Promethea, Book 1

Sorry, just had to say that to the review below. SUPERHEROES and pseudo-mysticism. You're dismissing the fact that many, many comics have nothing to do with spandex.Promethea is an incredible story. No, it's not for everyone, yet it's one of the deepest, most complex stories that Moore has ever created.The most recent issue was AMAZING. It's all about to wrap up, and like all of Moore's larger works, everything has a point. He's been building to this incredible finale.The artwork is just gorgeous as hell, too. One of the most ambitious talents in the industry. I'm so surprised at how well he changes his style to mimic other styles depending on what's happening in the script. His covers are the best, too.

Wow, this is a wild ride. If you are a long time reader of comic books like myself, this book is a dream come true. Veteran comics writer Alan Moore is at the top of his game with Promethea, weaving romantic, modern and post modern styles into a classic "reluctant heroine" storyline and along the way paying homage to a multitude of fiction writers (and artists). An entertaining read with great artwork as well. For those of you that have always dreamed that you too could be a superhero...read this book, and believe it again.Forgive me for not going into more detail, as I don't want to accidentaly include spoilers.

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'.

Alan Moore and J.H. Williams have outdone themselves on this beautiful series. Not only does the series have multiple interesting, believable female characters (a rarity in comics, in my opinion), but the plot reflects a deep understanding of the way story and symbol create meaning. _Promethea_'s truly gifted team of artists has allowed Moore not just to explain and articulate some sophisticated philosophical ideas, but to demonstrate them visually and with an emotional impact that mere text lacks. Sophie's transformation into a goddess each month reminds me (as another struggling urban college student) that there is a spark of the divine within each of us, as well as the ability to transcend our ordinary, day-to-day selves in favor of something greater. While the series takes a few issues to begin to delve deeply into its material (this book covers issues #1-6, while my favorite issues are #7-10), this collection contains important character development and set-up that I think is quite enjoyable and sets _Promethea_ apart as one of the most innovative superhero comics ever conceived. Can't wait for Book 2...

Alan Moore's America's Best Comics has spawned several wonderful titles (along with the middling Tomorrow Stories), but Promethea stands out. The art is outstanding, the color perfect, the lettering spot-on for the different speech types employed, and the writing entertaining while also waxing philosophical. Sympathetically drawn characters tie up the whole package in a beautiful ribbon.Moore dares to tackle the very nature of creativity and comes away with much more than the Wonder Woman clone some were expecting. While exploring the world of fantasy, he examines through the changing face of comics (the tribute to Little Nemo is marvelous), sexuality, religion and pure wish fulfilment. Comics are still growing up, maybe, but this may be some of the most mature work from the man who brought us The Watchmen.