Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
WildStorm (2001), Edition: 1st Edition, 160 pages
Description
Sophie Bangs is an ordinary college student in a futuristic New York who finds herself transformed into Promethea, the living embodiment of the imagination. Her trials have only begun, as she must master the secrets of her predecessors before she is destroyed by Promethea's ancient enemy.
Media reviews
Promethea is perhaps the most pure expression of some of the key themes of writer Alan Moore’s work.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Ain_Sophist
I am an admirer of Alan Moore, from Watchmen, V, and From Hell, and also being very interested in Moore's own series about Magic, Story and Mythology, I was excited to pick up the first 4 collections. Now, having made it 3/5 of the way through the series, I know a few things about this story, that
Promethea is a Narrative about the nature of existence and narrative, told mainly through a Mystical Superheroine's journey through realm where Western Magic's symbols demons, and deities are manifest as physical, living things. Alan Moore makes a very strong case for his interpretation of mythology as an aspect of our reality as living information.
Promethea is a book I couldn't recommend more to someone who has an interest in reading about magic or practicing the real thing,
But if one has already studied it, or absorbed Moore's views via the dvd about is work "The Mindscape of Alan Moore" for example, there isn't much else here worth your time.
It's a little sad because Moore explicitly states at the very begining of the film, that no matter how fantastic the story you may be telling is, it must always have an emotional resonance. And while I can think of every reason why the story being told here matters, I can't bring myself to get invested at all in the characters for more than a few seconds. B.E. Ellis's Patrick Bateman is more sympathetic than the characters given here.
I think the main flaw of the work here is that Moore spent so much time trying to get his cosmology together, trying to imagine it as a journey through a story, but didn't take much time at all to develop his characters, almost all of the development is gained through realizations about the higher order of reality, none of it is really related in a human way. The dialogue between the characters on the magical journey is almost totally pat, maybe it couldn't be put any other way.
as a percievable whole, is a story about humans, that this author ultimately failed to put a human face on.
note: the themes and concepts in here are universal, but Moore's main field of study has been in western magick, not to the detriment of the east, just that that is what works for him.
For people interested in comics about Magic, and humanity, I'd reccomend Grant Morrison's "The Invisibles" it's much more down to earth, better paced, and has characters that more than ciphers the author uses to take us from one page to the next.
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finishing it is not going to change. . .Promethea is a Narrative about the nature of existence and narrative, told mainly through a Mystical Superheroine's journey through realm where Western Magic's symbols demons, and deities are manifest as physical, living things. Alan Moore makes a very strong case for his interpretation of mythology as an aspect of our reality as living information.
Promethea is a book I couldn't recommend more to someone who has an interest in reading about magic or practicing the real thing,
But if one has already studied it, or absorbed Moore's views via the dvd about is work "The Mindscape of Alan Moore" for example, there isn't much else here worth your time.
It's a little sad because Moore explicitly states at the very begining of the film, that no matter how fantastic the story you may be telling is, it must always have an emotional resonance. And while I can think of every reason why the story being told here matters, I can't bring myself to get invested at all in the characters for more than a few seconds. B.E. Ellis's Patrick Bateman is more sympathetic than the characters given here.
I think the main flaw of the work here is that Moore spent so much time trying to get his cosmology together, trying to imagine it as a journey through a story, but didn't take much time at all to develop his characters, almost all of the development is gained through realizations about the higher order of reality, none of it is really related in a human way. The dialogue between the characters on the magical journey is almost totally pat, maybe it couldn't be put any other way.
as a percievable whole, is a story about humans, that this author ultimately failed to put a human face on.
note: the themes and concepts in here are universal, but Moore's main field of study has been in western magick, not to the detriment of the east, just that that is what works for him.
For people interested in comics about Magic, and humanity, I'd reccomend Grant Morrison's "The Invisibles" it's much more down to earth, better paced, and has characters that more than ciphers the author uses to take us from one page to the next.
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LibraryThing member selfnoise
Beautiful, dizzy, drunk on invention. The pure joy of a mad scientist, author, and artist doing his best work. I just finished the first volume and can't wait to see where it leads next.
LibraryThing member Arctic-Stranger
Sophie Bangs is doing research on Promethea, an ancient goddess who seems to be appearing in the world at various times. Her research takes her deeper into the heart of Promethea than she ever imagined.
In this series Alan Moore is able to lay out a lot of his more esoteric philosophy, from Kabbala
In this series Alan Moore is able to lay out a lot of his more esoteric philosophy, from Kabbala
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to tarot to Tantric sex. Volume one is the introduction, and reads more like an action hero comic book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jargoneered
In the land of the dedicated comics fan, Alan Moore can do no wrong but this is faith justified?
The first book of Promethea is an oddly straightforward take on the superhero(ine) genre - Sophie Bangs, a young student, studying the appearances of the mythical Promethea, ends up being transformed
There are the usual Moore tricks - his introduction creates a literary history of Promethea; all the previous Prometheas still exist in the Immateria where they can watch, and comment, on the new version; there is an incredibly popular computer construct called 'Weeping Gorilla' that spouts inanities; the mayor has multiple personalities; there is a science hero group - the Five Swell Guys; amongst others. Initially Moore appears to constructing a tale that discusses concepts of the imaginary but it progresses it soon becomes obvious that what we have is yet another variation of Moore's take on magic.
For all Moore's experience there is some surprising clunkiness to some of the writing: at one point during a fight a demon does a little plot exposition; Sophie's best friend is unbelievable enough to be cringe-worthy. It's strange that Moore, for all his supposed subverting comics and his pro-feminist political stance, still creates a superheroine who is a stunning statuesque goddess. This highlights the dilemma with Moore - he does create comics that are superior to the average monthly fare but part of him still panders to the inner adolescent. Perhaps this is the secret of his success.
With a Moore scripted comic the art is often overlooked - Williams & Mick Gray do a sterling job here. When the look of the art is relatively standard comic book, the use of layout is excellent, giving a sense of freedom and exploration to the story.
Relatively enjoyable and I will probably read further volumes but is it time to reassess Moore's real critical standing?
The first book of Promethea is an oddly straightforward take on the superhero(ine) genre - Sophie Bangs, a young student, studying the appearances of the mythical Promethea, ends up being transformed
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into the eponymous heroine. Subsequently it is revealed that Promethea is a creature (Goddess?) of old magic (Egyptian) who is called forth from another plane (Immateria) through the power of imagination - in the 'real' world sharing her existence with the woman who called her forth.There are the usual Moore tricks - his introduction creates a literary history of Promethea; all the previous Prometheas still exist in the Immateria where they can watch, and comment, on the new version; there is an incredibly popular computer construct called 'Weeping Gorilla' that spouts inanities; the mayor has multiple personalities; there is a science hero group - the Five Swell Guys; amongst others. Initially Moore appears to constructing a tale that discusses concepts of the imaginary but it progresses it soon becomes obvious that what we have is yet another variation of Moore's take on magic.
For all Moore's experience there is some surprising clunkiness to some of the writing: at one point during a fight a demon does a little plot exposition; Sophie's best friend is unbelievable enough to be cringe-worthy. It's strange that Moore, for all his supposed subverting comics and his pro-feminist political stance, still creates a superheroine who is a stunning statuesque goddess. This highlights the dilemma with Moore - he does create comics that are superior to the average monthly fare but part of him still panders to the inner adolescent. Perhaps this is the secret of his success.
With a Moore scripted comic the art is often overlooked - Williams & Mick Gray do a sterling job here. When the look of the art is relatively standard comic book, the use of layout is excellent, giving a sense of freedom and exploration to the story.
Relatively enjoyable and I will probably read further volumes but is it time to reassess Moore's real critical standing?
Show Less
LibraryThing member eilonwy_anne
Promethea is a stirringly wondrous story about the power of myth and the imagination, set in a drolly imagined futuristic 'present', and fashioned with great care and love. It's beautiful, funny, intelligent, and resonant. On top of that, the art actually lives up to the idea. Even the color adds
To avoid spoiling too much, the plot's about stories; the ones we create and the ones that have dwelt for long centuries in the cauldron of our mythologies; their power over us and our power over them. It's an empowering story for bookworms.
So far, if I had to name a fault in Promethea, it would be that the stories and metaphysics are rather occidentocentric, and not just in areas where it would reflect the characters' bias. It puts a strange regional cap on concepts and themes that otherwise seem to stretch on into the infinite and universal.
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to the wonder, mystery, and eldritch loveliness.To avoid spoiling too much, the plot's about stories; the ones we create and the ones that have dwelt for long centuries in the cauldron of our mythologies; their power over us and our power over them. It's an empowering story for bookworms.
So far, if I had to name a fault in Promethea, it would be that the stories and metaphysics are rather occidentocentric, and not just in areas where it would reflect the characters' bias. It puts a strange regional cap on concepts and themes that otherwise seem to stretch on into the infinite and universal.
Show Less
LibraryThing member pandoragreen
I'm a fan of Moore's work in general, but I particularly love this series. Williams art is consistently excellent. For the coverwork on this series alone he should be commended. There is alot going on in each issue, which can easily pass you by on the first read. Worth a second or third go. Also
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the annotated notes available online are a great boon. Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
Beautiful layouts, weeping gorilla was great, not enough happens, repetitive foreword.
LibraryThing member kivarson
Moore's original tale of a girl who is transformed into an ideal of truth and righteousness is exquisitely drawn in a style that evokes the flowing beauty of Mucha and the intricate designs of Tiffany. Each era brings a new woman to wear the mantle and embody the ideal of Promethea--if she can bear
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the weight. Show Less
LibraryThing member Krumbs
As it turns out I've read this before. However, I liked it a lot better this time--perhaps because I was paying more attention? Or got used to how Alan Moore writes from making my way through Watchmen? Whatever the reason, this was quite enjoyable and I'm looking forward to picking up the next one.
LibraryThing member raschneid
I am in love with this series. It's a spectacular blend of rich, wacky worldbuilding and an excitingly metatextual meditation on the nature of storytelling and imagination. The complex and convincing literary history that Alan Moore invents for Promethea is sure to make literature nerds happy, but
Lest Alan Moore receive all the praise, the art is also fantastic. Too many comics have mediocre or merely decent art; every page in this comic really is a work of art, and evokes emotions that comic books usually can't touch.
If I have any complaint, it's that the main characters are college students but act like high school students - not that college-age kids are a particularly mature bunch, but Sophia and Stacia feel like sixteen-year-olds. However, since this is an alternate world, and it's unclear how old they're supposed to be, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
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meanwhile he entertains readers with a colorful world that is really rather Joss Whedon-y in its sense of humor and sensibilities.Lest Alan Moore receive all the praise, the art is also fantastic. Too many comics have mediocre or merely decent art; every page in this comic really is a work of art, and evokes emotions that comic books usually can't touch.
If I have any complaint, it's that the main characters are college students but act like high school students - not that college-age kids are a particularly mature bunch, but Sophia and Stacia feel like sixteen-year-olds. However, since this is an alternate world, and it's unclear how old they're supposed to be, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
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LibraryThing member mrgan
There's a good story here somewhere, but I'm having a hard time focusing on it, distracted by the bizarrely overdone, overcolored, busy, gradient-drunk art.
Re-read. The art is actually sometimes good, but always uneven. Still, appreciating the book more this time around.
Re-read. The art is actually sometimes good, but always uneven. Still, appreciating the book more this time around.
LibraryThing member elenaj
Once it turned into a vehicle for Moore's personal mythotheology, I had to stop reading. Just no.
LibraryThing member ctkjs
Kind of disappointed with this one. I wanted to like it, but the premise was a bit too much for me. I felt like I was hit over the head with the theme of using your imagination. Ironic, because to me the book felt like there wasn't much imagination involved when coming up with the details of the
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story. I also didn't like the idea that you could just become this heroine and turn our world into an imaginary one by using your own imagination and creativity. Show Less
LibraryThing member spiritedstardust
This was interesting but a bit too hectic for me.
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
160 p.; 10.1 inches
ISBN
9781563896675
Local notes
The best explanation of Hermetic philosophy and magic in a graphic novel ever written! - DHF
There is a detailed panel-by-panel explanation of Promethea online at:
https://www.angelfire.com/comics/eroomnala/Promethea.htm
There is a detailed panel-by-panel explanation of Promethea online at:
https://www.angelfire.com/comics/eroomnala/Promethea.htm