Milo Manara - The Definitive Collection

by Milo Manara

The ulitmate collection from international superstar comic book writer and artist Milo Manara. Famous for his mythical and erotic art style, this book collects three of his most famous and sought after works.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Erotica

200 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2020

About the author

Maurilio Manara – known professionally as Milo Manara – is an Italian comic book writer and artist, best known for his erotic approach to the medium.

Reviews

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Сьогодні вечір еротичного банд десіне. Міло Манара знаний майстер еротичного бд, фантазія якого вирує та створює незвичні історії. Не завжди вони подобаються сюжетно, але малюнок — це сильна сторона, за яку вартує читати його мальописи. Ця збірка містить три історії.

«Ґуллівера». Це така собі еротична адаптація літературного твору «Мандри Ґуллівера» Джонатана Свіфта, де головною героїнею є дівчина. Вона подорожує через країну ліліпутів, країну велетнів та матиме багато пригод еротичного характеру. Досить кумедна історія, де слідкуєш за цікавими ідеями Манари, особливо, як він використовує тіло дівчини для руху сюжету. Її вчинки безглузді, а зміна декорацій дуже натягнута. Я розумію, що акцент тут зовсім на іншому, але разом із банальними діалогами ці речі послаблюють історію. Тому малюнок тут рятує ситуацію.

«Очі Пандори». Мабуть, найкраще бд із збірки через свій нуарний стиль та детективну складову. Пандора — чудова й молода дівчина із тяжким характером, яку викрадають невідомі люди. Вона потрапляє у центр змови, наповненої злочинами та мафією. Це все якимось чином пов’язане з таємничим минулим її батьків.

Не потрібно очікувати тут вишуканих сюжетних ходів, як у деяких детективних історіях. Тут все досить лаконічно, просто та передбачувано. Але стиль малюнку робить свою справу й мальопис через це гарно читається. Щодо еротичної частини, то я б казав, що тут просто пікантні сценки, якщо брати у порівняння бд «Ґуллівера».

«Золотий віслюк». Оригінальна назва має надзвичайно гарну гру слів, адже звучить, як «Golden Ass», де слово «ass» означає «віслюк» та «дупа». Але ми ж знаємо, як полюбляє Міло Манара створювати еротичні мальописи, тому в англійському варіанті ця річ відмінно працює. Та ще й віслюк за сюжетом грає не останню роль.

Це еротична графічна адаптація однієї з відомих історій класичної римської літератури «Золота дупа Апулея». У центрі розповіді лежать пригоди юного Люція, посильного, який волею випадку перетворився на осла і піддався перипетіям блукаючого життя. На його шляху буде безліч злодіїв, чаклунів і красивих жінок, які потривожать його «дупцю» не один раз. Знову кумедна, але водночас дивна, історія, яка відбувається в антуражі стародавнього Риму.

Збірка показала нам різного Міло Манару, як в сценарному, так і в художньому планах. Особливо це помітно саме в малюнку, стиль якого відмінний один від одного в цих мальописах.

Це моє перше знайомство із творчістю МІло Манари і назву його вдалим, хоча історії мені не дуже припали до душі.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the Italian erotica. Two of the three stories had blocky narrative, but storytelling was admittedly a secondary interest here. The "Gulliveriana" tale (sexy lady version of "Gulliver's Travels") was actually the whole package though. I've seen Manara's artwork float through the world for ages and come to influence a score of artists, so this was cool to finally explore.

[David Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't necessarily loooove Manara's storytelling but I will say he knows how to draw hot ladies and donkey dicks.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the work of Milo Manara, the famous Italian artist. Or should I say infamous, because those in the know, those who have read Heavy Metal magazine for a while will know that when Manara creates a new work, he isn’t shy about portraying nudity or sex. His work, I think, would be comparable to the modern day Tijuana Bible - aka comic book pornography - except Manara always wraps a story around it. The art, however, I must say is exquisite and demonstrates a rare natural talent we have seen in Kirby, Toth, and Moebius.

This work is touted as the definitive edition, which I’m not quite sure how the publishers, Humanoids, came up with that decision. It isn’t a collected works, Dark Horse already put that out. Perhaps it's meant to demonstrate what they consider to be his best work. The title is a little deceptive at best. As many other reviewers have pointed out, the book only has three of Manara’s short stories. Albeit, three very good stories.

The first is Gullivera, a sexy take on the tale of Gulliver’s Travels. This one actually has almost no sex, but the titular character is naked or half-naked nearly all the time, genitals in full exposure. I believe that this story was printed in part at least in an issue of Heavy Metal, not sure about the issue number. As an adaptation, it is a pretty faithful one to the 16th Century novel.

Second is Pandora’s Eyes, this one is actually almost completely without sex, though the main character is nearly raped about half a dozen times. It revolves around a young girl discovering his biological father is an international criminal and Interpol’s attempts to bring the man to justice. Thirdly, we are shown The Golden Ass. Set in ancient Greece, Manara gives us plenty of sex here with a variation on an old theme, were a young man is accidently turned into a donkey, where he goes on various sexy adventures - yes there is bestiality - before being forgiven by the Goddess. It’s a weird variation on the redemption story.

[Ville-Markus Nevalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of three stories by Milo Manara, "a world famous" comic artist. It's... eh. It's fine. Manara's artstyle, and the stories here, rely quite heavily on them being a bit naughty, which is both its greatest benefit and flaw. It's a benefit as the stories themselves are not anything special, they are average at best, but it's also a flaw as it never goes "far enough" (or too far, depending on the reader) to really justify the stories being, well, so average. So in the end, the stories fail to entertain in either front, being entertaining or arousing.

And yeah, perhaps I am all too critical and/or analytical to a naughty comic that retells the Gulliver's Travels with a woman without underwear. It's mildly entertaining and the suggestivness IS wonderful at places, but especially the other stories that try to tell, ummh..., a story, are lacking in other fronts.

Also, when you begin to see the noses of the characters, or the lack of, it kind of breaks the magic. And I'm not sure if I ever needed to see an owl with tits, but here we are. It's a collection.

[Sean Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to review a book like this? I suppose how it is intended to be enjoyed or appreciated. It did feel salacious reading this, I would feel a little more English than I would like if someone pulled it out of my bookshelf and inquired about it. But essentially it’s a sexy, sexual riff on simple folkloric stories of power dynamics and adventure and freedom. The debate as to whether this is objectifying or liberating or representative or exploitative rages on. Minara’s art and his attention to the female form is second to none, it’s as inspiring as a Greek statue and remind me of sketches in the notebooks of young men. The simple stories evoke the thoughts you may have as a child figuring your sexuality out or while reading your own subtexts in strange fairytales.

[Rel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is one bad excuse after the next to draw a hot lady. I like the girlie-drawings though.

The cover of this book is probably the best thing about it.

This book is similar to things I like a lot... but lacks (for example) all the charm of real filth like The Lost Girls, and lacks all the charm of actual camp, though it has a lot of the same elements as Barbarella.

Maybe if I had *a thing* for giantesses....?

I give it 2 stars, though, for hot pictures, though.

I do find it amusing that, you can tell the person who drew it had a lot of fun.

It's "silly," I guess, but there's only one joke.

[Steven Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 of Milo's tales in one "definitive collection". One I'd already read, Gullivera, on the strength of which I purchased it, hoping the other two would be as strong. They weren't bad, at all, they just didn't have the same impact. Artwork good throughout, storytelling, particularly 'Pandora's Eyes' and 'The Golden Ass' was patchy.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gullivera->Pandora's Eyes->The Golden Ass
=you (almost) cannot find better erotic art and narrative value by page count!

with no balloonchestery- which makes the women move all the more sexily!!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stories one each in the comic, thriller, and mythical mode. Beautiful art and storytelling. Explicit enough that I would only selectively recommend.