No Casanova thread? For serious?

[Meyvn]

I can hardly believe this. It's literally my favorite series by Image at the moment, and one of my favorite period that's ongoing. Anyone else read this wonderful book? I mean, really. What's a better way to end a comic than "Uh-oh! Here come the good guys!" ?

[michaeljsmith]

OK I have heard good things about this book - what can you tell me about it? I am all about pimping IMAGE books right now and supporting them. What is this book about? Sorry if that is a mortal sin not to know...

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[davechisholm]

casanova is everything good about comic books.
buy it.

[michaeljsmith]

casanova is everything good about comic books.
buy it.

I'm sold - seriously any more details? Good jumping on point?

[HaroldAllnut]

I'm thinking of buying the first trade, Luxuria. Should I?

[Jack Destruct]

I'm thinking of buying the first trade, Luxuria. Should I?

If you can track down all the single issues, then the Backmatter is great, otherwise go with the first trade (or the Over-sized Hardcover. Ba's art is even prettier when it's over-sized). And YES you should. It's great.

I'm sold - seriously any more details? Good jumping on point?

The best jumping on point is the first trade. The second-best jumping on point is #8, the start of the second arc. But only start there if you can get all the issues, 'cause the second arc has been intense and you'd miss heaps if you missed an issue.

More details:
Casanova, hmmm, how to explain it. There's so much depth to the book that it's hard to do it justice in a couple of sentences... But I'll try.

Casanova is about a family. It just so happens that this family is a goddamn interesting one though.
Cornelius Quinn (Casanova's Dad) runs E.M.P.I.R.E. a global military/espionage organisation that's dedicated to, I dunno, maintaining the status quo? Being good guys? Something like that.
Zephyr Quinn is Casanova's sister. She rebelled against daddy by becoming an assassin and thief who not only worked for W.A.S.T.E. (EMPIRES arch-nemesis dealie) but also dated Newman Xeno, the head of WASTE and a mummy-wrapped evil genius/crazy person.
And then there's Casanova, who's cool, but not in a pretentious way, and he just does his best to try and stay alive and keep his family together (sort of).

The first issue is online free (and legally) here (http://www.newsarama.com/ImageComics/Casanova/01full/CNV01_full.html). If my little description and that issue isn't enough to get you interested then you're a crazy person (or I'm a bad salesman).

But yeah, it's smart, it's deep, it's complex, it's emotional. It's everything that comics should be, and is probably my all-time favourite book. It's also cheap, and 100% advertising free.

Casanova is a strange comic, as far as readership goes. Hardly anyone here seems to read it, but everybody over at Warren Ellis' Whitechapel forum seems to be following it. I think it's sort of like, you know how there are some bands that are called 'musician's bands'? Well, it seems like Casanova is a 'comic-creators comic'.

[Herr Mike]

I started with issue 8, and I've found it kind of dry. I wouldn't say it was a great jumping on point. It's interesting though. I'm not a huge fan of the art. Too flat.

[LadyJeanetta]

Just popping in to add my two cents, as I just read the final issue of the 2nd arc this afternoon and WOW.

Casanova has been one of my favorite ongoing series (right up there with Fables, Girl Genius, and pretty much anything involving Deadpool). Anyhow, Jack's summary is pretty much spot-on: Casanova's an action-packed, futuristic spy story/family drama with intriguing characters. It's accessible to female readers like myself and, well, pretty much pure awesome. I'd start with the first trade, because things will make much more sense -- the story's nice and complicated and you'll appreciate what later issues reveal about events that happened earlier.

And then maybe track down issues 8-14 before they are collected, as the back matter contains a lot of insight into the story, art, and characters. Plus, it's fun :smile:

[HaroldAllnut]

I guess I'll collect this sucker in individual issues as best I can. I made the mistake of collecting Fell by starting with the TPB (collecting 1-8) and then buying issue 9. Amazing stuff, but the backmatter would've been fun too. I'll try out Casanova.

[stealthwise]

I ended up getting a hold of the first trade's worth of issues, and the backmatter alone is worth the $2 per issue. I'm almost sad that I wasn't able to get the second arc in singles, but hopefully the story alone will be enough for the second trade.

This series is very, very good, and packed with story and excitement.

[the goddamn batman]

Casanova is absolutely one of my favorite comics. Ever. Seriously. All time.

There's nothing on the market right now that's doing what Cass is doing. And in this day and age of series existing as movie pitches... it's nice to have a comic that loves being a comic.

Stunning art in both volumes by Ba' and Moon and some of the best writing I've ever read. I'm really sad that there's going to be a big hiatus between vol 2 and 3. but I'll be here when it comes back!

[Jack Destruct]

I just read #14 last night, and, just woah.

It's the best thing Matt has ever written, and possibly the greatest single issue of any comic I've ever read.

[the goddamn batman]

Totally agreed.

[michaeljsmith]

I am soooo missing out

[the goddamn batman]

You really are. It's seriously one of, if not THE best comic at the moment... if not ever!

It's... it's just super smart and funny, and fun and sexy and crazy and out there and goes places most comics wouldn't even dream of going... and most of all, it LOVES being a comic.

It's got more re readability than almost anything else I've ever read. I think I've read Luxuria 6 times... and I'll re read it more. I'm going to sit down and go from 1-14 some time this week. Such a good book. Seriously. Do your self a favor and buy the HC of Luxuria.

[Meyvn]

Wow. The little thread took off after all. Hallelujah. Anyway, I actually found issue 13 to be my favorite of the series (though 14 was one hell of a way to end the second arc, to be sure). I loved the flashback moments. But seriously, every second of the book has kicked ass. Buy the trade, or the issues, or both; whatever you can get your hands on. It's not NEARLY as episodic as Fell, but it's incredibly dense. Even WITHOUT the backmatter, I feel more storied by the end of an issue of Casanova than with most other books.

[michaeljsmith]

You really are. It's seriously one of, if not THE best comic at the moment... if not ever!

It's... it's just super smart and funny, and fun and sexy and crazy and out there and goes places most comics wouldn't even dream of going... and most of all, it LOVES being a comic.

It's got more re readability than almost anything else I've ever read. I think I've read Luxuria 6 times... and I'll re read it more. I'm going to sit down and go from 1-14 some time this week. Such a good book. Seriously. Do your self a favor and buy the HC of Luxuria.

Based on that advice I grabbed the trade this weekened and just need to find a little time to sit down and read it.

[HaroldAllnut]

I've decided that I'm collecting this in trades... just because having all 7 will look really nice on my bookshelf, and lord knows I've already waited long enough.

[michaeljsmith]

I've decided that I'm collecting this in trades... just because having all 7 will look really nice on my bookshelf, and lord knows I've already waited long enough.

...all 7? I am lost is this series set for a specific number of issues?

[the goddamn batman]

The idea is seven volumes/albums. Seven issues (I think) each volume/album. Each volume/album is one of the seven deadly sins. So far, Luxuria and Gula.

It's a creator owned title, so it's only going to go as far as sales let it... so everyone should buy it in singles to make sure it continues.

As of right now the book is on a year long hiatus while everyone does other work.

[michaeljsmith]

The idea is seven volumes/albums. Seven issues (I think) each volume/album. Each volume/album is one of the seven deadly sins. So far, Luxuria and Gula.

It's a creator owned title, so it's only going to go as far as sales let it... so everyone should buy it in singles to make sure it continues.

As of right now the book is on a year long hiatus while everyone does other work.

So they are on a break after issue #14? Sorry just trying to understand what is going on - late to the party and all.

[the goddamn batman]

Yup. There will not be a new issue of Casanova for about a year... that's the estimation fom Matt, anyway.

The plan is for Gabriel Ba' to come back and do the art for vol 3. then Moon for Vol. 4 and so on... but Ba' is doing the Umbrella Academy vol. 2 right now, so between that and Matt's Marvel work, they decided to take some time off and do other books that actually pay.

Let me know what you think of the book once you've read it.

[michaeljsmith]

Yup. There will not be a new issue of Casanova for about a year... that's the estimation fom Matt, anyway.

The plan is for Gabriel Ba' to come back and do the art for vol 3. then Moon for Vol. 4 and so on... but Ba' is doing the Umbrella Academy vol. 2 right now, so between that and Matt's Marvel work, they decided to take some time off and do other books that actually pay.

Let me know what you think of the book once you've read it.

Appreciate the information on this book. It is great to hear from somebody who can give real answers. Most people say "Casanova, yes it is great you should read it." Then I ask for some information about it and they reply "Well I have never read it personally but I hear it is great".

[the goddamn batman]

Ha! Yeah, I've read it and love it. Always willing to pimp it. I pimp it to my guys at the LCS... because tehy haven't even read it. it sits there, and they can read it for free... yet for some reason, despite my continual pimping still haven't read it.

For me it's up there with Hickman's books on the smarts level... just goes about it in a different way.

[Neptunicus]

I bought Luxuria a bit ago based on the rave reviews and how much I love Fractions other stuff so here are my two cents

The Pros
1)I love Ba's art. Seriously. The book is worth buying for the art alone.
2)I really like the general premise and vibe to it.

The Cons
3)The first story arc is pretty incoherent and loosely written unfortunately.

Overall it kind of reminded me of Incal in a lot of ways. I'm glad I pruchased the book and don't have too big a problem with the incoherant aspects of it because it doesn't take itself too seriously. I do feel like he tried to get a little too cute with the convolutions the plot takes which - even though I think he was aiming for a pulpy-bond pastiche - it makes hard to invest too much in the characters because of that. At least for me.

[michaeljsmith]

Ha! Yeah, I've read it and love it. Always willing to pimp it. I pimp it to my guys at the LCS... because tehy haven't even read it. it sits there, and they can read it for free... yet for some reason, despite my continual pimping still haven't read it.

For me it's up there with Hickman's books on the smarts level... just goes about it in a different way.

Love me some Hickman books :biggrin: as you know. Again thanks for the heads up on this one - hope to read it later this week. Wish I would have picked it up at the start of the long weekend instead of the end.

[the goddamn batman]

The Cons
3)The first story arc is pretty incoherent and loosely written unfortunately.

Really? I so completely disagree. I find it to be totally coherent... I mean, the dimension jumping shit, you're not supposed to worry about that too much. Just go along for the ride... but beyond that I found it all fit together really well.

I do feel like he tried to get a little too cute with the convolutions the plot takes which - even though I think he was aiming for a pulpy-bond pastiche - it makes hard to invest too much in the characters because of that. At least for me.

Can you elaborate on that... in a spoiler free way, for those who've not read it yet?

[Neptunicus]

Really? I so completely disagree. I find it to be totally coherent... I mean, the dimension jumping shit, you're not supposed to worry about that too much. Just go along for the ride... but beyond that I found it all fit together really well.

Yeah I'm probably in the minority on this point. I thought the incoherent aspects of it stemmed from the storytelling not so much the story itself. That being said I'd rather a story suffer from a bit of confusion than inane exposition. I don't have the book in front of me to cite an exact example though...

Can you elaborate on that... in a spoiler free way, for those who've not read it yet?

The best example I can come up with, and I'm going to an extreme here to just make a point, but if you took that scene from Princess Bride where they switch the poison back and forth - doing the whole triple fake out thing - then extend the gimmick for another 20 minutes. Then the scene would lose part of it's charm and you might no longer care what happens by the end. Maybe that's not a great analogy but it's the best I can come up with right now.

[the goddamn batman]

I get what you're saying with the Princess Bride example... still, I disagree. I think it works great in Casanova. Different strokes or whatever.

I dunno... I LOVED Luxuria. I thought it was a great story idea and done really well, personally.

I'm just curious why others dislike aspects of it... or what aspects they disliked. Rather, I'm glad someone can say somthing other than "I just didn't get it."

[Neptunicus]

I get what you're saying with the Princess Bride example... still, I disagree. I think it works great in Casanova. Different strokes or whatever.

I dunno... I LOVED Luxuria. I thought it was a great story idea and done really well, personally.

I'm just curious why others dislike aspects of it... or what aspects they disliked. Rather, I'm glad someone can say somthing other than "I just didn't get it."

Don't get me wrong I actually like the book in general and love the art. If anything it really only frustrated me b/c I wanted to like it so much more......

[stealthwise]

Don't get me wrong I actually like the book in general and love the art. If anything it really only frustrated me b/c I wanted to like it so much more......

As far as I understand, Fraction and Ba take breaks after every album.

[mgs]

I have no idea what this is, but on PulpSecret, they have a post from YouTube which shows Moon and Ba drawing a small part of it and it's very cool. :)

[kidpernicious]

As far as I understand, Fraction and Ba take breaks after every album.

Ba did the first album, Moon did the second, and the plan is for the twins to trade off. But right now both twins and Matt all have other stuff eating up time (and making money, which Casanova doesn't), so it's a year till the next album.

By the by, and Matt mentions this in a Word Balloon interview, but how fucking perfect is it that these amazingly talented twins are working on an amazingly creative series focused around an amazingly talented pair of twins? I honestly can't get enough Casanova. (And hate that the backmatter isn't in the trades...)

Continuity note: the ONLY continuity complaint I've ever come across (because honestly re-reading a few times has literally cleared up every other moment of confusion I've had) was when Seychelle realizes the photog shooting TAMI is really Casanova, and remarks in surprise that he isn't dead. Why was he under the impression Casanova was dead at that point? He'd seen the dude alive with Zephyr a bit back, and in the interim (as far as I can tell) there was no point where Casanova could have mistakenly seemed to have died.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? And can maybe clarify? I forget which issues I'm talking about but it's Luxuria. I can't look it up right now because I lent the trade to my friend, trying to get him hooked like I am.

[HaroldAllnut]

So I caved in the other night when I was at the shop between classes. What essentially started as mere back-issue rack hunting slowly metamorphosed into a sick hunt for all the issues of Casanova I could lay my claws on.

I am now only missing issues 1 and 9.

I have yet to read issues 4-14. Loving it so far, and I'll be goddamned if the back matter isn't worth it alone, because it totally is, in complete accordance with advice I received earlier in the thread.

[michaeljsmith]

Just as an update for all of those that have been very concerned since I picked up the book two weeks ago (that is sarcasm).....

I picked up the first trade and read it through and thought not bad. Then I AGAIN picked up the first trade and read it through and thought this is good stuff. I then AGAIN picked up the first trade and read it through and thought SHIT how have I been missing this book?

Good stuff here guys - thanks for recommending it, even if I am not smart enough to appreciate the book the first two times I read it (glad I had some free time :redface: )

[bebopeva88]

I'm re-reading my Casanova run run now...so good.



http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x16/bebopeva88/Bebop3.gif

[the goddamn batman]

Just as an update for all of those that have been very concerned since I picked up the book two weeks ago (that is sarcasm).....

I picked up the first trade and read it through and thought not bad. Then I AGAIN picked up the first trade and read it through and thought this is good stuff. I then AGAIN picked up the first trade and read it through and thought SHIT how have I been missing this book?

Good stuff here guys - thanks for recommending it, even if I am not smart enough to appreciate the book the first two times I read it (glad I had some free time :redface: )

It's so dense, that you miss a lot the first time through. It really is one of the few books that gets better with each re reading.

Glad you enjoyed it.

[ultramandingo]

.........any one reading fractions iron man ? its kinda like casanova lite - nutty high tek super spy stuff , even has a giant floating head guy - only he ( or ellis ) could get me to pick up an iron man book - plus it pays his bills so he can do more better stuff

[HaroldAllnut]

.........any one reading fractions iron man ? its kinda like casanova lite - nutty high tek super spy stuff , even has a giant floating head guy - only he ( or ellis ) could get me to pick up an iron man book - plus it pays his bills so he can do more better stuff

I picked up the first 2 issues... not bad, but Casanova is still better IMHO.

[ultramandingo]

........ plus casanova will never go on the wagon , name checks the new porographers and gets to duke it out with thomas pynchon (!!!!!) - downy jr should play him in the movie