome would tend to have sex due to our vision of Roman society, regardless of how accurate that vision is.
This second volume of the series takes place in Rome, where sons of noble families are murdered in mysterious and gruesome circumstances. Antonius must thus find out the source of the killings and put a stop to it. However, this time, his son's life is directly threatened. In his quest to prevent the death of his son, he enlists the help of Achilla, a deadly female gladiator who only seeks one thing: her freedom. The two of them will make an unlikely duo.
The story itself is not exceptional, although it is certainly entertaining. What makes it actually worth reading is the clever way the author implements elements of Roman history or culture, which help shed light on this fascinating period to people who have little to no knowledge of it or act as a pleasant nod at those who do know a bit about it. For example, the source of the killings is linked to the struggle that took place centuries ago between Rome and Carthago, where the latter faced the cruel wrath of the former. This brings us to another point that is recurrent in the story: the cruelty and harshness of what is often heralded as the greatest empire in history. It's those elements that make the story stand out beyond its simple detective narrative and horror dimension.
I found that the idea of the female gladiator was an interesting one, and it is an established fact that they existed. However, I found that this was a predictable turn of the story right from the moment we saw her first appearing but did not yet see her face. Thankfully, her role in the story will not be limited to this second volume, and we'll expect to see her in the third volume.
On a more personal note, while the story tends to be violent and bloody, it is actually quite surprising in a good way to see that there are no sex scenes, which is something we could have expected in a story where Nero, known for his particular temperament, is present. I found this approach to be a smart one as there is no need to have the excessive presence of sex to make a story worth reading and, let's face it, a lot of stories set in ancient Rome would tend to have sex due to our vision of Roman society, regardless of how accurate that vision is.
July 1, 2025
In this sequel to Volume 1, Peter Milligan returns with another blend of historical fiction, horror, and detective noir. The story follows Antonius Axia, Rome’s first and only "detectioner," as he investigates a disturbing mystery plaguing the heart of the empire. I like the idea of the world's first detective in Rome, a framework for some seriously interesting stories.
Amid the blood-soaked spectacle of the Colosseum, a female gladiator named Achillia rises to fame, challenging hardened gladiators and stirring unrest among Rome’s patriarchal elite. Simultaneously, the city is gripped by mass hysteria: visions of a blood-drenched Apollo haunt the elite, and a strange fever spreads. The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is accused of unleashing a curse and turns to Antonius for help. The only clue? Achillia herself. Antonius and his son are intertwined with all of this.
While Vol. 2 ambitiously expands the mythos of Rome’s first detective, it ultimately feels like a muddled and less compelling follow-up to the original. Where Vol. 1 thrived on eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, and a fresh genre mashup, this sequel leans too heavily on spectacle and social commentary without the same narrative finesse. Also, the explanations behind the strange visions unfortunately fell flat.
The introduction of Achillia is conceptually intriguing but underdeveloped. Her arc, meant to symbolize rebellion and empowerment, is overshadowed by a chaotic plot that juggles too many threads—political unrest, divine hallucinations, and a city-wide plague—without giving any of them the depth they deserve. Antonius, once a fascinatingly skeptical protagonist navigating the supernatural, now feels like a passive observer in his own story.
Milligan’s writing remains sharp in places, and Juan José Ryp’s art is as detailed and visceral as ever, but the pacing is uneven and the mystery lacks the psychological edge that made the first volume so gripping. The horror elements feel more theatrical than unsettling, and the resolution is disappointingly abrupt.
In trying to be bigger and bolder, this volume loses the intimate, cerebral quality that made Britannia stand out. Fans of the first volume may find this installment entertaining, but it’s unlikely to leave the same lasting impression.
Not sure if this made it to a third volume.
Amid the blood-soaked spectacle of the Colosseum, a female gladiator named Achillia rises to fame, challenging hardened gladiators and stirring unrest among Rome’s patriarchal elite. Simultaneously, the city is gripped by mass hysteria: visions of a blood-drenched Apollo haunt the elite, and a strange fever spreads. The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is accused of unleashing a curse and turns to Antonius for help. The only clue? Achillia herself. Antonius and his son are intertwined with all of this.
While Vol. 2 ambitiously expands the mythos of Rome’s first detective, it ultimately feels like a muddled and less compelling follow-up to the original. Where Vol. 1 thrived on eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, and a fresh genre mashup, this sequel leans too heavily on spectacle and social commentary without the same narrative finesse. Also, the explanations behind the strange visions unfortunately fell flat.
The introduction of Achillia is conceptually intriguing but underdeveloped. Her arc, meant to symbolize rebellion and empowerment, is overshadowed by a chaotic plot that juggles too many threads—political unrest, divine hallucinations, and a city-wide plague—without giving any of them the depth they deserve. Antonius, once a fascinatingly skeptical protagonist navigating the supernatural, now feels like a passive observer in his own story.
Milligan’s writing remains sharp in places, and Juan José Ryp’s art is as detailed and visceral as ever, but the pacing is uneven and the mystery lacks the psychological edge that made the first volume so gripping. The horror elements feel more theatrical than unsettling, and the resolution is disappointingly abrupt.
In trying to be bigger and bolder, this volume loses the intimate, cerebral quality that made Britannia stand out. Fans of the first volume may find this installment entertaining, but it’s unlikely to leave the same lasting impression.
Not sure if this made it to a third volume.
August 31, 2017
This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
I have been on a Roman society kick lately, so when I saw this was available to read I jumped at the chance. However, this is just one of those books that I just don't have a lot of feelings about. It wasn't bad, it wasn't amazing, I just feel "meh" about it.
I will say that I do love the art in this graphic novel. I think that's an important thing to note when you are looking for a graphic novel. If the art doesn't wow me, it has to take a lot for the story to wow me. This one was done in vibrant colors that made it really engaging. It was definitely done in a more tradition comic book style, which I liked it.
So the story is really about Antonius Axia, he is the first detective for Rome. He doesn't really believe in the Roman gods, but instead believes in reason and following the clues. I found his character interesting in these aspects, but it also felt like I was missing a lot about his background. I was very confused, was there another book I was supposed to read first? His relationship with his son also seems like there is more we need to know, but we don't get it. I guess for me, I just needed a little bit more from this character. He just read like a robot to me. I couldn't really feel his emotions in this story.
Axia ends up also teeming up with a female Gladiator, who is a former slave trying to win her freedom. I do really like that this story shows that all sorts of people of color also lived in Rome during the ancient times, not just white people. Achilla's storyline touches on this, and it also explains why she is fighting SO hard for her freedom. She's the most interesting character in the book, and I honestly wanted more of her.
Like most comics, the story ends on a cliffhanger, and you need to read the next one to find out what is going to happen. Usually, I am okay with that, but with this book it just annoyed me! I think I just wasn't that invested into this story. I think if you are interesting in a dectective story set in Ancient Rome this is a story for you. It just didn't completely work for me.
Happy Reads Everyone!
I have been on a Roman society kick lately, so when I saw this was available to read I jumped at the chance. However, this is just one of those books that I just don't have a lot of feelings about. It wasn't bad, it wasn't amazing, I just feel "meh" about it.
I will say that I do love the art in this graphic novel. I think that's an important thing to note when you are looking for a graphic novel. If the art doesn't wow me, it has to take a lot for the story to wow me. This one was done in vibrant colors that made it really engaging. It was definitely done in a more tradition comic book style, which I liked it.
So the story is really about Antonius Axia, he is the first detective for Rome. He doesn't really believe in the Roman gods, but instead believes in reason and following the clues. I found his character interesting in these aspects, but it also felt like I was missing a lot about his background. I was very confused, was there another book I was supposed to read first? His relationship with his son also seems like there is more we need to know, but we don't get it. I guess for me, I just needed a little bit more from this character. He just read like a robot to me. I couldn't really feel his emotions in this story.
Axia ends up also teeming up with a female Gladiator, who is a former slave trying to win her freedom. I do really like that this story shows that all sorts of people of color also lived in Rome during the ancient times, not just white people. Achilla's storyline touches on this, and it also explains why she is fighting SO hard for her freedom. She's the most interesting character in the book, and I honestly wanted more of her.
Like most comics, the story ends on a cliffhanger, and you need to read the next one to find out what is going to happen. Usually, I am okay with that, but with this book it just annoyed me! I think I just wasn't that invested into this story. I think if you are interesting in a dectective story set in Ancient Rome this is a story for you. It just didn't completely work for me.
Happy Reads Everyone!
August 19, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are two major plotlines in this book. The first involves a slave woman who is sent to the gladiator pit after killing her owner. The second follows Antonius Axia, the protagonist from volume one, as he investigates the strange deaths of the children of the Roman elite.
The like Achilla, the slave turned gladiator, a lot. She is a strong character and acts as an inspiration for the other women in the book. Antonius Axia is an interesting take on the detective archetype and is labeled as a "detectioner". He is more passionate in this book as events strike a lot closer to home than the previous volume, both literally and figuratively. Taken as a whole, I like the story. There is a bit of a mystery that seems to work out pretty well. The person behind all of this is pretty interesting too.
The supporting characters that reappear from the previous volume weren't as interesting this time around. The Vestal Virgins show up, but play a much smaller role. Their main tasks are to introduce the problem for Antonius and act as a scapegoat for Nero, who was wholly uninteresting in this volume.
I feel a bit mixed on the art. Some of the character faces seemed oddly proportioned to me, but otherwise seemed fine. There wasn't much that stood out to me in terms of the art. The coloring is well done though. This series is a bit different from the other books that Valiant puts out and can serve as a good place for new readers to come onboard.
There are two major plotlines in this book. The first involves a slave woman who is sent to the gladiator pit after killing her owner. The second follows Antonius Axia, the protagonist from volume one, as he investigates the strange deaths of the children of the Roman elite.
The like Achilla, the slave turned gladiator, a lot. She is a strong character and acts as an inspiration for the other women in the book. Antonius Axia is an interesting take on the detective archetype and is labeled as a "detectioner". He is more passionate in this book as events strike a lot closer to home than the previous volume, both literally and figuratively. Taken as a whole, I like the story. There is a bit of a mystery that seems to work out pretty well. The person behind all of this is pretty interesting too.
The supporting characters that reappear from the previous volume weren't as interesting this time around. The Vestal Virgins show up, but play a much smaller role. Their main tasks are to introduce the problem for Antonius and act as a scapegoat for Nero, who was wholly uninteresting in this volume.
I feel a bit mixed on the art. Some of the character faces seemed oddly proportioned to me, but otherwise seemed fine. There wasn't much that stood out to me in terms of the art. The coloring is well done though. This series is a bit different from the other books that Valiant puts out and can serve as a good place for new readers to come onboard.
May 17, 2019
Milligan and Ryp return for a second mystery set against the Roman backdrop that they introduced us to in the first volume.
Ryp once again brings his A game as the art in this book is fantastic. I actually think he is getting better and better per volume, as this book looks very nice.
Milligan once again mixes the Roman aesthetic with supernatural elements and logic that Antonius Axia uses to figure out the mystery. I like that Milligan has his characters react to Antonius' logical thinking as something strange and otherworldly. They are so used to gods and luck and things out of their control, that thinking things through rationality is very foreign to them. This adds a layer of intrigue to the story for the characters, but not necessarily us the viewer.
This volume is good, but somethings were a bit off. The resolution was left to a last minute mcguffin, in the form of a hallucinogenic plant. Antonius seems much more bewildered in this volume which contrasts to his cooler more thought out demeanor in the first volume. And his trusty side kick gets traded in for a female gladiator that Antonius just met.
Overall a good story even if it is not as good as the first volume. It holds its own merits enough to warrant a read. Recommended for fans of the first volume or people who like supernatural elements in mysteries.
Ryp once again brings his A game as the art in this book is fantastic. I actually think he is getting better and better per volume, as this book looks very nice.
Milligan once again mixes the Roman aesthetic with supernatural elements and logic that Antonius Axia uses to figure out the mystery. I like that Milligan has his characters react to Antonius' logical thinking as something strange and otherworldly. They are so used to gods and luck and things out of their control, that thinking things through rationality is very foreign to them. This adds a layer of intrigue to the story for the characters, but not necessarily us the viewer.
This volume is good, but somethings were a bit off. The resolution was left to a last minute mcguffin, in the form of a hallucinogenic plant. Antonius seems much more bewildered in this volume which contrasts to his cooler more thought out demeanor in the first volume. And his trusty side kick gets traded in for a female gladiator that Antonius just met.
Overall a good story even if it is not as good as the first volume. It holds its own merits enough to warrant a read. Recommended for fans of the first volume or people who like supernatural elements in mysteries.
July 11, 2017
In what seems like a small prelude but isn’t, a young slave girl is about to be raped, but like me notices the knife nearby and kills her attacker. In the meantime there’s a new cult in Rome that the rich kids are joining, only some of them are the ones being sacrificed, so the world’s first official detective has another case, and this time doesn’t have to go all the way to Britannia to solve it. Eventually it gets personal. . .
Good of them to have recaps before every issue; every comic should do that.
This story is not as strong as the first one, but then it’s more about the moments. With the Wonder Woman movie and especially the way women all over the world are responding to it, it’s amusing to see the same thing happening in Ancient Rome with a female gladiator. I don’t remember ever reading about any such archaeological evidence found, but it wouldn’t be surprising to find there were hucksters like the one here outside the Colosseum, selling souvenirs. My favorite line had to be “By Mithras!” Having studied that cult, it made me laugh.
The last part is “silent,” which makes it more intriguing. Too bad it took him long enough to realize who, or what, the bad guy was, which was a letdown.
Good of them to have recaps before every issue; every comic should do that.
This story is not as strong as the first one, but then it’s more about the moments. With the Wonder Woman movie and especially the way women all over the world are responding to it, it’s amusing to see the same thing happening in Ancient Rome with a female gladiator. I don’t remember ever reading about any such archaeological evidence found, but it wouldn’t be surprising to find there were hucksters like the one here outside the Colosseum, selling souvenirs. My favorite line had to be “By Mithras!” Having studied that cult, it made me laugh.
The last part is “silent,” which makes it more intriguing. Too bad it took him long enough to realize who, or what, the bad guy was, which was a letdown.
March 4, 2022
No tenía muchas expectativas con esta obra, mayormente porque el género cómic no suele destacarse en cuanto a narrativas históricas se refiere. O al menos eso es lo que puedo decir en mi corta experiencia en el tema.
En este caso, es también mi primer lectura de Valiant y aunque no ha sido superlativa, tengo que admitir que me gusta su estilo. Es apenas un poco más pausado que las historias de Marvel o DC, pero parece un poco más cuidado estéticamente.
Hablando puntualmente de la obra, el trabajo de Peter Milligan es el volumen dos de lo que parece una especie de saga que se va contando de forma fraccionada. Desconozco si se trata de una serie regular o si es simplemente unos números autoconclusivos que tienen forma y vida en un mismo universo narrativo.
Sea como sea, lo cierto es que el trabajo de Milligan es bueno en cuanto a que no es necesario un gran bagaje previo para enganchar con la historia, pero la misma es bastante plana y facilona, cuenta con muchos saltos y conveniencias que le bajan la calidad. En cuanto al apartado artístico, si bien no es wow, logra un nivel aceptable acompañando a la historia y dejando alguna que otra viñeta llamativa.
En este caso, es también mi primer lectura de Valiant y aunque no ha sido superlativa, tengo que admitir que me gusta su estilo. Es apenas un poco más pausado que las historias de Marvel o DC, pero parece un poco más cuidado estéticamente.
Hablando puntualmente de la obra, el trabajo de Peter Milligan es el volumen dos de lo que parece una especie de saga que se va contando de forma fraccionada. Desconozco si se trata de una serie regular o si es simplemente unos números autoconclusivos que tienen forma y vida en un mismo universo narrativo.
Sea como sea, lo cierto es que el trabajo de Milligan es bueno en cuanto a que no es necesario un gran bagaje previo para enganchar con la historia, pero la misma es bastante plana y facilona, cuenta con muchos saltos y conveniencias que le bajan la calidad. En cuanto al apartado artístico, si bien no es wow, logra un nivel aceptable acompañando a la historia y dejando alguna que otra viñeta llamativa.
July 31, 2017
I found this an enjoyable and entertaining read. Okay, it has some issues here and there but ultimately it was decent light entertainment. I say light entertainment because there's just not enough room to make this deep nuanced read. It's an easy action romp with a little soap opera plot linking it all together. And sometimes that's ideal reading. Given my other reading right now I was grateful for something just like this.
Artwork? I liked the thuggish looking bad guys, I liked the gory Romanesque combat. Maybe not the subtlest work ever, but it was good. Lots of rich details and good atmosphere.
Plot? Lightweight, but it kept things moving. My biggest gripe is I never fully warmed to the title detectioner - it's an anachronistic attempt to take a modern word and make it fit and I wasn't a fan. But when your gripe is a word... Maybe there's not that much to complain about.
I think this could be a book of expectations. If you come here wanting something deeper you'll be disappointed. If you're open to a gentle and relaxing read, it hits the spot.
Artwork? I liked the thuggish looking bad guys, I liked the gory Romanesque combat. Maybe not the subtlest work ever, but it was good. Lots of rich details and good atmosphere.
Plot? Lightweight, but it kept things moving. My biggest gripe is I never fully warmed to the title detectioner - it's an anachronistic attempt to take a modern word and make it fit and I wasn't a fan. But when your gripe is a word... Maybe there's not that much to complain about.
I think this could be a book of expectations. If you come here wanting something deeper you'll be disappointed. If you're open to a gentle and relaxing read, it hits the spot.
July 14, 2017
I loved the concept of it. I liked the female empowerment, however I have the exact same problem with it as the wonderwoman movie. that the heroin doesnt look like the part they are standing for. here we have a woman who is a bought slave who turns on her master and kills her while she wants to get revenge on all the man because some of them are pigs and treated her poorly. she is a really rough patch and her slim body doenst look like the one who goes into the gladiator arena everyday to fight for her survival. also we only ever got to see our main guy be wounded and patched up and vulnerable and not her which is a bit disconnecting in my opinion. the end of the volume had a very confusing ending cut from one page of bliss to another of utter helplessness. its just weird and more so because theres no dialogue for that.
I gave it 3 out of 5 stars because the plot and the art was good.
I gave it 3 out of 5 stars because the plot and the art was good.
November 9, 2024
Britannia Vol. 2 We Who Are About To Die collects issues 1-4 of the Valiant Comics series written by Peter Milligan with art by Juan José Ryp.
Temple statues of the gods are coming to life and killing young noble men across Rome. A new female gladiator has become the sensation of the Coliseum, beloved by women and hated by men. Some how the two are intrinsically linked and Emperor Nero has tasked Detectioner Antonius Axia to figure out what is going on.
The second volume continues to be overly complicated but I believe I followed it better than the first volume. The issues are packed with too much story and would have benefited being stretched to 6 issues for better pacing. The art continues to be the best part of the book.
Temple statues of the gods are coming to life and killing young noble men across Rome. A new female gladiator has become the sensation of the Coliseum, beloved by women and hated by men. Some how the two are intrinsically linked and Emperor Nero has tasked Detectioner Antonius Axia to figure out what is going on.
The second volume continues to be overly complicated but I believe I followed it better than the first volume. The issues are packed with too much story and would have benefited being stretched to 6 issues for better pacing. The art continues to be the best part of the book.
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