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A review by daviddavidkatzman
The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot
4.0
Mind-bending, freak-ass sci-fi mysticism. Grant Morrison wishes he was this good.*
Both this graphical novel (black & white) and the sequel, Heart of Empire: The Legacy of Luther Arkwright (in color) deserve to be in the collection of anyone who likes literary comics. The Adventures of… (first issued in 1990) was just reprinted by Dark Horse, so this is a great chance to snap up both collections.
Bryan Talbot writes (sophisticated storytelling, complex characters) and illustrates (beautifully) this master work. Amazing to see how his art got even better in part two. The storyline is a re-imagined history of England if the empire kept growing, rather than collapsed under its own weight, and became a regime much like Nazi Germany. Oh, and if it was supported by dark forces from across parallel universes, of course. You get the idea…no, not really—-both novels have more twists and turns than Timothy Leary’s intestines. Features shamanism, sex magik, critique of power, politics, journalism and many other tasty treats. Fans of Alan Moore will love this.
*Not quite true. The Invisibles was genius. Let’s say, Morrison lately wishes he was this good. (snark!)
Both this graphical novel (black & white) and the sequel, Heart of Empire: The Legacy of Luther Arkwright (in color) deserve to be in the collection of anyone who likes literary comics. The Adventures of… (first issued in 1990) was just reprinted by Dark Horse, so this is a great chance to snap up both collections.
Bryan Talbot writes (sophisticated storytelling, complex characters) and illustrates (beautifully) this master work. Amazing to see how his art got even better in part two. The storyline is a re-imagined history of England if the empire kept growing, rather than collapsed under its own weight, and became a regime much like Nazi Germany. Oh, and if it was supported by dark forces from across parallel universes, of course. You get the idea…no, not really—-both novels have more twists and turns than Timothy Leary’s intestines. Features shamanism, sex magik, critique of power, politics, journalism and many other tasty treats. Fans of Alan Moore will love this.
*Not quite true. The Invisibles was genius. Let’s say, Morrison lately wishes he was this good. (snark!)