Customer Reviews

Ironwolf: Fires of Revolution

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

 

 

This book has been available for some time and I hope to get new readers to give it whirl.

So the description of the book in my review's title might seem offputting. Don't let it be. The reason I gave this graphic novel (well, more like a graphic novella) 5 stars is because despite the cynicism expressed in this story it does leads to a man going for revenge against the worst of the worst- fascist cretins and spoiled, decadent royals as well as actual monsters posing as something close to human.
This collaborative effort by Howard "have I made everyone mad yet?" Chaykin, John "Give me a lead and I'll run with it" Francis Moore and Michael "dark and desperate is my favorite" Mignola has delivered a science fiction tale with a bite. It looks older, like the future came and went and left a smoldering decadence in it's wake. It's this sense of old European cities rebuilt after the blitz but still having that stain that makes this SF more poignant, less than new and dark with obvious danger.
There's the rebellious aristocrat, Ironwolf, forsaking his class and his stature to keep his legacy from being exploited by opportunistic family and the folk they'll literally sell their souls to in order to maintain some semblance of the lush life after losing the war. After getting "caught" Ironwolf is struggling not only to survive but to somehow make revenge upon those who sold him out to corrupt dictatorial royals and their inhuman allies.
This story's strong suit is the complexity of the situation.
From jaded royals to the discontented people on the street being fooled into supporting their own near slavery there is only one man who wants to improve their lot. And he's a faded royal himself. The odds are very much against him until a new set of players arrive. Ironwolf acquires new allies, ones who need him as much as he needs them.
Does the gambit work out for the vengeful and somewhat opportunistic Lord Ironwolf?
I'm not telling.
One thing I have to say is how much I enjoyed the trip. Once again Chaykin and Mignola deliver a sharp, well illustrated tale that has a way of sticking in your mind long after you've read it. That's because it's an eternally timely tale about people, thier motives, flaws and aspirations.
Besides, who doesn't love a good tale of one man's pursuit of vengeance against world class cretins?