A review by storyorc
Britannia, Vol. 2: We Who Are About to Die by Omaka Schultz, Juan José Ryp, Peter Milligan

dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

The god statue coming alive was creepy (though they were painted, not white, in Roman times!) and it was nice to see Rubria under duress. The new female gladiator was welcome too.

HOWEVER, the climactic moral dilemma was decided off-screen! The narrative acts clueless to the injustice it tries to paper over as a happy ending. Specifically,
Elissa, a slave from infancy who has secretly learned Carthaginian sorcery from her supposed homeland, is killing nobles who keep Carthaginian slaves. Nero is planning to blame the Vestal Virgins for the murders, which would ruin Antonius and his family too. However, Elissa relents when our heroes reveal to her that her heritage is actually Roman. They then turn her in to Nero. No debate, no acknowledgement that her cause is still totally valid, no guilt over throwing a lifelong slave under the bus to save the Vestals and family. Sure, murder is not a pleasant method of protesting slavery, but Elissa's sister-slave Achilla, the newest member of the Good Guys, kills a noble trying to rape her on page 2 and she's a hero! But Elissa is just acting out of hate because 'Rome happened to her'. No shit!
Ignoring that complexity leaves all the interesting emotional depth on the table. Instead, they just make a joke about the Vestal Virgins deflowering the hero's teen son and set up the next book.
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