Age of Bronze Volume 2: Sacrifice

I'm no art critic -- I like the art here just fine, and it certainly doesn't detract from the story. But the amazing accomplishment here is the writing. Shanower has pulled together the entire story of the Trojan War from various sources, including the Iliad, Virgil, and Greek mythology, in order to relate the entire epic from beginning to end. Not only is this great writing, but it's good research, and a fabulous retelling of the story of the war in one narrative arc over several volumes.

He deserves particular praise for the way in which he incorporates the gods' influence without directly involving them. The result is a realistic flavor that just feels right -- much more immediate and personal, and without the sense that fate is show more dictating everything.

This particular volume focuses on Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia, as well as a disastrous raid in Mysia, where a young Achilles mistakes the first land he sees for Troy. I'm looking forward to continuing the story. show less

The story in Sacrifice picks up almost immediately after the last panel in A Thousand Ships, telling of the voyage of the first fleet and its turning back after much misfortune, unable to lay siege to Troy, and subsequent efforts of various Achaeans to launch a second fleet almost two years later. As in the first volume, Shanower manages to convey the epic sweep of the story, not only in covering a span of years and miles, but also in the drama unfolding among and between its dozens of characters. An achievement given the relative brevity of the book, and testimony to the power of images integrated with a text. It is also a form of hypertext: almost every panel serves as an allusion to entire books or stories elsewhere, and even passing show more familiarity with those lends heft to Shanower's retelling.

The storyline tied to Iphigenia's sacrifice to the Goddess Artemis, fulfilling the curse on Agamemnon's house, is for me the most emotionally affecting part of the story so far.

As before, the art and the interweaving of so many familiar and half-recognised myths, is as deft as in the first volume. This volume focuses almost entirely on the Achaeans, with very little on the Trojans, raising the question of whether the focus will shift in the next volume.

I've read comments to the effect that Shanower won't complete his proposed seven volumes. I do hope those doubts are unfounded. Age of Bronze deserves multiple readings, there's too much there to get it all the first time through. show less

An ambitious and interesting series. Shanower is to be commended for his research and attention to detail. There are so many characters in these myths yet he does a very good job of distinguishing their faces. Another wonderful aspect of these novels is that the author has incorporated all the bits of literature which make up the story of the Trojan War, not just the Illiad. In this volume, the Achaeans launch a premature attack..not on Troy. They need to regroup and politick to get the fleet back together for the true assault. Belief in prophecies and the gods (themselves not depicted in the Age of Bronze) leads to some awful decisions by the protagonists before the attack can begin again.

More of the Trojan war myth/drama! This one focuses on Ipheginia, so ah very dramatic. As I continue on with the Age of Bronze series, I feel like it becomes more educational, and less emotional for me. But, i do want to be educated about this story, and this comic is a great way to do that! But the excitement is wearing off a bit.

Eric Shanower continues the story of the Trojan War, taking us up to the sacrifice of Iphigenia at Aulis.

Reviewed September 4, 2007 on 52n52.blogspot.com.

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