Enigma

Rating:
Summary: The very first limited series from Vertigo
Review: I remember following this story when it was published as an 8 issue mini-series, in the earliest days of the Vertigo line.

To go into the story itself would be impossible, you'll have to read it for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Mind Twisting
Review: It is impossible to really review this book's plot very well without giving away surprises, but the surface plot is about a man encountering characters straight out of the pages of his favourite, although shortlived, comic book series he read in the early 1970s while growing up called "Enigma". The comic book itself was the very surreal creation of a comic artist who was clearly the product of the late 1960s counter-culture. The first villian to appear is called "The Truth", and his power consists of driving people insane by telling them some hidden truth (geared towards each individual). Other villians include a group of men dressed up as clowns who break into peoples' homes and drive people into committing suicide through some sort of reverse feng-shui (they rearrange their victim's furniture in such a manner to create a suicidal mind-state). The hero of the series teams up with the comic book's creator, who has an unwanted cult following (literally) now that his creations are coming to life, and the two of them also track down the Enigma to learn his secret.

The whole series deals with such concepts as "reality" and responsibility and other issues I can't really give away without ruining part of the plot. As one reviewer's title notes, it could be described as post-modern existentialism. This is a brilliantly written, beautifully drawn mind-expanding piece of work.

Rating:
Summary: The very first limited series from Vertigo
Review: Really, I rate this book a 17 on a scale of 1 to 10. This is the perfect introduction to the works of Peter Milligan

Chock full of Milligan's trademark wit and irony, I guarantee that inbetween belly laughs, this masterpiece will have you pondering your own place in the world.

Milligan's style is pefectly complimented by the bold and quirky work of artist Duncan Fegredo.

Rating:
Summary: Existentialism, Homosexuality and Superheroes
Review: Really, I rate this book a 17 on a scale of 1 to 10. This is the perfect introduction to the works of Peter Milligan

Chock full of Milligan's trademark wit and irony, I guarantee that inbetween belly laughs, this masterpiece will have you pondering your own place in the world.

Milligan's style is pefectly complimented by the bold and quirky work of artist Duncan Fegredo.

Rating:
Summary: A post-modernist existential pop narrative
Review: The things that impress most about Milligan's tale are its ironic narrative and fully-developed characters. Packed with wit, but never too impressed with itself, Enigma is a must read for anyone whose idea of modern sequential art is stuck either with Bill Watterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" or Art Spiegleman's "Maus". Enigma is Milligan's smartest work to date, an idiosyncratic masterpiece of absurdity, super-heroics and the quest for identity.

Rating:
Summary: Another five-star review thrown into a (black) hole
Review: This book has many similarities to the best movie of 1999, Fight Club, only the Narrator didn't sleep with Tyler ... did he? Peter Milligan is one of the best writers around--his work is always worthwhile. Duncan Fegredo and Sherilyn van Valkenburgh's art brings the words to gorgeous, comic book life. A comic book disguised as philosophy disguised as a comic book, or something. It could be a great film. Also, what are the sexual connotations of biting the heads off lizards?

Rating:
Summary: A postmodern comic.
Review: This mini-series defines postmodernism. Milligan plays with the convention of comics through editor comments and satire toward older styles. The main theme throughout the whole book, although one may not realize until partially through it, is that trying to find the meaning of life is absurd. The question "What's next?" permeates the mystery. And the answer? Nothing. Life is like that.

But that doesn't make the story less interesting. The characters are fascinating, and the art perfect for a postmodern comic. There is just enough detail and shadow for you to figure out what the lines are supposed to represent. Of course, these drawings aren't the real thing. So why try to recreate the thing on paper, if the artist can't help but fail. At best, all you get is a pretty picture.

This is definitely not a comic for younger readers. Postmodernism is very difficult to understand, and I'm still struggling. The point to this story is simply that there is no point. Who is the Enigma? What is the truth? What's next? Do the answers really matter? Postmodernism would say, that the Enigma is a construction of several different things. He is a man that spent most of his young life in a well, he eats lizards, he possesses great mind powers, he loves the lead character (Michael Smith), he based his image on an old comic book character. Have I defined him? Is that who the Enigma is? No! He has so many more definitions, but he is nothing really.

Five stars! Because this is the first time I have read a comic book and actually felt like my mind was challenged. I will offer it to all of my friends who enjoy intellectual reading. I shall read it again and again. I'll never figure out the point completely, but it sure is fun to try!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing.
Review: Words can not describe how incredible this comic book is. It really has to be read.

The only people who have given this book ANY remotely negative comments are straight men who are turned off by the homosexuality.

If you can't get your hands on the equally awesome (yet expensive and nearly impossible to find) Flex Mentallo,, a work that is very indebted to Enigma, then make sure to pick Enigma up, it is kind of like an older cousin who came over to visit a lot.

And, other then The Minx, pretty much everything I've read by Peter Milligan has been amazing. He's probably one of the best writers in comics today, I'd rank him right after Grant Morrison (who would either be number one or three, depending on whether Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore counted or if they just had an apotheosis and were so far above other comic writers that they no longer were even on the same scale) and before quite a few writers who sell more books.

But Enigma is probably one of his best titles. It's only eight issues and collected in one place for twenty dollars (or less if you can get it used). You don't have anything to lose.