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| PROMETHEA |
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Volume
One |
| by Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, & Mick Gray |
Paperback: 176 pages
DC Comics
ISBN: 1563896672 |
$14.95
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| Alan Moore is,
and deserves to be, a highly regarded author of what we should still call
comic books (other names seem largely a reflex action hide embarrassment
- which makes me annoyed to see them referred to as "the graphic story
medium" in this book). He has in more recent years created a line of comics
under the imprint "America's Best Comics", of which Promethea is one of
those titles. This volume reprints the first five issues of that comic. |
| 'Promethea'
is an attempt to render the female super hero in an archetypical form.
This book has a strong mystical or spiritual theme, with the female lead
cast in a pluralistic role: she is both Sophie Bangs, student, and Promethea,
imagination personified. Our Promethea is not the first, there is a whole
line of Prometheas stretching back to ancient Egypt, and we get to know
some of the earlier ones in this book.
What's good: as Promethea,
Sophie doesn't know all the answers although, it seems, Promethea does
(sounds confusing? Sophie is Promethea, but Promethea isn't Sophie). Indeed,
Sophie finds herself thrust in to a broad canvas full of elements that
she doesn't know about or understand. The book allows for Sophie and Promethea
to be intellectual, rather than just wiping the enemies off the face of
the Earth (and the Immateria) with her caduceus - even where she does that,
it is thought through.
What's not so good: I gave
it 5 stars, so not much. My main complaint is that it finishes at an inopportune
moment. Sophie is learning about the four weapons she has, and learns about
two and then it stops. The comic book has continued, so the rest will be
in volume 2, but it still a bit inconsiderate.
Lots of thumbs up, and also
check out Alan Moore's male archetype in 'Tom Strong' |
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AMERICA'S
BEST COMICS
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| Promethea
#1 |
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From the mists of legend
steps Promethea, a concept in search of a human avatar. She has been many
different people, starred in many different legends, and now a new seeker
has taken up the identity of Promethea, a legendary hero in very down-to-Earth
times. |
This first extra-long issue
lays out the entire origin of Alan Moore’s newest superhero and introduces
some of her long-standing friends and enemies whom we’ll undoubtedly see
more of in the coming months.
Written by Alan Moore
Art by J.H. Williams III
and Mick Gray
Painted cover by Alex Ross
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PROMETHEA #1
List Price: $3.50
Full color, 40 pages
America's Best Comics |
In the streets
of a modern-day New York incredibly different from the one we know, college
student Sophie Bangs is researching a centuries-old myth of a warrior-woman
called Promethea. But the truth about Promethea is both stranger than the
fiction and a fiction itself, and if Sophie can't figure it out in time,
she'll be killed by one of Promethea's enemies. But if she does figure
it out, Sophie will become the ultimate embodiment of the Promethea legend. |
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| Promethea
#2 |
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Promethea has returned,
and there are some other old familiars newly abroad in the world of reality,
too, in direct response to her return! Seems Promethea has some old enemies
who have spared no expense to find a couple of hit men to return her to
the world of dreams – with extreme prejudice! Their names are Marchosias
and Andras, and let’s just say they are a Hell of a lot more experienced
than she is! |
"The Judgment of Solomon!"
Written by Alan Moore
Art by J.H. Williams III
and Mick Gray
Painted cover by Alex Ross
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| Promethea
#3 |
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| The newly reborn Promethea
must venture far beyond the human realm to rescue a best friend who's been
quite literally sucked into something far beyond all human comprehension.
Journey with our fable-made-flesh into the strange imaginary realm that
is her home as Moore, Williams and Gray lead us on our first guided tour
of "Misty Magic Land." |
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"Misty Magic Land"
Written by Alan Moore
Art & cover by J.H. Williams III
and Mick Gray |
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