Reseña: Britannia Volume 2: We Who Are About to Die

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Britannia Volume 2: We Who Are About to Die 

by 

Peter Milligan

 112 pages

Expected publication: October 17th 2017 by Valiant Entertainment, LLC

ISBN:1682152138 (ISBN13: 9781682152133)

Edition Language:English

Series:Britannia #2

Collecting BRITANNIA: WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1-4.

BLURB: Valiant's critically acclaimed, 10-time sold-out magnum opus returns with a brand-new journey into myth and mystery, from comics master Peter Milligan (Shade, the Changing Man) and incendiary artist Juan Jose Ryp (Britannia!) 

Fifty thousand Romans stand on their feet, watching from the rafters of the coliseum with captured breath as Achillia, a Gladiator unlike any that Rome has seen before, faces incredible odds - one lone warrior against five of Rome's greatest. Such is the tradition, when a female gladiator enters the fray. When the carnage is complete, the coliseum roars its approval as Achillia stands victorious. Now only one match away from winning her freedom, she has begun to gain renown.

The women of Rome, suppressed by their husbands and fathers, have noticed. The men of Rome, husbands and fathers to a growing horde of women entertaining ideas of independence, have noticed as well. On the other side of Rome, a strange mystery swirls through the Palatine Hill. In the dead of night, down winding alleys, Rome's elite swear that they see visions of a blood-soaked Apollo walking thecity...visions that are driving them mad. Even more are becoming sick with weird fever god-dreams. Panic ensues in the city. The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is arrested by Emperor Nero and threatened with crucifi xion unless the deadly curse that's fallen on Rome is lifted. She asks Antonius Axia, hero of Britannia and Rome's only detective, for help. She offers only one clue...the gladiator Achillia.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Emperor Nero's times, we encounter the first 'detectioner' - Antonius Axia. This is my first view of this series, but is easy follow where this come from, as opposed to the messy current plot. The investigator is searching for some missing young noblemen , the rumor in the streets talk about the ire of the gods and blame the Vestals for their fail to protect them.

Between murders, suspected magical means, death threats, the raising of a son, feminist aspirations ... something is rotten in dear old Rome.

The strangest part is the idea that an encounter with a demon produced a change -thanks to the Vestals- in the Roman legionary that leads him to believe in logical thinking and not in the gods...(¿?) /SPOILER--->Well, that, and that even though the hallucinations of gods are produced by a plant, the woman is quite effective playing with voodoo dolls (??) <---SPOILER/[Well, that, and that even though the hallucinations of gods are produced by a plant, the woman is quite effective playing with voodoo dolls (??) (hide spoiler)]

*Characters like Nero are cartoonish (pun intended), and so the patricians and usual villains. But I was pleased to see that the gladiator (Achillia) as a strong character.

*Good Art.