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Luther Arkwright

Started by AlexF, 18 July, 2016, 05:13:16 PM

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Link Prime

Quote from: Tjm86 on 21 July, 2016, 06:11:35 AM
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1616553871/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1469077733&sr=1-1

£25 inc P&P decent? (For a £45 GN)

Good enough!

rogue69

You should try the Big Finish audio version of Luther Arkwright with David tenant as Luther, Paul Darrow as Cromwell, along with the licks of Siri O'Neal (Rose), Jeremy James (Disruptor/Harry Fairfax/Interrogator/The Five) & India Fisher (Princess Anne)

It sticks very close to the original story & IMO is one of the best audios by Big Finish out side their Doctor Who range

Colin YNWA

Quote from: I, Cosh on 19 July, 2016, 04:31:08 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 18 July, 2016, 07:30:17 PM
... tried it (issue 1) again and still found myself baffled) I've always wanted to give it a proper go as I'm told as you get further in it becomes less of a puzzle.
This definitely doesn't tie up with my recollections. The first few issues seem relatively straightforward. It's around halfway through that it all goes mental.

Well having finally got around to reading it the impression I had actually holds. Its a bloody work of wonder BUT you can see Bryan Talbot learning so much over the course of the story (not surprising when you consider its long creative history). The opening 2 or 3 parts (I got this as a digital collection so not quite sure where the episode breaks are) are a little confused. The chopping rapid changes between scenes and context making it all a bit puzzling to a linear mind like mine. That said its entirely apt that it is, as what your dealing with is a very complex world and set up and so feeling a little out of sorts as you break into that world could be a masterstroke, rather than the over enthusiasm of a beginner. Who knows... well Mr Talbot maybe.

Anyway after that the plot and story become more settled and the pacing calms things down as the stories finds a focus in the Cromwellian world Arkwright is using to draw out the baddies. Don't get me wrong it still has its indulgences, I found the whole death bit a little over egged and think it would have worked better if it'd be leaner, all be it with the wonderful stream of consiousiness life flashing before your eyes thing (as I read it very possibly wrongly!) - its just not that pleasent to read, especially as the letter is one of the comics weak points.

Over all though incredibly satisfying and I'm so glad I've finally got around to giving this a proper go and it does indeed belong amongst the pantheon of great comics of the 80s.

So looking forward to Heart of the Empire now.

Tjm86

All I will say is temper those expectations.  Don't get me wrong, it's a cracking piece of work.  It just doesn't quite live up to its predecessor.  I'm not talking Phantom Menace style here, just ....

First series is definitely the stronger, for all its faults IMHO.  Willing to be called on it mind.

Richard

The second one isn't as good, but it is told linearly so you will at least find it easier to follow.

Arkwright99

Nothing really to add to all the praise heaped thus far on The Adventures of Luther Arkwright except to say that the two influences that leapt out at me when I first read/collected the Valkyrie Comics series were Mike Moorcock (for the multiverse/Jerry Cornelius aspects) and Nic Roeg (for the jump-cutting/cross-cutting/time-jumping aspects). Throw in the astonishing level of detail in Bryan's artwork (particularly as he gets more confident as the series develops) and I think TAoLA has to be a strong contender for 'best graphic novel.ever).

But then I might be ever so slightly biased. ;)
'Life isn't divided into genres. It's a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel ... with a bit of pornography if you're lucky.' - Alan Moore

sheridan

Quote from: Arkwright99 on 04 January, 2017, 03:23:20 PM
But then I might be ever so slightly biased. ;)
:D  Like the way your avatar has a time-jumping protagonist in a flying jacket (rather than a dimension-hopping protagonist in a flying jacket).

Colin YNWA

So read Heart of the Empire on train journeys to and from London today and have to say I enjoyed it immensely. It's a more considered, better structured and paced than the original, yet strangely I not sure if it's more enJoyable for that?

It lacks some of the chaotic joy of the first, which in retrospect kinda made it world. Two very different yet similar beasts. Both of which have much to recommend them.

Link Prime

Quote from: Colin YNWA on 19 January, 2017, 06:09:08 PM
It's a more considered, better structured and paced than the original, yet strangely I not sure if it's more enJoyable for that?

Yeah, I found it a more enjoyable read of the two, evidenced by the fact I have re-read it far more times than TAoLA.
Both highly recommended of course.

freq

I just scored Arkwright integral as well, wonderful stuff,beautifully done,hadn`t read Heart of the Empire before but enjoyed it very much, i have the original valkyrie series but they are falling apart with age along with my copies of books 1,2 and 3 which had that really bad binding that caused the book to disintegrate upon the first reading! Arkwright integral was expensive but a bloody good investment.