Necromancer Volume 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Joshua Ortega (Author), Francis Manapul (Author)

Book Description

Series: Necromancer | Publication Date: July 3, 2007

From science fiction writer Joshua Ortega (Frequencies) and fan favorite penciler Francis Manapul (Witchblade, The Darkness), comes the story of Abigail van Alstine. Necromancer is a gothic fantasy adventure brought to you by two storytelling powerhouses who pull you in and never let go! Find out about the book people have been talking about all year!

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Top Cow Productions/Image Comics (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582406480
• ISBN-13: 978-1582406480
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Demons, Sorcery, and High School!, July 16, 2007

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Necromancer Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

This trade paperback collects the first six issues of the ongoing series and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed the book. Abby Van Alstine is a typical suburban teen. She hangs out with friends, she's a cheerleader...but Abby is soon to find out that she holds a dark secret - she can control magic. Abby discovers this ability with terrifying and tragic results when she accidentally summons the demon Mali who promptly kills her friends and parents. Abby is captured by cultists who worship Mali, and refer to her as the transcendant. They want to force Abby to again call up Mali but she refuses.

Abby is rescued by a centuries old sorcerer named Locke, who takes her into his home and begins to teach her how to use her powers. Abby is sent to a new high school and discovers that there are other students like her that can use magic. But even going to a new school, Abby cannot escape her dark secret. When one of her classmates hangs himself, he still manages to carry on a conversation with her! Much of the book is told in a flashback sequence as Abby is at the mercy of another demon who is mentally torturing her. He is trying to get Abby to endure more and more physical and mental anguish until she takes her own life.

As you would expect with a Top Cow book, it is filled with very attractive female characters but this isn't about style over substance. The character of Abby is very well-defined. Abby actually acts like a teenager with the same problems they all face such as peer pressure and strict parents. There's still a lot yet to be revealed about who Locke is and why Abby and the others have the powers that they have. Francis Manapul's art is lush and bold and a bit reminiscent of Joe Chiodo's work with the big, watery eyes. This is a great place to start if you have not been reading the series up to this point.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good one!, April 22, 2008

By 

Diana Muñoz Carbonell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Necromancer Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

I was attracted to this comic book by its cover and by the tittle. I hadn' seen a single issue of it before, so I didn't know if I would like it. Finally, after readng the other review there is for this item, I thought I would order it because I was thinking that the premise of the comic book was good. And like it I did. It's an amazing story, powerful, well drawn, and full of truths. Is a story that moves you, because you can feel what she feels when magic wakes up in her and unwillingly she calls on a demon who kills everyone that matters to her. From here, there's a story of learning, of growing, of being able to forgive oneself and fight to master her new magic abilities.

I really liked this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two words: Francis Manapul, April 2, 2010

By 

Nightfall (UT, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Necromancer Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

I picked up the Necromancer books several years after their release hoping to discover more about the Artifacts that now dominate the Top Cow universe. None of that stuff is in here, but I wasn't disappointed because this is an amazing book. Francis Manapul is one of the most amazing pencilers ever to work in comics. Just to look upon his work is to be at peace with the universe. Grace and beauty flow from pages that are quite horrifying to read. This is a very dark story: edgy, painful and leaving very little hope, but it's a beautiful piece of storytelling and art in an industry that is getting better at churning out garbage. If you're one of the lost souls condemned to wander the Top Cow universe, pick this one up for sure.