The gods are sick of not being worshipped. They have lost their roles to the might of technology, itself an insidious snake that worms its way into everyday life. Ironically, I am using a MacBook to write this review of a digital copy of a comic. Go figure! After invading and reclaiming the world, technology is banned; its’ possession can mean death! Artemis is living a life of mortality, with a mortal and is expecting. Zeus, being the vindictive god that we all know and love, takes matters in to own hands, setting Artemis on a road that will take ten years to navigate. In doing so, he may have just created the gods worst enemy!
Mark London has been quietly creating a name for himself, and by virtue, Mad Cave Comics, with books like Battlecats and Knights of the Golden Sun. This time around, London uses the vengeance of the gods and one god in particular to show the ramifications of actions. In Artemis, we have a character trying to live her life. In Zeus we have the overbearing parent who disavows Artemis’s choices. London spends time setting up the happy family, living under the dominion of the gods. This allows for some empathy for Artemis and makes her losses that much greater. London writes the gods as you would expect; Zeus is pompous and a blowhard, Athena is lurid and so on. London’s plot is well paced, with genuine shocks for the characters involved.
The art from Francessco Archidiacono seems a tad cartoony in places, in an effective caricature styled manner. Zeus is big and bold, Apollo suave and Mercury svelte. Achidiacono looks to give Artemis an air of the demure, at least as lives her “mortal’ life. There are a mix if scenes from talking heads, to introductions to go along with the action, all of which Archuduacono handles well, along with inker Marc Deering ensuring that the characters are as bold as they can be. At times, there are a lack of background details on show, a trick artists can use when the characters are the main focus of the story, though Achidiacono does show environments at various points in the book. I suppose you could say that the final act of the book, especially the look of Artemis takes a mild Zenescope type of turn. Colors are provided by Lee Loughridge who goes for a full four color style that emboldens the characters, especially during the first act of the book. Letters are provided by Rus Wooton who utilises a bold font to continue the vibe of the book. Well done Mad Cave for giving Wooton a cover credit!
I am going to admit that Greek gods bore me! In fact, most gods bore me. With that said, London has entwined various influences, be it John Wick or Kill Bill, into something of a Greek Tragedy !
Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars
Overall – 4 Stars
Written by; Mark London
Art by; Francessco Archidiacono
Inks by; Marc Deering
Colors by; Lee Loughridge
Letters by; Rus Wooton
Published by; Mad Cave Studios
Author Profile
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I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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