Nikolai Dante: The Great Game

Nikolai Dante [Graphic Novels] #2

by Robbie Morrison, Simon Fraser (Illustrator), Andy Clarke (Illustrator)

He's a lover, adventurer and gambler-and he's too cool to kill. His name is Nikolai Dante, and he's fighting and drinking a path of mayhem and glory across future Russia! Having discovered his heritage and bio-bonded with the awesome Weapons Crest, Dante is getting to know his family a little better by acting as his father Dmitri's agent, accompanying his siblings on a tour of family duty--in other words, spying, murder and intrigue! But does he have what it takes to be a true Romanov? Suggested For Mature Readers.

Collects:

- The Trouble with Arbatovs (Prog #1083)
- Cruel Britannia (Prog #1084)
- The Great Game (Prog #1101–#1110)
- The Octobriana Seduction (#1113–#1116)
- Masque of Dante (Prog #1125–#1127)
- The Moveable Feast (Prog #1128–#1130)
- Tour of Duty (Prog #1131–#1133)
- The Cadre Infernale (Prog #1134–#1137)
- The Hunting Party (Prog #1139–#1140)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bojemoi. <3

[Chris Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly less impressive than the first volume, although it does go some way to fleshing out Dante and his world considerably. The former succeeds far better, with some indication why he is the way he is, and the latter is a bit hit and miss. They feel a bit like Morrison relaxing into the world a bit too much so the slighter and sillier stories feel a bit too comfortable and predictably 2000AD to really work. The strip is best when it’s being subversive or cheeky, although it’s rather wonderful to see coded satires of Slaine (as overly eloquent and sexually ambiguous) and Sinister Dexter (as lovers, which I think Abnett would approve of because it nicely deconstructs some of the machismo baggage the strip has unfairly gathered over the years) in the final story

Fraser is still finding his feet a bit, but already feels like the definitive artist with both Clarke and Adlard, great artists in their own way, struggling to get the tone right. I am very much looking forward to John Burns turning up though

[Max Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a whole two books to understand that I actually dislike the setting way too much. Dante is thrown into a bleak world of Russian-themed psychopaths and the author gleefully describes how everything is torture this, murder that. Dante can never change that at all. So why would I read that? There's a bit of raunchiness here and there but it's not enough. Maybe it all changes later on but I'm done with that series already.

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good bits, some boring bits but still not bad at all.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Nikolai Dante volume another great read! This one focused mostly on a bunch of smaller arcs related to the Romanov family. While each arc did a great job of fleshing out the family as well as the world and its seediness/intrigue I do wish that they were a bit more connected. Even just a short brief reference would work.
On the writing side its amazing. Characters are still quippy but less annoyingly so. Nikolai reads a bit more human and less catchphrase machine-y. The family are rounded out and each has their own unique voice and feel. And the stories told are dark, full of intrigue, and sets the tone for some soon-to-come large arc nicely. The art is still amazing as ever!