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Dawn: Lucifer's Halo
DAWN is the epic tale of good and evil, Heaven and Hell, death and rebirth played out on the nightmarish streets of Manhattan, set during an indeterminate future. Darrian Ashoka--slayer of demons and murderer of angels--stands at a crossroads in his life. He has met Dawn, a mysterious woman who may or may not be the Earth Goddess incarnate. In his search for his own identity and his role in the eternal war between Ahura Mazda and Lucifer, Darrian learns something about cosmic fate and the way the universe really works. Rife with true love, absolute hatred, eternal damnation, relentless war, lost souls and divine illumination, LUCIFER'S HALO is the kind of book that gets better every time you read it. Written and illustrated by Joseph Michael Linsner.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1997
About the author
Joseph Michael Linsner
210 books29 followersJoseph Michael Linsner is most well-known for DAWN, his personal Pin-Up Goddess. After her debut appearance on the cover of CRY FOR DAWN #1 in 1989, Dawn struck a chord with thousands of fans on an international level. She is currently published in six languages and has come to life in the form of statues, action figures, t-shirts, lithographs, lunch boxes and trading cards..An award winning Illustrator, Linsner has painted covers for all of the major comics characters, including Wolverine, Justice League, Conan, and Vampirella. One of his proudest moments was getting to illustrate a short story written by Stan Lee for 'Actor Comics Presents'. Next up for Linsner is 'The White Phoenix & Other Stories' a collection of Dawn short tales, before he starts work on the fourth Dawn graphic novel due in 2013. To contact JML for booking and appearances and conventions or shows please note the authorized email address and ONLY official JML AUTHORIZED 2011-2012 BIOGRAPHY has been updated from the old sites. Current info is on his Blogger, facebook and twitter accounts.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 13, 2022
#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)
From the August 1998 edition with a theme of "Reprinted and Repackaged":
INTRODUCTION
I'm feeling nostalgic, folks. Howzabout a few trips down memory lane this month?
When I was a young kid buying comics off the spinner rack at the my small town drug store or the magazine rack at the county seat's big grocery store, missing an issue of ARCHIE, RICHIE RICH or SUPERMAN was a tragedy. There were no comic stores with back issue bins in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. And heck, the only other comic book collector in town bought only those trashy Marvel titles, such as X-MEN and FANTASTIC FOUR, which I snubbed. (Hey, I was ignorant of the concepts of appreciation in value and comic book price guides. Give me a break!) If Jackson's Drug Store or Dick's Supermarket didn't get a particular comic, this little farm boy was plain outta luck.
Nowadays, the comics collector has a multitude of solutions available to him. Somewhere in the midst of all the back issue bins, comic conventions, classified ads, mail order companies, fan clubs, and distributor restocking systems, a missing comic book is sure to turn up with a little effort . . . even for little snot-nosed nerds living on isolated Wisconsin dairy farms. As a grown-up, snot-nosed nerd living in isolation in Colorado, I still agonize over a missing issue of a beloved comic book series, but now I'm flexible enough to consider the one solution that is becoming more and more common and, therefore, much easier to obtain. For those willing to bypass first-edition, serialized comics, the Golden Age of publisher reprinting and repackaging is upon us.
FROM THE BACKLIST
DAWN #1-6 (Sirius Entertainment)
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER #1-4 (Dark Horse Comics)
Good morning, and welcome to class . . .
I read comics. And to me, that means the story is always more important than the art. Sure, it's nice to have a great writer and a talented artist working in tandem, but I will settle for a mediocre artist or even a terrible artist if the script is decent. As a rule, artwork cannot overcome horrendous writing. Unless, of course, the artwork is transcendent. To give you an idea of where I draw the line, I offer the following examples.
First, to prove the rule . . .
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER by writer/artist Kelley Jones features magnificently stylized artwork by a long-time comics professional. Jones' sublimely grotesque work on DC Comics' DEADMAN and BATMAN titles is simply prologue to his achievement in this Dark Horse Comics limited series. Yet, the pictures are covered with loads of captions and word balloons that draw the eye. And when the eye starts to read the words in the balloons, it discovers a ridiculous story about a parasitic slug which attaches itself to the head of a human host in order to fight demons. As much as my eyes may want to admire the art, the story keeps distracting my mind, sending my enjoyment of the book into a downward spiral.
Now, to provide the exception to the rule . . .
DAWN by writer/artist Joseph Michael Linser is one of the most gorgeous comics I have ever seen. The story involves a forgettable, surrealistic quest by some fellow who has gotten his hands on the halo Lucifer wore when he was still an angel, before he fell from heaven to become the lord of Hell. I'm still not quite sure what the point of the tale is, but the art . . . ohmigod the art! Break out a thesaurus and see how many synonyms you can find for "exquisite." Then move on to "glorious" and "perfect." A list of every one of those words will only begin to touch upon the admiration I have for Linser's art. I have liked Linser's work ever since I first came across the old CRY FOR DAWN black-and-white anthology; having seen his full color pages in DAWN, I worship the man.
The title character of DAWN is the prettiest woman to grace the field of comics and is also worthy of worship. Her powers and background are purposely left vague, but her beauty is well defined. Featured prominently and ravishingly on every cover, Dawn's bad-girl attire and demeanor might make one think this comic is for men only, but even my feminist wife was swept away by the quality of the artwork, making DAWN one of the few comics she has spontaneously picked up in recent years.
To summarize . . .
Jones' artwork on KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER is mighty fine, but the reader eventually begins to linger on those numerous captions and word balloons and attempts to decipher the mess of a plot the words struggle to communicate. This is bad. Meanwhile, Linser's art on DAWN overwhelms the senses, leaving no room for a balanced consideration of the story. Smartly, Linser avoids captions and tells his story through dialogue and wordless sequences, accenting his strength and downplaying his weakness. This is good.
For your homework . . .
Buy DAWN.
Class dismissed.
DAWN - Grade: B
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER - Grade: D-
From the August 1998 edition with a theme of "Reprinted and Repackaged":
INTRODUCTION
I'm feeling nostalgic, folks. Howzabout a few trips down memory lane this month?
When I was a young kid buying comics off the spinner rack at the my small town drug store or the magazine rack at the county seat's big grocery store, missing an issue of ARCHIE, RICHIE RICH or SUPERMAN was a tragedy. There were no comic stores with back issue bins in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. And heck, the only other comic book collector in town bought only those trashy Marvel titles, such as X-MEN and FANTASTIC FOUR, which I snubbed. (Hey, I was ignorant of the concepts of appreciation in value and comic book price guides. Give me a break!) If Jackson's Drug Store or Dick's Supermarket didn't get a particular comic, this little farm boy was plain outta luck.
Nowadays, the comics collector has a multitude of solutions available to him. Somewhere in the midst of all the back issue bins, comic conventions, classified ads, mail order companies, fan clubs, and distributor restocking systems, a missing comic book is sure to turn up with a little effort . . . even for little snot-nosed nerds living on isolated Wisconsin dairy farms. As a grown-up, snot-nosed nerd living in isolation in Colorado, I still agonize over a missing issue of a beloved comic book series, but now I'm flexible enough to consider the one solution that is becoming more and more common and, therefore, much easier to obtain. For those willing to bypass first-edition, serialized comics, the Golden Age of publisher reprinting and repackaging is upon us.
FROM THE BACKLIST
DAWN #1-6 (Sirius Entertainment)
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER #1-4 (Dark Horse Comics)
Good morning, and welcome to class . . .
I read comics. And to me, that means the story is always more important than the art. Sure, it's nice to have a great writer and a talented artist working in tandem, but I will settle for a mediocre artist or even a terrible artist if the script is decent. As a rule, artwork cannot overcome horrendous writing. Unless, of course, the artwork is transcendent. To give you an idea of where I draw the line, I offer the following examples.
First, to prove the rule . . .
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER by writer/artist Kelley Jones features magnificently stylized artwork by a long-time comics professional. Jones' sublimely grotesque work on DC Comics' DEADMAN and BATMAN titles is simply prologue to his achievement in this Dark Horse Comics limited series. Yet, the pictures are covered with loads of captions and word balloons that draw the eye. And when the eye starts to read the words in the balloons, it discovers a ridiculous story about a parasitic slug which attaches itself to the head of a human host in order to fight demons. As much as my eyes may want to admire the art, the story keeps distracting my mind, sending my enjoyment of the book into a downward spiral.
Now, to provide the exception to the rule . . .
DAWN by writer/artist Joseph Michael Linser is one of the most gorgeous comics I have ever seen. The story involves a forgettable, surrealistic quest by some fellow who has gotten his hands on the halo Lucifer wore when he was still an angel, before he fell from heaven to become the lord of Hell. I'm still not quite sure what the point of the tale is, but the art . . . ohmigod the art! Break out a thesaurus and see how many synonyms you can find for "exquisite." Then move on to "glorious" and "perfect." A list of every one of those words will only begin to touch upon the admiration I have for Linser's art. I have liked Linser's work ever since I first came across the old CRY FOR DAWN black-and-white anthology; having seen his full color pages in DAWN, I worship the man.
The title character of DAWN is the prettiest woman to grace the field of comics and is also worthy of worship. Her powers and background are purposely left vague, but her beauty is well defined. Featured prominently and ravishingly on every cover, Dawn's bad-girl attire and demeanor might make one think this comic is for men only, but even my feminist wife was swept away by the quality of the artwork, making DAWN one of the few comics she has spontaneously picked up in recent years.
To summarize . . .
Jones' artwork on KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER is mighty fine, but the reader eventually begins to linger on those numerous captions and word balloons and attempts to decipher the mess of a plot the words struggle to communicate. This is bad. Meanwhile, Linser's art on DAWN overwhelms the senses, leaving no room for a balanced consideration of the story. Smartly, Linser avoids captions and tells his story through dialogue and wordless sequences, accenting his strength and downplaying his weakness. This is good.
For your homework . . .
Buy DAWN.
Class dismissed.
DAWN - Grade: B
KELLEY JONES' THE HAMMER - Grade: D-
August 23, 2011
I remember first reading this book when I was 16, pulled from my father's bookshelf. My mother hated it for the art, my father loved it for the story (legitimately for the story, not just that reading playboy for the articles bullshit, though I'm sure that could be applicable to this book as well).
Though Linsner's art is gorgeous, it does fit into the "big tits, big pecs, big guns (er...swords)" genre of graphic novels. Full of women with giant breasts, pointing nipples, literally no waist at all and legs into infinity, I can see why my mother was so opposed in my youth. Yet reading this now, I can really see the beauty of the story combining heaven and hell, death and rebirth, the beauty of man and letting go of meaning.
Despite the story, this is not a book for feminists. None of Linsner's works are. There are misogynistic male characters in every book he has written--it is not merely the physical attributes of the female characters. Even the strongest female characters are vulnerable to the male characters, and even with their infinite power still succumb. But what is life other than submission to another?
Though Linsner's art is gorgeous, it does fit into the "big tits, big pecs, big guns (er...swords)" genre of graphic novels. Full of women with giant breasts, pointing nipples, literally no waist at all and legs into infinity, I can see why my mother was so opposed in my youth. Yet reading this now, I can really see the beauty of the story combining heaven and hell, death and rebirth, the beauty of man and letting go of meaning.
Despite the story, this is not a book for feminists. None of Linsner's works are. There are misogynistic male characters in every book he has written--it is not merely the physical attributes of the female characters. Even the strongest female characters are vulnerable to the male characters, and even with their infinite power still succumb. But what is life other than submission to another?
August 22, 2016
Just a wonderful piece of art. Almost a narrative poem with images. This is a very special graphic novel. It's like a neo-gothic piece with transcendentalist imagery. I don't even know what that means, but it's the most concise way for me to think of it. Totally hooked and looking forward to reading more Joseph Michael Linsner.
April 17, 2019
I really love this book and that statement is completely devoid of irony. There is a legitimate conviction behind my love for this book.
The problem with liking this book, and reading it as regularly as I do is the fact that, structurally, this book has a lot of problems. Lisner's story can become quite arcane as he juggles symbols that feel like they hold a great deal of meaning, and then at times, they fall flaccid and hollow. He fills his pages with beautiful and often ambiguous human beings that are lovely to look at, and at times they seem to have a real character, and then on the next page, their humanity has been stripped to draw a great pair of boobs.
Lisner's book is worth a read for the way it explores a very 90s aesthetic. It was a time where the city had the capacity to drift into the next world, and the back alleyways filled with junkies might also reveal demons and angels and monsters.
It's a weird strange book that I'm sure to read again. And so allow me to hang my hat on this slim pole, "I promise, I'm reading it for the art."
The problem with liking this book, and reading it as regularly as I do is the fact that, structurally, this book has a lot of problems. Lisner's story can become quite arcane as he juggles symbols that feel like they hold a great deal of meaning, and then at times, they fall flaccid and hollow. He fills his pages with beautiful and often ambiguous human beings that are lovely to look at, and at times they seem to have a real character, and then on the next page, their humanity has been stripped to draw a great pair of boobs.
Lisner's book is worth a read for the way it explores a very 90s aesthetic. It was a time where the city had the capacity to drift into the next world, and the back alleyways filled with junkies might also reveal demons and angels and monsters.
It's a weird strange book that I'm sure to read again. And so allow me to hang my hat on this slim pole, "I promise, I'm reading it for the art."
August 16, 2017
Amazing art but plot and characters are all over the place. It reads like edgy fan fiction by a teenager who hates everything, yet wants to tell a message while also including sex. Religious folks will be offended with how god and the devil are turned into a gay couple having a quarrel over a simple halo. Anarchists might dig the way society has crumpled, but it's a plot point that is dropped midway for shallow philosophy and pretentious quoting of religious books. As a whole, you are better off staring at the exceptional artwork than bothering to read it.
January 23, 2021
Are you kidding me? Second overhyped and critically acclaimed book in a row that I didn't enjoy and was not written for me. This was a Christmas gift and I'm sad for the 17,90€ they spent.... The art style is out of this world though, I will give it to them.....if it wasn't for the male gaze perspective...
August 24, 2009
I found this and its companion at in a used book shop in Raleigh, while applying for a job. It was in good condition, being a fourth printing I would hope so. No I didn't get the job. This is a little late in writing, sorry.
First off Mr. Linsner's art is Incredible . It is real, dark, and emotive. This would have been worth full price just to look at. I am not a critic, when it comes to art, but I know when I see a Good bit of it. This is not for children in my opinion. The authors website is here.
In his forward the author states that this trade paperback has been slightly rewritten to more accurately tell the story he intended. So if you read the original comics this might be worth checking out. The story is intelligently written and appears to be well versed in the principals of Goddess worship. It is a thinking read if you want blood and guts without intentions don't bother.
This is a definite must read. I would recommend it to any graphic novel enthusiast who wants more than just great art. it is great art.
First off Mr. Linsner's art is Incredible . It is real, dark, and emotive. This would have been worth full price just to look at. I am not a critic, when it comes to art, but I know when I see a Good bit of it. This is not for children in my opinion. The authors website is here.
In his forward the author states that this trade paperback has been slightly rewritten to more accurately tell the story he intended. So if you read the original comics this might be worth checking out. The story is intelligently written and appears to be well versed in the principals of Goddess worship. It is a thinking read if you want blood and guts without intentions don't bother.
This is a definite must read. I would recommend it to any graphic novel enthusiast who wants more than just great art. it is great art.
January 16, 2008
I am a sucker for Linsner's art, despite the fact that he draws all his women with pointy nipples and huge breasts that point in opposite directions. His storytelling reminds me a bit of something a goth kid would come up with in high school, but for some reason the art makes up for that. I had a lot more respect for Joe before he came to my comic store and made some derogatory comments. I really shouldn't give him any more of my money but his art gets me every time!
January 17, 2010
Linsner was the best of the Nineties cheesecake comic artists. His pages are not just fantastic pinup style paintings, they are also anatomically realistic which is a quality rarely found in "good girl" art. The plot of Lucifer's halo is some sort of mash-up of Christian and Celtic mythology with some feminist elements, but the real point is just to enjoy the art.
November 19, 2010
This book is amazing! I can't wait to read the rest. I love the story, how there are the different higher powers all present and how Dawn can go wherever. I have to admit I was also looking at what she was wearing to try to get an idea for a costume for the Dawn contest at Dragon*Con. I think I know what I'm going to try. :)
March 3, 2020
Lisner es Alex Ross cuando se trata de dibujar a Dawn, la historia es bastante loca pero envolvente; el final no fue a ningún lado como tenía previsto, sabia que nada podría salir de una historia así, pero al final fue un viaje; como soñar con los ojos abiertos, repito esto señor es el amo a hora de dibujar en este cómic. Es Alex Ross. (A veces se pasa con lo sexy que dibuja a Dawn, por pasajes parece más un cómic herotico que una historia de otro tipo, pero es parte de la belleza de esta historia) Dawn se ve bastante como la unión de Jessica Rabit y Cameron Diaz de los 90's. Parece que toma elementos de Angela de Neil gaiman y Greg Capullo, pero el dibujo acá está muy por encima de lo que el buen Capullo puede hacer, siendo fan de Capullo; Lisner dibuja en otro estadio o en otra liga, repito es Alex Ross.
December 31, 2016
One of my favorite comics of all time!
The art is amazing, the character designs are incredible, looks like every page is a oil painting but in reality it's markers and coloring pencils on paper... Wow!
The story is also amazing! Really hit me hard when I read it in my late teens early 20's. Put certain issues of faith and life into a different perspective for me.
This book gets my top recommendation. Read it. Share it.
The art is amazing, the character designs are incredible, looks like every page is a oil painting but in reality it's markers and coloring pencils on paper... Wow!
The story is also amazing! Really hit me hard when I read it in my late teens early 20's. Put certain issues of faith and life into a different perspective for me.
This book gets my top recommendation. Read it. Share it.
September 13, 2020
The story is all over the place, but that's by design. We follow our hero as he encounters Dawn, angels, demons, and everything in between. The story is quite odd, but the artwork is stunning! JML is a top notch, underrated, amazing artist that has flown under the radar for decades. If you are a lover of mythologies, heaven, hell, or just stunning art, then this story and artist are for you!
Reminiscent of The Crow and Gaiman's Death, this is an odd but intriguing journey.
Reminiscent of The Crow and Gaiman's Death, this is an odd but intriguing journey.
November 27, 2018
I happened to pick this book for a quarter at a yard sale, and the poor thing was falling apart at the seams, so sadly I no longer have it.... Long story short, it was one of my favorite books. The art and story were both just so awesome, and I really wish I could get my hands on the book to read again after so many years.
April 12, 2023
Opened this with low expectations; I'd picked it up cheap and wanted to give it a chance before throwing it in a box of giveaway books. Ended up really enjoying Linsner's sincere, operatic storytelling and his gorgeous art. He devoured Bible stories and Celtic mythology and spit out something special, like a Jim Steinman rock opera told through glossy pin-ups.
October 26, 2020
Gorgeous, sumptuous, artwork. I got a mini-book of 'Dawn' artwork years ago and it intrigued me. The time was right to investigate further, and the storytelling (no spoilers) fits with the art. Now to find more Dawn ....
July 10, 2023
5 stars for the art alone, but my god was this a fun romp. making little sense and yet I ate up every page, laughing at/with the absurdity. glad I found this in a used book shop in San Diego lol
December 4, 2010
I'd give this a 0 if I could. The only thing good about this is the art. The story's sort of silly and not the kind that sticks in your mind.
We follow this guy named Darrian who has a dream from Dawn or something. ANd while that's happened, god tells Dawn to get down to hell and take back Lucifer's halo..which she does easily because Lucifer's like, 'you don't know the lines of Shakespeare? Screw you, take it then!"
Then the halo is given to Darrian who goes on a killing spree. Srsly. Angel 'Mikal' comes down to ask for the halo and points his sword at Darrian (not attack yet) then says "she gave it to me, it's a present, you can't have it!" and kills Mikal by stbbing him in the stomach. Some demons gather around, commentind and he kills all of them (except maybe one who got kicked).
Sometime later, some other demons spot him walking in Mikal's armour so they swoop down to sweet-talk him. But before they get a chance, he kills all of them--except one loser who only gets his arm chopped off and starts talking about his childhood for no reason at all.
A batch of angels swoop down to ask for the halo back and he kills them all too without any real reason. I mean, they hadn't even started fighting yet and he's got all but one down. When the last remaining angel starts to say something to him, Darrian charges at this guy and stabs him. The angel flies in the air but Darrian throws the sword into his stomach..and he is out!
And somewhere near the end, ALL the angels and demons SEEM to gather, one on other side to persuade Darrian to hand the thing over. He tells them something like, 'go ahead, fight' and the angels and demons start fighting each other while he's suddenly in the presence of god and Lucifer who are having a lovers' squabble of sorts because they used to be LOVERS. Man, Lucifer acts like such a girl, pulling sorry faces and holding his hand like bend at the elbow. I guess he poses in a feminine manner too at times.
Then Darrian says something meaningful (I didn't get it) and smashed the halo then everything's AOK and he's moving on with his life...
DOn't read this book, it's stupid and 2D. It sort of feels like the author's dream or something where all this nonsense happens. What anoys me most is that, whatever she's wearing, Dawn's nipples are always poking through. SHe was also (the bit when God asks her to get the halo back) walking and sticking her butt out at the same time. Who does that? She looks like she never walked straight. Also, not a biggie, all the males have long hair. I thought there were all girls for a long moment, because they acted so whiny. The book makes little sense and the only thing compensating for its crappiness is the art.
Well, bad book, weak story and characters, nonsensical...I don't advise anyone to read this. But if you do, it's a really short read because it's all dialogue.
We follow this guy named Darrian who has a dream from Dawn or something. ANd while that's happened, god tells Dawn to get down to hell and take back Lucifer's halo..which she does easily because Lucifer's like, 'you don't know the lines of Shakespeare? Screw you, take it then!"
Then the halo is given to Darrian who goes on a killing spree. Srsly. Angel 'Mikal' comes down to ask for the halo and points his sword at Darrian (not attack yet) then says "she gave it to me, it's a present, you can't have it!" and kills Mikal by stbbing him in the stomach. Some demons gather around, commentind and he kills all of them (except maybe one who got kicked).
Sometime later, some other demons spot him walking in Mikal's armour so they swoop down to sweet-talk him. But before they get a chance, he kills all of them--except one loser who only gets his arm chopped off and starts talking about his childhood for no reason at all.
A batch of angels swoop down to ask for the halo back and he kills them all too without any real reason. I mean, they hadn't even started fighting yet and he's got all but one down. When the last remaining angel starts to say something to him, Darrian charges at this guy and stabs him. The angel flies in the air but Darrian throws the sword into his stomach..and he is out!
And somewhere near the end, ALL the angels and demons SEEM to gather, one on other side to persuade Darrian to hand the thing over. He tells them something like, 'go ahead, fight' and the angels and demons start fighting each other while he's suddenly in the presence of god and Lucifer who are having a lovers' squabble of sorts because they used to be LOVERS. Man, Lucifer acts like such a girl, pulling sorry faces and holding his hand like bend at the elbow. I guess he poses in a feminine manner too at times.
Then Darrian says something meaningful (I didn't get it) and smashed the halo then everything's AOK and he's moving on with his life...
DOn't read this book, it's stupid and 2D. It sort of feels like the author's dream or something where all this nonsense happens. What anoys me most is that, whatever she's wearing, Dawn's nipples are always poking through. SHe was also (the bit when God asks her to get the halo back) walking and sticking her butt out at the same time. Who does that? She looks like she never walked straight. Also, not a biggie, all the males have long hair. I thought there were all girls for a long moment, because they acted so whiny. The book makes little sense and the only thing compensating for its crappiness is the art.
Well, bad book, weak story and characters, nonsensical...I don't advise anyone to read this. But if you do, it's a really short read because it's all dialogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2015
Confusing autobiographical graphic novel about one young man's coming to terms with religion and sexuality, dressed up in post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy drag. Lush (often excessively so) self-taught art is filled with symbolism, too much of which is understandable only to the author. I had to read this book twice to make sense of it, and even then a lot was left un-understood. And the neopagan goddess worship stuff is spread on thickly, so much so that this book ended up reminding me a little too much of a Left Coast Jack Chick tract, only with better artwork.
Thank goddess the author let me know that he finds all women's bodies beautiful, no matter what they look like, because the artwork suggests that all women share the exact same perfect body-type: ginormous, perky boobies and long, shaven legs. No complaints from this reader (Dawn is hawt after all), but it does seem a tad ironic given the obvious "feminist" (as in the "women's spirituality studies" brand of feminism) leanings of the comic and the author.
If I were a troubled adolescent (again), rebelling against the religion of my parents and seeking desperately to get laid, I would definitely give this book a higher rating. As it is, with the neopagan '90s receding into the distance in the rearview mirror of history, I wonder what sort of audience this book will have in the coming years.
Thank goddess the author let me know that he finds all women's bodies beautiful, no matter what they look like, because the artwork suggests that all women share the exact same perfect body-type: ginormous, perky boobies and long, shaven legs. No complaints from this reader (Dawn is hawt after all), but it does seem a tad ironic given the obvious "feminist" (as in the "women's spirituality studies" brand of feminism) leanings of the comic and the author.
If I were a troubled adolescent (again), rebelling against the religion of my parents and seeking desperately to get laid, I would definitely give this book a higher rating. As it is, with the neopagan '90s receding into the distance in the rearview mirror of history, I wonder what sort of audience this book will have in the coming years.
July 11, 2009
Saccharine American gothic fantasy. Sexy goddess of rebirth (who usually has three mascara tinted tears down her left cheek) encourages a lost souled hero in a post apocalyptic N.Y. to find himself as the horned god by running about with the halo which Satan neglected to give back to god when he went to hell. Satan and God are ex-lovers. Reminds me of when my queer friend Sean wouldn't give me back my Iron Maiden T-Shirt and Raw Power body building book after we fell out over my understanding that homosexuality was a remediable condition - as a result we had the opportunity for him to be reconciled to the reason of my position. Anyway. The hero ends up killing loads of angels and demons and then heads off somewhere on a boat crying for the father that abandoned him. It summed up and expressed a lot of the gothic sentiments and cultural perspectives actually although it was far too immature for me and theologically very unsound indeed!
September 12, 2019
There were a few good moments of humor or social criticism in this book, but overall the plot was all over the place, the characters and their relationships were weak and often went from zero to furious in a second for no reason, the two women who exist are either an overly sexualized tease or a flighty cheater, and the one moment the main character kinda sorta pushes back against another character's sexism is totally overshadowed by Dawn herself being exactly what the sexist character says all women are.
October 17, 2011
Well I certainly didn't hate this book since I did finish reading it but I honestly couldn't tell you what happened in it. The storyline was intriguing but was just messy in its overall execution. Hard to follow what exactly what was going on and why anyone would even care. None of the characters were well developed and you get the distinct impression that the illustrator was more concerned about how "sexy" Dawn should look. That might be great for some, but not for me.
June 11, 2014
Linsner art is incredible. Sadly his writing never comes even close to that. It does not make the story deep if you wank around with religion (only Ennis has done that well) and throw in couple of Shakespeare quotes (maybe you get girls when you read Shakespeare).
But no one draws asses and tits like Linsner.
But no one draws asses and tits like Linsner.
May 27, 2013
The storyline, and some of the artwork, left me confused. I appreciate what the writer was trying to do, but the road to get there had some holes. I really liked the cover artwork for each issue within the volume, but frame-by-frame was a little too cartoon-y.
September 24, 2016
A fabulous read that portrays a man's struggle with his own atheism and the death of his father as he pursues a goddess who teaches him to walk his own path. Beautiful art lends well to this enthralling, yet simple plot.
March 2, 2016
I'm not entirely sure I can follow the story but Linsner is an amazing artist.
December 30, 2012
Includes so much of what I dislike about mainstream comics and only a little bit of what I do like.
May 10, 2015
Stunning artwork and plot that keeps you intrigued.
July 7, 2012
19.95
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews