Welcome to the Weekly Comics Hype! I'm doing these alphabetically, but occasionally skipping around a bit. Alan Moore has been in the news lately with his controversial new book Lost Girls, and so I thought we could have a look at something else of his, which, while much less controversial, is still a challenging and fun read. Promethea is a pretty interesting series from the ABC Comics imprint illustrated by J.H. Williams, available in five collected volumes.
Set in a technologically advanced present-day New York, this is the story of Sophie and Stacia, two college friends, one of whom becomes the latest mortal anchor of Promethea, an ancient avatar of fiction and imagination. Promethea is not so much a being as she is an idea who latches onto imaginative humans. She brings with her a lot of history and a lot of bad blood from demons and ancient hermits who've been trying to impose their own will upon the world. Promethea's goal is a world shaped by unlimited curiosity rather than law.
Following Promethea is a very interesting experience, as Moore effortlessly mixes the present-day adventures of Sophie with her experiences in the otherworldly realm of the Immateria. The modern world, protected by a gang of well-dressed heroes called The Five Swell Guys and home to a phenomenally popular anti-Ziggy comic called Weeping Gorilla, is every bit as amazing and strange as the world of imagination and memory where Promethea lives. Moore and Williams juggle lots of big ideas and magical philosophy, with a result so fascinating that readers never feel like they're being info-dumped upon.
Promethea was originally published as 32 semi-monthly issues over a four-year period. These were then compiled into five collections of 6-7 issues each. These were published by America's Best Comics (ABC), a vanity imprint set aside for Alan Moore by Wildstorm. For a time, Moore was tackling four semi-monthly titles and a miniseries via ABC, meaning you could pretty much count on a new Alan Moore title every week for a while there. Good times.
Volume one of Promethea is available from your local comic shop, who would enjoy your custom; new books ship on Wednesdays, so why not stop in after work?
Set in a technologically advanced present-day New York, this is the story of Sophie and Stacia, two college friends, one of whom becomes the latest mortal anchor of Promethea, an ancient avatar of fiction and imagination. Promethea is not so much a being as she is an idea who latches onto imaginative humans. She brings with her a lot of history and a lot of bad blood from demons and ancient hermits who've been trying to impose their own will upon the world. Promethea's goal is a world shaped by unlimited curiosity rather than law.
Following Promethea is a very interesting experience, as Moore effortlessly mixes the present-day adventures of Sophie with her experiences in the otherworldly realm of the Immateria. The modern world, protected by a gang of well-dressed heroes called The Five Swell Guys and home to a phenomenally popular anti-Ziggy comic called Weeping Gorilla, is every bit as amazing and strange as the world of imagination and memory where Promethea lives. Moore and Williams juggle lots of big ideas and magical philosophy, with a result so fascinating that readers never feel like they're being info-dumped upon.
Promethea was originally published as 32 semi-monthly issues over a four-year period. These were then compiled into five collections of 6-7 issues each. These were published by America's Best Comics (ABC), a vanity imprint set aside for Alan Moore by Wildstorm. For a time, Moore was tackling four semi-monthly titles and a miniseries via ABC, meaning you could pretty much count on a new Alan Moore title every week for a while there. Good times.
Volume one of Promethea is available from your local comic shop, who would enjoy your custom; new books ship on Wednesdays, so why not stop in after work?