Steven Paul
May 11, 2004, 01:41 pm
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/crossgen/0304/14BR00.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/crossgen/0304/14BR00t.jpg" align=left alt="Brath #14"></a>Reviewer: Steven Paul Watson, vipereyes_2000@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: ’The Sleeping Giant Awakes!’
“Thute Very Hungry”
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Andrea Di Vito
Colored by: Andrew Crossley
Inked by: Roland Paris
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
With only a handful of issues left (…that’s becoming a sad common trend in my reviews) Brath #14 is an alright issue spent giving one character a little spotlight while the others take to the back seat.
The majority of the issue follows Bryllin, the son of Brath and Tani, as he tries to escape from the Cruithi a group who want to eat, sacrifice, and maim him (pick your order). Everything goes well until the boy spots possible food and is trapped in a big hole but soon finds he is not alone.
Out from the shadows is a near giant of a man who likes to repeat words and seems a little slow, and his name is Thute. Of course he has been in the hole awhile and his thoughts are similar to those of the Cruithi, the child would make a good meal.
Though the next part is predictable, Bryllin talks Thute into tossing him from the hole so he could help Thute escape. At first Bryllin runs and has no intention of rescuing Thute from the hole. But when he discovers the Cruithi hunting party he quickly decides he must help (also using the excuse that he did give his word). And of course you know where it goes from there, just as the hunting party finds him, Thute escapes from the hole.
Though I’ll admit, the Thute situation may be predictable (and not to mention over used, how many times have we seen a gentle giant?) I still feel sympathy for the character especially when he sits alone believing the child has left him.
The other two stories don’t move forward as much as Tani and cousins are tracking those responsible for her sons ‘death’ and are on the trail of the hunting party that is actually after Bryllin. The other is Brath and Ule as they sail toward his homeland but the issue ends as they are showed being chased by Vulpus (pretty much just continues the same stuff from the issue before).
Dixon does a good job here allowing Bryllin to have more of a spotlight in the series; but I just didn’t see the need in having the majority of the issue about him. Dixon’s strong suit the past few issues have been his dialog, especially with Tani whom you truly believe just lost her child.
Andrea Di Vito is an exceptional artist, every panel is easy to follow and nice to look at. The action scenes and Thute are the strongest visuals in this issue. But I believe what makes this issue stand out is the mix of light and dark. It adds so much more depth to the art and the story.
My only real problem with the issue is how slow it seemed to move, which is just as much of a complaint for the past few issues and not just 14; and not to forget the predictability of the issue. With only a few issues left it is hard to see a satisfactory end coming to this series.
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cghalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
Buy this issue online from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=470&cat=BRATH)
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: ’The Sleeping Giant Awakes!’
“Thute Very Hungry”
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Andrea Di Vito
Colored by: Andrew Crossley
Inked by: Roland Paris
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
With only a handful of issues left (…that’s becoming a sad common trend in my reviews) Brath #14 is an alright issue spent giving one character a little spotlight while the others take to the back seat.
The majority of the issue follows Bryllin, the son of Brath and Tani, as he tries to escape from the Cruithi a group who want to eat, sacrifice, and maim him (pick your order). Everything goes well until the boy spots possible food and is trapped in a big hole but soon finds he is not alone.
Out from the shadows is a near giant of a man who likes to repeat words and seems a little slow, and his name is Thute. Of course he has been in the hole awhile and his thoughts are similar to those of the Cruithi, the child would make a good meal.
Though the next part is predictable, Bryllin talks Thute into tossing him from the hole so he could help Thute escape. At first Bryllin runs and has no intention of rescuing Thute from the hole. But when he discovers the Cruithi hunting party he quickly decides he must help (also using the excuse that he did give his word). And of course you know where it goes from there, just as the hunting party finds him, Thute escapes from the hole.
Though I’ll admit, the Thute situation may be predictable (and not to mention over used, how many times have we seen a gentle giant?) I still feel sympathy for the character especially when he sits alone believing the child has left him.
The other two stories don’t move forward as much as Tani and cousins are tracking those responsible for her sons ‘death’ and are on the trail of the hunting party that is actually after Bryllin. The other is Brath and Ule as they sail toward his homeland but the issue ends as they are showed being chased by Vulpus (pretty much just continues the same stuff from the issue before).
Dixon does a good job here allowing Bryllin to have more of a spotlight in the series; but I just didn’t see the need in having the majority of the issue about him. Dixon’s strong suit the past few issues have been his dialog, especially with Tani whom you truly believe just lost her child.
Andrea Di Vito is an exceptional artist, every panel is easy to follow and nice to look at. The action scenes and Thute are the strongest visuals in this issue. But I believe what makes this issue stand out is the mix of light and dark. It adds so much more depth to the art and the story.
My only real problem with the issue is how slow it seemed to move, which is just as much of a complaint for the past few issues and not just 14; and not to forget the predictability of the issue. With only a few issues left it is hard to see a satisfactory end coming to this series.
STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cghalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/cgnone.jpg
Buy this issue online from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=470&cat=BRATH)