Cover Image: Britannia, V.1

Britannia, V.1

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Britannia is an astonishing graphic novel written by one of the most famous comic masterminds Peter Milligan (the author of X- Men, Justice League, Hellblazer, Red Lanterns, X-Statix and many more) in collaboration with a jaw dropping artist Juan José Ryp (Clone, The Multiversity,…).

Britannia follows the story of a Roman war hero Antonius Axia, who has been trained by the Vestal Virgins to see beyond the obvious. As he travels to Britannia to investigate the unexplained occurences at the battle front he faces and old enemy and some new ones.

I truly, completely and utterly enjoyed this graphic novel! It had everything I like in a graphic novel: witty and multidimensional characters, a well branched out plot, a somewhat believable villain(s) and amazing art.
I really like the fact that at the end of every issue there was a text describing the historical figures or organizations, which were very informational and could provide a better insight in the interaction of the characters.
I find the main character was really amazing, which britannia_003_second-print_cover_nordsurprised me because I mostly think the main characters are annoying or simply boring and plain. Antonius was intelligent and courageous, he was troubled by his past and that was shown quite truthfully though his actions and they way he interacted with other characters.

In conclusion, I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone who enjoys historical and mystery graphic novels, but also to anyone else who is a the moment getting into them.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely fantadtic historical fiction with a twist. Lived the writing of the characters, especially Achilla. Hiw awesome to have a book with a female character. The pacing was great and the story utterly engaging.

Was this review helpful?

Although is more than a year since I read it I really liked it. In fact, it will be possible soon in Spain so I will buy it again. Great!

Was this review helpful?

Gotta love a historical detective. Plus I adore a good Ancient Roman meets Celtic Britain story.
Great world building, great characters, excellent art work., scary monsters
I was actually devastated to discover that the new tv series Britannia is NOT based on this book. Boo!
Auto-read. Plus I'd love more "My gods are better than your gods" celtic/ Roman rivalry.

Was this review helpful?

incredibly written and great pictures good solid graphic novel

Was this review helpful?

'Britannia, Vol. 2: We Who Are About to Die' by Peter Milligan with art by Juan Jose Ryp continues the journey of detectioner Antonius Axia in the weird and supernatural world of ancient Rome.

Antonius is back, and all he wants is to raise his son in peace, but there is no peace in Rome as some strange phenomenon is creating ta‌lking statues and men are being violently killed. In addition, there are a bunch of suppressed women and a new gladiator hero named Achillia that they cheer and follow. Antonius has enough on his plate, and then he finds that his son might be a target of whatever is plaguing Rome.

It's a visceral series, with gruesome and amazing art by Jean Jose Ryp. The story this time around feels a bit more procedural in nature and not as interesting as the first volume. That volume also featured some interesting historical essays that were missing this time around. I felt those helped make it a richer reading experience.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Valiant Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Was this review helpful?

I missed out on reading the prior volume of this series, and cannot help but wonder if I had read that if I would have gotten more out of this title and enjoyed it more. I mean it does have the right blend of action and history to keep me reading but I didn't really feel for the characters. The art was very interesting such as seeing designs of ancient culture. It was an okay read and I would definitely read more of this series.

Was this review helpful?

Nice (re)start to this epic. I'm dying to know what happens on issue four. It takes a couple of issues to really get the feel for what they're trying, and Juan José Ryp's hyperrealistic style always takes a while to get used to, so I would much rather read two whole volumes of this one in one sitting. The writing style is rich and wordy and there is some world building to be done, so please sit in a quiet and distraction-free space when reading this.
I love Milligan and will read anything he creates, and I love the direction this comic is taking, it's just going to take a while to get there.

Was this review helpful?

Also posted on my Review Blog Deanna Reads Books, will add to Amazon at pub date:

I have been on a Roman society kick lately, so when I saw this was available to read I jumped at the chance. However, this is just one of those books that I just don't have a lot of feelings about. It wasn't bad, it wasn't amazing, I just feel "meh" about it.

I will say that I do love the art in this graphic novel. I think that's an important thing to note when you are looking for a graphic novel. If the art doesn't wow me, it has to take a lot for the story to wow me. This one was done in vibrant colors that made it really engaging. It was definitely done in a more tradition comic book style, which I liked it.

So the story is really about Antonius Axia, he is the first detective for Rome. He doesn't really believe in the Roman gods, but instead believes in reason and following the clues. I found his character interesting in these aspects, but it also felt like I was missing a lot about his background. I was very confused, was there another book I was supposed to read first? His relationship with his son also seems like there is more we need to know, but we don't get it. I guess for me, I just needed a little bit more from this character. He just read like a robot to me. I couldn't really feel his emotions in this story.

Axia ends up also teeming up with a female Gladiator, who is a former slave trying to win her freedom. I do really like that this story shows that all sorts of people of color also lived in Rome during the ancient times, not just white people. Achilla's storyline touches on this, and it also explains why she is fighting SO hard for her freedom. She's the most interesting character in the book, and I honestly wanted more of her.

Like most comics, the story ends on a cliffhanger, and you need to read the next one to find out what is going to happen. Usually, I am okay with that, but with this book it just annoyed me! I think I just wasn't that invested into this story. I think if you are interesting in a dectective story set in Ancient Rome this is a story for you. It just didn't completely work for me.

Was this review helpful?

Recommend if you're into Ancient Rome, Roman myths, and graphic novels with lots of blood and gore.

Was this review helpful?

This graphic novel started out well, but the end was very confusing.

Was this review helpful?

This was interesting - like taking the Sherlock Holmesesque and putting it in ancient Rome. I loved all the Roman history parts, especially the accompanying essays about Roman history. I'd love to see where this story goes., I mean will volume two be a whole different mystery, or will the story presumably return to Britain.

It did all seem to wrap up a little to quickly, and it could have used a few more issues to flesh things out, but this series definitely has potential. It certainly stands out from other comics in terms of its story and art.

Was this review helpful?

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are two major plotlines in this book. The first involves a slave woman who is sent to the gladiator pit after killing her owner. The second follows Antonius Axia, the protagonist from volume one, as he investigates the strange deaths of the children of the Roman elite.

The like Achilla, the slave turned gladiator, a lot. She is a strong character and acts as an inspiration for the other women in the book. Antonius Axia is an interesting take on the detective archetype and is labeled as a "detectioner". He is more passionate in this book as events strike a lot closer to home than the previous volume, both literally and figuratively. Taken as a whole, I like the story. There is a bit of a mystery that seems to work out pretty well. The person behind all of this is pretty interesting too.

The supporting characters that reappear from the previous volume weren't as interesting this time around. The Vestal Virgins show up, but play a much smaller role. Their main tasks are to introduce the problem for Antonius and act as a scapegoat for Nero, who was wholly uninteresting in this volume.

I feel a bit mixed on the art. Some of the character faces seemed oddly proportioned to me, but otherwise seemed fine. There wasn't much that stood out to me in terms of the art. The coloring is well done though. This series is a bit different from the other books that Valiant puts out and can serve as a good place for new readers to come onboard.

Was this review helpful?

Historical detective novel set in ancient Roman times. This seems to be the result of good investigative work. There has been a lot of reading and researching done into ancient Rome and its culture. It’s all very well reflected and designed for adult audiences that will no doubt love it for what it is; an entertaining story with strong historical roots and fantasy decorations.

If you are a fan of history, magic, mythology and stunning colors, then Britannia is the right choice for you.

Was this review helpful?

Another strong collection from Peter Milligan. In Britannia Volume 2: We Who Are About to Die, we once again follow Antonius Axia, continues to be both Nero and Rubria's detective. Each on trying to play him off the other.

While trying to solve why scions to the great families are being slaughter, Axia is lead to Achillia. Instead if dying in the arena, she thrives and is polarizing Rome by galvanizing wives and daughters. This is all well and good, until Axia's son is targeted. Can he solve the puzzle in time to save both his son and Achillia?

Was this review helpful?

Looked like this title was getting on its feet, but as the publishers hadn't bothered to letter the last chapter, who can be sure?

Was this review helpful?

Good read, lots of action. The graphics were detailed and done well. The plot was interesting, but not too historical. The language was modern and fun. I think it is more for a Young Adult reader.

Was this review helpful?

An intriguing storyline loaded with gritty and artistic imagery that matches the tone of the story. A supernatural twist on the romans in a similar nature to Ben aaronovtich!

Was this review helpful?