Prophet Volume 3: Empire

Prophet is one of the very few series where I genuinely can't wait for the new one to come out. Along with Saga, Locke & Key before it finished, Okko, Girl Genius, maybe a couple others. Some people are saying it's getting weaker, but it seems like the exact opposite to me. Volume 1 took a lot of work figuring out how their world works. Now it's rolling. I get the feeling Graham knows where he's going with the whole series, and the enthusiasm the collaborators have for their work is very evident. Prophet has never seemed all that "weird" to me - so I think the people who loved V.1 for that quirkiness/newness liked it for the wrong reasons. It's pretty typical epic sci-fi, definitely with a 70's vibe, and an author who has a cool vision. Graham is feeling it.I like the sparseness of the narrative, nothing seems forced. The art is loose, not typically precise/splashy superhero style. It all suits Graham's writing, although I like his art the best of the 3-4 guys involved. The look reminds me of The Incal, with hints of Powr Mastrs. Narratively, it's a toned down, more "professional" version of Graham, if you will. As if he's deferring to a clear storyline rather than scribbling out missives. I think this actually enhances his stony vibe at times, by forcing him to introduce the more underground themes judiciously and with max effect.

In this volume of Graham's Prophet, the actual relationship to the prior Rob Liefeld comic becomes clearer--and there is a relationship. As well as the identities and motives for many of the characters within the series. Several clones start to develop distinct personalities, and the stakes of the past and current world-building start to really add into a coherent picture. It is still utterly alien, but the familiarity that was hinted at in earlier volumes becomes clearer and clearer beyond the repetition of names for Rob Liefeld's earlier comics. Furthermore, one definitely gets the feeling that Graham is pulling from Alexandro Jodorowsky's work in Incal and the Metabarrons for inspiration.The art is stunting, and more varied than in other trades, although the bio-technological atmospheres are maintained as well as an hugeness of scope that is rare. All four artists involve vary the art and yet maintain a consistent feel to the world.

I'm a sucker for Brandon Graham, at this point. I have yet to see him do wrong.Admittedly, his style can be challenging for those used to the more straight-forward funny-book delivery, but to fans of the medium the liberties he takes and the borders he pushes are charming and exciting.This book is another glimpse into the bottomless pit of Graham's imagination, ably illustrated by a team of artists, and it moves the multi-galactic, scattershot story forward to a rapidly-building tension and hints at an imminent climax. It would be hopeless to try to describe the joy of this book any further than that, it defies simple summary, but believe me when I say it will be well worth your while. Just make sure you catch up on Vol's 1 and 2 beforehand, or you'll probably just be lost.The only downside to the story is that it serves as a reminder that Graham's promised end-date for the series is fast approaching. A sad day that will be.

I wondered when I saw the review for this third volume was half a star less than the previous two if it was worth continuing. It is. I tend to think a lot of image comics start with a grand idea and about 10 good issues they run out of concept and start making up stuff and getting crazy. This one proved Prophet could go beyond that.Slight spoilers ahead:Okay I started writing stuff but deleted it. Lets just say that it ties the first and second graphic novels together in a way that was so satisfying that about every 10 pages I had to stop and just say holy f***, sit there for a while and contemplate.

Please read this. Look at the art. You are missing out if you don’t.

My least favorite Prophet volume to date. I appreciate that the overarching storyline is not spoon fed to the reader, but rather released in bits and pieces, as the stories of each John Prohpet are told. I love this aspect of the series although I waited for a while to read volume 3 and it took a while to reorient myself to the plot.Its just that... volume 1 left me awestruck over the detail of the universe and the mysterious history leading up to the events of the series. Now I feel that the air of mystery is wearing thin and now we are just along for the ride to see how it all plays out. There is not much of a sense of wonderment anymore. Anyway thats just my opinion, and regardless I'll probably continue to read the series. I am still enjoying it, but it might not be as amazing as I had originally hoped.

Pretty much my favorite ongoing series right now. I was blown away with the ingenuity and vividness of this far-future earth right from the beginning of the first volume, and this team of writers and illustrators has yet to falter in their mad vision. If they can keep the same crew in place to keep telling this story i dont see myself ever not buying the next installment. An easy five stars.

If you're into the first two volumes then you must have this one. A few more John Prophets are introduced, as well as many revelations about the Mothers. A new threat emerges that threatens both the Earth Empire and Old Man Prophets rebel band - the whole galaxy, in fact! Exciting stuff, with beautiful art.

This third Volume starts to really bring together the storylines hinted at in the first two installments - I appreciate the somewhat complicated hints and nods fo the series to what was clearly a catastrophic event in the past - history and narrative for the characters are being rewoven in parallel to the the story that the reader experiences - the sheer strangeness and over reaching enormity of the concepts in the story are captivating and awe-filling - I'm really enjoying both the difference and freedom employed in both the storyline and the art work.look forward to the next.

Epic series! It has what a space opera is about. I found many similarities to the Metabarons and the Incal, which is a pro. Don't miss it

I love this story. It is so inventive and ever-changing. It really is it's own thing, i've never read a story like it.

If you've started this series here, don't, turn back, and start with one. The story is starting to come together now. This volume follows the John Prophet introduced in vol1 and Oldman Prophet in vol2. Things have changed for them, John Prophet has been elevated into a leaders role after the events of the first volume and becomes involved in the treachery and in-fighting amongst the ranks of the prophet army. Whilst Oldman prophet, having survived the events of volume 2, realises that it may not be the earth/prophet army he needs to be fighting....The story now feels like it's going towards a coherent arc and feels as a result, well, more coherent. The 3 main prophets introduced felt like they were fighting towards different goals within the same universe and felt like the series lacked a direction. Graham has now added one and the elements introduced now feel like there going somewhere. Artwork throughout is done by different artists. There's an artist each for the two prophets and it feels strange zigzagging through and noticing the art changes page sometimes but the artists bring a certain flavour for each. Whereas John Prophet's styling is bizarre, twisted and grotesque to fit in with Graham's gene and bio-tech version of the far future; Oldman prophet's stylings feel more traditional sci-fi and dare I say, a little möbius. There's no sign of Farel Dalrymple's take on the prophet with a tail. Hopefully he pops up in future stories. Criticisms? Well it doesn't feel like traditional sci-fi. It's styled more like French sci-fi epics a la the incal. Whether you like your story to be more coherent or more imaginative, this series is more to the latter. The artwork is very much in the not a superhero style (even though, Prophet is originally a cowl and cloak book). Don't expect fantastic detail throughout admittedly and in one particular chapter, the artists flip back and forth from one another as the 2 prophets realise a common goal. As with the other reviews I've given for this series, this series appeals to French sci-fi fans and those who are fans of the new weirdness sci-fi which has greatly deviated from traditional space opera sci-fi. Admittedly, the series isn't impenetrable. As with most epic comic series nowadays, starting from one is a must. An actual sit down and read rather than glance is what is needed for this series. The artwork isn't pretty but the story and concepts themselves feel very rewarding and will stay with you long after you've finished reading

Look, if you’re unwilling to flex your brain a little with this book, don’t bother. The third volume of Graham’s Prophet is more streamlined and concise than first two efforts but it’s still not easy reading. It’s still weird, challenging but not quite wading the waters of the absurd. There actually seems to be a conscious decision to keep it challenging for the reader but not so much that it’s impossible to decipher. A patient reader with basic critical thinking skills and a healthy appetite for weird, “loose” artwork and strange places will feel like s/he’s in heaven.Earth Empire is on the mend, more Johns are introduced, as well as a new enemy. Get this if you feel like reading something like Saga freaking out on LSD and general space craziness.