.gif)
Brath (comics)
Encyclopedia
Brath was an American comic book
published by Crossgen Entertainment from February, 2003
to June, 2004
. It ran for 15 issues (including prequel) before it was forced to end by the bankruptcy of CrossGen in 2004.
The series was written by Chuck Dixon
and penciled by Andrea Di Vito
. Brath was set on the fictional world of Hann Jinn also seen in other CrossGen titles, Way of the Rat
and The Path
. Dixon and DiVito researched various parts of history when writing Brath. As such, much of Brath's diegesis
is akin to films like Gladiator
and Braveheart
.
Brath tells the story of the Urelanders, brought together in an uneasy alliance by the Warcheif Brath Mac Garen, in their struggle against the ever growing empire of the Emperor Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex.
The battle of Irisium taught the empire the cunningness of Brath and his clansmen. Upon defeating the legions of Galba, Brath let the prisoners of that battle go free, despite the reluctance of his clansmen, returning the banner of the Eagle of the Thirteenth to its First Century Antonius Casta. Upon returning Casta is asked why he thought Brath let him and his men go. Casta replies, "Because he knew it was more humiliating to let us live, and we bear witness to his victory."
As the months draw on Brath and the clan Mac Garen men conduct lighting raids against the forces of the empire. At the same time Drusus, tribune to General Vala, is attempting to locate Dun Garen, home of Brath Mac Garen. As the tension grows between the clans, Brath begins to fear that the alliance may falter. Challenged by A'Dan Mac Dool for the right of leadership Brath accepts and kills Mac Dool, but the fight between the two sparks the fires of treachery.
All the while, while tribesmen argue and legions form, Brath has been dreaming. The advance towards Dun Garen that Brath has seen in his dreams
is now a reality. General Vala and three legions march towards the hills that the Mac Garens call home. Brath is alerted to the armies amassing ashore and upon seeing the amassing army with his own eyes he is greeted by a that which he has never before seen. Great beasts with long trunks and huge tusks are being escorted ashore and Brath fears that with no defense against such creatures Dun Garen will surely fall.
:
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
published by Crossgen Entertainment from February, 2003
2003 in comics
-January:* January 2: Kid Colt artist Jack Keller dies at age 80.- April :* Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau...
to June, 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
. It ran for 15 issues (including prequel) before it was forced to end by the bankruptcy of CrossGen in 2004.
The series was written by Chuck Dixon
Chuck Dixon
Charles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.-Biography:Dixon grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, reading comics of all genres...
and penciled by Andrea Di Vito
Andrea Di Vito
-Biography:Di Vito was born in Rome, and showed a love for drawing from an early age. His first published work appeared in the form of two short stories in the Italian magazine L'intrepido. He was first published in America in Marvel Comics' Marvel Shadows and Light, with one of his pinups...
. Brath was set on the fictional world of Hann Jinn also seen in other CrossGen titles, Way of the Rat
Way of the Rat
Way of the Rat is an American comic book series published by CrossGen Entertainment in the wuxia sub-genre of martial arts adventure. Written by Chuck Dixon, with artwork by Jeff Johnson and Tom Ryder, the series ran for a total of twenty-four issues before its publication was stopped due to...
and The Path
The Path (comics)
The Path is an American comic book series published by CrossGen Entertainment from March 2002 to April 2004. It was cancelled due to the company's bankruptcy....
. Dixon and DiVito researched various parts of history when writing Brath. As such, much of Brath's diegesis
Diegesis
Diegesis is a style of representation in fiction and is:# the world in which the situations and events narrated occur; and# telling, recounting, as opposed to showing, enacting.In diegesis the narrator tells the story...
is akin to films like Gladiator
Gladiator (2000 film)
Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the loyal Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed...
and Braveheart
Braveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
.
Setting
On the world of Hann Jinn, Emperor Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex rules his empire with an Iron will. The lands of the empire stretch from the deserts of Bythium to the cold wastes of the Tandar Steppe. His legions march the lands to enforce his will, taxing the citizens beyond their ability to yield and enforcing his glory and the glory of his great capital city. Yet one land and one people remain beyond the grasp of the emperor, the clans of the Urelanders.Brath tells the story of the Urelanders, brought together in an uneasy alliance by the Warcheif Brath Mac Garen, in their struggle against the ever growing empire of the Emperor Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex.
Plot
Brath Mac Garen, Bradmanacus in the tongue of the empire, united the clans of the Urelanders when the Empire came to conquer the lands of the Ure. Marked with the sign of the Stag-god, Brath and his army defied the legions of the emperor time and again.The battle of Irisium taught the empire the cunningness of Brath and his clansmen. Upon defeating the legions of Galba, Brath let the prisoners of that battle go free, despite the reluctance of his clansmen, returning the banner of the Eagle of the Thirteenth to its First Century Antonius Casta. Upon returning Casta is asked why he thought Brath let him and his men go. Casta replies, "Because he knew it was more humiliating to let us live, and we bear witness to his victory."
As the months draw on Brath and the clan Mac Garen men conduct lighting raids against the forces of the empire. At the same time Drusus, tribune to General Vala, is attempting to locate Dun Garen, home of Brath Mac Garen. As the tension grows between the clans, Brath begins to fear that the alliance may falter. Challenged by A'Dan Mac Dool for the right of leadership Brath accepts and kills Mac Dool, but the fight between the two sparks the fires of treachery.
All the while, while tribesmen argue and legions form, Brath has been dreaming. The advance towards Dun Garen that Brath has seen in his dreams
is now a reality. General Vala and three legions march towards the hills that the Mac Garens call home. Brath is alerted to the armies amassing ashore and upon seeing the amassing army with his own eyes he is greeted by a that which he has never before seen. Great beasts with long trunks and huge tusks are being escorted ashore and Brath fears that with no defense against such creatures Dun Garen will surely fall.
Collected editions
The series has been collected in a number of trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Hammer of Vengeance (CrossGen, 160 pages, September 2004, ISBN 1931484872)
- Gladiator Triumphant (CrossGen, 160 pages, September 2004, ISBN 1593140452)