The Adventures of Luther Arkwright [Paperback]

Bryan Talbot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 1999

Garth Ennis says of this collection, "From riveting action scenes to beautiful silent sequences, from studies in hateful obsession to humor both ribald and gentle, The Adventures of Luther Arkwright is surely one of the all-time great epics of the medium. This long-overdue collection proves both Bryan Talbot's mastery of his craft and his understanding of what makes a truly great comic book: an intriguing story, characters with genuine resonance, and artwork whose illustrative excellence lies in perfect balance with clear and precise storytelling. With Luther Arkwright, Bryan shows us how it's done." "A work ambitious in both scope and complexity that still stands unique upon the comics landscape . . . stunning," says Alan Moore. Dark Horse is proud to present the trade-paperback collection of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, written and illustrated by Eisner and Harvey Award-winner Bryan Talbot.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse; 1 edition (July 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569712557
• ISBN-13: 978-1569712559
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,028,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An oft overlooked classic of the comics medium, February 1, 2002

By 

situpunk (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright (Paperback)

This novel is massive: not in terms of length, but in terms of breadth. Talbot weaves a complex tale that requires some work by the reader to fully appreciate. Mysticism, alternate realities, and geo-politicial struggles all play into this story of a man realizing the responsibilities the universe expects of him. I must add that this is not a good selection for someone who has not read a few graphic novels in the past. My suggestion is to first read the sequel to this book, HEART OF EMPIRE: THE LEGACY OF LUTHER ARKWRIGHT, and then read this. The two may share some narrative elements and characters, but structurally this work is denser and requires more attentive reading.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The mythic story of the shaman/savior Luther Arkwright, August 8, 2007

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright (Paperback)

This is simply the single most intelligent, intricate graphic novel that I have ever read. You almost go into sensory overload if you try to take it all in. It contains the most stark mixing of sacred and profane elements- and yet it works. To put it mildly, it works.

Every time you pick this book up you find something new in the complex story line or intricate artwork. Only a writer/artist could produce a work like this, for only a person who thinks in images could master the gnostic/symbolist world view that it mirrors. Here you have alternate universe after alternate universe- yet all connected by underlieing currents and patterns. As above, so below.

Oh yes, it also has a healthy amount of English working class bloody mindedness- something that we in America are becoming increasingly familiar with as the God-less corporate "upperclass" tries to turn this society into a rigid caste-based oligarchy....

5.0 out of 5 stars The pinnacle, February 27, 2003

By 

Don Ersperm (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Luther Arkwright (Paperback)

We are told at Warren Ellis's website that Talbot knows nothing of comics history and yet made one of the best. It's true. There are certain stylistic faux-pas's both in the story and illustrations. Nonetheless, Talbot has single-handedly created the only comic I've ever read that was as exiting as Star Wars I. Everything is in place: Absolute Good (God) versus unthinkable Evil (Arkwright); references to traditions known from childhood done in a lyrical and hypnotic way; a bare bones plot with even barer characterization; and a refrain from a Rob Zombie song, before the particular refrain was made. (How's that for future anterior?)

If you enjoy comics, you're cheating yourself if you don't give this one a look over.