Customer Reviews

Aeon Flux: The Herodotus File

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When an animated series is published on paper, the typical result is a comic book of some kind. The other, less likely possibility is that it will become an all-text book. But what Mark Mars and Eric Singer have done is remarkably unique from both of these options. Instead, the entire "Herodotus File" really is a file, a series of attached and bound documents arranged in chronological order that tell a story in the best way of the "Aeon Flux" animated series created by Peter Chung. Conversations are replaced with transcripts. Monologues become journal entries. All the information the reader would need to have a story is provided, thoughtfully and creatively, and the charachters involved lose nothing, despite being reduced to nothing but letters, still photographs, and memos. It is a unique technique, and I wish that more writers tried it. "Aeon Flux" involves a distopian nation known as "Bregna," populated with mentally stifled citizens, and a bordering territory, "Monica," which has no legal representation in the Breen government. Aeon Flux, a strange, intriguing, and quite deadly woman from Monica is often brought into contact with the equally strange and intriguing Trevor Goodchild, the chairman of Bregna. Aeon could be stereotyped as a secret agent for Monica, or a mercenary, (she has acted as both) but all anyone can truly say about her is that she despises control and will always follow her own initiative. Trevor could be equally misunderstood as a power-hungry despot, eager to crush free will and liberty. Instead, he is a radical reformer, one who is dedicated to the peaceful homogenization of the Breen. He craves control, not power, and the control of a single Breen's life is as interesting to him as the command of the masses. "The Herodotus File" attempts to tell the story of how Aeon and Trevor first met, and preserves the moral ambiguity that made the animated series a powerful psychological drama. The plot, also like the animated series, starts out in simplicity, but becomes inordinatly complex in execution. Trevor Goodchild, who has recently risen to power in Bregna, mentions in his log that he has found a piece of propoganda he finds dangerous, a claim that Bregna and Monica were once one nation. A pamphlet of the so-called "Berognican Reunification Movement" comes next in the "Herodotus File," with a sticky note attached by Trevor, saying "Who are these people? I ask not out of curiousity, I want them CRUSHED!" A charachter who was never in the series is introduced, a disturbing man named "Euphemia," who writes all his reports on a jagged, misaligned manual typewriter, signs them with a lipstick-kiss, and remains completely off-camera, leaving his image to be determined by the reader's imagination, where it will certainly be more fearsome. He undertakes the task of organizing the destruction of the BRM at the behest of Trevor, and suggests several Monican agents to do the dirty work. Trevor, against his better judgement, selects one enigmatic character known as Aeon Flux, who remains a mystery despite his best attempts to obtain conclusive data about her. She herself keeps a file on Trevor. When Euphemia retrieves it and passes it along to Trevor, he finds the information on himself to be equally worthless, nothing but PR. This is a quality attempt to display the duality of the nature of Aeon and Trevor early on, and it works. They only encounter each other physically at the end of the "Herodotus File," in the only part that remotely resembles a comic book. To dispell this notion, talk-balloons are replaced with typed-down transcript notes, making it become a subtitled series of images captured from video surveilance. The end of "Herodotus" ends rather differently than traditional "Aeon Flux" episodes would, with an air of a beginning, not the tragic end that is typical. On the other hand, there is an ironic twist that compensates nicely, and sums up the events in the "Herodotus File." Overall, it preserves the intellectual nature of the animated series. The extreme violence that is implied but rarely takes place is equally preserved, as well as the strong sexual undertones, particularly in the case of Euphemia's memos (he describes Trevor's suspicions as "warm" and "meaty," and somehow manages to describe shocking scenes without cuss-words or bodily references). I heartily reccomend it to anyone who enjoys the "Aeon Flux" animation. They will not be dissapointed.

I have read the other customer reviews and none of them really say what I think about this book. It is a vision to the Flux world via book instead of Tv. It provides a great deal of useless facts which you would like to know about Aeon. I found it very fun to read actually. It is so unlike a comic book, except for the last few pages, and is just fun to flip through. For instance did you know Aeon has bullet fragments in her left leg and a nipple ring? Hopefully you'll enjoy it has much has I did

This book is the perfect thing for all fans of the animated series. Not only does it have a truly entertaining plot, but is also more like a file than a book. I loved it, and the illlustrations are wonderful. The only negative side was when I finished the book and I wanted much much more! If you're a fan, you have to have it! The book gives you some backround info on other episodes that helps a lot to know. Very nice book! Hinks mynx, the old witch winks...

Graphic novel based on the MTV series. Intriguing pictural novel with incredible imagination. Graphics terrific, and plot good until the end, which seemed too abrupt. Always sexual undertones. Fascinating page turner, as almost every page is different in format. Supposed to read as if it were a file. The idea of rewriting history to suit the victor is certainly not a new one. The Civil War is perhaps one such example. The futuristic technology envisioned here is as good as the graphics that depict it. I came upon this cold, read it in 24 hours. Enjoyed it immensely.

It's unfortunate that the cover art was redone by MTV as a movie tie-in because this book has nothing to do with the movie of the same name. No offense to Charlize Theron, but the original Aeon is the topic of this book. As an insane Peter Chung fan, I had to have it but anyone interested in material resulting from this movie should probably pick up the recent Aeon Flux graphic novel instead if they liked the movie.

An intriguing and re-readable mini-storyline of Aeon Flux's initial foray into the world and mind of Chairman Trevor Goodchild. Replete with quirky techno-sexual overtones and gadgets, this graphic novel, in the form of an above-top-secret portfolio only falls short in the last inevitable almost-fatal encounter between Trevor and Aeon. A must-have for fans, this voyeuristic approach to the MTV animated series makes for a good many re-reads and tattered corners.

There is never enough Aeon. Ever. I have the pvc statue, the 3 vhs set and the DVD. I've dressed as her for halloween 2 times and probably will again some day with improvied outfits. This is a must for any Flux fan, lots of cool pictures, it's a case file on her and gives a little insight into the story, but not too much.

In a weird way, this book actually made the Æon/Trevor Love-Hate relationship make more sense. While the animated series did present that Bregna and Monica were quite obviously once one, this book filled in the plot hole of what happened. Learning more of Æon's specifications was nice, though I could have done without some of the specification information on her victims. Oddly, this book makes the muddled AF time line actually make some sense. Especially if the episode regarding President Clavius immediately follows the Herodotus File.

I'm very happy with this item, it was in perfect condition, it's a must have for any Aeon Flux series fan.

Aside from presenting a more detailed view of life in the fueding nation-states Monica/Bregna, and providing additional insight into the complicated relationship between Aeon Flux and Trevor Goodchild, this book will teach you how to write effective inter-office emails and the dire importance of injecting creativity into professional presentations.

A better $2.50 you will never spend...