Scourge of the Gods: The Fall #1-3

Written by Valérie Mangin
Art by Aleksa Gajic

I recently read the first volume of this series, and immediately wanted to read the second. 

Where the first volume was concerned with the war between the Huns and the Roman Empire, as carried out by two people believed to be gods, this volume deals with the Roman pantheon, and explains all of the strange coincidences or fantastical elements of the first story.

It opens with one of the best comics I've read in ages.  The first issue packs more story, excitement, and luscious art than a year's worth of a North American superhero series.  It shows the end of the war, as Attila tries one desperate measure after another to destroy the Roman forces.  Once he is taken prisoner, his status as an immortal is confirmed, and eventually both he and Favia/Kerkik are executed by being sent into the sun.

Seeing as there are still two issues remaining after that, you can be assured that is not the last you will see of them.  Instead, they wake up on Olympus, and meet the other 'gods', although they quickly learn that the gods were all once human, and Favia (now Venus), and Attila (now Mars), rebel against their creators.

The story, from this part, is much more fantastic, although grounded in strange comic book physics, and remains quite good throughout.  I really enjoyed this series, and recommend checking it out.  The writing is less dense or confusing in this volume, and the art is incredible.

Scourge of the Gods #1-3

Written by Valérie Mangin
Art by Aleksa Gajic

I like French comics, but man they can be complicated sometimes.  Scourge of the Gods is a good example of the type of sweeping science fiction narrative I enjoy from time to time (it reminded me a little of Dune at the beginning), but it has a pretty convoluted tale to tell.

This three-issue series bills itself as a 'Chronicle of Galactic Antiquity" (in other words, a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away), and details the conflict between the Roman Empire and the barbarous Huns.  Of course, the story is really taking place in the far future, and the Roman Orbis is spread over many worlds, linked by secret star routes.  The Huns, led by Rua, father of Attila, make use of an alien method of travel that can take them across the galaxy in a matter of seconds.

When the story opens, a group of Roman women have been given to the Huns as a sacrifice to their goddess Kerka.  One of the women is revealed to be the resurrected Kerka herself, and what follows are a number of plots and intrigues, as Attila takes over the Hun throne, and Flavia, the returned Kerka, makes plans of her own.

This is where things get really convoluted, and it becomes easy to lose the plot.  Once the reader has cleared the second half of the second issue though, the story becomes more clear and interesting.  A lot of work has been put into creating this particular future, and it is definitely an interesting take on things, especially once the secrets the Empress reveals to Flavia become known.

Gajic's art is very cool.  It has the standard European look, and is incredibly detailed in scenes that take place in temples or aboard space ships.  The task of applying classic design to futuristic things is a difficult one, but he rises to it wonderfully.

I enjoyed this title quite a bit, and now am going to be hunting down the second volume, which I presume finishes off this story.