The story jumps storylines without any clear delineation. And if you don't already know the story of the Trojan War, it is not easy to follow. Too much is missing. However, it might spike enough interest for someone to learn more about the full story. But I didn't find it very compelling, or informative. ( )

I'm familiar with many Greek and Roman myths, but for the most part can't keep track of them. I recall a scenario or perhaps a personality, but can't recall names, or whether it's the Greek or Roman version, or where it fits in the larger story from which it came. Similarly, I hadn't realised that the story of the Trojan War is not told, in full, in the Iliad, something that Shanower aims to remedy with Age of Bronze.

So it's fascinating how Shanower skillfully weaves many recognisable myths into an integrated whole, without it seeming complicated for the sake of showing off or because he lacks a guiding perspective. According to his afterword in the version I read, he loves the challenge given the contradictions and lacunae in the various source material, and set for himself the goal of inventing very little on his own. (Whether borrowing from someone else who invented something whole cloth is any better, remains an open question, but I do admire the challenge and parameters Shanower set for himself.)

The art is quite good, though I don't always recognise various characters (the glossary provided in the back runs to 150 or more, all mentioned though not necessarily all depicted). At the same time, I suspect he avoided using easy "tells" like a scar or a type of hat, whatever. Sometimes people look similar, it soon comes clear in context, just as it does in everyday living.

I thought it fun that in the section in which King Priam relates "his" version of events concerning the abduction of his sister Hesione by Herakles, and Priam's own humiliation, the style became hyper cartoon-like. I took it as a hint that things might not be so straightforward, but without distracting from the story itself. There are various subtle touches such as that, the story and the art are well-crafted and complement each other.

Based on this volume, I'll not only read but purchase the remaining six. ( )

Story of Trojan War, before the Trojan horse comes into play. Helen willingly is kidnapped to go with her new lover Paris. It is hard to keep the characters separate because they all look so much alike. Okay.

This is the first volume in Eric Shanower's fantastic retelling of the Trojan War. I have read the first instalments of this series and eagerly await the rest. The artwork is finely detailed and expressive and the dialogue and action move along at a good pace.

Very notable for someone like me is that Shanower stays true to the plots of the ancient stories and, which is also exciting, true to the archaeology of the Bronze Age. For a fuller discussion, see my blog post at: http://mjjhoskin.wordpress.com/2008/1... ( )

I had read some pretty amazing things about this treatment of the Trojan War, so when Forbidden Planet had the first collection "A Thousand Ships" in, I just had to pick it up.
I studied (ok, maybe "studies" is too strong a word) Homer in university, and despite the great reviews (and because of the Hollywood mangling of the Iliad recently) I was a bit nervous about this -
How would the writer treat the causes of the war?
How would the sarcrifice of Agamemnon's daughter be approached?
Would the gods be treated with the kind of omniguity (if I can create a word) the Greeks thought of them in?
How would the artist deal with Helen? [I thought that the actress in the film would have had trouble launching a street fight outside a bar on O'Connell St. on a Friday night, never mind a thousand ships!]
Would the writer make any critical examination of the causes of the war?
Would the wealth of back-story and climax of the story (which Homer just did not need to deal with) be covered?

Well after the brief lunch-time reading (about 2 issues worth I guess) I can look forward to the rest of the saga without any discomfort

When I first picked up the book, I noticed that it's pen and ink line art, with no colour and no tones. All of the shading is done by cross hatching. Not a problem usually (although it's not the style guaranteed to get the four-colour Marvel fans on-board!) but with the natural style he's using with a wealth of details, each page could turn into a static of confusion.
Not so; the artist manages to get clarity in each panel and in each page, and characters are definitely Greek, features and clothes-wise, but still all look individual and discernable.

Highly recommended ( )