Britannia We Who Are About to Die # 1 NM Valiant Comics Peter Milligan Juan Jose Ryp 1st print Cover A

Description

Britannia We Who Are About to Die #1
Published Apr 2017 by Valiant
Writer Peter Milligan
Art Juan Jose Ryp
Cover Cary Nord

Valiant’s critically acclaimed, 10-time sold-out magnum opus returns with a brand-new journey into myth and mystery, from comics master Peter Milligan and incendiary artist Juan José Ryp!

Fifty thousand Romans stand on their feet, watching from the rafters of the coliseum with captured breath as Achillia, a Gladiator unlike any that Rome has seen before, faces incredible odds – one lone warrior against five of Rome’s greatest. Such is the tradition, when a female gladiator enters the fray. When the carnage is complete, the coliseum roars its approval as Achillia stands victorious. Now only one match away from winning her freedom, she has begun to gain renown.

The women of Rome, suppressed by their husbands and fathers, have noticed. The men of Rome, husbands and fathers to a growing horde of women entertaining ideas of independence, have noticed as well. On the other side of Rome, a strange mystery swirls through the Palatine Hill. In the dead of night, down winding alleys, Rome’s elite swear that they see visions of a blood-soaked Apollo walking the city…visions that are driving them mad. Even more are becoming sick with weird fever god-dreams. Panic ensues in the city. The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is arrested by Emperor Nero and threatened with crucifixion unless the deadly curse that’s fallen on Rome is lifted. She asks Antonius Axia, hero of Britannia and Rome’s only detective, for help. She offers only one clue…the gladiator Achillia.

32 pages, full color. Very cool black and white image on back cover!

I really enjoyed Britannia: We Who Are About To Die #1, and how it links together the beginning and end of the story. If you haven’t read Britannia before, the beginning of the title gives you a brief overview of who Antonius Axia is, and how he becomes the detective that he is now. In this story, Antonius is on the case of slain teens from noble families, and tries to find out how or what has taken their lives. The writing from Milligan is solid, and shows how Antonius steadily uncovers who killed the young nobles. He examines crime scenes, deals with a crazed Emperor Nero and a shady Vestal Rubria, and talks to the deceased teen’s families. There also seems to be some mysticism going on that will probably be explained in later issues. There’s also a symbol that appears in the story that you should keep an eye out for.

Juan Jose Ryp’s art is a thing of beauty, and delivers on the visuals of the story. Characters look good throughout the issue. Ryp also makes great use of facial expressions. With the slaying of noble children, everyone’s up in arms as to who did it, and you can see the various signs of fear, sadness, anger, and madness coming from the characters in the story. Also, for the little bits of action that happens in the story, it was great to look at. The environments look gorgeous, and combined with Frank D’Armata’s colors, it just looks amazing. The lettering from David Sharpe was well done, and easy to follow with the panel layout.

Overall, Britannia: We Who Are About To Die #1 is a great follow-up to the first Britannia.

8-5899200341380111

Near mint condition, 1st printing.