I truly have a great fondness for the worldbuilding in this book. The concept of the fantasy WWI, with the United States of Columbia, is indeed quite fascinating.

However, there are some significant drawbacks. Our main character is a rather typical straight white male who, predictably, is portrayed as being exceptional. It's a bit of a yawn-inducing stereotype. What's more, throughout the entire story, we never see any women performing magic. There are no female mages or any other female characters with magical abilities. Similarly, we never encounter any people of color. One has to wonder if the places of people of color have been taken by the supernatural beings. The world presented is very white and very male. The only women we do see are either sexual objects or, in the case of "Binnie Atherton", anti-sexual objects. The idea of a buck-toothed, skinny, rich white woman who constantly quotes her father is a rather tired cliché. Additionally, the only purpose of any relationship building seems to be for the extremely random and dull straight sex scene that is haphazardly pasted in near the end. It was so amateurishly telegraphed that it was obvious from pages and pages before it actually happened.

Overall, it is quite a disappointing book to have Busiek's name associated with it. I still keep it around and gave it 3 stars mainly because I do like the worldbuilding. Otherwise, it is a rather dull read.

Alternate history of WWI with magic presents a truly fascinating concept.

The world-building in this narrative is cleverly crafted, with magic integrated in a seamless and engaging manner. Although the story itself may not be remarkably original, the unique setting more than makes up for it. What I particularly liked was the portrayal of the magic-users. They seemed to be constantly in over their heads, facing challenges and consequences that they perhaps didn't fully anticipate. This added an extra layer of depth and realism to the characters.

The art accompanying the story is also of a high quality, enhancing the overall experience and bringing the world and its inhabitants to life.

Apparently, this is all there is of Fletch Arrowsmith, which is a bit of a shame. This initial installment reads so well that it definitely has the potential to be the first part of a long and captivating story arc. It leaves the reader eager for more, wondering what other adventures and developments await in this magical alternate history of WWI.

The setting of this work is truly interesting, with an abundance of creativity and passion clearly poured into the world-building.

The seamless entanglement of fantasy and the contemporary World War 1 not only functions extremely well but also manages to maintain the seriousness and trauma that are inherent in real wars.

Carlos Pacheco was an exceptionally great artist. The depictions of cities on all the pages left a profound impression on me.

It is truly sad that he passed away, and they were only able to complete one more story arc. This is because I can fully sense the vast potential that this world holds.

I sincerely hope that in the future, more people will be able to discover and appreciate the charm of this unique world, and perhaps continue to explore and expand its storylines, so that Carlos Pacheco's creative vision can be better carried forward.

Magnifico!

Visually, what Pacheco does is amazing and the story is really cool.

Moreover, the recent edition of Dolmen (April 2023) is full of extras that complement it very well.

I have been left with a great desire for the next one.

This work by Pacheco not only catches the eye with its stunning visuals but also engages the reader with its interesting story.

The addition of extras in the Dolmen edition enhances the overall experience, providing additional depth and context.

It makes me eagerly anticipate what will come next in this series.

Whether it's the beautiful illustrations or the captivating narrative, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great read that combines art and storytelling.

I can't wait to see what Pacheco has in store for us in the future.

During the first 2 chapters, it seems that the plot is a bit loose. However, then the essence comes. Nevertheless, I think they should continue the story based on how the comic ends. I hope that in the future, we can see more things about this alternative world.

This comic has the potential to be truly engaging. The initial chapters might have had a slow start, but the subsequent development shows promise. The way the story is left at the end of the comic makes one eager for more. It makes you wonder what adventures and revelations await in this alternative world.

Maybe there are hidden secrets, new characters to discover, or exciting plot twists in store. I can't wait to see how the creators will expand on this universe and continue to tell the story. It could be a really captivating journey if they handle it well.

Definitely a surprise.

I was completely unfamiliar with this. The art was truly outstanding, but the writing was a bit lackluster. This was somewhat of a letdown for this author.

And I'm particularly a fan of the period, World War I or really war fantasy. Some of it evoked vague memories of Hemingway, things I might have read over 40 years ago.

Still, it all kind of worked and the art managed to hold it together. And I will probably read the sequel.

Overall, I would rate it 3.5 out of 5.

It had its strengths and weaknesses. The art was a definite plus, adding a lot of visual appeal to the story. However, the writing could have been stronger to fully engage the reader.

Despite this, the combination of the two elements was enough to make me interested in seeing what comes next in the sequel.

I'm curious to see if the author will improve the writing and continue to develop the story in an interesting way.

Only time will tell, but for now, I'm looking forward to reading more.

This was truly fantastic. I have a deep love for both the concept and the execution.

However, I'm going to be a bit petty for a moment. The story is set approximately in the mid-1910s in a world where the borders are somewhat different from those during WW1 in our real world. For example, Canada is more or less in the area where Quebec and Ontario are. In this world, all of our central and western provinces belong to another nation.

At a certain point in the story, the author (or perhaps just the artist) decided to include a Canadian flag. I initially appreciated the sentiment until I gave it a second thought. Canada's current flag, with a maple leaf on a white field and red bars on either side, wasn't adopted until 1965. Before that, we had the Canadian Red Ensign. Moreover, the two red bars in our current flag are intended to represent the Atlantic and Pacific oceans because our nation stretches "from sea to shining sea," as stated in our anthem, which was officially adopted as our national anthem in 1980. But in this book, Canada only has an east coast, not a west coast.

In conclusion, that flag simply wouldn't exist. Maybe they were aware of that. Maybe it was a choice in favor of symbolic recognition. But it remained in my mind as something that didn't seem right.

I'm not entirely certain as to why I initially had the impression that this was set within the Astro City universe. Perhaps it was due to some advertisements in the trade that I happened to read. However, it turns out that it is not. Instead, it is situated in a rather cool world where magic serves as the primary technological advancement, rather than science.

The problems plaguing this world are just as severe. There is a World War I style sorcerer's war underway, and this forms the focal point of this thrilling narrative. The lessons presented may not be entirely novel, but oh boy, the story is filled with a seamless blend of familiar and new elements. They are woven together in such a way that it results in a satisfying synthesis.

It's truly fascinating to explore this world where magic reigns supreme and the consequences of a sorcerer's war unfold. The author has done a great job of creating a captivating and engaging story that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

Overall, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure, and is looking for something a little different from the typical science-fiction or superhero stories.

Although I couldn't like its premise more and the drawing of the beloved Pacheco will always be endearing, the truth is that the comic bored me quite a bit.

The plot is dull and has been seen a thousand times with all the possible clichés. It lacks the excitement and innovation that would have made it truly engaging.

Perhaps if the story had taken a different turn or introduced some unexpected elements, it would have held my interest.

As it stands, it feels like a rehash of old ideas and fails to offer anything new or exciting.

Despite the charming illustrations, the overall experience of reading the comic was rather underwhelming.

I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

The story masterfully combines magic and the theme of war, pacing the narrative in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

In this tale, war is presented in a profound light, and the protagonist(s) never become desensitized to its horrors. They remain acutely aware of the gravity of the situation, which adds authenticity and depth to the story.

What I particularly like is that the characters constantly feel overwhelmed, as if they are in over their heads. This not only makes the subject matter more relatable but also gives it the seriousness it merits.

Overall, the story's handling of these elements creates a powerful and thought-provoking reading experience.

Arrowsmith is an engaging blend of the fantasy and war genres. It gives the impression as if World War I occurred within Harry Potter's Wizarding World.

However, on the negative side, a significant portion of this story seems to be borrowed from other sources. We have the young, idealistic recruit who excitedly奔赴战场 only to discover that it is vastly different from what he had anticipated.

Nonetheless, Pacheco's art is truly excellent throughout. Even though the world-building frequently stretches our credibility, Busiek's fine narrative makes Arrowsmith increasingly appealing.

It's a pity that it never progressed beyond this first volume. One can't help but wonder if Busiek and Pacheco would have taken this solid start and developed it into something truly extraordinary.

It took me quite a while to track this particular piece of work down.

And while I'm glad that I read it, I also have a clear understanding of why it never really caught on.

The high concept of World War I in an alternate timeline with magic is not an entirely natural one.

The book fails to provide sufficient depth to explain precisely how the world ended up being so similar to our own despite the presence of magic.

The setting of World War I is inherently bleak.

Characters are introduced only to be killed off due to the pointlessness of the war, and as our protagonist becomes increasingly disillusioned, it keeps the story from being truly engaging.

It doesn't manage to be a poignant meditation on the pointlessness of war, nor does it succeed in being a heroic war story or a mystery that unravels the world's backstory and operating rules.

As a result, it generally falls flat, despite the obvious skill that went into its creation.

Perhaps with more development and a clearer exploration of its unique concept, it could have been a more captivating read.