Britannia #1 –
Valiant Comics
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Juan Jose Ryp
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Dave Sharp
Introduction Art by Raul Allen & Patricia Martin
Many great stories have been told about the Roman Empire. From the Vestal Virgins to the rule of Nero, it was a time of great power. It seems like it’s been a while since a comic tackled this time period, so I was very excited to see that Valiant would be doing so. Let’s start our journey and head to the strange land of Britannia.
The story follows a man named Antonius Axia who, in the beginning of the story, is being asked a big favor by one of the Vestals. The result of this would change his life forever and force him to make some difficult choices. Not only do the Vestals have more plans for him, but the emperor Nero will have a say in his fate as well. In the middle of the story, something happens that gets Nero’s attention and forces him to find more about what is happening on the fringe of the Roman Empire, Britannia. Antonius has rebuilt himself at this point, but is called upon by Nero to lead this investigation. Turns out there are several alterior motives at play, and that is the least of Antonius’ problems. Once arriving, he sees that he will be dealing with something from his past that he thought was long gone. With his closest friend by his side, the story hits it’s highest point right as it ends.
There is a lot to like about Britannia, but there are also a few problems. While the character development was very good, the book did drag a bit in the middle. It seemed like there were a few pages that seemed a bit unnecessary, and didn’t really serve a purpose to the larger story. Aside from that, Milligan does a very good job of capturing the time period and essence of the Roman Empire. You can really feel the emotional roller coaster that Antonius is on, and there are plenty of twists that keep this first issue interesting. It’s also hard not to get lost in the way Juan Jose Ryp paints such a beautiful scene, capturing the mood of each part of the story. The background imagery of the Britannia setting alone is chilling and masterful. The art in the introduction is also amazing, and does a very good job at setting the tone for what’s to come. I will be very interested to see how Milligan will balance what is going on with Britannia with what is going on back in Rome, since Antonius’ problems reach both parts of the world. I’m on board, but still a bit cautious.
RATING: PICK UP