#avatarex

[theartofthecover]

Grant Morrison's Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness #3 (2017)

Art by: Jeevan Kang

[comic-review-blog]

Avatarex #1 first issue Review, Grant Morrison, Graphic India

The theory of the Yugas, the vast epi-cycles governing the nature of vast stretches of time, holds great scope for exploration in art and literature. Before encountering India, the nearest the modern west has to the concept of Yugas are astrological cycles, but the Vedic theory of the Yuga's governs far greater stretches of time, tens of thousands and millions of years.

The basic principle is that everything was created perfect - the 'golden age'. From perfection there is only one way to fall - into imperfection, and so there are 4 ages, gold, silver, bronze and iron. The last of which - the Kali Yuga - represents the most fallen, degenerate stage - the nadir of the cycle prior to its 'reboot' through cleansing destruction, in which only the seeds of the new world survive.

I understand how the premise, therefore, of exploring in comic an avatar brought to evoke this destruction could seem like a 'good idea'. The basic problem is that things need more than a 'neat idea'.

However, we are talking Grant Morrison here. His work on Doom Patrol and The Invisibles has partly redefined comics through his explorations of the occult and the esoteric through the medium. And Grant has been creating recently with Graphic India, an LA based project founded with the mission to "create enduring stories and heroes that foster the imaginations and fuel the inspirations of a new globalized generation of youth in both India and around the world." So there is plenty of references to India in an attempt to cross over the superhero comic genre into a contemporary exploration of themes close to the heart of Indian culture, and considering Morrison's experiences in India (which apparently formed a great part of The Invisibles) its no wonder he's crafting with such rich material as Indian metaphysics and philosophy.

So Grant Morrison is a magician and magicians are bad people to anger, so I don't want to give a negative review, partly out of fear. But right now, I'm not completely into this book. I accept expectations need to be checked because trying to form some idea of a character, world and its direction within 20 or so pages is not an easy thing to do. The premise holds a lot of potential and interest - the Avatar awakened for the end of the age, may have been woken up early, perhaps, or may not be quite right for the job. I suppose where it went astray for me is the introduction of 'The Bad Guy' and time for a big superhero fight. I was somehow expecting something else, - not so much the need for an external threat upon humanity -  maybe more of a nuanced exploration of the 'internal threat' - or Yuga philosophy - or, just *something else other than superheros fighting bad guys* - whether it is time to hit the reset button on the Kali Yuga yet, or not. Perhaps I'm not clear on what age range this title is meant to appeal to, or its just too early to say what the nature of this book is yet.

[illustrations-daily]

[laemeur]

Grant Morrison’s Avaterex: Destroyer of Darkness #3. Boy, I really didn’t think this came out well when I was workin’ on it, but now that I’ve had a couple months to distance myself from it, I think it came out alright!

[thegeekshow]

4-Panel Episode 56 – Free Comic Book Day 2016 Part 2

Welcome to the world of sequential art that often (but not always), has speech bubbles!

After making it half way out from under the big pile of comics we had to take a short breather before we started round two of our FBCD Special.

Our featured comics and manga Overstreet’s Comic Book Marketplace featuring The Spirit, Serenity, the Attack on Titan Anthology, Comics Lab, March, The Stuff of Legend, Avatarex, Doctor Who, Lady Mechanika, The Legend of Korra, Worlds of Aspen, Archie,…

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[laemeur]

My cover for Grant Morrison’s Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness #2. I like how this came out. Old-school. Needs a big corny blurb on it, like “WILL AVATAREX ESCAPE THE MENACE OF MISSILEMEN?!” or something.

[knightsights]

Experience tranquility~ 🔆🙏🏼✨#theraidstudio #wip #avatarex #grantmorrison #comics #nowandzenyatta #overwatch

[pwcomicsworld]

Visit Original Link

In this week's podcast More to Come's Heidi "The Beat" MacDonald interviews comics legend Grant Morrison about his comics past and present, Indian mythology, their shared comic con history and being a superhero for charity through Humble Bundle on PW Comics World's More To Come.

The “Tales From India” Humble Bundle, including the Avatarex exclusive digital comic first issue from Grant Morrison is now available here.

Find more of our SDCC coverage here and  at publishersweekly.com/comics. And check out more of our archived episodes and interviews or subscribe on iTunes here.