Broken Frontier

When I first heard the name Berona’s War, the first image that popped into my head was of a man in Victorian clothing standing with a sword and a very serious look on his face.  I imagined a very dramatic but ultimately dry story that involved a lot of sneaking around in catacombs with torches and maybe some wildly predictable betrayals.  While others may find that kind of story exciting and intriguing, I prefer stories that are a bit more fun.  Fortunately, this book is exactly that.  It’s the opposite of everything I imagined it to be.

Although I’ve only read the preview book, I think I have a pretty good idea of what the book is about.  First of all, you should know that this is absolutely not a historical fiction.  The “people” of Berona are small furry animals that have developed a variety of savage but adorable weapons with which to kill each other.   

The field guide at the beginning of this book was invaluable, and well done.  It explained how each of the different soldiers fought and what weapons they used, without going into too much detail about the actual circumstances behind the war itself.  This was a smart decision because it leaves plenty of material for the actual comic to address.

I also appreciated the fact that the guide acknowledged a few things, like the ridiculousness of this book.  It also addresses the psychology behind a reader’s interest in the gritty details of war, and vindicates them through a bit of humor.

The art in this book is fantastic.  It’s very cute and cartoony, with just enough detail to make the panels come alive.  The weapons are just as alive as the soldiers.  Instead of cold lifeless steel, the weapons are made of bones, wood, and stones.  Even rockets and missiles are made of sharpened sticks and wood bound together by rope.  At first glance, it makes the story seem so childish and fun, but then the soldiers fire the missiles at their flying enemies, blowing them out of the sky and setting them on fire. 

In one story, three small Condyles, which are the most savage of the warriors, talk about how much they like and want blood.  So, they lure a giant beast to them and slice him apart from the inside out.  There’s no end to the blood and mayhem in Berona’s War.  But, unlike many other cartoon characters drawn for kids but written for adults, this book uses violence as a part of the story, and not as the focus.  Hopefully, this means this book will not only be a visual treat, but an enjoyable reading experience as well.

While this is only a preview book, with small snippets of full stories, I can already guess that Berona’s War will be a really fun read.  It’ll be interesting to see what kind of fan base a book like this will have. Berona’s War is definitely a series to keep your eye on.