Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer 2

[Blood of Heroes]

...or BoDLotG2 for short.

Anybody else read read it.

I thought it was ok. Not as good as the first issue. Some good action and a minor revelation about Anni but story doesn't advance a whole lot. Very well drawn though. I'm really enjoying the art.

[agent_graves]

I liked this issue, a little better than the first, which isn't saying much, but a little improvement, is better than none. Plus it was cover price, or $4, being as though, theirs no price on the actual book.

[BugsySig]

Anyone want to give a full summary as some of us will not be getting/reading the book?

[Blood of Heroes]

Anyone want to give a full summary as some of us will not be getting/reading the book?

The book picks up where the first issue leaves off. Padda and Anni are fighting for their lives against Nergal and his followers. The Earth seems to help in the fight by having giant warthogs rampage through the bad guys and a giant monolith falls over squishing a bunch of them.

Nergal still gets over on them and right as he is about to dispatch Anni and Padda, his throat is slit from behind by one of his own men. It's a little crippled guy named Cuth who was the mouthpiece for Nergal (He kinda sat in front of him and did the talking for him, and "Cuth" apparently means "snake"). His legs don't work but he managed to climb up Nergal's back and cut his throat. He must have a lot of upper body strength. He says he killed Nergal because the Gods have abandoned him (Nergal).

Anni says they need to find a tree inside a cave in a mountain. The tree has magic fruit or something. That night while sitting at the campfire, Anni reveals that her womb is barren and Cuth reveals that Nergal was his father.

The next day Anni talks about how the Earth talks to her. They make it to the tree and the fruit hanging from it looks like glowing eyeballs. Anni takes a bite from one and the tree's roots immediately start growing up around her, pulling her into it. Padda is about to rush in with an axe to help when a 200' giant starts to emerge from the shadows. I can't say for sure, but the giant looks like he isn't wearing pants.


That's the long and short of it. I'm no English major so I hope it's coherent enough to follow.

[agent_graves]

Cuth, was the breakout star, of this short story.

[Blood of Heroes]

Cuth, was the breakout star, of this short story.

Indeed.
Have we seen him before LotG 1? Was he and Nergal in any of the Eternal Warrior books?

[BugsySig]

Cuth, was the breakout star, of this short story.

Indeed.
Have we seen him before LotG 1? Was he and Nergal in any of the Eternal Warrior books?

Nergal has only been mentioned by name as the "Nergal Death Cult" in EW and Timewalker. I'm guessing he is some how reincarnated or possibly becomes a "God" himself.

[jmatt]

...but story doesn't advance a whole lot.

Did we read the same book? The Nergal were defeated, Cuth is a hero and joins the group, Anni eats magic fruit and is subsumed by the tree and we're left with an enormous giant emerging from the bowels of the Earth.

What was that creature observing them from the ice mountain?

What a fantastic story! Introducing so much lore into the Valiant universe! FVL is a gift.

[Blood of Heroes]

...but story doesn't advance a whole lot.

Did we read the same book? The Nergal were defeated, Cuth is a hero and joins the group, Anni eats magic fruit and is subsumed by the tree and we're left with an enormous giant emerging from the bowels of the Earth.

What was that creature observing them from the ice mountain?

What a fantastic story! Introducing so much lore into the Valiant universe! FVL is a gift.

You just summarized the entire book in one sentence. That's my point.
And the creature on the ice mountain was one panel.

I'm not saying I didn't like it. I just liked the first issue better.

[depluto]

I can't say for sure, but the giant looks like he isn't wearing pants.

You're the best.

[Blood of Heroes]

I can't say for sure, but the giant looks like he isn't wearing pants.

You're the best.

[BugsySig]

Could the giant be the God of the Wild?

[pixierosa]

Cuth was able to get so close to Nergal because he was Nergal's son. I loved the panel where he admits that - the look on Anni's and Padda's face was great.

I like this series. This book came in a little bit longer than the first, I believe. Regardless, it is still a short story that tells of the origin of the Geomancer. I found several interesting things to be curious about. For instance - all of the dead in the cave. Were they all called to the tree like Anni? Potential Geomancers?

I think we're seeing the setup for what will become the standard for the Geomancer -- one with power and a protector. Anni is communing with the Earth/magical fruit and Padda recognizes the need to defend her as she does so, even before the giant shows up. Maybe that's why the others failed.

The concept of tribe shaman is neat. Bit of geomancer, bit of Dr. Mirage.

Neat backstory on Anni and life in the tribe. Anni said she was apprenticed to the shaman because she couldn't have children. Either that or become the tribe's *SQUEE*. Makes you wonder since she and Padda are obviously the beginning of a new family line.

[grendeljd]

This was my favourite book last week. Lots of subtext behind the imagery & the journey - the tree of life in the garden of Eden, with the snake (Cuth) being part of the journey to get there.

Absolutely fantastic art.

I loved the dialogue around trying to understand the earths motivations, and it's seemingly internally divisive actions and/or indecision about whether or not to keep humans around at all (destroys them on one hand, leads Anni to its source of power on the other).

Interesting to note that Nergal was an actual deity worshipped as far back as Mesopotamian (Babylonian) times, and that he was 'made by the men of Cuth'.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nergal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[grendeljd]

Last week was a mammoth Valiant release week with four books!

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue (& Book Of Death #2, RAI #9, & Ivar Timewalker #8), please follow the link;

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr28/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

[jaspersk]

Cuth is the first shadowman? Dont remember
When the shadowmen began? Maybe im way wrong

[grendeljd]

Cuth is the first shadowman? Dont remember
When the shadowmen began? Maybe im way wrong

I could be wrong, but I believe the first Shadowman was birthed by Sandria Darque in the 1800's.

The shadow Loa on the other hand, would be much older - and I suppose if it possessed another human at any time in its history, that could be considered an earlier Shadowman?

[BugsySig]

Cuth is the first shadowman? Dont remember
When the shadowmen began? Maybe im way wrong

I could be wrong, but I believe the first Shadowman was birthed by Sandria Darque in the 1800's.

The shadow Loa on the other hand, would be much older - and I suppose if it possessed another human at any time in its history, that could be considered an earlier Shadowman?

Interesting thought...

[tiredofmyself]

This was my favourite book last week. Lots of subtext behind the imagery & the journey - the tree of life in the garden of Eden, with the snake (Cuth) being part of the journey to get there.

Absolutely fantastic art.

I loved the dialogue around trying to understand the earths motivations, and it's seemingly internally divisive actions and/or indecision about whether or not to keep humans around at all (destroys them on one hand, leads Anni to its source of power on the other).

Interesting to note that Nergal was an actual deity worshipped as far back as Mesopotamian (Babylonian) times, and that he was 'made by the men of Cuth'.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nergal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Actually Cuth was the one encouraged Anni to seek out the last chance of survival... which turns out to be eating a fruit.

So basically second issue is Valiant Original Sin.

[jeremycoe]

Neat backstory on Anni and life in the tribe. Anni said she was apprenticed to the shaman because she couldn't have children. Either that or become the tribe's *SQUEE*. Makes you wonder since she and Padda are obviously the beginning of a new family line.

This made me think of another allusion to the Adam & Eve story, since before Eve partook of the fruit she couldn't have children. Maybe since Anni has partaken of the fruit she can now conceive.

[jmatt]

Neat backstory on Anni and life in the tribe. Anni said she was apprenticed to the shaman because she couldn't have children. Either that or become the tribe's *SQUEE*. Makes you wonder since she and Padda are obviously the beginning of a new family line.

This made me think of another allusion to the Adam & Eve story, since before Eve partook of the fruit she couldn't have children. Maybe since Anni has partaken of the fruit she can now conceive.

Hmmm....

[Watchtower]

Oh, y'know, kinda forgot these books were supposed to be out. Somehow never registered on my weekly rounds. Lemme fix that.

..............................

WHY IN THE HOLY HELLS ARE THESE BOOKS SO EXPENSIVE?!

[hunter_peterson]

Oh, y'know, kinda forgot these books were supposed to be out. Somehow never registered on my weekly rounds. Lemme fix that.

..............................

WHY IN THE HOLY HELLS ARE THESE BOOKS SO EXPENSIVE?!

If that's not a rhetorical question, it's because they're released like a variant for Book of Death as opposed to a separate series, making each issue's standard cost the variant cost.

[SwiftMann]

I agree with Blood of Heroes that there's just not enough going on in this issue (or series as a whole), especially considering price point and page count. Maybe it will all come together at the end, but it doesn't seem like enough matters of "importance" happen in the single issues.

Gorgeous to look at though.

[leonmallett]

A better issue than the first for me, mainly because the progression of the tale was easier for me to follow in terms of cast.

Still, I see no justification for making story content some kind of limited access incentive book. Leave that for gimmick covers.

Thanks to Ed for the deal.