The Kaurava Empire: Volume Two: The Vengeance of Ashwatthama (Campfire Graphic Novels) - Softcover

Quinn, Jason

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9381182000 ISBN 13: 9789381182000

Publisher: Campfire, 2015

Synopsis

The tales of the Mahabharata are updated in this new series from Campfire. Time and again the timeless nature of the greatest stories ever told have been highlighted by readers and fans. This space age rendering of these epic tales really proves the point. The Kauravas and Pandavas go high tech as their forces clash in the fiercest battle the universe has ever known.

Each volume in the series is a stand-alone adventure that will mesmerize and thrill readers everywhere.The Mahabharata goes science fiction in this graphic retelling of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Ashwatthama, a reluctant warrior commits the ultimate crime and must pay for it by wandering the universe, friendless and alone for all eternity. A graphic reminder that war can brutalize even the best of men and that revenge is seldom worth the price. Cursed to wander the universe, friendless, alone and in pain, Ashwatthama has eternity to ponder his crimes and to yearn for forgiveness. Can he escape his terrible past and find peace or will he be doomed to live forever?

In the second volume of Campfire's Kaurava Empire series we focus on the story of Ashwatthama, the son of great guru and weapons master Drona, teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas. When war comes to the empire, Ashwatthama is reluctant to choose sides as he is friends with members of  both the Kaurava and Pandava families, but in the end he sides with his father, following him into battle against the Pandavas. When Drona is killed through trickery on the battlefield, Ashwatthama swears vengeance and his revenge is bloody and terrible.

About this title

About the Author

Jason Quinn is the award winning author of Campfire's Steve Jobs: Genius by Design. He learned to read with Marvel Comics and was devastated when his teacher told him Spider-Man did not exist. He has worked in publishing for the last twenty years as an editor and writer, working on everything from Spider-Man to Barbie. He moved to India in 2012 and currently works as Campfire's Creative Content Head. The author lives in India.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—The graphic novelization of the Indian myth of Mahabharata continues in this second installment. The Pandavas and Kauravas are in the middle of a civil war set in a high-tech future. This story focuses on Ashwatthama, the son of a great weapons master. His father taught the Pandavas and Kauravas, and his son, Ashwatthama has friends on both sides. When war comes, Ashwatthama is reluctant to choose between the two; however, when a decision must be made, he follows his father into battle against the Pandavas. His father is killed due to deception during battle, and Ashwatthama swears vengeance. His revenge takes him to the edge of humanity. The story is told in one long flashback. The protagonist has been wandering, friendless and alone, for over 1,000 years, searching for peace and forgiveness. He meets the beautiful Governor Aiken and saves her life from a group of marauders. He tells the Governor his story hoping for forgiveness. The illustrations in this work are more powerful than the text. The narrative, at times, edges between being serious and silly. However, because of the lack of graphic novels about non-European mythology, the strengths in this title compensate for its weaknesses. VERDICT Purchase for libraries looking to expand their solid graphic novel collections.—Brittney Kosev, Dave Blair Elementary School, Farmers Branch, TX

About this edition

• Publisher: Campfire
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 9381182000
• ISBN 13: 9789381182000
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80
• Illustrator: Nagar Sachin