Age of Bronze Volume 2: Sacrifice

This is the second volume of the collected editions of the Age of Bronze comic book. It reprints issues 10 through 19 of the comic. As good as Volume 1 was, Volume 2 is even better. Eric Shanower's art is beautiful, and he tells the story very well. He does an excellent job of giving each member of this huge cast of characters a distinct personality. I can't wait to read future volumes.

I just ripped through A Thousand Ships and Sacrifice in two days and I'm bowled over. What a tour de force these books are. Shanower seamlessly incorporates all the myths entwined in the Trojan War. An incredible feat by itself, it's even more impressive because he achieves this without bogging down what is, after all, a ripping good story. In the course of the book, Shanower offers some interesting insights on some of the more puzzling and disturbing events (Iphigenia's sacrifice comes to mind). I also was impressed by how he developed the characters. For instance, he convincingly portrays Odysseus changing from a clever Trojan War draft-dodger to a gung-ho warrior by the end of the second book. I can't wait for Shanower's next book in the series. Until then, I'm pressing these books on everyone I know. They're THAT good. Bravo!

Eric Shanower's "Sacrifice" is a strong sequel to "A Thousand Ships," continuing the saga of the Trojan War. Shanower pulls no punches with the characters as he brings Agamemnon's daughter Iphigenia to meet her fate at Aulis. Students of the period will enjoy the historical accuracy of his artwork in terms of architecture, weaponry, and costume - often bringing to mind specific artifacts. (The stylized makeup worn by the priestess Thetis, mother of Achilles, is just one of many excellent examples I could cite.) Shanower weaves together the disparate pieces of the myth into an engaging, compelling whole. A most enjoyable read - I can hardly wait for the next installment!

This book is the second in a series by author and illustrator Eric Shanower. This series combines the Classic stories surrounding the Trojan War with modern archaeology, and uses a graphic novel format to bring those ancient stories to life. Everyone is here: Ajax, Paris, Odysseus, Menelaus, and (of course) the radiant Helen. This book begins with Helen's arrival at Troy, Kassandra's prediction of the destruction of Troy, and follows through to the story of the sacrifice of Agamemnon's daughter, and the preparation for the sailing of the Greek armada. This is a wonderful graphic novel, one that really brings the old stories to life, and puts them together to form a complete and logical whole. I really liked the way the author used our present knowledge of ancient architecture and clothing to make the stories seem so realistic. Now, I don't recommend this graphic novel for younger or more sensitive readers. If you are familiar with the Classical stories, you know that such topics as rape, incest, and homosexuality are an integral part of the story. As such, any book that deals with these stories *must* deal with these topics. But, even with that in mind, I must say that this is an excellent book. If you are a fan of the ancient Greek and Roman stories, and would like to see them in a modern format, then this is the book for you. I am very glad that I read this book, and can't wait for the next one to come out!

Here is the long awaited second volume of "Age of Bronze," the massive graphic novel covering the entire Trojan War story. The first collection carried the story to the launching of the first armada against Troy, while this one deals with the catastrophic results. The expedition is lost, mistakenly attacks friendly territories, and regroups... but what will the Greek army have to do to earn the gods' favor for a second assault? As great as the first part of the story was, this one impoves on it considerably. Its fascinating to really *feel* the characters slowly come to realize the immensity of the struggle. The bravado of the first part is gradually turning to weariness, caution, and fear as the stakes become higher, and the sacrifices needed become greater. Characterization is impressive all around, and Cassandra's story is fully modernized and absolutely chilling. But its also fascinating to see how Shanower fearlessly takes on some of the classics of literature to tell his own story. The central part of "Sacrifice" is identical with Euripides's masterpiece, "Iphegenia at Aulis." Dangerous drawing so clear a comparison with such a classic, yet Shanower succeedes brilliantly, not simply rewriting it, but fitting it into the larger story. This is not a good starting point -- anyone not reading vol. 1 will probably be lost -- but this volume is highly recommended, and not just for people who love mythology or graphic novels. Make no mistake... this is excellent literature.