Age of Bronze: Betrayal Part One

In Shanower’s latest installment of his monumental, Eisner award–winning retelling of the Trojan War, the Achaean fleet finally arrives at the shore of Troy. Before the war can begin, the story’s many vivid characters get another chance to display their natures, including Achilles impulsively pursuing glory, young Troilus yearning over Cressida, Hektor preaching reasonable compromise in an impossible situation, slippery Odysseus orating, and Helen and Paris so besotted with each other and themselves that they’ll let kingdoms drift into ruin. Shanower’s people are well drawn in more ways than one, so readers can enjoy picking out the postures and expressions of individuals in a crowd scene. Impressive as the black and white art is, some of the panels are crammed with details, just as the pages are filled with text as the characters have their say. Then, readers notice how cleverly Troilus’s lovesick funk is treated in repetitious, mostly silent panels—or how subtly the climactic appearance of an Achaean embassy to Trojan King Priam, the last chance to prevent the impending war, is managed with a mixture of closeups and long shots, open line work and encroaching shadows. On all levels, this is a brilliant work. (Jan.)