The lead pic is a still from Alexander, Servant of the Water of Life, by Reimena Lee. I've only just started it, but as a history nut, I have hopes! Here's the about:
It's an online graphic novel retelling the life and legends of Alexander the Great, part of a 2000yr old literary tradition called the Alexander Romance.
In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great begins to fear. Fearing the destruction of his pothos — i.e., his longing for life, ambition, and eternal conquest — from old age, Alexander embarks on a quest for the elusive Water of Life while accompanied by his wisest, most trustworthy Servant.
As they experience a series of countless fabulous wonders, including glass submarines, naked philosophers, Amazonians, and talking prophetic trees, Alexander confronts his complex legacy and reflects on the life and deeds that will cement his transformation into one of the most unforgettable figures in world history.
alexanderromance.com
And here's one I finally finished, the other week. It's called Vattu:
It's set off-world, in a sort of middle-ages era, and reimagines what society, species, politics and even physical laws are like. It took 12yrs to produce and consists of 1200+ pages, so anyone who digs it is in for a long treat. My one complaint is that some of the main characters are a bit hard to tell apart, but then there's a helpful guide for that. 🙂
- TBH it's Southern-USA produced, and I can understand any appropriate backlash upon that, but this one truly does seem 'Euro' in spirit, from my POV.
Mille sabords!, I'd like to put together a nice summation of our favorite Euro-tinged webcomics, a bit like the "Movie Night" link post did.
So... got any favorites there, mateys?
I do.
PKNA.
It was a series by Disney Italy, featuring the Duck Avenger, in a completely original version of the disney world.
The artists were allowed complete freedom to do what they wanted with the plot and the world, and they cooked.
The series had a unique artsyle, an oversaturated colorful look that clashed with the at-times dark plot. Issues were full of extras explaining lore.
The premise has Donald getting hired by Scrooge to work as the security guard at his latest real state purchase, the Ducklair Tower. Donald ends up discovering and befriending the buldings secret AI, and gaining access to all the sci-fi tech left behind by the previous owner.
The building becomes the Duck Avengers base of operations, and the stories focus so heavily on the stuff the AI and the Duck Avenger get up to, you almost entirely forget its supposed to be Disney.
There is SO MUCH that is unique to the series. There are dozens and dozens of charachters that only appear in PKNA, and I consider them some of the best.
An absolute standout, is the character of Xadhoom. An alien woman who becomes fused with the energy of a sun. She initially uses her power to go on a rampage against the evronian empire, in retaliation for the genocide of her people. Only to eventually find that some survived. Learning they need a new place to call home, she sacrifices herself by releasing the energy inside her, forming a new solar system for them, literally becoming a sun.
Oh rabbits, that is all much too intense for this old man, lol.
So mateys-- this was a WEBCOMIC?
Where did you all read it...?!?
Oh no. The original run was back in the late 90s, continuing just a couple years into the new millenium.
I originally discovered some issues at a flea market. I was born after the series started production, so the series was old and cancelled even by the time I got into it as a kid. Those pictures are of the actual three finnish copies I still have.
I went on to absolutely devour every issue I could find. Tracking copies down at public libraries and speciality bookshops.
All in all, there were only ever 56 issues. There was a sequel series, but it missed the mark.
Today I keep the full collection, the english translation, in digital form.