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Coda
Coda, Vol. 1
A broken fantasy that’s equal parts Lord of the Rings and Mad Max, Coda is the next original series by Eisner-nominated author Simon Spurrier (The Spire, Six-Gun Gorilla).
In the aftermath of an apocalypse which wiped out nearly all magic from a once-wondrous fantasy world, an antisocial former bard named Hum seeks a way to save the soul of his wife with nothing but a foul-tempered mutant unicorn and his wits to protect him. But in the process, he is unwillingly drawn into a brutal power struggle which will decide forever who rules the weird wasteland...
Written by Eisner Award-nominated author Simon Spurrier (The Spire, Godshaper) and lavishly illustrated by artist Matías Bergara (Supergirl, Cannibal), Coda is a relentless kaleidoscope of visual wonders, exploring high fantasy and the post-apocalypse through the lens of a curmudgeonly loner in search of his lost love.
In the aftermath of an apocalypse which wiped out nearly all magic from a once-wondrous fantasy world, an antisocial former bard named Hum seeks a way to save the soul of his wife with nothing but a foul-tempered mutant unicorn and his wits to protect him. But in the process, he is unwillingly drawn into a brutal power struggle which will decide forever who rules the weird wasteland...
Written by Eisner Award-nominated author Simon Spurrier (The Spire, Godshaper) and lavishly illustrated by artist Matías Bergara (Supergirl, Cannibal), Coda is a relentless kaleidoscope of visual wonders, exploring high fantasy and the post-apocalypse through the lens of a curmudgeonly loner in search of his lost love.
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
February 21, 2022
This one was very hard for me to get into, but I did eventually end up liking it.
I think the biggest problem for me was the art. It's all over the place, loud, and messy as hell.
I started out reading the physical copy I own, but ended up switching over to digital just so I could zoom in on the panels and try to make sense out of what I was seeing. It definitely helped.
Anyway, I finished the rest of the book and was really digging the story by the time I got to the last page.
The gist is that there was some sort of world-breaking fight that killed off magic. Or made it impossible to make more magic. Something like that.
Anyway, the main character is/was a bard and he's searching for his wife who has been captured by some wicked band of evildoers.
Of course, not all is what it seems...
He's a bit of a surly anti-hero who is willing to do bad things if it means he can rescue his wife, and with the help of his pentacorn (a unicorn with 5 horns), he sets out to do whatever it takes.
I'm interested enough to have downloaded the next volume.
I think the biggest problem for me was the art. It's all over the place, loud, and messy as hell.
I started out reading the physical copy I own, but ended up switching over to digital just so I could zoom in on the panels and try to make sense out of what I was seeing. It definitely helped.
Anyway, I finished the rest of the book and was really digging the story by the time I got to the last page.
The gist is that there was some sort of world-breaking fight that killed off magic. Or made it impossible to make more magic. Something like that.
Anyway, the main character is/was a bard and he's searching for his wife who has been captured by some wicked band of evildoers.
Of course, not all is what it seems...
He's a bit of a surly anti-hero who is willing to do bad things if it means he can rescue his wife, and with the help of his pentacorn (a unicorn with 5 horns), he sets out to do whatever it takes.
I'm interested enough to have downloaded the next volume.
December 14, 2018
A little D&D, a dash of Mad Max, a dollop of satire, and a frisson of twistiness make this an intriguing, if slightly undercooked, dish. There’s more potential here than there is delightful storytelling, but if the last third of the book portends the level of quality to come, then I’m in for another go-round. If nothing else, a solid setup for greater things. (I just wish the inking and coloring made it easier to see Hum, our protagonist; I’m sure it was a purposeful artistic choice for some obscure English majory reason that remains opaque to me, but he’s far too often difficult to make out when anything is happening, which is annoying.)
August 19, 2019
Part high fantasy, part Mad Max. At this point, the book is more potential than good. The characters are interesting and there's lots of back-stabbing and double-crossing. The storytelling can be obtuse though and the art is too chaotic for me. There's just too much shit in each panel and the main characters aren't drawn to stand out. The action gets lost in a miasma of color. Sometimes less is more, especially when it comes to comics.
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July 15, 2021Мілєйший комікс, де є (а) постапокаліпсис у світі епічного фентезі; (б) матюкливий хижий єдиноріг (п'ятиріг, але хто ж там рахує); (в) просто прекрасний переклад Марини Дубини; (г) люди, які роблять дикі мудацтва з найкращими намірами; (д) дуже морально сірий оповідач, який коїть діч, але при цьому, звісно, у своїй голові виправдовує свої вчинки; (ж) посеред сюрного антуражу в дусі Мед-Макс-на-спідах - реалістична психологічна колізія про те, як важко буває прийняти й шанувати особливості навіть найближчих людей (і як ти мудачиш, коли навіть не намагаєшся цього робити); (з) дууууже ефектне завершення тому. При цьому світобудова й малюнок для мене трошки заскладні, я десь третину часу взагалі не віддупляла, що відбувається, але коли з'являється головна героїня, стає прямо дуже круто.
February 5, 2023
Цікава ситуація вийшла із коміксами «Кода» Саймона Спарріера та «Ісола» Брендена Флетчера. Я довгий час думав над тим, який із них придбати англійською. Та постійно не міг вибрати, який саме, тому купував інші видання через цю й інші причини. Й ось, дочекався того моменту, коли перші арки цих історій заговорили українською. «Ісола» завдяки видавництву «Lantsuta», а «Кода» від нового гравця на ринку — «Боривітер». Тому я радий, що вийшло саме так, бо тепер купуватиму в бібліотеку ці мальописи рідною мовою.
У фантастичному світі «Коди» апокаліптична подія під назвою Гаска знищила майже всі сліди магії, залишивши її мешканців, що почали збиваються в окремі гурти, без нічого. Тепер вони намагаються накопичити ресурси і джерела магії, що залишились у світі. Із перших сторінок комікс знайомить нас із Гмиком, втомленим колишнім бардом, який чітко усвідомлює чистий абсурд світу, у якому він зараз мешкає, і який не хоче нічого іншого, як врятувати свою дружину, яка утримується у в’язниці. Це цікавий герой, який має дивну звичку відповідати «гм» на будь-яке запитання, через що й з’явилося в нього таке прізвисько. Саймон Спарріер показує нам Гмика, його якості, історію та головну мету — врятувати свою кохану. А супроводжуватиме хлопаку брудноротий одноріг, який самостійно може створити ще той екшн.
Після прочитання цієї арки в мене залишився приємний післясмак, бо Саймон Спарріер відмінно попрацював над будовою свого вигаданого фентезійного світу. Він вміло вибудував різні шари цього світу, які наповнені великою кіл��кі��тю цікавих та витончених деталей. Та й передумова, що магія у світі «висохла», хоча не зовсім нова, але вона стоїть у центрі історії і є основою, на якій будується увесь сюжет. Тому це додає певної інтриги. Також сподобався гумор, який сценарист додає в діалоги героїв, навіть якийсь другорядний персонаж із яким Гмик зустрічається, може закинути під час розмови якийсь вдалий жарт. І разом із досить простою й часом кумедною філософією Гмика, якою він займається у своїх думках, ці аспекти створюють чарівну й легку атмосферу під час читання.
Але гумор це тільки одна сторона, адже Саймон Спарріер гарно поєднує його із вищою метою Гмика, додаючи в історію драматизму, добре працює із ритмом оповіді та знайомить зі світом і персонажами. Але звісно, воно б не працювало й не було таким гармонійним без малюнку Матіаса Берґари. Художник явно відчуває вибух фантазії сценариста, транслюючи ідеї на візуальну частину історії, від гарних русалок до сварливих монстрів, від їздових тварин до гігантського міста, яке створіння-гігант перетягує на колесах, від красивих природніх пейзажів до міських краєвидів. Кольори Матіаса Берґари та Майка Дойґа також ідеально підходять під тон сюжету, яскраві, де важливі елементи мають чіткий контур. А все для того, щоби зосередити увагу читача на справді важливому, коли ми слідуємо кадрами. ��е цікаво те, що стиль малюнку та палітра кольорів чимось мені нагадує художника Енріке Фернандеса, а саме його мальопис «Бріґада» про який я уже розповідав. Можливо це й не так, але гляньте на фотографії, які я зробив, щоб зрозуміти про я кажу.
Щодо видання, хоч і зменшеного формату (розмір тпб у м’якій обкладинці), але воно вийшло пречудовим. Вибіркове лакування на обкладинці, тверда обкладинка, цупкий папір і гарна передача кольорів на папері. Також, так, як я передзамовляв цей комікс, у подарунок отримав карту світу й лист із восковою печаткою, де містилася світлина-анонс наступного тому. Видно, що всі у видавництві бажали, щоби враження від їхнього першого мальопису були, як найкращі. Думаю це вдалося.
Мені сподобалося все, починаючи від сюжету, світу, героїв до стилю малюнку, як у спокійних сценах, так і в динамічних. Спарріер нагнав інтриги, тому хочеться дізнатися, як розвивається історія далі. Тому в мене одна порада, зверніть увагу на «Коду» Саймона Спарріера й Матіаса Берґари, бо це справді незвична та цікава історія в жанрах фентезі та постапокаліпсису. Окрім того, це дозволить видавництву «Боривітер» швидше надрукувати наступні два томи.
У фантастичному світі «Коди» апокаліптична подія під назвою Гаска знищила майже всі сліди магії, залишивши її мешканців, що почали збиваються в окремі гурти, без нічого. Тепер вони намагаються накопичити ресурси і джерела магії, що залишились у світі. Із перших сторінок комікс знайомить нас із Гмиком, втомленим колишнім бардом, який чітко усвідомлює чистий абсурд світу, у якому він зараз мешкає, і який не хоче нічого іншого, як врятувати свою дружину, яка утримується у в’язниці. Це цікавий герой, який має дивну звичку відповідати «гм» на будь-яке запитання, через що й з’явилося в нього таке прізвисько. Саймон Спарріер показує нам Гмика, його якості, історію та головну мету — врятувати свою кохану. А супроводжуватиме хлопаку брудноротий одноріг, який самостійно може створити ще той екшн.
Після прочитання цієї арки в мене залишився приємний післясмак, бо Саймон Спарріер відмінно попрацював над будовою свого вигаданого фентезійного світу. Він вміло вибудував різні шари цього світу, які наповнені великою кіл��кі��тю цікавих та витончених деталей. Та й передумова, що магія у світі «висохла», хоча не зовсім нова, але вона стоїть у центрі історії і є основою, на якій будується увесь сюжет. Тому це додає певної інтриги. Також сподобався гумор, який сценарист додає в діалоги героїв, навіть якийсь другорядний персонаж із яким Гмик зустрічається, може закинути під час розмови якийсь вдалий жарт. І разом із досить простою й часом кумедною філософією Гмика, якою він займається у своїх думках, ці аспекти створюють чарівну й легку атмосферу під час читання.
Але гумор це тільки одна сторона, адже Саймон Спарріер гарно поєднує його із вищою метою Гмика, додаючи в історію драматизму, добре працює із ритмом оповіді та знайомить зі світом і персонажами. Але звісно, воно б не працювало й не було таким гармонійним без малюнку Матіаса Берґари. Художник явно відчуває вибух фантазії сценариста, транслюючи ідеї на візуальну частину історії, від гарних русалок до сварливих монстрів, від їздових тварин до гігантського міста, яке створіння-гігант перетягує на колесах, від красивих природніх пейзажів до міських краєвидів. Кольори Матіаса Берґари та Майка Дойґа також ідеально підходять під тон сюжету, яскраві, де важливі елементи мають чіткий контур. А все для того, щоби зосередити увагу читача на справді важливому, коли ми слідуємо кадрами. ��е цікаво те, що стиль малюнку та палітра кольорів чимось мені нагадує художника Енріке Фернандеса, а саме його мальопис «Бріґада» про який я уже розповідав. Можливо це й не так, але гляньте на фотографії, які я зробив, щоб зрозуміти про я кажу.
Щодо видання, хоч і зменшеного формату (розмір тпб у м’якій обкладинці), але воно вийшло пречудовим. Вибіркове лакування на обкладинці, тверда обкладинка, цупкий папір і гарна передача кольорів на папері. Також, так, як я передзамовляв цей комікс, у подарунок отримав карту світу й лист із восковою печаткою, де містилася світлина-анонс наступного тому. Видно, що всі у видавництві бажали, щоби враження від їхнього першого мальопису були, як найкращі. Думаю це вдалося.
Мені сподобалося все, починаючи від сюжету, світу, героїв до стилю малюнку, як у спокійних сценах, так і в динамічних. Спарріер нагнав інтриги, тому хочеться дізнатися, як розвивається історія далі. Тому в мене одна порада, зверніть увагу на «Коду» Саймона Спарріера й Матіаса Берґари, бо це справді незвична та цікава історія в жанрах фентезі та постапокаліпсису. Окрім того, це дозволить видавництву «Боривітер» швидше надрукувати наступні два томи.
November 26, 2019
Bullet Review:
This has taken me awhile to read - it's been enjoyable, but the text! So small! And so many vibrant colors, my eyes got twisted.
It's a twist on the post-apocalypse formula - instead of the dismal future, instead we move to the fantastical past. Swashbuckling heroes, magic, giants, unicorns, elves...it's a little bit what we've seen before in a different package.
I enjoyed myself; sure, I rated 3 stars, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It was a big heavy to get through (the protagonist, as many are these days, waxes on and on about philosophy and the meaning of good vs bad).
This has taken me awhile to read - it's been enjoyable, but the text! So small! And so many vibrant colors, my eyes got twisted.
It's a twist on the post-apocalypse formula - instead of the dismal future, instead we move to the fantastical past. Swashbuckling heroes, magic, giants, unicorns, elves...it's a little bit what we've seen before in a different package.
I enjoyed myself; sure, I rated 3 stars, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It was a big heavy to get through (the protagonist, as many are these days, waxes on and on about philosophy and the meaning of good vs bad).
July 15, 2019
An absurdly fantastic 5🌟 graphic novel with an epic fantasy setting.
The world ended and magic died with it
"The old world was beautiful and bright and crazy and brave. Mostly I hated it. And then it ended.
Latest in a long line of unpronuncible dark Lords finally did it. Fire in the sky. Death of the Ylve Armies of the shadow. Blah Blah And that last day, when--. Well you know you were there. And then no more magic. No new magic. And were all supposed to be miserable about that."- Letters to Serka
Hum's wife has been captured by the savage Urkin.(think Demon horde). though the term 'captive' is open to interpretation. Hum needs the help of a whacked out mermaid, but the catch is she requires a large sum of Akker for Hum to retain her services. Akker looks like your typical MP from an RPG. Hum ends up doing some crazy shit to track down the Akker. Amidst double crosses, bandits, and mutant species. Spurrier plots this Odyssy in an unpredictable fashion that will please the fantasy lover that yearns for that quest like feel in their story.
One bad turn leads to another is it still a bad turn if it is for a good cause? You'd say no. I think you're good like that. You're to good and I'm to selfish . To save you I need a crap load lot Akker. To get Akker I need to lie cheat and steal. Does the good outweigh the bad?- Letters to Serka
It is clear Spurrier is flexing the imagination muscle in his brain with this title coupled with a strong narrative voice, bloody/gruesome action, memorable side characters, and his mutant Pentacorn mount (I'm sure You'd get a kick out of him). On top of all these great things the art is absolutely wild, and I love it. It is a little hard to see what's happening exactly, since it is certainly 'busy', but after the first issue It was easy to enjoy more, and I quickly fell in love with the style.
Definitely a title you can't skip if you're down with an graphic epic fantasy.
Volume 2- 4🌟
The world ended and magic died with it
"The old world was beautiful and bright and crazy and brave. Mostly I hated it. And then it ended.
Latest in a long line of unpronuncible dark Lords finally did it. Fire in the sky. Death of the Ylve Armies of the shadow. Blah Blah And that last day, when--. Well you know you were there. And then no more magic. No new magic. And were all supposed to be miserable about that."- Letters to Serka
Hum's wife has been captured by the savage Urkin.(think Demon horde). though the term 'captive' is open to interpretation. Hum needs the help of a whacked out mermaid, but the catch is she requires a large sum of Akker for Hum to retain her services. Akker looks like your typical MP from an RPG. Hum ends up doing some crazy shit to track down the Akker. Amidst double crosses, bandits, and mutant species. Spurrier plots this Odyssy in an unpredictable fashion that will please the fantasy lover that yearns for that quest like feel in their story.
One bad turn leads to another is it still a bad turn if it is for a good cause? You'd say no. I think you're good like that. You're to good and I'm to selfish . To save you I need a crap load lot Akker. To get Akker I need to lie cheat and steal. Does the good outweigh the bad?- Letters to Serka
It is clear Spurrier is flexing the imagination muscle in his brain with this title coupled with a strong narrative voice, bloody/gruesome action, memorable side characters, and his mutant Pentacorn mount (I'm sure You'd get a kick out of him). On top of all these great things the art is absolutely wild, and I love it. It is a little hard to see what's happening exactly, since it is certainly 'busy', but after the first issue It was easy to enjoy more, and I quickly fell in love with the style.
Definitely a title you can't skip if you're down with an graphic epic fantasy.
Volume 2- 4🌟
April 29, 2019
When I hate something I can pinpoint with venomous precision what I don't like, but when I love something articulating why I liked it always devolves into excited hand gestures and guttural noises.
Coda is what you get if you exposed a high fantasy world to a Mad Maxian apocalypse and then dropped a less insufferable version of Elric in the middle of it. Throw in a irritable pentacorn called Nag, and artist that draws like P Craig Russell on six shots of espresso, and a knack for twisting genre tropes into balloon animals, and you got yourself a damn good time.
Coda is what you get if you exposed a high fantasy world to a Mad Maxian apocalypse and then dropped a less insufferable version of Elric in the middle of it. Throw in a irritable pentacorn called Nag, and artist that draws like P Craig Russell on six shots of espresso, and a knack for twisting genre tropes into balloon animals, and you got yourself a damn good time.
July 15, 2019
A steady start.
A traveler on a quest to save his wife gets caught up in some fantasy politics. With a city torturing an elf to use his body as energy, Hum has to decide if he wants to join their knighthood or help the bandits steal it away from them. This book was funny and a lot more sly then I was expecting. There are giants and mermaids and swearing unicorns! I really liked the art and some of the twists that this book had. As much as I liked this volume, its definitely just the tip of the iceberg. im excited to see where they take this series.
A traveler on a quest to save his wife gets caught up in some fantasy politics. With a city torturing an elf to use his body as energy, Hum has to decide if he wants to join their knighthood or help the bandits steal it away from them. This book was funny and a lot more sly then I was expecting. There are giants and mermaids and swearing unicorns! I really liked the art and some of the twists that this book had. As much as I liked this volume, its definitely just the tip of the iceberg. im excited to see where they take this series.
April 4, 2020
Did not finish - put down after the third issue, even with a big reveal I'm not interested enough to continue right now. Ironically, the setting is fascinating - a stereotypical fantasy world but it's run out of magic. In the opening pages we meet a whining immortal dragon skeleton and a giant badass unicorn who only speaks in bleeped out swear words. I was. All. In.
But unfortunately it completely failed to grab me from there. I couldn't connect at all with the protagonist, whose search for his missing wife makes up most of the narration (in letters he writes for her); it sounds emotional but without knowing her, felt saccharine and one dimensional. The other characters float in and out too quickly to make any kind of connection, and I never felt fully anchored in the world to become immersed in it, much less care about it.
Matias Bergara's art (for which this series was an Eisner nominee last year) is bold and colorful, but also so light and wispy it's hard to know what to look at. Everything felt both psychedelic and out of focus at the same time. The yellows and sticky blood reds made it hard to look at after a while, and didn't feel like a world I wanted to live in.
I'm still giving Coda three stars because of the creative premise, the potential, and the fact that this just might not be the right time for me to read it, rather than the story itself being sub-par. Maybe I'll finish this one later, but for now, I have too many other books on my list.
But unfortunately it completely failed to grab me from there. I couldn't connect at all with the protagonist, whose search for his missing wife makes up most of the narration (in letters he writes for her); it sounds emotional but without knowing her, felt saccharine and one dimensional. The other characters float in and out too quickly to make any kind of connection, and I never felt fully anchored in the world to become immersed in it, much less care about it.
Matias Bergara's art (for which this series was an Eisner nominee last year) is bold and colorful, but also so light and wispy it's hard to know what to look at. Everything felt both psychedelic and out of focus at the same time. The yellows and sticky blood reds made it hard to look at after a while, and didn't feel like a world I wanted to live in.
I'm still giving Coda three stars because of the creative premise, the potential, and the fact that this just might not be the right time for me to read it, rather than the story itself being sub-par. Maybe I'll finish this one later, but for now, I have too many other books on my list.
October 13, 2019
[This review covers the entirety of Coda #1-12]
Coda is the latest creation from the insane mind of Simon Spurrier. In a world where magic is scarce and the only way to survive is to be extremely selfish, Hum the bard tries his best to save his wife...from herself. But like any story, it's not that straight forward. Because of course it's not.
I'm sure if you ran Si Spurrier through a wrangle, he'd bleed sarcasm. His wit is even more evident in this story than in almost any of his other work, and that's saying something, but it's all the more enjoyable as a result. Spurrier manages to build an entire fantasy world through the eyes of Hum without even trying, as the poor guy tries to do what he thinks is best while missing the biggest picture of them all right until it's too late. It's both an intensely personal story and a sweeping fantasy epic and the fact that it manages to be both in equal measure is pretty impressive, especially without losing the heart of the story, which is Hum and his wife Serka, who remains a presence in the story even when she's not actually around.
The art in all twelve issues is by Mattias Bergara, whose paintbrush works overtime as he swathes colours like they're going out of style. The proceedings are as varied as the palette, going from gross-out to beautiful and back again, sometimes all on the same page. It can get a little fast and loose at times, but there's never a sense that Bergara's lost control, just that he's having so much fun that it's translating to the page in a unique manner.
Coda's a clever little book. It's many things, all at once, and it does them all wonderfully well. Across these twelve issues, Hum's world changes more than once, and while a coda is meant to be an ending, it'll definitely be on your mind long after the series is over.
Coda is the latest creation from the insane mind of Simon Spurrier. In a world where magic is scarce and the only way to survive is to be extremely selfish, Hum the bard tries his best to save his wife...from herself. But like any story, it's not that straight forward. Because of course it's not.
I'm sure if you ran Si Spurrier through a wrangle, he'd bleed sarcasm. His wit is even more evident in this story than in almost any of his other work, and that's saying something, but it's all the more enjoyable as a result. Spurrier manages to build an entire fantasy world through the eyes of Hum without even trying, as the poor guy tries to do what he thinks is best while missing the biggest picture of them all right until it's too late. It's both an intensely personal story and a sweeping fantasy epic and the fact that it manages to be both in equal measure is pretty impressive, especially without losing the heart of the story, which is Hum and his wife Serka, who remains a presence in the story even when she's not actually around.
The art in all twelve issues is by Mattias Bergara, whose paintbrush works overtime as he swathes colours like they're going out of style. The proceedings are as varied as the palette, going from gross-out to beautiful and back again, sometimes all on the same page. It can get a little fast and loose at times, but there's never a sense that Bergara's lost control, just that he's having so much fun that it's translating to the page in a unique manner.
Coda's a clever little book. It's many things, all at once, and it does them all wonderfully well. Across these twelve issues, Hum's world changes more than once, and while a coda is meant to be an ending, it'll definitely be on your mind long after the series is over.
September 18, 2018
There have been a bunch of books in the last few years with similar color palletes, and quite a few with a similar art style. There have also been a fair amount of humorous fantasy adventure books, and post apocalyptic tales. This story flips all the others on their backs and exposes their scarred, shameful bellies.
The writing is fun, and often actually funnier than humorous. The plot doesn't have to be repeatedly explained, and does not require a Beautiful Mind wall of subplots to track what has happened in the prestory, the flashbacks, the flash forwards, the meanwhiles, or through seven hundred narration boxes on every page. Magic is gone. A race has been wiped out. The main character's wife was at least kidnapped, maybe killed by the bad guys and he wants revenge through any means necessary.
The art is inventive and gorgeous. The colors are bright.
I recommend this to anyone looking for fantasy that can make you laugh, people who liked the ideas behind Rat Queens or Scales & Scoundrels or Skullkickers but weren't too fond of the execution, and fans of Head Lopper.
The writing is fun, and often actually funnier than humorous. The plot doesn't have to be repeatedly explained, and does not require a Beautiful Mind wall of subplots to track what has happened in the prestory, the flashbacks, the flash forwards, the meanwhiles, or through seven hundred narration boxes on every page. Magic is gone. A race has been wiped out. The main character's wife was at least kidnapped, maybe killed by the bad guys and he wants revenge through any means necessary.
The art is inventive and gorgeous. The colors are bright.
I recommend this to anyone looking for fantasy that can make you laugh, people who liked the ideas behind Rat Queens or Scales & Scoundrels or Skullkickers but weren't too fond of the execution, and fans of Head Lopper.
January 30, 2020
(3,5 of 5 for uncommon hi-fantasy postapocalyptic kick-off)
I was enthralled with the setting of the Coda world. A high fantasy where the dark forces eventually won. Kind of. Because in the final clash the cataclysm occurred, the magic stopped to flow, many creatures from both sides died together with ancient and immortal Ylves - elvish creatures. That's cool. So I patiently waited until it's finished and now I'm back at it. And I have kind of mixed feelings with the first book. I'm not exactly a fan of Bergara's art, but it's fine by me. It's a bit chaotic but fits the theme. The story is good, but for the first issue I'm not entirely convicted if it's clever or rather dull, but it has good moments. The start is kind of slow but it eventually got to a good pace. What I found annoying is the "letter writing text fields". I know it's kind of narration, but with a combination of the slow start, I found it extremely lulling. But overall I'm still enjoying it and will continue with it.
I was enthralled with the setting of the Coda world. A high fantasy where the dark forces eventually won. Kind of. Because in the final clash the cataclysm occurred, the magic stopped to flow, many creatures from both sides died together with ancient and immortal Ylves - elvish creatures. That's cool. So I patiently waited until it's finished and now I'm back at it. And I have kind of mixed feelings with the first book. I'm not exactly a fan of Bergara's art, but it's fine by me. It's a bit chaotic but fits the theme. The story is good, but for the first issue I'm not entirely convicted if it's clever or rather dull, but it has good moments. The start is kind of slow but it eventually got to a good pace. What I found annoying is the "letter writing text fields". I know it's kind of narration, but with a combination of the slow start, I found it extremely lulling. But overall I'm still enjoying it and will continue with it.
July 13, 2021
Чудова абсурдно-смішна історія про сумний і розвалений світ. Моє серденько отримує агресивний єдиноріг (п'ятиріг).
August 27, 2021
«КОДА» – це таке собі забрьохане фентезі, що тхне сцяками орка та блювотинням скаженого п’ятирога. Цурпалок світу, де навіть Зло відсмоктало у безсракого дракона.
Уявіть собі собі світ, місцевість якого схожа на місцини з постапокаліптичних кінострічок на кшталт Mad Max та Waterworld, де головний герой такий собі симбіоз барда з легендарної комп’ютерної гри The Bard’s Tale та Любистка з циклу Сапковського.
Світ, в якому ще вчора існували кришталеві замки, паладини з зачарованими мечами, маги та дракони. Та водночас магії не стало, лиш де-не-де вона тліє як вуглик, роздмухати який можна лише завдяки аккеру.
Аккер – магічний дистилят, який за своїми властивостями подібний чудодійному еліксиру, що його готував друїд для Астерікса. У світі Коди цей чарівний абсент водночас найбажаніша річ, найтвердіша валюта і найнебезпечніша речовина, яку прагнуть здобути всі, і чим більше, тим краще.
Події першого тому історії обертаються навколо колишнього барда на ймення Гмик, що після того, як добре знайомому світу настали вахмурки, почав помалу деградувати. Згодом сей милий хлоп зовні став схожий на засмальцьованого гіпстера з гострою формою мізантропії. А мандруючи у компанії “милого” п’ятирога, що схожий на результат дуже невдалого генетичного експерименту, де схрестили Бібопа та Рокстеді з усіма антагоністами My Little Pony, Гмик майже позбувся соціальних зв’язків. Єдине мотивація головного героя - його дружина, єдина людина яку він кохає і мусить “звільнити” з полону.
«КОДА» – це тонка деконструкція епічного фентезі, саркастична та постіронічна, сповнена чорним гумором та цинізмом, а інколи мила та наївна. Головний герой з його несамовитим п’ятирогом, поведінкою, зовнішнім виглядом та своєю дерев’яною ногою – вже сам по собі стьоб над класичним жанровим образом героя. Автори заклали в образ Гмика значно більше, аніж у звичайного невдаху-обраного. Як особистість колишній бард дуже неоднозначний, а його роздуми, що він викладає в своєму щоденнику, як послання до своєї коханої, додають історії контрастності та емоцій не менше ніж художник і колорист.
Власне, про візуальну складову мальованої історії: Матіас Берґара проробив дивовижну роботу над малюнком і контуром. Коли уявляєш щось фентезійне, то воно виглядає саме так, як це змальовує Берґара. Деталізація, характери, динаміка та просторові рішення захоплюють і змушують зависати на сторінках більш ніж зазвичай. Претензії у мене виникли хіба що до колориста Майкла Доіґа, помітно що людина старалася, кольорова палітра шикарна, а робота над окремими панелями варта оплесків. Та при фарбуванні дрібних деталей подекуди помітні огріхи, які перетворюють малюнок на незрозумілу мазанину. Це не критично, але неприємний післясмак залишається.
Насамкінець поділюся з вами сокровенним, тим, що по собі залишає Кода. Це подих натхнення, що роздуває жарину надії на те, що з фентезі не покінчено, що воно переродитися у щось нове, а не перетвориться на струхлявілий кістяк безсракого дракона.
Уявіть собі собі світ, місцевість якого схожа на місцини з постапокаліптичних кінострічок на кшталт Mad Max та Waterworld, де головний герой такий собі симбіоз барда з легендарної комп’ютерної гри The Bard’s Tale та Любистка з циклу Сапковського.
Світ, в якому ще вчора існували кришталеві замки, паладини з зачарованими мечами, маги та дракони. Та водночас магії не стало, лиш де-не-де вона тліє як вуглик, роздмухати який можна лише завдяки аккеру.
Аккер – магічний дистилят, який за своїми властивостями подібний чудодійному еліксиру, що його готував друїд для Астерікса. У світі Коди цей чарівний абсент водночас найбажаніша річ, найтвердіша валюта і найнебезпечніша речовина, яку прагнуть здобути всі, і чим більше, тим краще.
Події першого тому історії обертаються навколо колишнього барда на ймення Гмик, що після того, як добре знайомому світу настали вахмурки, почав помалу деградувати. Згодом сей милий хлоп зовні став схожий на засмальцьованого гіпстера з гострою формою мізантропії. А мандруючи у компанії “милого” п’ятирога, що схожий на результат дуже невдалого генетичного експерименту, де схрестили Бібопа та Рокстеді з усіма антагоністами My Little Pony, Гмик майже позбувся соціальних зв’язків. Єдине мотивація головного героя - його дружина, єдина людина яку він кохає і мусить “звільнити” з полону.
«КОДА» – це тонка деконструкція епічного фентезі, саркастична та постіронічна, сповнена чорним гумором та цинізмом, а інколи мила та наївна. Головний герой з його несамовитим п’ятирогом, поведінкою, зовнішнім виглядом та своєю дерев’яною ногою – вже сам по собі стьоб над класичним жанровим образом героя. Автори заклали в образ Гмика значно більше, аніж у звичайного невдаху-обраного. Як особистість колишній бард дуже неоднозначний, а його роздуми, що він викладає в своєму щоденнику, як послання до своєї коханої, додають історії контрастності та емоцій не менше ніж художник і колорист.
Власне, про візуальну складову мальованої історії: Матіас Берґара проробив дивовижну роботу над малюнком і контуром. Коли уявляєш щось фентезійне, то воно виглядає саме так, як це змальовує Берґара. Деталізація, характери, динаміка та просторові рішення захоплюють і змушують зависати на сторінках більш ніж зазвичай. Претензії у мене виникли хіба що до колориста Майкла Доіґа, помітно що людина старалася, кольорова палітра шикарна, а робота над окремими панелями варта оплесків. Та при фарбуванні дрібних деталей подекуди помітні огріхи, які перетворюють малюнок на незрозумілу мазанину. Це не критично, але неприємний післясмак залишається.
Насамкінець поділюся з вами сокровенним, тим, що по собі залишає Кода. Це подих натхнення, що роздуває жарину надії на те, що з фентезі не покінчено, що воно переродитися у щось нове, а не перетвориться на струхлявілий кістяк безсракого дракона.
April 14, 2022
Я порекомендувала цей комікс на фінальному стрімі, але насправді мальовка тут мені була надскладна, історія не дуже зрозуміла, кінь хіба що сподобався.
February 2, 2023
Irreverent, post apocalyptic fantasy, where the protagonist is a bit of a shit heel and has a unicorn with three horns that swears and maims people when (easily) irritated. It’s another fun, turn off your brain, type deal. It’s also pretty messy and overwritten in places, but the artwork and panelling are engaging and great, so it eeks out a pass from me - though I won’t be continuing with it. Bit too gonzo for my tastes.
February 6, 2021
The old world was beautiful and bright and crazy and brave. Mostly I hated it. And then it ended.
The world of Coda is absolutely dazzling. Set in the apocalyptic aftermath of the death of magic a bard of few words searches for a way to save his wife (i know how this sounds but bear with me!!). Turns out when the world ends, it doesnt actually end. You survive, adapt, move on.
Lets focus in on the art for a sec cus oh my god!!! Matías Bergara is so talented, this style is just chefs kiss. It perfectly captures the world in all its electricity, the character design is cool as fuck and the big panels!! i licherally could not stop staring at some of the pages i wanna poster my entire room in all of these prints. The colours are absolutely stunning, everything in this graphic novel looks possibly toxic and its just a very refreshing change to see from the usual post-apocalyptic colour drab. The chaos might be a bit much for some people but to me its spot on. Bonus points for the fact that it also includes not one but TWO maps of the world (tag urself im the "probably !GIANT SPIDERS!").
On to the actual plot, Spurrier sets up your typical "save the maiden from the dragon tower" idea, only to flip it completely over its head. This story is full of everything is not what it seems and executes it perfectly. The characters all have their very distinct voices and morals and stand strong by them. Hum especially is so interesting, man of few words but his diary entries are incredibly emotive, he's just a really cool subversion of the bard trope. Spurrier manages a perfect balance between beautiful story and sharp/witty dialogue. Volume 1 was an amazing introduction to the world and the characters, and i'm very much looking forward to volume 2!
The world of Coda is absolutely dazzling. Set in the apocalyptic aftermath of the death of magic a bard of few words searches for a way to save his wife (i know how this sounds but bear with me!!). Turns out when the world ends, it doesnt actually end. You survive, adapt, move on.
Lets focus in on the art for a sec cus oh my god!!! Matías Bergara is so talented, this style is just chefs kiss. It perfectly captures the world in all its electricity, the character design is cool as fuck and the big panels!! i licherally could not stop staring at some of the pages i wanna poster my entire room in all of these prints. The colours are absolutely stunning, everything in this graphic novel looks possibly toxic and its just a very refreshing change to see from the usual post-apocalyptic colour drab. The chaos might be a bit much for some people but to me its spot on. Bonus points for the fact that it also includes not one but TWO maps of the world (tag urself im the "probably !GIANT SPIDERS!").
On to the actual plot, Spurrier sets up your typical "save the maiden from the dragon tower" idea, only to flip it completely over its head. This story is full of everything is not what it seems and executes it perfectly. The characters all have their very distinct voices and morals and stand strong by them. Hum especially is so interesting, man of few words but his diary entries are incredibly emotive, he's just a really cool subversion of the bard trope. Spurrier manages a perfect balance between beautiful story and sharp/witty dialogue. Volume 1 was an amazing introduction to the world and the characters, and i'm very much looking forward to volume 2!
October 18, 2019
Spurrier, Spurrier, Spurrier... This fucking guy, man... Just the wit that's twisted into the word-groupings of his dialog is worth reading his work, let alone the enjoyment derived from the very well-defined, and unique characters, and the setting's artistic creativity. And it being realized by such a intricate and gifted artist is a combination that makes this comic a little TOO good. This kind of thing just thrives in the quieter places, away from the deafening unoriginality of more popular mockeries of art that make their living off of average dialog and predictable drama. -grumbles detestably under breath- Shit....getting off topic... -sigh- Let's just say that the story seems, at first, to be pretty average but with that extra artistic flare, then throws a unique twist into the works to shake things up from what you're used to. Suddenly the tale is born anew! And not only are you indulging in a very entertaining and vivid fantasy/dystopian world, with dialog that keeps you locked in and grinning (if not downright chuckling aloud), but you just HAVE to know where he's going with this. The twist isn't dramatic, it's just fun, and the story opens up pathways to adventures that are just a little different than the rest, which, in this day and age, is a goddamn miracle.
Can I get an amen?
Read it.
Oh, and the only reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 is just because it's still too soon to handout such high praise. Gotta see where it goes to know if it truly deserves that elusive 5th twinkler. (And that's just pertaining to the story. The work itself is 5 star, for sure.)
Can I get an amen?
Read it.
Oh, and the only reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 is just because it's still too soon to handout such high praise. Gotta see where it goes to know if it truly deserves that elusive 5th twinkler. (And that's just pertaining to the story. The work itself is 5 star, for sure.)
Read
May 27, 2019I very much dig the art of this comic, and think the story will pick up now that Serka, the bard's wife and berserker, has become more of a main character. Definitely gonna follow for at least one more volume to see how it goes.
March 1, 2019
Okay the story was kinda confusing, but i really love the art. I won’t be continuing the series anytime soon though.
February 28, 2023
Крутезна мальовка, та історія вкрай фрагментарна і непослідовна. З часом ловиш себе на тому, що просто розглядаєш малюнки, пропускаючи текст.
Read
October 24, 2019"Sometimes I think this whole bloody world's hungover. Here's the thing about hangovers, Serka: at least they're honest [...] The old world was beautiful and bright and crazy and brave. Mostly I hated it. And then it ended. Latest in a long line of unpronounceable dark lords finally did it." Coda, because this is what comes after the end, when magic is broken and people are left crawling around in the carcass of the old world – literally, in the memorably gruesome opening scene. Some are trying to keep some semblance of the old ways going; our nameless protagonist thinks they're fools, but this is a Si Spurrier story, so you can be sure the lead is lying to himself, and the readers, at least as much as anyone else is. One of the things it does so well is showing us that a lot of the time, it's less a question of truth versus lies than of different flavours and modes of bullshit. The lettering on characters' speech gets more ornate according to how high fantasy their dialogue sounds – but this is a matter of tone and vocabulary more than any genuine nobility, with shining paladins just as happy to screw over anyone they consider expendable, only more concerned to couch it in acceptable rhetoric. Which could have made for a gruelling read, but the expert use of bathos, the timing with which it invariably undercuts grand build-ups, mean it's also incredibly funny. Of course, at least as much credit for this is owed to Matias Bergara's art, which can go seamlessly from hilariously cartoonish fights (I think Hulk sucker-punching Thor in the first Avengers film was a big influence) to outlandish horror or sly double-dealing, and all points in between. Apparently I have read stuff before on which he's credited – Cannibal, American Vampire – but I don't recall seeing anything quite like this, and it's fabulous, a sort of Eurocomics counterpart to James Stokoe. A talent for whose name I'll now be looking out, in any event. On top of which, based on this opening, Coda is possibly the best thing Spurrier has ever written; a story about that very topical theme of what becomes of those who survive the end of the world that was, dressed up in/as a sly, savage subversion of genre tropes.
November 14, 2020
This post-apocalyptic high fantasy graphic novel reminded me a lot of Ralph Bakshi's Wizards. Both the art style and the story is wild and absurdist and over the top, funny and frightening and sometimes gruesome.
The world used to be a typical pseudo-medieval Europelandia high fantasy, with "Ylves" and giants and trolls and wizards and whatnot. Then the "Urkken" went on a genocidal rampage to create a utopia for themselves. They broke the world, triggered an apocalypse that vanished the oceans, leaving behind a dry, desolate wasteland, and realized they'd been deceived by their dark lord leaders. In the aftermath, the Ylves are extinct, the Urkken are guilt-ridden and hated by everyone, and everyone else is just trying to get by.
The main character a bard named Hurn. He's trying to save his wife, who was taken by the Urkken. (This is a lie - Hurn is a very unreliable narrator.) He's now multiclassed as a thief, and he's trying to beg, borrow, or steal enough "Akker" (magical juice, the power and currency of this world) to pay a mermaid (who now lives in a giant wheeled bathtub, since the oceans have dried up) to create a potion to save his wife. The first volume involves a town run by the former leader of a thieves' guild, who now hands out titles in a made-up order of paladins. It has a giant cannon it uses to fend off a giant who's outfitted himself in a sort of high-fantasy mecha suit. Hurn tries to be an utterly amoral shit to save his wife even though he's really a squish at heart. Also, there's a bandit leader who's a wizard's daughter and gets touchy about being called a bandit, and Hurn rides a murderous pentacorn that's scarier than a dragon and swears like a sailor from hell.
The entire volume reads like an old-school gonzo D&D adventure. There are magical macguffins, bizarro fantasy races, magitech that never quite works the way it's supposed to, and a motley band of survivors "adventuring" for various reasons. Really fun and reminiscent of old D&D games in the best way.
The world used to be a typical pseudo-medieval Europelandia high fantasy, with "Ylves" and giants and trolls and wizards and whatnot. Then the "Urkken" went on a genocidal rampage to create a utopia for themselves. They broke the world, triggered an apocalypse that vanished the oceans, leaving behind a dry, desolate wasteland, and realized they'd been deceived by their dark lord leaders. In the aftermath, the Ylves are extinct, the Urkken are guilt-ridden and hated by everyone, and everyone else is just trying to get by.
The main character a bard named Hurn. He's trying to save his wife, who was taken by the Urkken. (This is a lie - Hurn is a very unreliable narrator.) He's now multiclassed as a thief, and he's trying to beg, borrow, or steal enough "Akker" (magical juice, the power and currency of this world) to pay a mermaid (who now lives in a giant wheeled bathtub, since the oceans have dried up) to create a potion to save his wife. The first volume involves a town run by the former leader of a thieves' guild, who now hands out titles in a made-up order of paladins. It has a giant cannon it uses to fend off a giant who's outfitted himself in a sort of high-fantasy mecha suit. Hurn tries to be an utterly amoral shit to save his wife even though he's really a squish at heart. Also, there's a bandit leader who's a wizard's daughter and gets touchy about being called a bandit, and Hurn rides a murderous pentacorn that's scarier than a dragon and swears like a sailor from hell.
The entire volume reads like an old-school gonzo D&D adventure. There are magical macguffins, bizarro fantasy races, magitech that never quite works the way it's supposed to, and a motley band of survivors "adventuring" for various reasons. Really fun and reminiscent of old D&D games in the best way.
October 28, 2018
Imaginen un mundo mágico, fantástico, una suerte de las tierras del Señor de los Anillos pero en un contexto postapocalíptico similar al de Mad Max. O sea, un mundo donde el Señor Oscuro de turno ganó e hizo todo bolsa. Un mundo otrora mágico y colmado de maravillas que ahora es un páramo donde lo que alguna vez rebosó de fantasía y sobrecogimiento ahora es polvo y recuerdos. Ese mundo, uno unos 20 años después del Gran Cataclismo, es el mundo de Coda. El protagonista de Coda es Hum -o mejor dicho "Hmmm" que es lo que contesta cada vez que le preguntan el nombre- un bardo con muy pocas pulgas pero mucha mala actitud -peor actitud tiene su unicorno, perdón pentacornio, asesino- que busca rescatar a su esposa que está en poder de una banda de orcos, o al menos eso dice. Hum viaja por este mundo buscando magia o maná o lo que sea que funcione todavía como una unidad de cambio fantástico que, al parecer -siempre al parecer- es lo que necesitaría para ese rescate. El que mire la tapa y piense "ah, otra de fantasía heroica" no podría estar más equivocado. Coda es anárquica, subversiva, increíblemente divertida y muy mala leche. El guión de Spurrier es una caja de Pandora que se abre capítulo a capítulo, nos sorprende, nos maravilla, nos horroriza, todo al mismo tiempo, con notable claridad y sacudiéndonos cual patada en el pecho. ¿Y el dibujo de Bergara? ¿Qué decir del mejor trabajo que el excelente dibujante ha realizado hasta la fecha? Bergara toma todos los conceptos que Spurrier dispara cual ametralladora y los redimensiona, los magnifica, los disfruta creando ese universo infinito, donde con prístina claridad narrativa -porque más allá de ser un dibujante alucinante, Bergara siempre es primero un narrador de historieta- nos sorprende página a página, cuadro a cuadro. Sólo puedo esperar ansioso por los siguientes volúmenes de Coda, porque este Vol. 1 es una muestra de historieta perfecta.
June 12, 2019
Imagine all the high fantasy worlds you love. Now imagine the dark forces won, faded away, and years later civilization has finally started to build itself off the scraps of the old. That is Coda. The source of magic is sparse, the creatures aren't quite what you expect, and heroes are either ridiculous, orthey are like the protagonist, self-serving. Not that his motive is not understandable, he is trying to help his much more selfless wife. The colourful palettes have almost a psychedelic sci-fi appeal to them, really digging in to how off-kilter this world is. The clean linework is just full of details too that give the world a lived-in, run down feel. All the characters have a lot of personality, and each shines through their dialogue and interactions. This atmospheric post-apocalyptic Fantasy series is definitely one to check out.
May 29, 2019
I picked up Coda on recommendation from a friend and because I (like most of us) judge a book by its cover, and Coda has one hell of a cover. My friend described it as "a post apocalyptic fantasy world where Sauron won." That's enough for me, so I gave it a go.
Coda is one of those series where every issue is a milestone. Each installment carries with it impactful narrative with clever turns I didn't expect.
The writing is beautiful and intricate. The characters are unique, flawed, and vibrant. The art is chaotic, bright, and inspiring. It's one of the few series I count down the days to the next issue.
Coda is an enigma. It's the kind of series that comes along all to briefly, and you'll be glad you picked it up.
Coda is one of those series where every issue is a milestone. Each installment carries with it impactful narrative with clever turns I didn't expect.
The writing is beautiful and intricate. The characters are unique, flawed, and vibrant. The art is chaotic, bright, and inspiring. It's one of the few series I count down the days to the next issue.
Coda is an enigma. It's the kind of series that comes along all to briefly, and you'll be glad you picked it up.
April 17, 2020
I bought this book for the art. It's like a psychedelic version of Asterix's Albert Uderzo.
Then the writing is by Simon Spurrier, who I've been enjoying his run on the new Dreaming book from DC.
It's post-apocalyptic; but it's post a fantasy world. So the magic is supposed to be dying, although there is something called "akker" which I guess is mainlining magic power. However, the way it's created is grisly and revealed in the 2nd/3rd chapter.
The main character - called Sir Hum by some of the others in the novel - is scornful of the old days. He's practical, and focused on finding his wife, who is with the Urken. That tale unfolds with a delicious twist in chapter 4.
Anyway, this first volume was a fun read, and I'll definitely keep up with the series.
Then the writing is by Simon Spurrier, who I've been enjoying his run on the new Dreaming book from DC.
It's post-apocalyptic; but it's post a fantasy world. So the magic is supposed to be dying, although there is something called "akker" which I guess is mainlining magic power. However, the way it's created is grisly and revealed in the 2nd/3rd chapter.
The main character - called Sir Hum by some of the others in the novel - is scornful of the old days. He's practical, and focused on finding his wife, who is with the Urken. That tale unfolds with a delicious twist in chapter 4.
Anyway, this first volume was a fun read, and I'll definitely keep up with the series.
July 4, 2020
Wow, I totally love the start of this limited series. Bergara’s beautiful, distinctive art is a sophisticated modern take on 70s/80s weird high fantasy illustration, and its psychedelic colors manage to astound me without ever being overwhelming or garish. These are consistently some of my favorite comic pages to read in a good while.
Spurrier sets this world in a post-disaster wasteland of sorts, with a funny, interesting take on a few common fantasy tropes and just enough world-building to evoke a fascinating backdrop to the real emotional stakes and nuanced relationships that are the focus.
I think this is as good as the more broadly celebrated modern fantasy series like Saga and Monstress; I can’t wait to read more of it.
Spurrier sets this world in a post-disaster wasteland of sorts, with a funny, interesting take on a few common fantasy tropes and just enough world-building to evoke a fascinating backdrop to the real emotional stakes and nuanced relationships that are the focus.
I think this is as good as the more broadly celebrated modern fantasy series like Saga and Monstress; I can’t wait to read more of it.
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