Comic Review: Aquila - Blood of the Iceni
Sometimes, you are just browsing at your local library when something takes you by complete surprise. This happened to me when I saw the tale-tell sign of a 2000 AD comic. I was expecting a Judge Dredd tale to appear before me but instead found it to be Aquila. Aquila is a tale I have only read a few times pages of. It seems set in Roman times and leans heavily on fantasy. So, with such little knowledge, I thought it would be the perfect read.
Details
Title: Aquila
Author: Gordon Rennie
Illustration: Leigh Gallagher & Patrick Goddard
Format: Graphic Novel
Page Count: 192
Amazon Affiliate link to buy (thank you)
Commercial Fluff: He was one of the rebellious gladiator slaves crucified by the Romans for being part of Spartacus's uprising, and in his dying moments, he called out to the gods for vengeance. Something heard him and brought him back from the dead in exchange for his soul.
He is Aquila, and he is now the unstoppable instrument of Ammit the Devourer, who hungers for the souls of evil men – and Aquila will cross the Roman Empire, from Londinium to Jerusalem to Rome itself, to feed her until his debt has been paid! A stunning historical fantasy from writers Gordon Rennie (Rogue Trooper, Dept of Monsterology) and Leigh Gallagher (Judge Dredd).
Review
Do you like blood? Do you like dark fantasy? Are you a fan of violence? Then guess what! This is the comic for you. It is a seriously gore-ridden tale, almost to the point of being overdone. Our Hero(?) Aquila was once a part of Spartacus' failed rebellion, and whilst he cried out at being crucified, an angry god answered. In exchange for an immortal life, Aquila hunts down souls for his new master, Ammit the Devourer.
During his adventures, we meet Romans, Celts and the founders of Christianity. A true highlight of the comic was the sidekick of Aquila, Felix Fortunatus. A complete coward and self-absorbed character, he plays well against Aquila, and how he manages to survive the fighting is beyond me!
The comic's lowlights have to be the main character, Aquila. I found myself not caring; he wasn't likeable or even interesting. Then there is magic; how come it exists? What made it exist? Why are the gods so active?
It was a fun read, not necessarily one I would buy for my collection. It overworked the gore aspects for me while not working on the plot or background. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. As always, please drop me a comment and hit follow on my socials.
