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Nomen Omen #2
Nomen Omen, Vol. 2: Wicked Game
Becky's literal leap of faith unhinged the doors to a world of magic, a world that will force her to abandon her old life and embrace her legacy. After all, you may be born a witch, but there's no way you can properly use ma
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2019
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55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 20, 2020
I read the English version, but there doesn't seem to be an entry for that, so I'm here.
Nomen Omen is a dense read - there's a lot going on, a lot of it is implied rather than overtly explained, and I expect there's a lot of stuff here I missed when reading it for the first time. But it sucks you in like nothing I've ever read, as Becky's magical journey takes her to new places, with new friends and enemies to deal with along the way.
Camagni's artwork is also a huge draw - it's just beautiful, and the pops of colour really work wonders to enhance certain scenes. If this is a more European style, I hope we get more of this in American comics over time, because it's a great change of pace.
I may not have understood everything I read, but I damn well enjoyed it, and that's Nomen Omen to a tee.
Nomen Omen is a dense read - there's a lot going on, a lot of it is implied rather than overtly explained, and I expect there's a lot of stuff here I missed when reading it for the first time. But it sucks you in like nothing I've ever read, as Becky's magical journey takes her to new places, with new friends and enemies to deal with along the way.
Camagni's artwork is also a huge draw - it's just beautiful, and the pops of colour really work wonders to enhance certain scenes. If this is a more European style, I hope we get more of this in American comics over time, because it's a great change of pace.
I may not have understood everything I read, but I damn well enjoyed it, and that's Nomen Omen to a tee.
August 20, 2022
wciagnelam sie a nie mam trzeciego tomu 😭
October 30, 2024
I did like the Labyrinth references.
June 21, 2021
This series just keeps blowing my mind in many many ways, and this is the first that had to be said. Second, I have always loved stories, I believe I'm somehow a storyteller at my core, and lore from different countries have always interested me, but I realize that I know so so little of all that, all the history, all the names, all the stories. This definitely made me want to read and learn more about those. I also think that I would be much less confused by this graphic novel if I knew more.
Still, I really enjoyed these next chapters, as I just went with the flow as I have learned to do with comic (since my knowledge of old Marvel and DC is still not always enough).
First, as an aspiring visual artist of some sorts, I have to say that the illustrations are GORGEOUS. The line art is exquisite, the colours beautifully saturated opposed to the black and white values bring so much meaning to Becky as a character, as an almost real person.
Second, I saw a game of fates in this book, which is pretty common in fantasy, but this was not a common use of fates. We saw characters from real legends and tales being real and influenced by what is said who have a fate related to what they are, but also it seems like it can or cannot be changed somehow, and this is all so confusing but all so well done. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened here, so please bear with me through this very very long review.
Third, the MEANING of this novel, story. From the notes and the graphic novel, I get this wonderful questioning of the world, of fantasy, of all the lore humankind has created and transmitted through written or spoken words, or Magic, of the planes of reality, of everything. I get from this a want to mold our world and imagination to what we want it to be, not what it should be. I get that we should push every limit that has been imposed by ourselves or others, that we should look and live and dream and change even if it's scary. It is NOT an easy thing, that much is clear, and there will be pain and loses and it might not even well, who knows. But why not?
I also want to address the witchcraft mentioned in this book. Witches (as witch, wiccan, pagan, whatever how you want to call it, it has many names) in this book and actually the notions of Becky's past/alternate/ancestor's life, how she comes to access her own magic, the relation she learns to have with what surrounds her and all the nature parts of the book seem deeply rooted in the general term of "paganism" in a way that we would describe it (I say that from all the different books I've read on the matter), which made me feel even more connected and bewitched (pun intended) by this graphic novel.
Finally, this graphic novel gets a 5 stars even with my confusion for being so unique and mindblowing and beautiful. I also very much enjoyed the short stories at the end and will be looking for that compendium.
Still, I really enjoyed these next chapters, as I just went with the flow as I have learned to do with comic (since my knowledge of old Marvel and DC is still not always enough).
First, as an aspiring visual artist of some sorts, I have to say that the illustrations are GORGEOUS. The line art is exquisite, the colours beautifully saturated opposed to the black and white values bring so much meaning to Becky as a character, as an almost real person.
Second, I saw a game of fates in this book, which is pretty common in fantasy, but this was not a common use of fates. We saw characters from real legends and tales being real and influenced by what is said who have a fate related to what they are, but also it seems like it can or cannot be changed somehow, and this is all so confusing but all so well done. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened here, so please bear with me through this very very long review.
Third, the MEANING of this novel, story. From the notes and the graphic novel, I get this wonderful questioning of the world, of fantasy, of all the lore humankind has created and transmitted through written or spoken words, or Magic, of the planes of reality, of everything. I get from this a want to mold our world and imagination to what we want it to be, not what it should be. I get that we should push every limit that has been imposed by ourselves or others, that we should look and live and dream and change even if it's scary. It is NOT an easy thing, that much is clear, and there will be pain and loses and it might not even well, who knows. But why not?
I also want to address the witchcraft mentioned in this book. Witches (as witch, wiccan, pagan, whatever how you want to call it, it has many names) in this book and actually the notions of Becky's past/alternate/ancestor's life, how she comes to access her own magic, the relation she learns to have with what surrounds her and all the nature parts of the book seem deeply rooted in the general term of "paganism" in a way that we would describe it (I say that from all the different books I've read on the matter), which made me feel even more connected and bewitched (pun intended) by this graphic novel.
Finally, this graphic novel gets a 5 stars even with my confusion for being so unique and mindblowing and beautiful. I also very much enjoyed the short stories at the end and will be looking for that compendium.
February 8, 2023
I could give a regular review going over the characters, art, pacing, etc. but there are many other reviewers that can do that for this book and better. Instead, this review is to get my opinions out and the thoughts on elements of the book I feel like reviewer's do not mention or are seen less in the review section.
The artwork continues to be fucking amazing! Props to both the artist and the colorist. We see more non-monochrome pages and elements allowing the colorist to pop off more here than in the first volume and I am here for it.
Compared to the first volume this second volume is a bit more confusing. Both volume one and two struggle with explaining itself coherently. Luckily Volume 1 had explained itself a bit better in its second half which is less so in this second volume.
That being said the story that is here is great! This volume is mostly a leadup to volume three and consists largely of the setup and ensuing raid of Taranis' Samhain party! I really enjoyed how this second volume fleshed out the characters. Main characters like Fer and Rebecca get a lot of character development. While volume gave us a rough outline of these two in the second volume we see more sides of them with !
Along the way the side characters get more coverage like two of the men Rebecca was friends with (her boyfriend or brother, and the guy with lip piercings) and Arach. I am reviewing this while reading the third volume and I'll say that this coverage is built up and creates something great in the third volume.
Nomen Omen seems to be a series so far that is meant to be reread and with a closer eye as you better understand what it is trying to do with the power of giving names and describing / putting in a box concepts and characters. This second volume shows that more. Compared to the first volume it lost me a bit more but it still is enough to understand what is going on.
Lastly, super big content warning for rape. One person is alluded to being raped multiple times off-screen and another person is shown in the start of being raped. I honestly don't feel like it was needed but it is there. :/
The artwork continues to be fucking amazing! Props to both the artist and the colorist. We see more non-monochrome pages and elements allowing the colorist to pop off more here than in the first volume and I am here for it.
Compared to the first volume this second volume is a bit more confusing. Both volume one and two struggle with explaining itself coherently. Luckily Volume 1 had explained itself a bit better in its second half which is less so in this second volume.
That being said the story that is here is great! This volume is mostly a leadup to volume three and consists largely of the setup and ensuing raid of Taranis' Samhain party! I really enjoyed how this second volume fleshed out the characters. Main characters like Fer and Rebecca get a lot of character development. While volume gave us a rough outline of these two in the second volume we see more sides of them with !
Along the way the side characters get more coverage like two of the men Rebecca was friends with (her boyfriend or brother, and the guy with lip piercings) and Arach. I am reviewing this while reading the third volume and I'll say that this coverage is built up and creates something great in the third volume.
Nomen Omen seems to be a series so far that is meant to be reread and with a closer eye as you better understand what it is trying to do with the power of giving names and describing / putting in a box concepts and characters. This second volume shows that more. Compared to the first volume it lost me a bit more but it still is enough to understand what is going on.
Lastly, super big content warning for rape. One person is alluded to being raped multiple times off-screen and another person is shown in the start of being raped. I honestly don't feel like it was needed but it is there. :/
February 16, 2023
☆☆ YouTube | Tumblr | Instagram | Storygraph ☆☆
I Hated Re-Reading -- Recent Reads 002 || December & January Reads
Uhhhh, okay, so… this got oddly sexual? Magical cock rings, torture while done up in shibari, off-page rape? This all just felt pretty weird, and unnecessary and took me out of the story. Which is such a shame! Because I was really liking this! Though the plot is kind of hard to follow in this one and while I understand that some of these characters are embodiments of famous literary characters, the underlying Celtic folklore was undercut by a character from Greek mythology. Not sure why that happened.
The art is absolutely exquisite and I continue to adore the way color is used, particularly since we’re seeing more and more magic, which is showcased with color compared to the normal black-and-white pages. I loved the fight scenes and especially enjoyed seeing how Becky learned to accept and connect with her magic, and really make it into something of her own by connecting it with her knowledge of technology. The way she connects her magic to her phone, smartwatch, and computer, was so clever and unique.
I’m still going to finish out the series, but this was such a weird follow-up to the first volume.
I Hated Re-Reading -- Recent Reads 002 || December & January Reads
Uhhhh, okay, so… this got oddly sexual? Magical cock rings, torture while done up in shibari, off-page rape? This all just felt pretty weird, and unnecessary and took me out of the story. Which is such a shame! Because I was really liking this! Though the plot is kind of hard to follow in this one and while I understand that some of these characters are embodiments of famous literary characters, the underlying Celtic folklore was undercut by a character from Greek mythology. Not sure why that happened.
The art is absolutely exquisite and I continue to adore the way color is used, particularly since we’re seeing more and more magic, which is showcased with color compared to the normal black-and-white pages. I loved the fight scenes and especially enjoyed seeing how Becky learned to accept and connect with her magic, and really make it into something of her own by connecting it with her knowledge of technology. The way she connects her magic to her phone, smartwatch, and computer, was so clever and unique.
I’m still going to finish out the series, but this was such a weird follow-up to the first volume.
November 21, 2020
This is a review of #6 to #10 which ends on a cliffhanger so Volume 2 might include the next in the series. I had forgotten much of what I had read previously but this comic series develops nicely as Rebecca learns how to use her magic to rescue Patrick, confront Fer and then Taranis. New characters are introduced and the artwork is interesting, often monochrome with bits of colour thrown in. It’s enjoyable stuff and a bit clearer towards the end. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2022
I still don’t really understand everything that’s going on in this book. I mean, I understand the plot, and that stories are personified in different ways, and that magic exists. But I don’t really get the point of all of it. Certain stories die, but they are usually replaced with new ones. Or they are archetypes that get reinterpreted in different stories.
At the end of the day, I feel like this whole concept is missing something. There’s some story that it’s trying to tell, but it’s missing a piece of logic to keep it all tied together.
At the end of the day, I feel like this whole concept is missing something. There’s some story that it’s trying to tell, but it’s missing a piece of logic to keep it all tied together.
May 1, 2021
This volume really, really didn’t work for me.
My critique of the first volume was that it didn’t show what timelines you were in as you read which really took me out of the story by having to figure out where we were. There was also an off page rape scene which I thought there was absolutely no need for. It’s a few days after finishing while I write this review, and I can barely remember anything other than what I didn’t like. It’s probably my least favourite book I’ve read so far this year. :(
My critique of the first volume was that it didn’t show what timelines you were in as you read which really took me out of the story by having to figure out where we were. There was also an off page rape scene which I thought there was absolutely no need for. It’s a few days after finishing while I write this review, and I can barely remember anything other than what I didn’t like. It’s probably my least favourite book I’ve read so far this year. :(
April 9, 2021
4.5 - so good. The art is too amazing for this series
July 28, 2021
3.5⭐
Still a bit all over the place but I'm enjoying the ride.
Still a bit all over the place but I'm enjoying the ride.
November 18, 2021
I want to like this more than I do. It's pretty but so confusing. (Also there was a lot of Labyrinth influence but I'm not sure I liked it.)
December 30, 2021
I still don't really know how to feel about this series.
May 20, 2022
Eh, dalej słabo
June 30, 2022
Confusing but still really good
August 5, 2023
I had mixed feelings about the first volume, but this volume was much better. The story started to make more sense and I started to really apprectiate the artwork.
October 13, 2019
La storia entra nel vivo. Le tavole, i disegni e i colori sono di un’elevata bravura che arricchiscono e donano alla trama un valore aggiunto.
December 17, 2021
Video Review: https://youtu.be/AcYTn7ECZwE
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews