Age of Bronze, Vol. 3: Betrayal, Part 1 - Hardcover

Shanower, Eric

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1582408459 ISBN 13: 9781582408453

Publisher: Image Comics, 2007

Synopsis

• High King Agamemnon lusts to conquer the wealthy city of Troy. On the island of Tenedos, just off the coast of Troy, Achilles leads the attack. When the dust settles, Achilles finds himself one step closer to his tragic fate. Meanwhile, the Trojans prepare their defenses and gather allies. Agamemnon's offer of a peace embassy to King Priam reassures few. War appears inevitable. Even Helen dreads to face what lies ahead for her and everyone she loves or once loved.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Starred Review. 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.)
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From School Library Journal:

Grade 10 Up–The many highlights of this book could read like movie credits: original camera placement and lighting; brisk direction and pacing. There is never a dull drawing, and each one carries the excitement and story forward. Shanower captures Helen's beauty in black-and-white images that are rich in design and fine in line. Helen's character, however, is not so lovingly drawn. Her vanity is matched only by the self-absorption of her second husband, Paris, son of Priam and architect of Troy's downfall. Shanower has a talent for drawing facial expressions, and the smug look on Paris's face has readers rooting for Troy's enemies as expressed by Odysseus's spit-spewing venom. The author skillfully weaves together many characters and story lines. Troilus and Cressida make an appearance in the midst of the oncoming war and are featured in an erotic dream tryst with naked breasts (male and female) and bottoms (male). Betrayal also offers a respectable balance of men loving men to go with the more traditional plotlines of men loving women and men killing men. Given the multitude of plots and characters, it is recommended to have the whole series, which is ongoing, available.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Image Comics
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1582408459
• ISBN 13: 9781582408453
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176