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The Red Star #3
The Red Star Volume 3: Prison Of Souls
This volume richly illustrates the heroic "battle of the skyfurnaces" in the race for Archangel, the soul prison in the Spiritrealm. Maya, Makita, Kyuzo and Urik test their strength and skill against their former comrades on the decks of the huge ships, in the depths of the fiery Konstantinov hull and in the vast skies above.
142 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 25, 2019
Wow this is a fantastic war/SiFi comic. Great art and a really different story. I don't know how but it really captures the "feel" of a Russian war story. If you have never experienced The Red Star I really recommended you try the 1st volume. Very recommended
December 31, 2025
Prison of Souls shows both the art and the narrative of The Red Star evolving into a deeper, more mythical basis - alongside the massive battle between the Konstantinov and the Taktarov that is central to this volume, Marcus Antares discovers why he has been chosen to walk alongside the ghosts of heroes long since dead, and what lies at the end of his long road...
Again, there is some riveting and detailed storytelling in each page. Gossett uses pages rather than panels by default, but he ratchets up the tension with the use of smaller, repeated panels.
The spine on my copy has cracked badly, so I need to take care of this one, but I'm also lucky enough to own the individual issues that make up this collection and I encourage all educated fans of this medium to seek out copies to stroke and admire... sorry, getting carried away there.
Again, there is some riveting and detailed storytelling in each page. Gossett uses pages rather than panels by default, but he ratchets up the tension with the use of smaller, repeated panels.
The spine on my copy has cracked badly, so I need to take care of this one, but I'm also lucky enough to own the individual issues that make up this collection and I encourage all educated fans of this medium to seek out copies to stroke and admire... sorry, getting carried away there.
December 1, 2025
Although first published in 2000, I thought I would take a moment to recommend the comic series The Red Star because who couldn’t use a bit of storytelling about resistance against the Russian government at this moment in time? I very much enjoyed by reread of it this year. Hopefully, 2025 will see an end to the unjustified attack on Ukraine. Until then, here is a story of resistance in a universe with magic and flying battleships.
March 19, 2018
I found Maya's ability to hyper-kast in order to turn certain defeat into a victory a little bit too super-heroic, but Goss and company pulled it together by the end and I was intrigued.
Although I love the texture of the art, the storytelling in the Red Star is very poor, and getting worse. It's very hard to follow what is happening on many pages. They do such a brilliant job of combining illustrative styles, but I think that they would benefit from using a more traditional panel layout system to keep the reader focused on the story.
Although I love the texture of the art, the storytelling in the Red Star is very poor, and getting worse. It's very hard to follow what is happening on many pages. They do such a brilliant job of combining illustrative styles, but I think that they would benefit from using a more traditional panel layout system to keep the reader focused on the story.
September 14, 2017
Love this book. The art is amazing and the story is fun. The fusion of magic and tech is perfect.
September 9, 2008
The Red Star is best known as the first comic to successfully integrate CG along with good ol' pen and paper comic art. And I immediately dismissed it for this reason. Striking me as gimmicky, the merging of CG and comic art really has had little success in the past. I prefer traditional comic art, free of the perversions of computers.
However, once I got around to reading the Red Star, I found a pleasant harmony of traditional and CG comic art. As a convert I here to tell you, it can work. The key here is knowing when and when not to use CG. The Red Star never makes the mistake of trying to render organic entities with CG, which is a relief because it doesn't work. Inorganic structure, such as ships and weapons, are rendered in CG to striking effects. Combined with the great comic art, the Red Star is a delight to behold.
Make no mistake, the art is the Red Star's selling point. Thankfully, the story's no slouch. Based in an alternate universe were Russia wages war utilizing both technology and magic, the Red Star follows a likable cast struggling to find there way is a war torn world. Not the most original character springboard, but it's well done and ultimately the Red Star is as fun to read, as it is to see. If you hate war stories, avoid, if not enjoy.
However, once I got around to reading the Red Star, I found a pleasant harmony of traditional and CG comic art. As a convert I here to tell you, it can work. The key here is knowing when and when not to use CG. The Red Star never makes the mistake of trying to render organic entities with CG, which is a relief because it doesn't work. Inorganic structure, such as ships and weapons, are rendered in CG to striking effects. Combined with the great comic art, the Red Star is a delight to behold.
Make no mistake, the art is the Red Star's selling point. Thankfully, the story's no slouch. Based in an alternate universe were Russia wages war utilizing both technology and magic, the Red Star follows a likable cast struggling to find there way is a war torn world. Not the most original character springboard, but it's well done and ultimately the Red Star is as fun to read, as it is to see. If you hate war stories, avoid, if not enjoy.
March 5, 2012
Christian Gossett is the man!!! Each and every issue is better than the last. This graphic novel features the spirit realm more prominently, introducing the Wanderer, along with other demigods who represent the different ideals and epochs of this world. The goal of the series is defined and my brain is literally reeling at the implications of it. I really hope that this series sees and end and isn't simply forgotten.
November 6, 2015
Red Star just keeps getting better and more epic with every volume. Blending a mythology with hard science-fiction, the art work of classic comic illustrations meshed with Computer graphics is simply beautiful, how the two enhance the story telling.
Highly recommend this series to any comic fan.
Highly recommend this series to any comic fan.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews