Rapture

Rapture #1-4

by Matt Kindt, Cafu (artist)

On a scarred landscape, two otherworldly armies prepare to battle one last time, vying for control of a massive tower named from an ancient language no longer permitted to be spoken.

One army is led by a primeval force named Babel, whose goal is singular: to breach “Heaven” no matter the cost. The only thing standing in his way is a gray-haired barbaric warrior, filled with rage and regret, a man who sees this battle as his last chance for redemption. But he knows his depleted forces have little chance of victory unless aid comes.

Enter Tama: A 12-year old girl on the crest of a hill overlooking the battle, who has just become humanity’s only hope. The last in an ancient line of mystics who protect the Earth, she has foreseen this battle and knows millions will perish if she’s unable to stop it. Now Tama and her ragtag team of malcontents – Ninjak, Shadowman and Punk Mambo – must somehow defeat an elder god hell bent on piercing the heavens.

New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O Manowar) and artistic sensation CAFU (Rai) lead a Tolkien-esque journey into the space between life and death…through the Deadside…and into the many worlds that lie beyond right here with a spellbinding and horrific standalone volume!

Collecting RAPTURE #1–4.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Science Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2017

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was awesome!



BUT. <-- and this is a pretty big BUT!
{insert random Sir Mix A Lot joke here}



You really need to have read the entire run of Ninjak beforehand. Otherwise, I think this will just seem like some randon D&D adventure to the Deadside.



Now, if you (like me) are a huge Ninjak fan, then you'll definitely be jonesing for what comes next after the ending in The Seven Blades of Master Darque and this is it. Plus, it ties together with what happened in the 3d volume when Punk Mambo & Ninjake found Shadowman (Magpie) in Operation: Deadside. And it also has the new Geomancer that the Eternal Warrior tossed into our timeline during The Valiant.



Huh.
Ok.
So, yeah. Don't read this unless you're reading a bunch of other Valiant titles. <--is my advice
I just can't see how this would make much sense if you aren't. However, for those of you who are, then I think you'll really enjoy Rapture. It pulls everything together nicely and gives you a satisfying ending.
Except not really because COMICS.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork in Rapture is brilliant! The people, creatures and landscapes really come alive. Not realising there are a swath of comics related to the characters in the Valiant world, I came into this one completely unprepared, basing my interest solely on the cover image.

I was thankful for the page that gave a bit of a heads up on who’s who in the zoo but knowing nothing else about the characters or the world I felt I missed out on a lot. The story was interesting, there’s plenty of action and the illustrations were incredible, but I didn’t connect to any of the characters so I wouldn’t recommend coming into this world via this graphic novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Valiant Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

[L. McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUPER FAST REVIEW:
Mixed but mostly good. I really like the action scenes, the art is great and the story’s interesting. Unfortunately the youngest character annoyed the shit out of me, the dialogue is a tad cliche and there’s this thing that’s hard to describe that was done with some of the lettering to look cool but it was annoying as fuck and hurt my eyes.
Giving 4 instead of 3 because of the bad-ass finale but it is a bit weak compared to most Valiant and Matt Kindt. Still pretty good though.

4/5

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rapture is a nice self contained fantasy adventure that has a throwback feel to 80's fiction accompanied by beautifully rendered artwork which compliments the tight plotting. Author Matt Kindt includes surprisingly deep characterization given the book is only 4 issues long with each hero and villain alike having their own voice and sense of place in the story. Readers familiar with Shadowman and the book End Times will enjoy the strong nod to continuity which I won't detail as to avoid spoilers. Rapture serves well as a one and done story as well as a building block for the forthcoming Shadowman series slated for March 2018. I loved it.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tama's kind of awesome. I love how she treats the demon in the first issue. The rest of the book is your standard fantasy adventure, for some reason set in the Deadside, which in the past had been more just a land of the dead type place. The story itself is nothing special, a variation of the Tower of Babel story from the bible. I can't say I'm a big fan of this version of Shadowman, he's really generic. The Shadowman from the 90's was one of my favorite Valiant comics back in the day.

Received an advance copy from Valiant and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This comic is a pretty fun time overall but there's nothing necessarily new or outstanding about it. I liked the characters for the most part, although a white 'voodoo priestess' is ...unfortunate, to put it mildly. Looking at the other reviews these are apparently characters that appear in a number of other titles from the same publisher, but I don't think I've ever read anything by them before. I suppose my rating might have been higher with more in-universe background, but I feel like this story does stand well on its own so I don't think it's really necessary. The mix of Christian mythology into the fantasy setting was a nice twist but other than that it was all just pretty standard. Although I really loved Tama and that book she had was very interesting as well, so I could probably be persuaded to continue this universe just to see more of her adventures.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this one. Basically the tower of Babel is about to break through into Heaven and if that happens it will probably destroy the Earth. So the Geomancer assembles a team of Shadowman, Ninjak, and Punk Mambo to stop an evil character named Rapture from using the tower. Great art as well.

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadowman is my least favorite Valiant character, and the stories where Ninjak end up in The Deadside usually bore me, so I was happy to find how much I enjoyed the first issue in this collection, where we're reunited with the Geomancer as she makes her way through Deadside on a quest to stop an apocalypse.

Unfortunately, as the book went on there were too many flashbacks (all of which had a cool shift in art but whose stories were an exercise in diminished returns), and a disjointed pacing where I felt like the most interesting parts of a story were glossed over in order to give us pretty basic dialogue.

There were some great character moments, particularly featuring the kindness and ingenuity of Tama. I'd love if the book had focused more on her, and less on Ninjak, Punk Mambo, and Shadowman.

If you are someone who likes Shadowman, you should read this, as this book really should have had his name on the cover. He's not the most major character but he develops the most in this book. It's also the best use of him I can remember since the very beginning of the Valiant relaunch.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really ho-hum. I don't have anything bad to say about it but I don't have anything good to say either. Typical fantasy quest with a female lead, several stereotypical band members and a plot based on mythology. The story of the Tower of Babel. After the first issue, I was bored and really pushed myself to finish it. Again, not bad, but very predictable and also a juvenile tale. I !love! Kindt's early work but his last few books have been less than stellar.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun and cool.

Was nice to see some Shadowman action. Valiant hasn’t been the same without him.

CAFU’s art here was spectacular. The environments were especially compelling and detailed.

All in all, a really good comic book.

[manuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se lee en un rato. Tiene su gracia por hacer un "crossover" de varios personajes del Universo Valiant como son Shadowman, Punk Mambo y NinjaK. Hay varios dibujantes implicados y es interesante como se combinan para contar distintas partes de la historia para que el dibujo y estilo diferente encaje con el cambio de lo que se está contando. Me ha gustado en ese aspecto la parte que hace el mismo dibujante que los de Doctora Mirage: Desafía a la Muerte. Interesante para completar historias de estos personajes, no será un cómic que haga historia.

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one's got everything, plot,engaging characters, horror, fantasy quest, sword and sorcery and superheroics. Smashing.

[Johan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, good artwork, good action, bit of humor, original take on the Babel story, ... Part of the Valiant universe, but can be read as stand alone comic.

“Yeah, I am familiar with karma, that is why I wear armor”

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new comic from the Valiant world featuring some of the old favourites. Tama, Ninjak, Shadowman and Punk Mambo team up to defeat an elder god in the Deadside.

If you are a Valiant fan then this will be a treat for you.

I do wish Valiant Comics would publish a definitive reading order for fans because we would get so much more out of the comics. I know there are fans who have produced lists but I can't help think this is something the publishers should do because they can keep up with new publications and overlapping characters and they would be able to tell us where they best fit.

In any case this is another good addition to the Valiant Universe which follows the story of Tama who is the Geomancer, who together with her allies goes to battle and saves the world from darkness and impending doom. I liked the focus on Shadowman and I also enjoyed the way these characters team up.

The artwork is bright and colourful with the usual high standard that readers have come to expect from the Valiant world. The storyline is good, with old favourites, myth, magic and even a nice appearance from Neville. As is usual we have a good ending which just leaves the reader wanting more. Lots of fighting, magic, and weird stuff. All the usual elements of the Valiant world that make it such a fascinating series of comics.

If you like the Geomancer or any of her supporting buddies then this volume is for you.

Copy provided by Diamond Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a return to the Deadside for Punk Mambo and Ninjak, when future Geomancer Tama requests their aid to stop evil magician Babel from piercing Heaven with the Tower Of Babel. Oh, and Shadowman's there too? This one's mad.

This is basically a sequel to the Operation: Deadside volume of Ninjak's ongoing series, and it's suitably insane as all Deadside stories should be. A ragtag group of adventurers oppose a dimension-crossing menace, and it's just so much fun. It's kind of mindless, but it has a good heart at its core thanks to Tama keeping things rooted in character drama; there's a lovely coda to the story that calls back to the first issue very nicely that will leave you with a smile on your face.

There's a panel in the last issue that basically states the mission statement of this series - it's to dust off Shadowman, and put him back on the Valiant board. It's taken a long time, but he's ready for his own ongoing series again after being poorly mishandled in some of his earlier appearances. I will give Valiant credit though; they didn't retcon anything, but rolled with the punches and got poor Jack back on track, and they told a fun story at the same time, so double win.

Most of the art here is by CAFU, who I would of thought might have been a bit too bright for the Deadside but actually proves to be a great fit. Clear visuals make sure that the Deadside doesn't become too muddled or grim, and some fill-in flashback pages from Roberto De La Torre contrast nicely.

Rapture's easy to pick up and run with, and pulls double duty in resetting a popular character and proving to be really enjoyable at the same time.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow - this cover is sick!

Huh. That doesn't sound like something I'd say. But I did really like this cover.

Interesting characters! But I bet I would have liked the story a lot more if I had known anything about them.

An interesting world, too! Again, it would have been good if I had known a little about it. But wait - this is in the Valiant universe! I have a few comics from there. I enjoyed reading the Faith series. I’m going to have to check it out some more.

It was a decent story. I like the tying in of the events of Biblical proportions.

And I really like the interaction with Amy.

If you know anything about these characters and these worlds, you might like this story. If you don’t, you still might like it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Distributors, and Valiant Entertainment for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Read as single issues*

I knew almost nothing about this going in. I had read a little Ninjak and my reading of 'The Valiant' introduced me to the concept of a Geomancer, but not this one specifically.

Sure, it was mostly about Tama, the Geomancer, but I left this story really wanting to know what the heck the deal is with Shadowman. What got him to where he was and just how important really were the events within this story for him. I feel like there's a lot of backstory there that might be a fun journey.

This story was still fun. The art was certainly above par (I really dug the different art style used for flashbacks) and a joy to take in.

But my takeaway is that Shadowman has a story I want to know. Also, he has more story to come...and I may need to read that, too.

[Cristina Bracho Carrillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quiero que me guste todo lo relacionado con la Zona Muerta porque me encanta el personaje de Punk Mambo, pero no hay manera. Le doy esta puntuación porque definitivamente el mundo sobrenatural y místico de Valiant no está hecho para mí, no porque no merezca la pena la lectura (de hecho, si os gusta Shadowman no os lo podéis perder porque representa un papel muy importante en la historia). El dibujo, como siempre, espectacular. La galería del final que se incluye en el volumen es impresionante.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watch out Marvel and DC, this is how you make a crossover. I find it weird that Ninjak and Shadowman get top billing, but they aren’t in it too much, it’s more about Babel and the team that is trying to stop him from piercing heaven. Overall it was really good and entertaining.

4 T.A.D.D.s of 5

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Heroes, Decent Story

I have very much enjoyed a number of the new Valiant releases, and this book offers a good example of why.

The characters are not cookie cutter. They have a variety of attitudes, skills, and temperaments, so it's not just a gang of the same old same olds. The story is interesting because there's a lot of grey between the "good" guys and the "bad" guys. The villain actually has an interesting villainous plan and the good guys aren't necessarily on the right side or doing the right thing.

The main character, that is the one who sets up the tale and collects the "ragtag team of malcontents" who will be the heroes here, is Tama, a twelve year old mystic and geomancer. She visits a demon early on to get things rolling, and she's kind, smart and funny. Sense of humor isn't usually a superpower, but lots of times it is in a Valiant project. The remaining teamsters are Shadowman, (who's a grumpy, fallen, more old-school hero), Ninjak, (who tortures and kills bad guys?), and Punk Mambo, whose superpower, in addition to magic and voodoo, includes her totally cool name. So, as noted, this is a pretty idiosyncratic lineup, which makes for much more interesting dialogue than usual, and some crazy skilz.

The setup is that we are in Deadside and we rather resent the fact that we aren't Heavenside. The bad guy, Babel, is trying to retake his tower/rocket from the local barbarian/king who took it over a while ago. Babel wants to use his tower to "tear a hole in the heavens and storm its gates". Hey, that sounds O.K. to me and I'm not sure why we're backing up the barbarian/king. This is Babel's tower, and he did get jobbed once before by Heavenside.

The drawing here is in several different styles. Sometimes it's in a sepia tone with color washes and lots of ink. Those scenes tend to be flashbacks. The current action is portrayed in a crisper and more colorful fashion. The characters are always carefully rendered and recognizable, and the action is always clear, with maybe a little artsy showboating around the edges. This may not matter to some, but the lettering is very readable, (even though they play with the fonts and print some words backwards for the Babel character, to, you know, create a babel illusion). Battle is the least important part of the story, and most of the effort is devoted to the adventure/backstory/questing sort of stuff.

This collects all four issues of the Rapture story arc. Some characters go all the way back to Valiant originals and some are newer Valiant reboot characters, but you can enter here without too much disorientation. Bottom line? This was fun and the pacing was good. The tale was suspenseful and the author tossed a few curves, so it held this reader's interest and came to a satisfying conclusion. A nice stand alone entry.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Rapture' by Matt Kindt with art by Cafu is an odd fantasy graphic novel from the Valiant universe. This volume collects Rapture single issues #1-4.

Tama wanders the weird world of Deadside. She is a geomancer and has a powerful book to aid her. She finds reason to stop a tower from being built in Deadside and collects a team from Earth, including Ninjak, Punk Mambo, and Shadowman (aka Magpie). They are joined by a warrior named Rex and they are trying to stop someone named Babel who has found power in spoken words and wants to use them for bad things.

I really liked this trippy story. I'm really only familiar with Ninjak, but the other characters are all pretty equally interesting. I liked the blend of unique powers and gifts and how they are used. I really liked the lush art to tell the story. This was a really nice one to get to read.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[47Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tama the geomancer has discovered that the Earth is in peril from a man named Babel who is aiming to occupy the fabled tower that bears his name, now under Rex the Razer's command, which can pierce heaven. This would lead to both Earth and Deadside being devastated. Tama gathers a team psiots to help - Ninjak, Punk Mambo and Shadowman.

Babel is well on his way to powering up the tower using undergods that follow him faithfully. He also offers Shadowman a place in his tower in exchange for redemption. When the good guys reach the top of the tower, it looks to be already too late. Thankfully, Tama convinces Shadowman to fight on. He stops the incantation and attacks Babel's other loa (some sort of gods). In the end Babel is imprisoned and put under Rex's care.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still find it a struggle to engage with the Valiant universe whatsoever, seeing as it consists of characters I have never heard of in combinations that mean nothing to me, and taking their place in ongoing stories I have no way of following. But you know what? When a comic looks as good as this one, you just have to enjoy it. Plus, irregardless of the heroes, it is sort of based on a well-known myth. So here the instigator of the Tower of Babel wants to reach heaven for a second time, and that must be stopped for the sake of the whole earth. It's nothing new, but it's done well, and, to repeat, it has great art.

[Des Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been the most fun I've had with Valiant in a minute! My favorite depiction of the Deadside is in this book, along with some really great characters. I was skeptical that all the pieces would come together so well, but sure enough, this was a blast. I loved Ninjak's power ranger armor, I loved Shadowman's new "Magpie" gimmick, and I loved all the colorful creatures and places brought to life by Cafu's art. There are a few janky moments towards the back end, and you're expected to know some basic Shadowman/Geomancer lore, but otherwise this was a totally fun, self-contained fantasy story, and a sure fire way to get me hyped for Diggle's Shadowman book.

[Jessica Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rapture" is a unique twist on the tower of Babylon. The artwork is eye candy, bright and colorful and nicely illustrated to draw the eye. The cast of characters are diverse, compelling, and interesting with an original story. The unlikely band of heroes protects earth and may even find redemption. A fast-paced, engaging read that is addicting and over too soon. My review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nicely done graphic novel that will appeal to science fiction and fantasy readers. I appreciated how the art had different approaches and much detail in this volume. I would add that this book works in a very cinematic way, with attention-grabbing sequences and images. Part of a larger story that will be continued.

[Andrea Santucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarà che non sono un fan di Shadowman, ma questa miniserie-evento mi è sembrata sottotono rispetto al livello qualitativo che è lecito aspettarsi dalla Valiant e da Matt Kindt. Non è orribile, ma è accettabile, il che forse è peggio.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid supernatural comics story.

[Gary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn't super interesting, but I'll keep on with Valiant nevertheless. 2/5.