In 2045, as Islam has overrun Europe and the West openly shuns monotheism, the Vatican funded, CERN Laboratories 'discover' that time travel is possible. The Pope orders the creation of a private army, and led by a few handpicked Cardinals and the finest graduates of selected war colleges, they travel back in time to 312AD - the reign of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine. Upon arrival, conflicting agendas, ideological differences, and personal greed see grand plans unravel. Pax Romana is the tale of 5,000 men sent on an impossible mission to change the past and save the future. At the end of the world, will they succeed, or will they fail? This politically driven sci-fi epic comes from the creator of the hit Nightly News! Collects the entire Pax Romana series with never-before-seen back matter!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Rawim
Format:Paperback
I took up this graphic novel at the recommendation of Blair Butler. And I am happy to report I was not disappointed. The pages contain an original story, compelling artwork, and a tale filled with interesting characters. My only complaint was that I found it painfully short. I finished it in a few hours and I was left desperately wanting more. But in the grand scheme of things, I suppose that is a good thing. Better to be left wanting more at the end of the story then to be sick of it and just want it to be over.
Most likely you already know the basics of the story, in the future the Catholic Church funds research and discovers time travel and decides to send a force of people back in time to right the wrongs of the church and other. Hilarious high jinks and frivolity ensue....okay not really, but we do get an interesting at an alternate history and how the human condition shapes the destiny of man. In between wonderfully composed panels you have the occasional page or two of written transcript that is used to reveal characters motivations and feelings in long form, but fear not, for even that read is quite fascinating.
So if you are look for a remarkable story that will get you thinking and you don't mind a concise (If not short) telling of that story then I believe you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as did I. After this introduction to Jonathan Hickman I plan to read his other works very soon.
Most likely you already know the basics of the story, in the future the Catholic Church funds research and discovers time travel and decides to send a force of people back in time to right the wrongs of the church and other. Hilarious high jinks and frivolity ensue....okay not really, but we do get an interesting at an alternate history and how the human condition shapes the destiny of man. In between wonderfully composed panels you have the occasional page or two of written transcript that is used to reveal characters motivations and feelings in long form, but fear not, for even that read is quite fascinating.
So if you are look for a remarkable story that will get you thinking and you don't mind a concise (If not short) telling of that story then I believe you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as did I. After this introduction to Jonathan Hickman I plan to read his other works very soon.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Hickman's latest work taps into time-travel and an alternative history of the world. Unfortunately, the Rawim and Tyler reviews are completely right: it's just too short. The story is well paced until the Fourth Chapter when events and people accelerate too quickly; its as if the book "jumped" to the end and dismissed the previous three chapters. If this was (or is) the opening salvo to an epic saga, then Hickman is on the path to greatness. The closing timeline suggests a larger story with more installments, but this is mere speculation. However, if "Pax Romana" is strictly a "one-and-done" book, then Hickman has thoroughly disappointed a burgeoning fan base.
While the earlier The Nightly News intentionally used a hodgepodge of vague characters to keep the reader off-balance, Hickman reverses this tread with a handful of pseudo-protagonists and each has the potential for a well-defined story arc. There are no obvious "good guys", just fallible individuals who take the reins of past history. The groundwork is there for Fabian Rossi and Holy Roman Empire, Manon Karembeu and the Refuge of Briton, or Emmanuel Mfede and the Kingdom of Africa to explore their portions of this alternative world in their own books. Now, we can only hope Hickman will deliver future stories in the Pax Universe.
Don't get me wrong - I still enjoyed "Pax Romana" for Hickman's layout and artistic style. I believe the general audience will crave more simply because I want more. It's a solid story premise, but ends too abruptly.
While the earlier The Nightly News intentionally used a hodgepodge of vague characters to keep the reader off-balance, Hickman reverses this tread with a handful of pseudo-protagonists and each has the potential for a well-defined story arc. There are no obvious "good guys", just fallible individuals who take the reins of past history. The groundwork is there for Fabian Rossi and Holy Roman Empire, Manon Karembeu and the Refuge of Briton, or Emmanuel Mfede and the Kingdom of Africa to explore their portions of this alternative world in their own books. Now, we can only hope Hickman will deliver future stories in the Pax Universe.
Don't get me wrong - I still enjoyed "Pax Romana" for Hickman's layout and artistic style. I believe the general audience will crave more simply because I want more. It's a solid story premise, but ends too abruptly.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jonathan Hickman is making a splash at Marvel Comics with his complex and interweaving story lines in Secret Warriors, Fantastic Four and S.H.E.I.L.D. I would recommend anyone to pick up any of those titles, but you can't ignore Hickman's independent work through Image Comics. I think Hickman is a visual innovator and provocative writer who takes fantastic ideas and makes them work for the reader. I have read Nightly News and Transhuman and I even tracked down his Top Cow pilot season entry--The Core. I was impressed by all of them, so I went looking for Pax Romana. It did not disappoint. One word of warning, reading anything from Hickman requires you to pay attention. It is dense with language, references, and original layout using black and white, negative space, and flashes of color. It is well worth the read however, because the premise is so fantastic you can't help but be a little impressed. If you are interested in a comic creator who looks to maximize what the comic page can do, then you should check out Hickman.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hickman continues to amaze.
If I had lingering suspicions as to Jonathan Hickman's excellence, they have been squashed. Pax Romana is a brilliant book. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hickman graphic novel
It's a great graphic novel brought to us by the talented Jonathan Hickman. It can be a little hard to follow at times, but worth the read. Has to be unique for sure.
Published 22 days ago by D. Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, a time travel story that follows through on its premise. . .
There's a fun 80s flick called The Final Countdown, in which a modern aircraft carrier and its crew are transported to the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 6, 1941. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeff F
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well written, great art, but too short!
Title pretty much says it all. The art style is unique (in my limited experience) and the writing is very good. I wanted this to be much, much longer though. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ralph90009
5.0 out of 5 stars
A triumph!
This is what adult-oriented comics and graphic novels should be.
Hickman's work on Pax Romana is a tour de force. Read more
Hickman's work on Pax Romana is a tour de force. Read more
Published 11 months ago by D. Joseph
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great art, convincing characters, average plot, horribly short
The art work on this graphic is what bumped it from a three star to a four. It's not a must read but it has some fun elements to it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by youarenotwill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just right!
Pax Romana is the definition of a page turner, I finished it in one sitting. I've read some reviewers say it was too short and they were left wanting more. Read more
Published 15 months ago by joe joey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Work
This book has both amazing art, and groundbreaking storytelling. I have recommended this book to everyone I know. Well worth the buy and read.
Published 16 months ago by Mark W. McDonough
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astonishing.
This is simply a well-made comic. Thought-provoking narrative, well-designed layouts, amazing art. A worthy successor to The Nightly News. Amazing.
Published 16 months ago by Niel J.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
The book arrived sooner than expected and in great condition. A great online buying experience. Completely pleased with my purchase.
Published 19 months ago by Jericho
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