Brath

Last updated
Brath
Brath -1 cover.jpg
Cover to Brath #1
Publication information
Publisher Crossgen Entertainment
ScheduleMonthly
Publication dateFebruary 2003 – June 2004
No. of issues14 (plus a prequel)
Main character(s) Brath Mac Garen
Taniella
Bryllin
S'math
Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex
Creative team
Created by Mark Alessi
Gina M. Villa
Written by Chuck Dixon
Penciller(s) Andrea Di Vito
Enrique Alcatena (6, 11)
Inker(s) Roland Paris
Brad Vancata
Letterer(s) David Lanphear
Colorist(s) Andrew Crossley
Rob Schwager
Jason Keith
Collected editions
Hammer of Vengeance ISBN   1-931484-87-2
Gladiator Triumphant ISBN   1593140452

Brath is an American comic book published by CrossGen Entertainment from February 2003 to June 2004. It ran for 15 issues (including the prequel) before the series had to end due to CrossGen's bankruptcy in 2004.

Contents

The series is written by Chuck Dixon, and penciled by Andrea Di Vito. Brath is set in the fictional world of Hann Jin, which is also seen in other CrossGen titles such as Way of the Rat and The Path . Dixon and DiVito researched various parts of history when writing Brath. [1] As such, much of Brath's diegesis is akin to films like Gladiator and Braveheart .

Plot

Brath Mac Garen Bradmanacus, who is the tongue of the empire, unites the clans of the Urelanders when the Empire comes to conquer the lands of Ure. Marked with the sign of the Stag god, Brath, and his army defy the legions of the emperor time and again.

The battle of Irisium teaches the empire the cunningness of Brath and his clansmen. Upon defeating the legions of Galba, Brath lets 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 thinks 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". [2]

As the months draw on Brath and the clan of Mac Garen's men conduct lightning 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 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. [3]

While tribesmen argue and legions form, Brath dreams. The advance towards Dun Garen, that Brath sees in his dreams is now a reality. General Vala and three legions march towards the hills that the Mac Garen's call home. Brath is alerted to the armies amassing ashore, and upon seeing the amassing army with his own eyes, he is greeted by that which he has never seen before. 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. [3]

Setting

In the world of Hann Jinn, emperor Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex rules his empire with an iron will. The lands of the empire stretched 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, 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 narrates the tale of the Urelanders, who were assembled under the direction of the war chief Brath Mac Garen in an uneasy alliance, as they struggle against the ever-expanding reign of the emperor Quintillius Aurelius Galba Rex.

Collected editions

The series has been collected in a number of trade paperbacks:

  1. Hammer of Vengeance (CrossGen, 160 pages, September 2004, ISBN   1-931484-87-2)
  2. Gladiator Triumphant (CrossGen, 160 pages, September 2004, ISBN   1-59314-045-2)

See also

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galba</span> Roman emperor from AD 68 to 69

Galba was Roman emperor, ruling from AD 68 to 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne following Emperor Nero's suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gallienus</span> Roman emperor from 253 to 268

Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus was Roman emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260 and alone from 260 to 268. He ruled during the Crisis of the Third Century that nearly caused the collapse of the empire. He won numerous military victories against usurpers and Germanic tribes, but was unable to prevent the secession of important provinces. His 15-year reign was the longest in half a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Aurelius</span> Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and Stoic philosopher

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace, calm, and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BC to 180 AD. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vitellius</span> Roman emperor in AD 69

Aulus Vitellius was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vitellius was the first to add the honorific cognomen Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession. Like his predecessor, Otho, Vitellius attempted to rally public support to his cause by honoring and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.

The 170s decade ran from January 1, 170, to December 31, 179.

The 190s decade ran from January 1, 190, to December 31, 199.

The 290s decade ran from January 1, 290, to December 31, 299.

The 260s decade ran from January 1, 260, to December 31, 269.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnuntum</span> Ancient Roman military outpost in modern Austria

Carnuntum was a Roman legionary fortress and headquarters of the Pannonian fleet from 50 AD. After the 1st century, it was capital of the Pannonia Superior province. It also became a large city of approximately 50,000 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flavian dynasty</span> Roman imperial dynasty (r. AD 69–96)

The Flavian dynasty ruled the Roman Empire between AD 69 and 96, encompassing the reigns of Vespasian (69–79), and his two sons Titus (79–81) and Domitian (81–96). The Flavians rose to power during the civil war of 69, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. After Galba and Otho died in quick succession, Vitellius became emperor in mid 69. His claim to the throne was quickly challenged by legions stationed in the eastern provinces, who declared their commander Vespasian emperor in his place. The Second Battle of Bedriacum tilted the balance decisively in favour of the Flavian forces, who entered Rome on 20 December. The following day, the Roman Senate officially declared Vespasian emperor of the Roman Empire, thus commencing the Flavian dynasty. Although the dynasty proved to be short-lived, several significant historic, economic and military events took place during their reign.

Gaius Avidius Cassius was a Syrian Roman general and usurper. He was born in Cyrrhus, and was the son of Gaius Avidius Heliodorus, who served as praefectus or governor of Roman Egypt, and Julia Cassia Alexandra, who was related to a number of royal figures, including her descent from both Augustus and Herod the Great. He began his military career under Antoninus Pius, rising to the status of legatus legionis. He served during the Parthian war of Lucius Verus, in which he distinguished himself, for which he was elevated to the Senate, and later made Imperial legate. During the Bucolic War, he was given the extraordinary title of Rector Orientis, giving him Imperium over all of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Dixon</span> American comic book writer

Charles Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for his work on the Marvel Comics character the Punisher and on the DC Comics characters Batman, Nightwing, and Robin in the 1990s and early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Portuguese history (Lusitania and Gallaecia)</span>

This is a historical timeline of Portugal.

Andrea Di Vito is an Italian comic book artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcomannic Wars</span> 166–180 AD series of Roman wars with Danubian tribes

The Marcomannic Wars were a series of wars lasting from about 166 until 180 AD. These wars pitted the Roman Empire against principally the Germanic Marcomanni and Quadi and the Sarmatian Iazyges; there were related conflicts with several other Germanic, Sarmatian and Gothic peoples along both sides of the whole length of the Roman Empire's northeastern European border, the river Danube.

Titus Flavius T. f. T. n. Sabinus was a Roman politician and soldier. A native of Reate, he was the elder son of Titus Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia Polla, and brother of the Emperor Vespasian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria gens</span> Family in ancient Rome

The gens Maria was a plebeian family of Rome. Its most celebrated member was Gaius Marius, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, and seven times consul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Dacia</span> Roman province (106–271/275)


Roman Dacia was a province of the Roman Empire from 106 to 271–275 AD. Its territory consisted of what are now the regions of Oltenia, Transylvania and Banat. During Roman rule, it was organized as an imperial province on the borders of the empire. It is estimated that the population of Roman Dacia ranged from 650,000 to 1,200,000. It was conquered by Trajan (98–117) after two campaigns that devastated the Dacian Kingdom of Decebalus. However, the Romans did not occupy its entirety; Crișana, Maramureș, and most of Moldavia remained under the Free Dacians.

Pu Shougeng was a Muslim merchant and administrator in China under the Song and Yuan dynasties.

References