Tell me about The Red Star

[Olive]

So, I'm not the world's biggest comic buyer. I like comics, but I stopped geting new titles about 4 years ago, a couple of years ago I stopped buying stuff I was following in the monthly format, and now I buy a couple of trades a year. I'm a big Alan Moore fan, and I read preacher from begining to end, as well as Invisables, Transmet etc.

But I'm interested in comics, just not current with them. So I'd never heard of Red Star until Green Ronin announced their sourcebook. And this Red Star thing sounds intriguing. It's political (I like that), and alternate world and other good things.

But is it any good?

 

[Viking Bastard]

I haven't read it myself, but been planning to. It's gotten rave reviews.

The official site: http://www.archangel-studios.com/comics/redstar/frame.htm

Sorry I couldn't be of more help than that.

 

[DeBracy]

I hadn't heard of The Red Star before seeing it at Green Ronin either. At first I was a bit sceptical - "A sorcerer tyrant in pseudo-Soviet? Are you kidding me...?" - but I checked up on it a bit and was a little curious about what it was. I really didn't dig too deep and didn't think much about it until I came across two albums at a book store. They had "The Battle Of Kar Dathra's Gate" and "Nokgorka" (The Red Star Trade Paperback # 1 and #2). I just had to buy the first one to check it out!

The art is great (dare I say fantastic?). The story hasn't evolved that greatly during in this first album (although it picks up pace nicely after roughly half). I know I'm not being very specific right now but it's a while since I read it and I don't have it at hand. I dare recommend that you check it out though if you're interested in the setting and if you're all set for a dose of revolution.

In a week I'll be back home with my album - I'll try to be more specific then if you've still got any questions I can help you with by then.

 

[billd91]

I've read The Battle Of Kar Dathra's Gate and it's beautifully illustrated and really sets the tone very well. It's like Anime crossed with Soviet military hero stories. It's really unique in that sense. Pretty cool.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I read the first 4 or 5 issues when they came out, but it didn't do much for me. Nice art, but the story never hooked me. Ah well, different strokes and all that.

 

[Benben]

I own both volumes and the current series is one of the few series I still collect in single issues.

The Good: It's gorgeous. They've taken the best parts of computer are, and painting and combined them perfectly. The art team isn't at all afraid of showing huge vistas or detailed backgrounds. The character designs are pretty good too. The special effects of the technology and magic are also fantastic. I'm in love with the ideas behind the world. Earth governments have trapped the souls of the dead and use them to power flying aircraft carriers, and to train telekinetic warriors, and living weapons. We see everything from the Russian point of view which gives the story a feeling of revolutionary enthusiasm masked with cynicism and winter depression.

The Bad: I'm a little disappointed on how things feel disjointed when reading the singles. This is helped a lot by just reading the trades, but the story still doesn't feel very smooth to me. The first volume doesn't suffer too much from this but the subsequent volume and the current storyline definitely do.

The Really Bad: It comes out slooooooowly.

 

[The Madhatter]

I've also read Kar Datha's gate and that really sets the stage for the rest of the series. The setting feels authentic and believable. I am very curious to see how Green Ronin does this. I got the feeling that the Red Army and the ?stanis weren't the only people on Earth.