Hercules: The Thracian Wars & Knives Of Kush, FVZA & Caliber - Graphic Novel Review

As proven inherently before in some of its other titles, the common through-line that distinctly imbues Radical Publishing and its ideas focuses on the personification of identity. Whether it be through Hercules, Arthur in "Caliber" or Landra in "FVZA", the psychology through which the characters establish themselves provides an atlas inherent in the texture of their minds and the possible outcomes of their respective opportunities.Hercules: The Thracian Wars The inevitable tendencies of human behavior seem to revolve within this world and direct the intonations of how the characters live and how they are viewed. The kinetic sense of who Hercules is, as many know him, has been altered over the ages. For a warrior who has been throttled by the Gods, each reacts in his or her own way. Perseus drew from a certain kind of pure heart for example. In Radical's incarnation, Hercules, by comparison, is seen as a truly human and flawed character to the point of narcissism. His inherent weakness is that he falls into love when times betray him unbefitting of his warrior instincts. In "Thracian Wars", led on by his band of dirty mercenaries who are all, in context, wounded souls of their own, the idea becomes that of a journey through purgatory where there is no end or redemption until death. Atalanta, the lone female warrior, is the one most affected having lost her devoted Artemis and only seeks to join her lover in death, the irony being that she cannot kill herself or risk being sent to Hades. On the other end is Tydeus, a serial murderer in any modern society whose life exists only to kill and consume his prey. The metaphorical implications push the mythology even a bit further. The context resides in a battle that can never be won and a love never attained: the truest essence of limbo.Hercules: The Knives Of Kush This ideal continues on the personifications told in the first book ("The Thracian Wars") without as much of the self-examination motif. Here the structure becomes one of progression of morality and its use within strategic situations. Taking place in Egypt, the narrative revolves around two warring tribes that are besieged by a sorcerer bent on unraveling the states. The balance is one of an adventure thriller not unlike "Prince Of Persia" but the stakes, even though the blood runs free, are not as dire as the volume prior. Hercules and his mercenaries, being outsiders, are the perfect moles to be used by the rightful pharoah to discover dissent within his house. In terms of character development, the wiles of Atalanta of all of Hercules' minions is the most crucial here though her seduction is used against type for little more than a plot ploy. Hercules himself, like Dutch in "Predator", is merely a means to an end though the paradox rings true: "We are assassins, not a rescue team" allowing him to further personify himself as a barbarian god who is searching for glory without redemption.Caliber: First Canon Of Justice Using the Arthur legend within the context of the Old West carries distinctive possibilities of yore. Like "The Quick & The Dead", the transition of a town is based on the continuation of a father to a son. The texture here, like Camelot, is based on the idea of the rightful king (here a lawman) to dispense justice where need be but with truth. The key in anchoring the story, like ones before it, is creating an aspect of emotional resonance. Again the idea of human behavior and identity takes to a specific edge because initially Arthur, when he returns to the Pacific Northwest town, is bent on regaining his land and exacting revenge for his father's death. This is what defines him. The same ideal rings true for Whitefeather who is also facing a personal crisis of his own in terms of what identifies him as a Native American, his vision quest to find the person to deliver his land from evil and his own shortcomings in terms of his lust for the white Morgan, who herself is an evil spirit. What specifies this origin story, beyond the structural changes which work smoothly, is the dark, stormy perception of the West (reflective of that of Oregon). This location (that has also served "Twilight" well) carries a distinctly different feel from both traditional West stories as well as the original thought process of Camelot which itself had a sunnier disposition. The defining force of "Caliber" though revolves around a gun (discernibly made from the steel of Excalibur) which allows its correct user to dispense a mode of law throughout the land. Ultimately the resolution is displayed as an unseen force which tests the mettle of man.Federal Vampire & Zombie Agency (FVZA) With the contextual impressions of vampire lore proceeding at illicit speed through the pop culture landscape as an element of romance, bringing back the bare bones idealism and depravity of the legend is tricky. "FZVA", in its structure, highlights the downtrodden with definite detail and poignancy. Like both "Hercules" and "Caliber", the behavioral structure of the lead characters points to the intersection of hubris and loyalty which ultimately defines the narrative. The key, like with "Hellboy" and BPRD but with a more blood bound connection, is family. The vampire assassination team, led by brother/sister Landra and Vidal, are efficiently created on the basis of being vengeance-fueled keepers of the piece (not unlike Arthur in "Caliber"). Landra, with her naivete and "kill-or-be-killed" instincts, offers the focus character-wise. Her identity, like that of Hercules and Arthur, is placed in question simply because she has known nothing else besides the ideas instilled within her by her grandfather which turns out to be untrue (not unlike Obi-Wan's misdirection of Luke in "Star Wars" mythology). What makes the narrative here function differently is the reveal and betrayal inherent within the closed circle. The revelation of the vampire that is inevitably their nemesis becomes something more of vicious stab in the heart. The truth and psychology of what Landra sees as trust faltered ultimately makes her hardened against the world which will be interesting to breakdown as the evolution of the agency continues.