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Battle Chasers #1-5
Battle Chasers: A Gathering of Heroes
Collecting the acclaimed and top-selling Cliffhanger series, A GATHERING OF HEROES features issues one through five of BATTLE CHASERS, plus the rare BATTLE CHASERS PREVIEW and the material from FRANK FRAZETTA FANTASY ILLUSTRATED. Follow young Gully as she searches for her missing father, making powerful friends and deadlier enemies along the way. Alongside Knolan, Calibretto, and Garrison (with a watchful eye on Red Monika), this unlikely troop band together to face the dangers that assail them on their quest. Whether gathered by fate or something more, destiny has made them...BATTLE CHASERS!
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 4, 2010
I was in the prime of my comic obsession when Joe Madureira hit the scene, and I'll admit that his thick-lined, anime-inspired, Exalted-style designs generally really did it for me back then. They're still a perfect example of a certain kind of art style, and he can design a big goofy robot like nobody's business.
I had a few issues of this series when I was younger and thought it was awesome looking, and so when I picked up this volume it was, we'll say, with some trepidation. And rightly so. Getting past the artwork, I didn't find a lot to like here. The story is a mish-mash of RPG tropes, which is fine, but it's also told sporadically and without any real coherence of voice or tone. Even the art isn't always a winner. There are places where the storytelling from panel to panel really breaks down, and the fight scenes are not always terribly dynamic because of it. Then there's Monika, who would work great as a parody of how women are drawn in comic books. But I don't think that's how she's intended, unfortunately.
I had a few issues of this series when I was younger and thought it was awesome looking, and so when I picked up this volume it was, we'll say, with some trepidation. And rightly so. Getting past the artwork, I didn't find a lot to like here. The story is a mish-mash of RPG tropes, which is fine, but it's also told sporadically and without any real coherence of voice or tone. Even the art isn't always a winner. There are places where the storytelling from panel to panel really breaks down, and the fight scenes are not always terribly dynamic because of it. Then there's Monika, who would work great as a parody of how women are drawn in comic books. But I don't think that's how she's intended, unfortunately.
April 24, 2022
There's no doubt the art is 5/5, however the story is lucky if it's 2/5. For what was supposed to be an epic fantasy series, the story hadn't even started. There's no clear set up of what is coming, what the A plot is, or what the stakes are. We are just given a handful of vignettes to showcase the artists skills before the series abruptly ceased, mid-vignette.
This in itself is poor, but not as poor as Madureira's work ethic, an artist who once said his problem was that he struggled to drag himself away from video games, this seemed to be the problem with Battle Chasers too. Multiple delays on almost every issue and ultimately a project too big for him to begin, let alone finish. Madureira ultimately left this on the shelf when opportunities in the VG industry presented themself, only venturing back into comics for paid gigs for the big dogs
In the end this is nothing more than a showcase of good character design and derivative world building.
This in itself is poor, but not as poor as Madureira's work ethic, an artist who once said his problem was that he struggled to drag himself away from video games, this seemed to be the problem with Battle Chasers too. Multiple delays on almost every issue and ultimately a project too big for him to begin, let alone finish. Madureira ultimately left this on the shelf when opportunities in the VG industry presented themself, only venturing back into comics for paid gigs for the big dogs
In the end this is nothing more than a showcase of good character design and derivative world building.
June 13, 2019
So Battle Chasers has had an interesting history. A total of 10 issues were released throughout 4 years...yikes! Well this collection has the first five issues. Artist Joe Madureira did a great stint on Uncanny X-Men and he and a few others formed Cliffhanger! Comics. Battle Chasers focuses on a wizard, a knight, a rogue, a robot, and a kid. Art is manga inspired. Story is fine as is the art.
November 4, 2008
One of the best comics I've ever read. The fantasy style writing, mixed with comic book classic black outlining. The don't make them like that anymore.
November 10, 2018
One of the best drawn, and written comic series of all time. It's just too bad that the artist then took a year, sometimes two years off to get out one issue.
June 9, 2009
One of the best comic stories and art ever, EVER! Too bad he didn't stick with drawing.
November 5, 2025
Esta relectura salida prácticamente de la nada de la serie me refrescó dos cosas: Que jamás había leído el prólogo ni la historia corta especial para Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated #2 hasta ahora. Y que si bien tiene sus altibajos narrativos y un guion ligero, el poder visual que desplegabla el Mad! en estos años no se comparaba con prácticamente ningún otro comic yanki de aquel entonces. Con influencias notorias del manganime y hasta un par de guiños al mundo de los videojuegos, Mad! se dedica a divertir de lo lindo con el diseño de personajes (y trajes y armas) y acompaña esos dibujazos con una historia que se va armando decentemente. Espero no tardarme añares en terminar lo que fue la primera tanda de 9 números (este tomo trae 5 + el 0), ni los pocos números que salieron después, y sobre todo que salgan los faltantes antes de que sea viejo.
July 24, 2025
A traumatised ten year old girl, an old man, a giant robot and a depressed man form a strange and unlikely alliance to fight against escaped prisoners and save the kingdom. I’m surprised by how layered the story was, plot after plot after plot intertwined with plot. I really enjoyed it and the best part was that the ten year old actually sounded like a ten year old. Could this be great writing? The art is fantastic and I kept flipping back and forth in pages. The over sexualisation of the female characters is… cliched at best. The plot and literally everything about this story is targeted for men, the nudity was just the cherry on top.
September 26, 2024
The writing isn't great. Characters are a bit cringey, and the plotting is slow and meandering, with plenty of that 90's X-Men thing in which thousands of threads are introduced, none of which are developed or resolved. But my gosh it looks great, although one wonders how much of that is down to the colouring.
January 8, 2018
I have no idea why this is so beloved. It was ok.
May 25, 2018
Wish Joe M would get a solid team of co-writers and partner up with Carlos D'Anda to revive this series.
October 21, 2020
Ace fantasy epic.
March 20, 2022
The story picks up from where something has ended and you have no clue what it is. This must be a book for the video game fans
September 23, 2025
Primer recopilatorio en castellano. Personajes pendientes.
November 25, 2016
It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the three Cliffhanger series - Danger Girl, Crimson, and Battle Chasers - ruled the comics world. The creators behind these three eagerly anticipated and heavily promoted series took the world by storm much the same way the founding Image creators did half a decade earlier.
Battle Chasers was the product of Joe Madureira's vivid imagination. Madureira was coming of a high profile run on Uncanny X-Men, and wanted to focus on a sword and sorcery fantasy epic. The result was Battle Chasers. Like the Image creators before him, Madureira's focus was on artwork over story. Battle Chasers essentially took the staples of fantasy, anime, and video games - the reluctant swordsman, a young child who inherits great power, a cantankerous old wizard, a giant robot, and a very well-endowed female mercenary - and throws them in a story straight out of a Dungeons & Dragons game. It's not particularly innovative, but it was certainly a lot of fun.
Madureira's artwork is naturally what steals the show. He obviously has a love of anime and video games, which comes across in his fantastic character designs and action sequences. Everything is vivid and full of energy, which makes it easier to look past the relatively basic storyline.
Battle Chasers: A Gathering of Heroes collects Battle Chasers issues 1-5 as well as the Battle Chasers Preview and a Battle Chasers short story that ran in an issue of Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated magazine. The collection is a great introduction to the series.
Unfortunately it's also just about all we'd ever see of Battle Chasers. For whatever reason, Madureira was unable (unwilling?) to continue the series past issue 9, and aside from a few covers would pretty much disappear from comics completely. This is disappointing to say the least. Fans bought into this series and Madureira's obvious enthusiasm for the characters. I think we deserve better than his abandoning the story and the readers in such a manner.
Battle Chasers was the product of Joe Madureira's vivid imagination. Madureira was coming of a high profile run on Uncanny X-Men, and wanted to focus on a sword and sorcery fantasy epic. The result was Battle Chasers. Like the Image creators before him, Madureira's focus was on artwork over story. Battle Chasers essentially took the staples of fantasy, anime, and video games - the reluctant swordsman, a young child who inherits great power, a cantankerous old wizard, a giant robot, and a very well-endowed female mercenary - and throws them in a story straight out of a Dungeons & Dragons game. It's not particularly innovative, but it was certainly a lot of fun.
Madureira's artwork is naturally what steals the show. He obviously has a love of anime and video games, which comes across in his fantastic character designs and action sequences. Everything is vivid and full of energy, which makes it easier to look past the relatively basic storyline.
Battle Chasers: A Gathering of Heroes collects Battle Chasers issues 1-5 as well as the Battle Chasers Preview and a Battle Chasers short story that ran in an issue of Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated magazine. The collection is a great introduction to the series.
Unfortunately it's also just about all we'd ever see of Battle Chasers. For whatever reason, Madureira was unable (unwilling?) to continue the series past issue 9, and aside from a few covers would pretty much disappear from comics completely. This is disappointing to say the least. Fans bought into this series and Madureira's obvious enthusiasm for the characters. I think we deserve better than his abandoning the story and the readers in such a manner.
December 16, 2021
My memory of this story is better than the reality of it. I remember getting excited when the individual issues were published. I only own 8 of the 10 issues plus several variant covers. I also remember waiting for months at a time because the artist couldn’t meet the monthly suspense to publish comic his readers were all excited for. Now having gone back & reread this story really disjointed in its telling (I’m sure for the obvious reason). It’s due to this book that I lost all interest in reading anything this artist did in comics despite how I liked his art.
May 17, 2012
When I borrowed this, I wasn't expecting much, but it's certainly worth a read if you're into fantasy comics. Although not usually my thing, the story was interesting and well-paced with varied (if slighty stereotypical) characters and some genuinely funny and emotive parts.
The writing isn't amazing, but perhaps because the writer is also the artist - and this is where the book's strength is. The art is absolutely staggering, with almost every panel given the same attention that would normally got only on the cover.
Whether you're a fan of fantasy comics or simply appreciate seriously good art, if you can pick this trade paperback up cheap then it's definitely worth it.
The writing isn't amazing, but perhaps because the writer is also the artist - and this is where the book's strength is. The art is absolutely staggering, with almost every panel given the same attention that would normally got only on the cover.
Whether you're a fan of fantasy comics or simply appreciate seriously good art, if you can pick this trade paperback up cheap then it's definitely worth it.
August 29, 2008
"a kid weilding giant power gloves? whats not to love?"
this really is a great series and i hope joe mad finishes it up (after he fininshes the awesome game "darksiders"). it is totally action driven, with the art in the forefront. some really cool characters and interesting plot that NEEDS to be finished!
this really is a great series and i hope joe mad finishes it up (after he fininshes the awesome game "darksiders"). it is totally action driven, with the art in the forefront. some really cool characters and interesting plot that NEEDS to be finished!
August 9, 2015
Ok so Joe Mad had the greatest run on an X-Men title since Jim Lee, and maybe that's why we expected so much from this. It's going to take more than a big titty red head to sell this title. How about you just come out with the comic on fucking scheduled? I was totally into these cliffhanger comics until they wasted my time. I think only 3 issues came out of this one. What the hell?
June 26, 2007
This comic has some of the most action oriented visuals thanks to Joe Mad the artist, I have every seen. Based on art alone this book would have easily earned 5 stars, but sadly the book ends in mid-stream of the story and is never really finished in the later issues.
August 15, 2012
The story seems promising but is kind of drab. This comic had potential to go further if Mad had done something more. Hint.
Overall the concept and the art make this worth having on the shelf, or at least a trip to the library.
March 26, 2013
*Sigh*
The amazing art style tries SO HARD to cover up average storytelling and boring characters. The story is often hard to follow from panel to panel.
Each panel though could be blown up as a poster, though. No denying Joe Mad has style.
The amazing art style tries SO HARD to cover up average storytelling and boring characters. The story is often hard to follow from panel to panel.
Each panel though could be blown up as a poster, though. No denying Joe Mad has style.
April 6, 2010
Joe Mad's badass artwork is the sole reason this book still exists in today's consciousness.
May 5, 2011
Fun story about a girl who inherits some power gloves that everybody else seems to want. Very nice artwork.
Read
August 10, 2011Amazing series, problem is it never ended. It just kind of stopped abruptly and that really tends to leave a bad taste in ones mouth.
March 19, 2012
It's Joe Mad. So, despite how good or bad the story is, this gets a 5 star from me. His art is just cool.
November 28, 2013
Designs: Awesome!
Characters: Ingenious.
Character depth: Bland.
Storyline: Childish.
Characters: Ingenious.
Character depth: Bland.
Storyline: Childish.
December 4, 2014
2014 and I'm still hoping for Joe Mad to pick this one up again.
September 23, 2008
Dear Joe Mad,
I HATE you for giving up this book to do video games.
I HATE you for giving up this book to do video games.
May 3, 2017
A beautiful book that makes an introduction to a graphically intense world. I found the writing to be average at best, the overall story cliché and the characters paper-thin. Adding that the story does not continues, this feels more to like a beautiful advertisement for something (and not necessarily a book) that might have been good without meeting those expectations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews