Promethea

My very first encounter with Promethea was at the Pantheacon costume contest in February 2004. A tall, statuesque women was there with an unsual outfit on, holding a large staff with a caduceus on it and carrying a comic book. She was entered in the "best recreation" category and she was dressed as Promethea. I'd never heard of the character, but the outfit was great and I watched her win her category later in the evening.

A year later I was in Las Vegas, attending an alchemical gathering called Mysterium. One of the founders of the event, a stage magician named Jeff McBride, was not only hosting the event but getting ready to close the space we were using due to the lease ending. He had a lot of his stage props stored there, and one small room was arrayed as an alchemical temple. I was taking a break from our main ritual in the temple and I decided to do a bit of random divination by picking a stone from a pile of rune stones that had been custom made for the temple space. I got the caduceus. When I told Jeff, he began rummaging in a pile of stuff, and asked if I had ever read Promethea. I said no.

He produced an issue from the series out of his pile of books and gave it to me, recommending that I really check out the series. He later passed out the rest of the series to other women at the event who had also not read it yet. I have to say, he gave a good two dozen of us a wonderful gift with his recommendation.

I began acquiring and reading the bound volumes of the series over the next year and recently finished the entire story. Wow! This has got to be the best comic/graphic novel I've ever read. I'd read Alan Moore's Watchmen back in college, but this one really raised the bar.

I'm going to try and talk about the series here without too many spoilers for those of you who may not have read it yet. If you've ever loved magic, mythology, any of Alan Moore's work, or are looking for a great heroine instead of a hero, Promethea has many wonderful things for you!

In this first volume we are introduced to Sophie Bangs, graduate student. She's working on a paper about the character of Promethea, a heroine that has made various appearances and reappearances in literature over time. Tracking down the last person to write about Promethea, Sophie soon finds herself with more than she was looking for. She doesn't just learn about Promethea, she becomes the latest person who can manifest and change into Promethea.

Chapter 1 - A small voice pleads in the desert, A dread shadow laughs in the city, A desperate student writes the truth.

Chapter 2 - A new chamption arises, A demonic threat is dispatched, A deadly battle is joined.

Chapter 3 - A mentor lies wounded, A friend lost, endangered, A new world is unveiled.

Chapter 4 - An old epic is illuminated, A sly mage encountered, A search for answers begins.

Chapter 5 - A past Promethea arrives, A symbolic landscape explored, A spiritual journey continues.

Chapter 6 - A wry warrior to the rescue, A young woman lies dreaming, An ominous company gathers.

Click for more info or to buy Prometha Book One from Amazon.com.

In this volume, we follow as Sophie grapples with her new powers, and tries to learn just what is at hand even as dark powers conspire to stop her. She meets the previous incarnations of Promethea and seeks out a magician to tutor her in the ways of magic.

Chapter 1 - A girl dreams -- romantic pictures and earthly themes.

Chapter 2 - A sleeper wakes, empowering friends as battle breaks.

Chapter 3 - A plot fails, before her anger the Temple quails.

Chapter 4 - With naught to hide, Promethea's learning moves inside.

Chapter 5 - Can magic's might quell temporal threats this night?

Chapter 6 - Deeper questions have divined a mystic theatre of the mind.

Click for more info or to buy Prometha Book Two from Amazon.com.

This volume follows Sophie/Promethea as she searches the Immateria for a friend and explores realms of higher being. She leaves her friend Stacia as a "stand-in" Promethea while she journeys, and the demi-goddess' incarnation takes on a very interesting aspect.

Chapter 1 - A friend is brought into the magic, A mystic pathway is explained, A perilous journey is begun.

Chapter 2 - A moonlit path crosses the water, A friend is found deep in conversation, A fabulous company is encountered.

Chapter 3 - Another Promethea takes the stage, A splendourous path turns back on itself, A mercurial figure explains the game.

Chapter 4 - An ocean of emotion is plunged into, A memory of motherhood is explored, And new realizations flow forth.

Chapter 5 - A golden dawn is quietly revealed, A guardian angel joins the quest, And deep sacrifices are observed.

Chapter 6 - A warrior encounters hosts of demons, An outburst of anger emperils the quest, And an ancient king explains himself.

Click for more info or to buy Prometha Book Three from Amazon.com.

Sophie/Promethea's journey continues through the highest relams of the Immateria while Stacia/Promethea's scourging continues back in the material realm. Goverment agents close in on the mystery that is Promethea and an old danger resurfaces, literally.

Chapter 1 - A friendship grows deeper, A quest moves into the blue, And fathers are discovered.

Chapter 2 - A leap into the unknown, A nightmare made real, An eldritch abyss.

Chapter 3 - A mass murderer resurfaces, A realm of mages is explored, And Promethea's essence revealed.

Chapter 4 - Two investigations continue, A gray area comes into focus, And a lost paradise is regained.

Chapter 5 - A golden pinnacle is reached, A new understanding is gained, And a long quest comes to an end.

Chapter 6 - A goddess is torn between friends, A battle for control has consequences, And a new reality sinks in.

Chapter 7 - A trial moves to a higher plane, A pair of investigators close in, And harsh justice is meted out.

Click for more info or to buy Prometha Book Four from Amazon.com.

This volume opens with Sophie in hiding and in denial of her connection to Promethea. However, destiny continues to play out and she re-manifests as Promethea to fulfill her destiny by bringing about the end of the world as we know it. But is the apocalypse really a bad thing?

Chapter 1 - A hero on the hunt, A heroine in hiding, Without hope, helpless.

Chapter 2 - A clash, a confrontation, A calling forth, a conjuration, Careful, here she comes.

Chapter 3 - An eclipse, an apocalypse, An agent flips, a demon quips, Mother stirs and everyone trips.

Chapter 4 - A devil's doll trail of tears, Tom's team defies doom, An aisle to armageddon.

Chapter 5 - A heroine's hearthside haven, A symbolic city sun shower, And resplendent reality rolls in.

Chapter 6 - And now the final fiction, The fable's finish, the fruition, and the fates that follow.

Chapter 7 - Here is a visual celebration, A soliloquy in summation, A dizzying, delightful dance.

Click for more info or to buy Prometha Book Five from Amazon.com.