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The Adventures of Basil and Moebius, Volume 3: Secret of the Ancients by Larry Hama, Ryan Schifrin
geekwayne's review against another edition
2.0
'The Adventures of Basil and Moebius' is a collection of three adventures of a pair of ne'er do well thieves. The art kind of threw me off as well as the over attempt at making the characters seem authentically British.
The first story tells how Basil and Moebius meet. Basil's a former soldier who is now one of the Queen's Guard. Moebius is an Oxford scholar with a sharp sword and a sharper sword. When they meet, they instantly dislike each other, so you know it's the beginning of a strange friendship. Before long they find themselves in the employ of a mysterious and threatening man. There is also a fair amount of chasing after girls, chasing after treasure, and staying one step ahead of the law.
It's a formula that should work, but it had it's flaws. First off is an art style that was inconsistent and sometimes not that good. Secondly, the overuse of every British slang phrase just made the characters feel like parodies of British characters written by someone outside the culture. Finally, I just didn't like these two. I wanted them to be loveable rogues, and at times they came close, but they came across more as slimy and unlikeable. It's a pity.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The first story tells how Basil and Moebius meet. Basil's a former soldier who is now one of the Queen's Guard. Moebius is an Oxford scholar with a sharp sword and a sharper sword. When they meet, they instantly dislike each other, so you know it's the beginning of a strange friendship. Before long they find themselves in the employ of a mysterious and threatening man. There is also a fair amount of chasing after girls, chasing after treasure, and staying one step ahead of the law.
It's a formula that should work, but it had it's flaws. First off is an art style that was inconsistent and sometimes not that good. Secondly, the overuse of every British slang phrase just made the characters feel like parodies of British characters written by someone outside the culture. Finally, I just didn't like these two. I wanted them to be loveable rogues, and at times they came close, but they came across more as slimy and unlikeable. It's a pity.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
geekwayne's review
3.0
In 'The Adventures of Basil and Moebius, Volume 3: Secret of the Ancients' our two adventurers are still scoundrels. They are also still politically correct like 1970s men's adventure novels.
This time around, they've managed to find a stone disc that may help them decipher the strange tattoos that their demonic master, the Collector, has given them. The problem is that groups of hooded people with poison knives and sharp swords are also interested in retrieving these items as well. While Basil and Moebius find themselves on the run, the Collector finds himself under attack, but it's nothing his tentacles and sharp teeth can't dispatch with. They guys end up finding out more of the mystery behind the Collector and where he came from. With some crazy inventions, including the Spring Heel Jack suit from a previous issue, they avoid death on more than one occasion.
I read the first volume when it came out and I really didn't like it. When this volume came up for review, I decided to give it another try. It's still overly Brit-slangy. It's also sexist, but many comic books are. I did like that this issue was more one cohesive story instead of a few of them. The whole thing still feels a bit dated in ways, but it's growing on me. The action is ludicrous like James Bond movies are, and our protagonists are luckier than they should be.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Magnetic Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
This time around, they've managed to find a stone disc that may help them decipher the strange tattoos that their demonic master, the Collector, has given them. The problem is that groups of hooded people with poison knives and sharp swords are also interested in retrieving these items as well. While Basil and Moebius find themselves on the run, the Collector finds himself under attack, but it's nothing his tentacles and sharp teeth can't dispatch with. They guys end up finding out more of the mystery behind the Collector and where he came from. With some crazy inventions, including the Spring Heel Jack suit from a previous issue, they avoid death on more than one occasion.
I read the first volume when it came out and I really didn't like it. When this volume came up for review, I decided to give it another try. It's still overly Brit-slangy. It's also sexist, but many comic books are. I did like that this issue was more one cohesive story instead of a few of them. The whole thing still feels a bit dated in ways, but it's growing on me. The action is ludicrous like James Bond movies are, and our protagonists are luckier than they should be.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Magnetic Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'The Adventures of Basil and Moebius, Volume 4: The Fate of All Fools' by Ryan Schifrin and Richard Lee Byers is the last volume in the series.
In earlier volumes, Basil and Moebius were shown to be thieves that ended up working for The Collector. In the last volume, The Collector is revealed to be an alien being. This time around, all the stops have been taken off. Basil and Moebius and company (awesome fighting girlfriend, giant robot that might have Merlin inside, and two Aztec miniature fighter jets) are stuck with The Collector with a malfunctioning device that is transporting them to different worlds. Can they get back to their own world and finally be done with The Collector once and for all?
I've read three of the four volumes. I wasn't crazy about the first one, but the series has grown on me, a little. The stories are ludicrously over the top, so you just have to suspend your belief and go with the story. The art has never been my favorite, but it works for the story. At least Basil and Moebius seem to have lost the horrible habit of spouting every stereotypical bit of English slang, and the Spring Heel Jack suit is pretty cool. Overall, a solid pulp adventure that reminded my of Doc Savage and other serial pulp novels I've read. It concludes with things left open, but it does end.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magentic Press/Red Circle Productions, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In earlier volumes, Basil and Moebius were shown to be thieves that ended up working for The Collector. In the last volume, The Collector is revealed to be an alien being. This time around, all the stops have been taken off. Basil and Moebius and company (awesome fighting girlfriend, giant robot that might have Merlin inside, and two Aztec miniature fighter jets) are stuck with The Collector with a malfunctioning device that is transporting them to different worlds. Can they get back to their own world and finally be done with The Collector once and for all?
I've read three of the four volumes. I wasn't crazy about the first one, but the series has grown on me, a little. The stories are ludicrously over the top, so you just have to suspend your belief and go with the story. The art has never been my favorite, but it works for the story. At least Basil and Moebius seem to have lost the horrible habit of spouting every stereotypical bit of English slang, and the Spring Heel Jack suit is pretty cool. Overall, a solid pulp adventure that reminded my of Doc Savage and other serial pulp novels I've read. It concludes with things left open, but it does end.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Magentic Press/Red Circle Productions, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
Leaving the S.A.S. and returning to London to take a position as a guard at Buckingham Palace, Basil Fox heads to his girlfriend's house. Upon his arrival, he sees her being carried off by a figure that seems to be the mythic Spring-Heeled Jack and another man chasing the abductor with a handgun. It seems that Cathy is the object of affection for both men, so they unite to track down her kidnapper. That first instance of cooperation leads to strange, but exciting, partnership. Their exploits draw the attention of a powerful collector of rare objects who makes them an offer they can't refuse. They find themselves tracking down artifacts of mystical power in exotic locales.
With all the romantic appeal of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft and their quests for archaeological treasures, the stories have plenty of suspense, enough cultural references to show off the university background of Moebius, and enough action to let Basil use his special forces training. For those who are fantasy readers, I'll say that they remind me a bit of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, but in a contemporary British setting.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
With all the romantic appeal of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft and their quests for archaeological treasures, the stories have plenty of suspense, enough cultural references to show off the university background of Moebius, and enough action to let Basil use his special forces training. For those who are fantasy readers, I'll say that they remind me a bit of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, but in a contemporary British setting.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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