Meridian, Vol. 4: Coming Home

Meridian (collected editions) #4

by Barbara Randall Kesel, Steve McNiven (Illustrator)

When sixteen-year-old Sephie returns home to Meridian, she must face the changes that occupation by Cadadorian soldiers have forced on her beloved home, while Sephie's Uncle Ilahn, her only living relative and deadliest enemy, lies in wait. A Graphic Novel. Original.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2002

About the author

Barbara Randall Kesel is an American writer and editor of comic books; her bibliography includes work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, CrossGen, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Kesel is a very outspoken opponent of sexism in the comic book industry. She is known for her strong female characters, influencing her then husband Karl's work on Lois Lane in the Superman titles and creating Grace, the ruler of the Golden City location in Comics' Greatest World.

Kesel initially came into the comics world after writing a 10-page letter to editor Dick Giordano regarding the portrayal of female comic book characters. At Dark Horse, Kesel was part of Team CGW, responsible for most of the design and creation of the setting and characters in the Golden City location. She is currently part of book packaging company The Pack, alongside Lee Nordling, Brian Augustyn, Gordon Kent and Dave Olbrich.

Kesel has been nominated for the 1991 "Best Editor" Eisner Award for Badlands, Aliens: Genocide and Star Wars. In 1995, she was nominated for "Best Anthology" and "Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Material" Harvey Awards for, respectively, Instant Piano and Hellboy: Seed of Destruction. She won the 1996 "Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work" Harvey Award, for Hellboy: The Wolves of St. August.

Reviews

[Daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steve McNiven's art sure is pretty. I liked this volume better than #3 -- Sephie is back home on Meridian by the end, and her whole coming-of-age story continues. Unfortunately, there's a bit too much of the First, CrossGen's godlike race, appearing, and messing up Sephie's life and the otherwise enjoyable storyline. Meridian was one of Cross Gen's best books, and trying to tie it into the overarching First story just distracts from the real story here.

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ughhhh...this ending was so unsatisfying. It feels like there’s at least one book or more left in this story. I know CrossGen was looking to connect all their universes in that one series of theirs...Sigil, I think? But of course that never happened after they were absorbed by Marvel.

Glad I finished this series, sort of, even if it doesn’t feel finished.