Promethea

Superheroine story merges with a mystical journey through the tarot and Kabala in a unique and artistically lush tale. In a futuristic New York, college student Sophie Bangs learns to take on the enhanced persona of Promethea, originally a "real" girl from ancient Egypt who escaped into the imaginative world of the Immateria when threatened by Christians who killed her magician father. Sophie's new persona comes equipped with a magical caduceus that spews fire, which allows her quite dramatically to take out evil beings threatening the city. Only the latest in a series of Promethea avatars throughout history, Sophie decides to accompany Barbara, her newly dead predecessor Promethea, into the Immateria to find Barbara's late husband and deputizes sulky-punk best friend Stacia as real-world Promethea stand-in. But after Barbara is united with her beloved Steve, and Sophie returns home, matters go awry; an unconventional apocalypse comes to pass. Awash in references to mythology, literature, religion, and arcania, Moore's intricately crafted philosophical work is a dazzling smorgasbord depicted through equally intricate and varied color artwork. With tastefully handled sex and artful violence, this sophisticated graphic classic belongs in adult collections. Mature teens will appreciate it also. Moore took home three Eisner Awards this year. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.