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nuzulul_n's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
justanothergirl_23's review
5.0
I am loving this whole comics thing, I'm so glad Pierce decided to write the prequel this way!
It's all so interesting and intriguing. To know about Fitchner's life that had been a mystery to me in the RR books is like discovering a treasure.
I love his view of things, and I've always wanted to meet his wife, Sevro's mother,and I really like her (Far more than Eo that is)
*singing* Off to the next one
It's all so interesting and intriguing. To know about Fitchner's life that had been a mystery to me in the RR books is like discovering a treasure.
I love his view of things, and I've always wanted to meet his wife, Sevro's mother,and I really like her (Far more than Eo that is)
*singing* Off to the next one
boomwormbrittany's review
4.0
Just from what happened in this comic I can tell that everything is going to go to hell in a handbasket really fast. This is such a character driven story and as such is so interesting. It’s a character driven story in a world that is brutal and full of many adventures. We finally see the Son of Ares, Fitchner, meet someone that he feels connected with and it’s absolutely amazing. Because of Fitchner’s lot in life he feels that he doesn’t belong among the Golds and he finally finds someone and a group of people who feels like he belongs with especially after he risks his life to save theirs. I loved this volume and the ending of this made me so excited to see what the next volume has in store.
mpeterke's review
3.0
Well, I loved Red Rising. These comics should give some insight into the past of Ares. And they do some, but I think that there is no way to give decent "amount of story" for the reader in comic form. I have to admit that I am really far from being an expert in the comic stuff, being these the first and only ones I've ever bought. Still, I think the artwork could be better (somehow the black and white ones at the end of every part look somehow nicer than the actual colored ones), and I felt that the episodes are way, way too short for the asking price. But probably my problem is with that I'm not accustomed to this genre at all. Still, as a fan of the novel series, I can recommend these as well.
madcassier's review
5.0
*screeches in delight...before it turns into sobs*
It's just not gonna end well for anybody involved and I am just preparing myself for the moment this series tears my heart out of my chest, lights it on fire, and then stomps on the ashes.
This is, without question, the best issue yet. I think that each issue has steadily improved upon its predecessor, but this is the first time I read an issue and didn't feel like I was cut off mid-sentence. Yes, I understand that is kind of how issues work -- they depend, many a time, upon the cliffhanger-effect -- and while the story is still incomplete, I didn't feel left in the lurch. I felt like this ended at a natural pausing point.
BRYN. WE HAVE FINALLY MET BRYN. I love this woman, and I can see not only how Fitchner falls in love with her, but how she, too, falls in love with Fitchner. But even more so, I like how the circumstances around their meeting informs us even more about the society of Red Rising, by showing us how truly ingrained the societal pyramid is within the minds of the people.
The fact that during an emergency situation, Fitchner would behave like, oh I don't know, a decent f-ing human being and leap in to save people who just so happen to be lower colours (predominantly Reds), on instinct is mind-boggling to the Reds who, in turn, have to then rescue him. The inherent inequality is completely lost on them (so it seems) and it's just...it's borderline astonishing to read because, as someone who is obviously not in this world, Fitchner's actions seem like something anyone would do. But, in the world of Red Rising, his behaviour is a massive exception and not the rule.
And yet Fitchner's behaviour during this emergency incident feels perfectly in line with his character, because we see a person not only disillusioned with the society in which he lives -- especially the petty social politics of the Golds -- but someone who is also still (clearly) dealing with trauma he sustained during his tenure at The Institute. And it makes perfect sense: The Institute is a highly stressful, traumatizing environment. Not only must you kill someone to even truly make it into The Institute, but once there, you endure "mock" War Games that feel anything but "mock." People hurt, people kill, people die. Now, yes, as a Gold, Fitchner is expected to bury any sort of emotions related to such events in the name of power and glory...but that's an awful lot of trauma that's being forcibly repressed. Clearly, it's not working out well.
Fitchner goes to Triton to escape the world full of people he hates and ghosts of people he no longer has, only to find that his ghosts has followed him. When he meets the people of the mine he will be managing, regardless of their colour, he describes seeing the faces of people he lost in The Institute. And it is a powerful as hell set of panels. Again, we're seeing the long-standing traumatic effects of The Institute, but we're also setting up Fitchner's later actions when the mine suffers an emergency because he's already superimposing the faces of Golds upon other Colours beneath him in his mind, i.e.: he's not really seeing Colour.
Its's so beautifully done, and also helped me, I think for the first time, truly appreciate the art going on in these graphic novels. Yes, it's always been good, but this is the first time I really looked at it and thought, "That's beautiful." I think it's because I'm more interested in faces, and this issue is made up of a lot of medium shots-to-closeups on people's faces.
BRING ME ISSUE 4 (please!).
It's just not gonna end well for anybody involved and I am just preparing myself for the moment this series tears my heart out of my chest, lights it on fire, and then stomps on the ashes.
This is, without question, the best issue yet. I think that each issue has steadily improved upon its predecessor, but this is the first time I read an issue and didn't feel like I was cut off mid-sentence. Yes, I understand that is kind of how issues work -- they depend, many a time, upon the cliffhanger-effect -- and while the story is still incomplete, I didn't feel left in the lurch. I felt like this ended at a natural pausing point.
BRYN. WE HAVE FINALLY MET BRYN. I love this woman, and I can see not only how Fitchner falls in love with her, but how she, too, falls in love with Fitchner. But even more so, I like how the circumstances around their meeting informs us even more about the society of Red Rising, by showing us how truly ingrained the societal pyramid is within the minds of the people.
And yet Fitchner's behaviour during this emergency incident feels perfectly in line with his character, because we see a person not only disillusioned with the society in which he lives -- especially the petty social politics of the Golds -- but someone who is also still (clearly) dealing with trauma he sustained during his tenure at The Institute. And it makes perfect sense: The Institute is a highly stressful, traumatizing environment. Not only must you kill someone to even truly make it into The Institute, but once there, you endure "mock" War Games that feel anything but "mock." People hurt, people kill, people die. Now, yes, as a Gold, Fitchner is expected to bury any sort of emotions related to such events in the name of power and glory...but that's an awful lot of trauma that's being forcibly repressed. Clearly, it's not working out well.
Fitchner goes to Triton to escape the world full of people he hates and ghosts of people he no longer has, only to find that his ghosts has followed him. When he meets the people of the mine he will be managing, regardless of their colour, he describes seeing the faces of people he lost in The Institute. And it is a powerful as hell set of panels. Again, we're seeing the long-standing traumatic effects of The Institute, but we're also setting up Fitchner's later actions when the mine suffers an emergency because he's already superimposing the faces of Golds upon other Colours beneath him in his mind, i.e.: he's not really seeing Colour.
Its's so beautifully done, and also helped me, I think for the first time, truly appreciate the art going on in these graphic novels. Yes, it's always been good, but this is the first time I really looked at it and thought, "That's beautiful." I think it's because I'm more interested in faces, and this issue is made up of a lot of medium shots-to-closeups on people's faces.
BRING ME ISSUE 4 (please!).
frostbitsky's review
4.0
I have been looking forward to this issue because we get to see Fitchner meet his wife, Brynn. Comic books always sum up the story so we don't get the in-depth details, but I liked seeing how their meeting occurred and relationship developed.
I don't see why the curse words are blocked out. I think of this story as being for adults and there is plenty of violence in them, so why block out the curses?
I still don't like the sloppy style of the artwork. Though the cover by Toby Cypress, with Brynn' flaming red hair is my favorite. Looking at the past issues I like covers by Toby Cypress and not the covers by Eli Powell.
Looking forward to more Fitchner and Brynn, even though it does not end well.
4.5 out of 5 scythes.
I don't see why the curse words are blocked out. I think of this story as being for adults and there is plenty of violence in them, so why block out the curses?
I still don't like the sloppy style of the artwork. Though the cover by Toby Cypress, with Brynn' flaming red hair is my favorite. Looking at the past issues I like covers by Toby Cypress and not the covers by Eli Powell.
Looking forward to more Fitchner and Brynn, even though it does not end well.
4.5 out of 5 scythes.
dgrachel's review
4.0
Solid
I still don't care for the art - it's just not my style - but the story gets better with each issue. Looking forward to the next installment.
I still don't care for the art - it's just not my style - but the story gets better with each issue. Looking forward to the next installment.