No matter how fast your run, sooner or later your past will catch up with you. Becky Kumar is a daughter of three mothers, a geeky twenty-year-old from New York City who is about to cross the veil between our reality and an ancient realm of otherworldly truths. From writer and RPG creator MARCO B. BUCCI (Magna Veritas, Memento Mori) and artist JACOPO CAMAGNI (X-Men Blue, Deadpool The Duck) comes the tale of witchcraft and secrets that became a sensation in Europe!
I was dimly aware of Nomen Omen as a suggested replacement for people missing WicDiv, but beyond involving queer teens getting tangled up with the mythic, I'm not really seeing it. I tend to get riled by stories where people start doing 'As you know, Bob' dialogue to explain the set-up, but then there's the opposite extreme, where you really are just seeing events from outside, trying to piece together what's going on, and OK that's how the real world works, but even there you get occasional explanations, not to mention a longer immersion. Meaning that in a comic especially, even more than on film or TV where you can at least be sure of the people you're following (unless it's David Lynch, I suppose), it can just end up a bit confusing. Well, this is one of those, especially given the frequent shifts into monochrome to mirror one character's unusual eyesight. There are some powerful images, not least the road accident that kicks things off and its strange aftermath, but for the first couple of issues I was almost entirely lost. And then the explanations start coming, and I kinda wished they hadn't, because it's a bit knock-off American Gods, a little Fables, and enough familiar components from enough other places that it just ends up feeling like another in a long line of generic urban fantasies. It's not terrible, and I really enjoyed how the two girls we initially expect to be the protagonists instead end up her mums (but still cool). But nor is it anything special.
Also, he only makes a very brief appearance, but of all the old gods who will have difficulty feeling mystical to my generation, few have such a tough gig as Teutates.
Avevo sentito parlare di questo titolo qualche tempo fa e ho avuto occasione solo oggi di leggerlo. Dovevo farlo prima. Wow. Già preso tutti, ho adorato ogni tavola, ogni frase. Appassiona, incuriosisce e strizza l’occhio... Ottimo lavoro.
È davvero figo. Non mi piace come parola ma non riesco a trovare un termine più adatto. La storia e i disegni mi piacciono molto. L'elemento che preferisco è il modo in cui utilizzano il colore. Però non ho apprezzato il modo in cui hanno esposto la storia. Infatti in alcuni punti non sono stati molto chiari.
Żeby treść dorównywała rysunkom (chociaż dla mnie trochę za mocno inspirowanych japońskimi anime), to byłoby nieźle, a tak dostajemy raczej nudny początek historii, oparty w 80% na ekspozycji.
I bought the set of these on a whim solely for the gorgeous artwork on the color panels, the kind of art where you can stare at an image finding more and more the deeper you look. Plus I'm a sucker for magical worlds layered under our mundane existences.
I enjoyed the story, but after reading the author's afterword, I was kind of creeped out by how much they actually believe in the magic the story describes. The art is distinctive, mostly black and white, with color highlighting the presence of magic (which is actually tied into the story in a novel way), and the complexity of the world building is a bit overwhelming at the start but mostly sorts itself out by the end. There's some good action, interesting characters, and a decent balance between the relationship level and the mystical level of the story. The story eschews clear villains and heroes, with lots of shades of grey appearing in the characters. It's a creative modern fantasy with potential, but seems to take itself a bit too seriously.
Nomen Omen is the story of Becky Kumar, daughter of three mothers, and...possible witch? When ancient Irish gods target her for destruction, Becky is swept up into a world of impossibilities - but this new world is also the only place where she can see colour. Can she unravel the mystery of her birth, and stop King Taranis from taking all of magic for himself?
I believe this book was originally produced in Italian, but you'd never know it because the translation is flawless. The story itself is definitely one of implications rather than outright statements, similar to Monstress, for example, so you have to do a little work to really appreciate exactly what the book is getting at. But it's a fun ride, and I'm definitely curious to see what's going on.
The real star however is Jacopo Camagni's artwork, which is absolutely thrilling. His lines are clear and concise, and the use of colour in a book that's predominantly black and white is spectacular. There are some sweeping vistas and double page fight scenes which are wonderful, but the emotions and the character designs are what really shine here (although Fer and Becky's friend unfortunately suffer a little from same-face syndrome).
Nomen Omen doesn't give you a lot to go on, but it's easy to get swept up in its craziness when it looks as beautiful as it does.
Fantasy thrives in comics with its visuals. Which is what makes the meaning behind them so amazing. In this time the magic genuinely feels otherworldly thanks to being in color while the rest of the world looks monochrome. Then you find out it's because the main character is colorblind and she finds it otherworldly because what's normal to us looks mythological to others. That's the whole thing behind all of this, nothing that people see happening is supposed to make sense. Magic and myths are stories, the kind that change with time. Sometimes the stories clash with one another, other times it genuinely feels like things are only made up as they go. Which is why abstract subjects like dreams are what make up this kind of thing. Unfortunately it's kind of hard to relate to anyone other than POV Rebecca or her moms. Still a good read for the concept alone.
Rep: queer characters; main character has two queer mothers
In a way, Nomen Omen feels like a lot of fae urban fantasies, with the protagonist getting attacked by a mysterious creature, takes her heart and sics the Wild Hunt on her. She meets another fae creature who explains stuff to her, and introduces her to someone who might be able to tell what's wrong with her. The artwork is visually stunning, and has a demarcation between the character's inability to perceive colors, giving us a grayscale in her regular life, and her vivid dreamscape. The plot is quite confusing, though, and frequently skips forward without much explanation, making reading this a frustrating experience.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Image Comics, via Edelweiss.
I did not realize that this was going to be so much in black and white, though the use of color is tied to the narrative and adds a lot to the story as it comes up. Also, I didn’t read or look closely enough to realize that this is definitely deserving of that “Mature” rating! Not that it bothers me, I just was not expecting it when all the nudity started to happen. Also also, this whole series is a setup for another series called Arcadia, which I didn’t realize until volume 3 or else I probably would have skipped the whole thing.
I bought this mostly on a whim and based on some positive reviews I looked up online in the moment. It is definitely well done, and it seems to have some interesting concepts it wants to pursue. I don’t know how much of it I actually understood, though.
Hopefully I get a more complete reaction to it as I finish volume 2.
Really interesting "High Concept" series here, that I could easily see becoming. Netflix series.
BUT the execution seems a bit flawed, particularly in the early going, as it took me multiple reads to grasp the complexities if what was going on, as the story seems to spin out stream-of-consciousness style rather than at a measured pace.
Definitely intrigued enough to stick with this, though, as it seems to be a limited run series.
I liked the concept with the colouring but the story is too haphazard. It jumps all over the place without really giving you much explanation. I got more explanation from the authors end acknowledgments aftwr issue 2 i think it was which is a bad sign.
Having lines about how “bookstores are dying” and using a cell phone in your 1995-set prologue (bookstores were thriving then, and almost nobody had cell phones, esp not college students) are sure-fire ways to take me out of your comic and make sure I don’t finish it.
Loved this! Stunning art and intriguing story. A mix of urban fantasy, mystery, and Irish mythology. The diversity of this tale is also a huge plus for me. Fans of Holly Black will love this!
First of all, what drew me to this graphic novel are the illustrations, and I was not disappointed in the least. From the black and white pages to the coloured one everything is just absolutely beautiful and meaning fulls. Every visual clue is thought through. I really liked reading it, but I must admit that I was extremely confused at times, which might be the point of this series I believe, but it did make me disconnect sometimes because i had to remind myself to accept what I couldn't quite grasp and keep reading. I will be reading the second volume soon hopefully, and maybe all this confusion will make sense and even be a better part if the story!
2nd read made me understand the characters and the story so much better, which made me enjoy this gem even more. I will definitely read about Irish lore later to make more links.
Belli i disegni, eccezionale l'uso del colore legato alla storia. Essendo il primo numero la storia ancora non è ben chiara ma voglio assolutamente andare avanti con la lettura perché mi ha entusiasmato.
Beautiful designs, exceptional use of color linked to history. Being the first issue the story is still not clear but I absolutely want to go on reading because it has thrilled me.
Let me start by saying that I chose to read this book simply by virtue of its very striking cover. The fluorescent green background contrasted with the image of the protagonist is very eye catching. A gaping hole is being torn in her chest from the inside by purple hands with ichor stained finger tips. This theme of arresting artwork and use of colour continues throughout the work. Urban fantasy is not normally my cup of tea but I just had to find out what this picture was all about.
Total Eclipse of the heart is the first part of the Nomen Omen series and collects the first five books in the series into one volume. Originally published in the authors native Italian so far the first two volumes have been translated into English. Volume 3 is due to be translated and released in June 2021 by Image Comics.
The story is an urban horror fantasy that follows the trials and tribulations of Rebecca Kumar the daughter of three women (You’ll have to read to find out how this could be).
Becky has just turned 21 and discovered she is possessed of strange powers and gifts and that there are people and things out to get her. She loses her heart and manages to go on living. Things only get stranger from there.
To me the story telling is somewhat vague. Events occur, and characters are revealed, often with minimal explanation and I found myself wondering if I was supposed to know what was going on. Luckily the art kept me gripped and honestly I would have read the whole book even if the text boxes had been blank. Camagni’s use of colour and black and white is powerfully affecting and adds great drama. The mundane is mostly portrayed in black and white while the magical is rendered in brilliant hues of the rainbow.
I will certainly read the second volume, and perhaps, armed with the foreknowledge from the first volume the plot may be less inscrutable.
Part of me wonders if the writing is intentionally mysterious and puzzling so that the reader is left just as bewildered as the main character. Certainly Becky Kumar is confronted by confusing developments, enigmatic characters and unreal creatures throughout the story and she is none too pleased about it.
If you enjoy stories filled with mythological characters made real, strange arcane beasts and beguilingly sensual art then you will likely fall in love with Nomen Omen. The art is enough of a hook for me to keep delving deeper into this seductive world and perhaps the story will start to make more sense as I go.
I could give a regular review going over the characters, art, pacing, etc. but there are many other reviewers that can do that for this book and better. Instead, this review is to get my opinions out and the thoughts on elements of the book I feel like reviewer's do not mention or are seen less in the review section. I absolutely the world building! It is explained a bit more in afterword but essentially the world is . It honestly makes for an interesting story about identity and the power other's perspectives have on us as individuals. Now for the story itself I love it! The first two issues are confusing with little explanation of what is going on but by the end of the volume the world and what is going on made sense. The art is also beautiful! Not only is the art beautiful but so is the art direction. The main character has a sight condition where she sees in black and white. This makes it so that everything in the "mundane" world is colorless. But she is secretly a witch and can see "magic" in color meaning you get this great contrast of a monochrome world with splashes of color. TBH . The "mundane" world is also left with more traditional composition with more simple layouts. But in her dreams or when magic is involved color splashes all over the page. And the composition becomes more experimental as well which leads to great visual storytelling. I also like how her dreams get a unique art-style look by being drawn lineness. Also, Nomen Omen is the epitomy of bi panic. All of the characters are hot.
One day Becky is living a normal life with her friends. But that is shattered when a whole world of myth and magic rushes in, and literally steals her heart. Now in a race to reclaim it, she is set on a path where she will discover her own magical heritage. Bucci and Camagni draw from several mythological traditions and stories, including Greek mythology, Shakespeare, and Celtic lore. Designs for the mythical characters play up the stereotypical images readers have of them. King Taranis is a hot dark Seelie figure, while Lady Macbeath has a gnarled face, and dead-eyed look. Nudity is in full view. The illustrations as a whole are stunning. Colour has a specific role in Nomen Omen. Vibrant hues denote dreams, magic and the magical world, while shades of gray, black and white dominate the mundane and physical forms. This also doubles as lens which allows readers to see the world as Becky does. Her achromatopsia affects her real world vision. Nomen Omen is namely held back by it's lack of exposition at the beginning, and several other parts which cause confusion. These namely come down to paneling choices, not the dialogue. The lore, and plot itself, are thrilling and fantastical. And, with a delicious grab bag of emotions fueling the characters, the determined reader will be rewarded with drama, and more of the art as they progress. This is one of the most visually brilliant comics currently out there, and for that alone it is worth reading. Hopefully, the brilliance of it's story will be more clearly conveyed in later volumes.
Alright, this took an unexpected turn into my favorite sort of story: creepy folklore!
I went into this with very few expectations but was wowed pretty quickly. I’ll admit, the plot does take a few chapters to really understand the connection between all the events we’re seeing, but I was strapped in for the ride, particularly when I started making the connections to Celtic folklore. What’s double intriguing though is that this is also urban fantasy, a combo I haven’t seen. Solid diversity in the cast and some intriguing players that I’m excited to learn more about.
The art is gorgeous and the utilization of color is very clever since we’re seeing through the eyes of a woman with achromatopsia. As we slowly lean more into the fantastical elements of the story, the art style matches that creepy folklore aesthetic.
There have already been numerous pop culture references, which I personally enjoy, but could see bugging some people. I’ll also call out the fact that the prologue is set in 1995 and yet the teenage couple we’re following mentions having a cell phone, which feels a little unlikely, but okay.
Bless my library for having the next two volumes on Hoopla.
Due stelle, diamogliene due e mezzo. L'idea è interessante, niente di sconvolgente o innovativo, ma ha quel che di American Gods che apprezzo, e la mitologia irlandese è uno dei motivi dei miei acquisti istantanei. I disegni sono molto belli, o per lo meno incontrano il mio gusto, e mi è piaciuto molto l'uso circoscritto del colore. Arriviamo però alle note dolenti: la sceneggiatura. Non so se la casa editrice ha tagliato le gambe al progetto, se avesse dato 3 volumi rispetto ai 6 proposti si spiegherebbero TANTE cose. Rimane che, così com'è, è decisamente troppo, troppo ridotto. Il problema principale, quello che mi ha fatto mettere una valutazione bassa, sono gli spiegoni. Su 96 pagine, 23 (quando ho iniziato a ricevere messaggi da Ragnarr Lothbrok che si sentiva minacciato dal lustro e dalla lunghezza della barba che mi è cresciuta le ho contate) sono passate a SPIEGARE. Vero che nelle immagini i personaggi non stanno fermi (almeno, non sempre) e fanno qualcosa... Però quasi un quarto di un volume di spiegoni è pesante da sopportare, rende la narrazione molto lenta e abbastanza prolissa. Capisco la necessità di spiegazioni, visto che è un prodotto italiano e la mitologia irlandese non è così conosciuta. Però davvero, a mio parere si supera il limite, c'è poco show e decisamente troppo tell. Nel complesso, una bella idea, bei disegni, ma vittime di una narrazione che sembra davvero molto impacciata e "alle prime armi".