Come from the Wind

Druuna #9

by Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri

Came from the wind is the latest story in the immortal Druuna saga by Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri.

Genres: Erotica, Graphic Novels, Comics, Bande Dessinée

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri is an Italian comic book writer and illustrator, noted for his works of highly detailed renderings of the human form, particularly erotic images of women. He is best known for his work on the Druuna erotic science fiction series.

Reviews

[Mikael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I must confess I lost track of the story many years ago. In fact, around book 2, or maybe 4 or 5, definitely not later than book 7, and now I mostly tag along to see what happens and if I perhaps maybe can pick it up again and piece together what this was all about. Which is maybe quite natural, given that the first book was released over 30 years ago, in a largely non-computer and non-digital world.

However, when it comes to answers, this book, like its predecessors, does not deliver any, but rather leaves me with more questions than before. Which on the other hand isn't necessarily too bad, since the open not-quite-ended ending hints of the possibility of yet another future sequel. Let's hope it doesn't take another 16 years for the next episode though.

That said, I still liked the book, the story such as it is, and the illustrations. There's also a large section of previously unreleased sketches and illustrations.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess this is a conclusion. Not sure what has been concluded though.

Druuna first volumes were really good but for some reason between Dreams and Time travel, Serpieri created a story so complex and abstract that it became hard to understand what the hell was even going on.

This complexity didn't benefit Druuna at all and this conclusion is the result of it. This book is the possible conclusion to the mess that has been the last volumes.

Serpieri art is the only thing holding this one.

[Marc Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serpieri vuelve sobre los pasos ya a esbozados en su anterior obra, Anima y se adentra en un mundo donde los personajes se encuentran con sus propias representaciones arquetípicas. Druuna es aquí una representación libre del ánima, emocional, intuitiva, maltratada, pero cada vez más dueña de sí misma. Siempre dispuesta a seguir avanzando. La acompañamos en un (último?) viaje en el que Serpieri sigue dibujándola con gran maestría a la vez que le ofrece extraños compañeros de viaje, como salidos todos de esa mente brillante que puebla su cabeza y la de sus lectores.

[Guilherme Tavares Alves · Rating 5 out of 5]

bealtiful ....i love druuna....great Book

[Nuno Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Em outubro, chegou a Portugal o tomo final da coleção Druuna, com o título Aquela Que Vem do Vento, uma vez mais pela Arte de Autor. Trata-se de uma série de referência da banda desenhada erótica dos anos oitenta, originalmente publicada em 8 volumes. Este último volume tem um total de 96 páginas a cores e em capa dura, incluindo um caderno gráfico de ilustrações que complementa bastante o trabalho artístico de Serpieri.

Druuna é uma obra simples e descomplexada, com cenas de sexo a permearem a grande maioria das pranchas. Com uma toada bem onírica, sonhos e realidade confundem-se numa amálgama de cenários dantescos, onde a imaginação fértil do autor desencantou todo o tipo de mutações e monstruosidades, para além de constructos e andróides. O interesse nesta série é alimentado através do interesse que ele desperta pelas curvas e comportamentos da protagonista.

Num futuro pós-apocalíptico, um perigoso vírus transforma os homens em monstruosos mutantes sanguinários. Só o soro permite aos sobreviventes escaparem. Não deixa de ser uma obra bastante sexista, com a beldade sempre nua e predisposta ao sexo com os mais horrorosos personagens, inicialmente com o objetivo concreto de encontrar a cura para a mutação do seu amado, Shastar.

Neste último volume, Druuna pousa misteriosamente num mundo que lembra as grandes planícies do nosso passado. Deixada por conta própria, vagueia por uma imensa extensão coberta de cadáveres até encontrar um chefe índio que a chama de “aquela que vem do vento”. Mas ele não parece ser o único que a conhece. Eles logo serão acompanhados por uma tropa de conquistadores, Druuna é apanhada no fogo cruzado, mas este mundo é mesmo real? Poderá Druuna estar lá?

Druuna é uma bela mulher que caminha num mundo de caos, horrores e armadilhas, onde todo o tipo de monstruosidades a persegue. Monstros que foram homens e que se mostram desesperados por fazer sexo com ela. A protagonista não mostra de facto muita resistência, mas todo o conjunto é permeado por um tom decadente onde o sexo e a degradação caminham de mãos dadas.

Há também uma forte componente onírica ao longo da trama, porque em nenhum momento percebemos se a protagonista está a viver realmente aquelas aventuras ou a viver um sonho. Uma cadeira entrançada de sonhos e de acontecimentos estranhos que nem sempre fazem muito sentido mas que nos fazem testemunhar um esplendor de tonalidades e de concepções imaginárias dignas dos maiores mestres da nona arte. Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri não me convenceu com a narrativa, mas maravilhou-me com a sua ilustração.

https://noticiasdezallar.wordpress.com

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've missed #8 Clone and #0 Anima which are now frustratingly hard to find in English. However I still think that 'come from the wind' is rather confusing in terms of Druuna story arc and hands up I confess that I really wasn't sure what the hell is going on in this one.

So an amnesiac incarnation (clone?) of Druuna appears in 16th century? America. She befriends an Indian who is killed by what look like Conquistadors. Druuna escapes by mustang and a spider mutant erupts from the chest of the dead Indian. The rest of this is a bit of a quagmire - A different incarnation of Druuna is with a ghostly remnant of Schastar watching the other Druuna on the plains she jumps into a portal and the two Druunas come face to face uniting 'body' and 'memory'. Robot Gizmo also comes into this world as Druuna's comedy companion. She goes to a village, encounters a male Indian (a version of Will?) who wants her and one of his jealous wives (a version of Terry) who throws her the severed head of his last mistress. We run into the conquistadors again but she escapes into a mutant building where she meets the professor and a 3rd version of herself he calls 'soul' - we learn that there were two doctors - one infected, And it seems that most of the clones in this universe are hosts for these mutant tentacle aliens. Druuna leaves in search of uninfected humans.

This also features a bonus section of sketches and inks, showing earlier drafts.

So what can I say about this one? Far less sex and kink than all the other Druuna graphics - there's one scene of whipping, but on the whole its very tame compared to the stories where she keeps joining random orgies.

Serpieri began his career drawing westerns and gets to use that here - with the Americans Indians, horses and New World setting. This does make a nice change of pace and its great to see Druuna riding proud and free. I like the obvious New World metaphor: Being both the new world setting and a new world/beginning for Druuna.

I also love the alien/mutant parasite idea - It's a bit puppet masters meets alien.

The whole clones and dimensions aspect, though confused the hell out of me. While I far prefer the sci-fi settings, this latest Druuna isn't bad. Art as ever is beautiful and this manages to rehash what's gone before (repeated characters, themes and scenarios) and yet bring something fresh to the table with the new world stuff.

[Francisco Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational

[CT Lunch · Rating 2 out of 5]

✅ For the English version, scroll down.

Review van Druuna (volledige originele serie) - Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri
Rating hele serie: ⭐⭐⭐

Visueel prachtig, maar inhoudelijk onevenwichtig
De stripreeks Druuna van Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri begint sterk met een intrigerend sciencefictionverhaal dat nieuwsgierigheid opwekt. Vooral de eerste twee delen slagen erin een meeslepende wereld te schetsen waarin mysterieuze gebeurtenissen en onthullingen, zoals het ontdekken van een ruimteschip, een stevige basis leggen. Helaas zakt het verhaal daarna in; het lijkt zichzelf te herhalen zonder echte groei of richting, waardoor de spanning en ontwikkeling uiteindelijk uitblijven.

Fenomenaal tekenwerk
Wat deze reeks echter overeind houdt, is het fenomenale artwork. Druuna is prachtig weergegeven, net als de gedetailleerde en atmosferische omgevingen. Hoewel er seksuele scènes voorkomen, zijn deze meestal kort en goed verweven in het verhaal, zonder te overheersen. Dit subtiele evenwicht in erotiek is verrassend effectief.

Gemiste kansen in het verhaal
De thema’s en gebeurtenissen in het verhaal bieden aanvankelijk veel potentie, zoals kolonisatie of ontdekkingen in de ruimte, maar blijven in plaats daarvan hangen in herhaling en missen een bevredigend einde. De reeks voelt daardoor meer als een mix van films als The Matrix, Inception, en Alien – een combinatie die veelbelovend klinkt, maar niet optimaal wordt benut.

Een constante hoofdrolspeelster
Druuna zelf ontwikkelt zich nauwelijks als personage, maar dat is geen groot gemis; ze is meer een ankerpunt in een wereld die voortdurend verandert. Voor liefhebbers van complexere verhalen is dit misschien een uitdaging, maar het is vooral de visuele stijl die deze serie de moeite waard maakt.

Conclusie
Kortom, Druuna is vooral aan te raden vanwege het indrukwekkende tekenwerk, terwijl het verhaal minder goed overeind blijft. Als je bereid bent het visuele spektakel te laten domineren en het verhaal als secundair te beschouwen, is deze reeks absoluut het proberen waard.

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Review of Druuna (entire original series) - Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri
Rating entire series: ⭐⭐⭐

This review covers the entire series.
Visually stunning, but narratively uneven
The Druuna comic series by Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri starts off strong with an intriguing science fiction story that sparks curiosity. The first two volumes, in particular, succeed in creating an immersive world filled with mysterious events and revelations, such as the discovery of a spaceship, laying a solid foundation. Unfortunately, the story loses its momentum after that, seemingly repeating itself without any real growth or direction, which causes the suspense and development to falter.

Outstanding artwork
What keeps this series afloat, however, is the phenomenal artwork. Druuna is beautifully rendered, as are the detailed and atmospheric environments. While there are sexual scenes, they are generally brief and well-integrated into the story, without becoming overpowering. This subtle balance of eroticism is surprisingly effective.

Wasted narrative potential
The themes and events initially hold a lot of potential, such as space colonization or discoveries, but instead remain stuck in repetition and lack a satisfying conclusion. As a result, the series feels more like a blend of films like The Matrix, Inception, and Alien—a combination that sounds promising but isn't fully realized.

A steady central figure
Druuna herself sees little character development, but this isn’t a significant issue; she serves as a steady anchor in a world that is constantly shifting. For fans of more complex narratives, this may present a challenge, but it’s the visual style that truly makes this series worth exploring.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Druuna is primarily recommended for its breathtaking artwork, while the story falls short of expectations. If you're willing to let the visual spectacle take center stage and accept the story as secondary, this series is absolutely worth a try.