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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Aphrodite IX #2 – 8 GPPs

Aphrodite helps Marcus recover the body of Glamrung. Chronos sets his mind on2013-06-29_2002genocide and Burch manipulates Aphrodite into a precarious position.

The idea of another title set on a post-apocalyptic Earth may be met with indifference and an apathetic roll of the eyes, but this relaunch of Aphrodite IX has far more going on than that setup may imply.

With the majority of the Earth now covered in a toxic atmosphere, its only inhabitants are warring factions dwelling in separate cities: one home to Marcus and his kin -the descendants of people genetically engineered to survive in inhospitable environments- the other, Chronos and his kin, who utilise cybernetics to deter aging, living unaturally long lives. The former are living under a theocratic monarchy, and the latter under a totalitarian ruling party, and another skirmish between the two leads to Aphrodite being discovered by Marcus, and later Burchs being discovered by Chronos.

This is a rich backdrop for any story, but it’s the extra details that make this an even deeper story. Marcus and his kin use genetically-engineered creatures (not unlike dragons of ancient myth) for transport and bond with them from childhood. Death is honoured by his people, in stark contrast to Chronos and his kin, who just replace anything suffering the effects of age with cybernetics until they became more machine than organic.

Against this backdrop Aphrodite, finds herself helping Marcus recover the body of Glamrung- his mount, who died in the skirmish that uncovered her cryochamber.

Writer Matt Hawkins layers the story with numerous examples of Aphrodite using her various abilities, like changing hair colour and secreting powerful pheromones, as well as combat techniques and threat analysis.

Aphrodite scouts for Marcus.
Aphrodite scouts for Marcus

There are two distinct narration boxes: one for Aphrodite’s thoughts, and the other for the concise analysis of her situation and actions.

Whilst Aphrodite has befriended Marcus and his kind, Mr Burchs, Aphrodite’s handler, has revealed her true nature: an assassin capable of being remotely operated and tracked, with a built in failsafe of being unable to recall carrying out her mission in case of capture.

Aphrodite is oblivious to her true nature, one derived from both genetic manipulation and cybernetic enhancement, and wonders as to how and why she can do the things she does so effortlessly.

The contrasting sides of this dichotomy prove good ground, as Aphrodite is concerned at the blankspots in her memory whilst Burchs and the nefarious Chronos revel in the disharmony they create.

Aphrodite also finds herself involved in a love triangle of sorts as Marcus, soon to be wed to Lina to maintain unity over his people, is attracted to the mysterious and deadly stranger much to Lina’s chagrin.

Burchs searches for something.
Burchs searches for something

Whilst Hawkins provides a story full of interesting characters and intrigue, Stjepan Sejic proves yet again that there really is no-one else like him when it comes to art. Handling everything with style from Marcus and his people’s brave mission to emancipate Glamrung’s body atop their mounts amidst fire and chaos, to the appearance of the council which Chronos addresses, who are almost entirely machine with only their heads partially organic, to the various locations and the frenetic actions of Aphrodite herself.

Sejic’s art is a masterful display of composition and character design which renders both dialogue-centric scenes, like Marcus interrogating a prisoner, and action scenes, like Aphrodite taking out several of Chronos’s men, with the same skill.

Hawkins’ writing is a little on the dense side with lots of text throughout, whether it’s internal monologues, narration boxes or dialogue, which some may view as a problem although it strikes me as value for money having a title you actually have to read.

If there’s one problem with Aphrodite IX it’s that in the hands of a lesser team it could go down an inherently misogynstic route; a stunningly attractive woman who can be remotely operated and not remember anything she does or is done to her? On face value this seems disturbing, but this take on the character is a far less T&A-centred affair than the origins of the character.

Andy Haigh
Andy Haigh
Andy Haigh started writing to counteract the brain atrophying effects of Retail Hell, now it's an addiction. Andy is an unrepentant sequential art absorbist and comics are one of his passions. Other interests include Film, Music, Science Fiction and Horror novels and quality TV like Game of Thrones. He can talk about these at great length if only someone would listen. He lives a somewhat hermit like life in The Shire, spends too much time on social media and is still waiting to go on an adventure.

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