I’ll do something odd for a Sunday -I’ll review before showing the book details!
It will not surprise many when I admit that I do not play computer games -last thing I tried was the hand-held Space Invaders game! I have seen the posters in games shop windows and I have seen the TV/internet adverts. “Interesting” was my main thought but then -bleh!
Looking at these as a comicker, rather than a gamer, is therefore far easier.
Corbeyran’s scripts are spot on and deliver the twists and turns you would expect from a European comic. The mix of contemporary and historical action flow well together. As for Defali’s art in these books …”lovely” -I’ve run out of expressions to describe European comic art- and is seeped in detail with great action scenes as well as the more laid-back ones.
I need to mention here that one of the things that makes these books a treat is the colouring. Yet the colourist gets no cover credit. Shameful. But this seems to be an industry norm. If you look at the art and visualise it without colour it looks great but a great colourist will make it look even better. Raphael Hedon is colourist on the first book while vol. II and III are the work of Alexis Sentenac.
The concept is by no means original. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5 (made into a film in 1972) was the story of Billy Pilgrim who became “unstuck” in time. Comic strip-wise, of course, we have Garth who had similar problems. The difference is in how the writer approaches the concept and Corbeyran weaves a good tale.
If you know someone into the game then this will make a great birthday or Christmas present -all three of the books released at once. There is also an Art Of Assassin’s Creed which might also make a good addition to a birthday/Christmas gift.
As no images are available on Titan’s site and my scanner just stopped working I’ve had to look around for pages. Here I think the art and colouring show how good these books are.
Assassin’s Creed I:Desmond
(W) Eric Corbeyran ,(A)Djilalli Defaux (C) Raphael Hedon
Full colour
48pp
Hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
ISBN: 9781781163405
Publication date: 30 October 2012
£8.99
This first volume of the French comic trilogy from Ubisoft, tells the story of Desmond Miles’ abduction by Abstergo and their plans to rip the blood-steeped memories of Desmond’s ancestors from his genetic code. Add to the mix the mysterious and violently terrified Subject 16 and a desperate flight from Abstergo, and this makes for a fast-paced and thrilling addition to the game’s universe.
Assassin’s Creed II: Aquilus
(W) Eric Corbeyran , (A) Djilalli Defaux (C) Alexis Sentenac
Full colour
48pp
Hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
Publication date: 30 October 2012
ISBN: 9781781163412
£8.99
Second volume of the comic trilogy from Ubisoft. Escaped from Abstergo with the help of Lucy, Desmond joins the Assassins in their fight against the Templars. But, betrayed by Patient 13, the Assassins leave Rome for Monterrigioni. On the way, Desmond uses the Assassins’ animus to visit the memories of his ancester Aquilus, a Roman citizen fighting those who would become the Templars.
Assassin’s Creed III: Accipiter
(W) Eric Corbeyran , (A) Djilalli Defaux (C) Alexis Sentenac
Full colour
48pp
hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
ISBN: 9781781163429
Publication date: 30 October 2012
£8.99
Following on from Desmond’s previous foray into his ancestral assassin-past, Aquilus desperately strives to avenge his father’s murder. His thirst for revenge leads him to Rome, and sets him on a quest for the mystical Ankh as the savage Barbarian tribes, led by the deadly Assassin Accipiter, prepare to descend upon Lugdunum. Desmond, meanwhile, must also fight stay alive in the present day.
It will not surprise many when I admit that I do not play computer games -last thing I tried was the hand-held Space Invaders game! I have seen the posters in games shop windows and I have seen the TV/internet adverts. “Interesting” was my main thought but then -bleh!
Looking at these as a comicker, rather than a gamer, is therefore far easier.
Corbeyran’s scripts are spot on and deliver the twists and turns you would expect from a European comic. The mix of contemporary and historical action flow well together. As for Defali’s art in these books …”lovely” -I’ve run out of expressions to describe European comic art- and is seeped in detail with great action scenes as well as the more laid-back ones.
I need to mention here that one of the things that makes these books a treat is the colouring. Yet the colourist gets no cover credit. Shameful. But this seems to be an industry norm. If you look at the art and visualise it without colour it looks great but a great colourist will make it look even better. Raphael Hedon is colourist on the first book while vol. II and III are the work of Alexis Sentenac.
The concept is by no means original. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5 (made into a film in 1972) was the story of Billy Pilgrim who became “unstuck” in time. Comic strip-wise, of course, we have Garth who had similar problems. The difference is in how the writer approaches the concept and Corbeyran weaves a good tale.
If you know someone into the game then this will make a great birthday or Christmas present -all three of the books released at once. There is also an Art Of Assassin’s Creed which might also make a good addition to a birthday/Christmas gift.
As no images are available on Titan’s site and my scanner just stopped working I’ve had to look around for pages. Here I think the art and colouring show how good these books are.
Assassin’s Creed I:Desmond
(W) Eric Corbeyran ,(A)Djilalli Defaux (C) Raphael Hedon
Full colour
48pp
Hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
ISBN: 9781781163405
Publication date: 30 October 2012
£8.99
This first volume of the French comic trilogy from Ubisoft, tells the story of Desmond Miles’ abduction by Abstergo and their plans to rip the blood-steeped memories of Desmond’s ancestors from his genetic code. Add to the mix the mysterious and violently terrified Subject 16 and a desperate flight from Abstergo, and this makes for a fast-paced and thrilling addition to the game’s universe.
Assassin’s Creed II: Aquilus
(W) Eric Corbeyran , (A) Djilalli Defaux (C) Alexis Sentenac
Full colour
48pp
Hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
Publication date: 30 October 2012
ISBN: 9781781163412
£8.99
Second volume of the comic trilogy from Ubisoft. Escaped from Abstergo with the help of Lucy, Desmond joins the Assassins in their fight against the Templars. But, betrayed by Patient 13, the Assassins leave Rome for Monterrigioni. On the way, Desmond uses the Assassins’ animus to visit the memories of his ancester Aquilus, a Roman citizen fighting those who would become the Templars.
Assassin’s Creed III: Accipiter
(W) Eric Corbeyran , (A) Djilalli Defaux (C) Alexis Sentenac
Full colour
48pp
hardback
Dimensions: 276 x 179 mm
ISBN: 9781781163429
Publication date: 30 October 2012
£8.99
Following on from Desmond’s previous foray into his ancestral assassin-past, Aquilus desperately strives to avenge his father’s murder. His thirst for revenge leads him to Rome, and sets him on a quest for the mystical Ankh as the savage Barbarian tribes, led by the deadly Assassin Accipiter, prepare to descend upon Lugdunum. Desmond, meanwhile, must also fight stay alive in the present day.
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