Tag Archives: circus maximus

Preview: Circus Maximus #5

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Circus Maximus #5

(W) Mark Sable (A) Giorgio Pontrelli

The crew that robbed The Temple of Saturn is running out of time. Their historic theft has made them a target of rival gangs, mystery cults, and Emperor Nero himself. Worse, they’ve been betrayed from within by one of their own. With their loot dwindling, they’ve got to escape both the fire and the Emperor. In this final issue, they are torn between making a less-than-clean getaway and exacting vengeance against Nero for all they have suffered. Who, if any, will make it out alive?

Circus Maximus #5

Preview: Circus Maximus #4

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Circus Maximus #4

(W) Mark Sable (A) Giorgio Pontrelli

Ancient Rome is burning to the ground, and its citizens are starting to blame Emperor Nero for the chaos and destruction he’s brought to the city. But he’s focused on one thing – finding the thieves who robbed the Temple of Saturn and stole the plans for his new palace, which are proof that he truly is behind the fire. Wounded and hunted by the Emperor’s Praetorian Guard, the crew that pulled off this daring heist is running out of time before they are consumed by flames or crucified for their crimes.

Circus Maximus #4

Preview: Circus Maximus #3

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Circus Maximus #3

(W) Mark Sable (A) Giorgio Pontrelli (C) Emilio Lecce (L) Dave Sharpe

The crew has pulled off the greatest heist in the ancient world – robbing the Empire of Rome’s treasury beneath the Temple of Saturn. But along with their big score came proof that Nero set the Great Fire of Rome. As the city burns, Emperor Nero will do whatever it takes to make sure they don’t expose his deadly crime. Will they live to tell the tale of their exploits, or is their luck about to run out?

Circus Maximus #3

Mini Reviews: Ultimate Wolverine #12, Ultimate Spider-Man #23, Street Sharks #3, Circus Maximus #2, Absolute Batman #15

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Ultimate Wolverine #12

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Ultimate Wolverine #12 (Marvel) – Ultimate Wolverine #12 is pure revenge. Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Bryan Valenza make it burn like a slug of whiskey to the back of your throat. With the whole supporting cast of the book killed off, Wolverine stands alone against Directorate X, its scientists, goons, and mutants and makes his presence known slash and swearing through this book’s runtime. After all the trauma and false hope he’s undergone, Ultimate Wolverine #12 hits with a powerful wave of catharsis with the Phoenix specimen playing a key role in the comic. (And probably in the future of the Ultimate Universe because talk about a big gun.) It feels good to watch Wolverine decapitate Sentinels and stab Colossus in the face while Moscow burns around him, and this comics ends up being one of the best in the series because of its focus on simple, effective brutality. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Ultimate Spider-Man #23 (Marvel) – All the plot threads that Jonathan Hickman has been building in two years of this title collide in Ultimate Spider-Man #23, but Spidey’s tenacious heart still beats beneath the noise. Facial expressions have been Marco Chechetto and David Messina‘s calling card throughout the comic, and they do a lot of the heavy lifting as Peter Parker goes into action to save his son from the Kingpin’s tower while he’s trying to take down the Kingpin per Otto Octavius’ instructions. I live for the side eye that Peter’s daughter May gives Doc Ock. There are about 4-5 plotlines going in this series, but Hickman uses the classic throughline of the hero’s choice contrasting Harry Osborn and Peter Parker. This mirroring of Spider and Goblin is a great callback to the Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley Ultimate Spider-Man as well as the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films, but Ultimate Spider-Man #23 makes an original recipe out of some tasty ingredients. Overall: 9.2 Verdict: Buy

Street Sharks #3 (IDW Publishing) – Stephanie Williams, Ariel Medel, and Valenatina Pinto show that the Street Sharks are more brain than brawn (But they have good hearts!) in the third episode of this series. Fitting for this time of the year, the plot is college football related as the Street Sharks blending in with the shark costume-sporting fans of Fission University. It’s so wholesome to watch the Sharks interact and be complimented by their fellow students, and Jab even gets to help a young girl be reunited with her mother in a sequence that establishes him a truly selfless hero. Of course, there’s the over the top fight scenes, and Williams escalates the series’ overarching plot big time. Street Sharks continues to be an updated Saturday morning cartoon delight. Overall: 8.4 Verdict: Buy

Circus Maximus #2 (Mad Cave) – Mark Sable, Giorgio Pontrelli, and Emilio Lecce‘s Circus Maximus #2 has a really cool concept, but far too many fragmented sub plots to be a hit as an ancient Roman crime thriller. The main premise of a class warfare-driven heist right under the nose of Emperor Nero and his Praetorian Guard because everyone is watching a chariot race (Featuring the getaway driver as a participant.) at Hippodrome is very compelling, especially as Sable connects the caper to the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE. However, there are a lot of moving parts, and some storytelling issues in transitions between scenes like when the aforementioned getaway driver becomes a gladiator. Also, a lot of the time, it feels like Mark Sable and Pontrelli glommed on a few concepts from Roman every day life and zeroed in on those at the expense of the big picture. Hopefully, the story improves, but the foundation of the thriller is definitely wobbly. Overall: 6.0 Verdict: Pass

Absolute Batman #15 (DC) – Scott Snyder, Jock, and Frank Martin do the nigh-impossible and put a fresh, frightening spin on the Clown Prince of Crime in Absolute Batman #15. The story is framed by Alfred telling a fish story about a family called the Grimms, but each version gets darker and more nefarious until the big double page reveal of a baddie that could easily be the Absolute Batman’s arch-nemesis. I love how Snyder and Jock root the Absolute Joker in history, capitalism, and even the history of the entertainment industry as a primal, immortal source of pure evil. Also, in the deepest knife twist of all, he’s very similar to the main DC Universe’s Bruce Wayne. Because billionaires are the real supervillains. Overall: 10 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Circus Maximus #2

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Circus Maximus #2

(W) Mark Sable (A) Giorgio Pontrelli (C) Emilio Lecce (L) Dave Sharpe

Things have not gone as expected for the daring criminals who looted Ancient Rome’s Temple of Saturn. Hoping to steal enough gold to secure their freedom, they’ve stumbled upon proof that Emperor Nero is responsible for setting the Great Fire of Rome, which rages around them. Now, they must not only battle the flames but also Nero’s Praetorian Guard, who aim to silence them forever.

Circus Maximus #2

Circus Maximus #1 Brings the Heist Genre to Ancient Rome

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Circus Maximus #1

Rome. 64 AD. The most daring heist in history is being planned by an unlikely crew – a former slave, a Vestal Virgin, a charioteer and a disgraced architect – each with their own personal motives. While Rome is distracted by the chariot racing and gladiatorial games of the Circus Maximus, the crew plans to rob the Imperial treasury under the Temple of Saturn. But when Emperor Nero sets fire to the city, they’ll be lucky to escape his wrath with their lives, let alone the loot. Circus Maximus #1 is the familiar heist genre but in a setting that feels new and different.

Written by Mark Sable, Circus Maximus #1 is an interesting debut. It’s a comic that you can tell if you know the history, its enjoyment is at a different level. But, Sable writes the debut issue in a way that you don’t need to know that history. Taking place in ancient Rome, it helps to know Emperor Nero and a bit about that world, but, the comic dives into the heist genre so well, you can focus on the characters, their motivations, and how they plan on pulling off the heist.

Like so many of the stories in the genre, the issue spends time introducing us to the characters and giving us a motivation for their actions beyond simply getting rich. Each team member brings a bit to the plan, a specialist that if they fail in their duty the whole thing falls apart. It’s good in that it creates a debut that’s accessible instead of diving too deep into history and getting lost in it. Circus Maximus #1 uses the history and setting more as backdrop and a driver of the story but its characters and their actions are the main focus here.

They negative is the comic rushes through all of that. We don’t get a lot of time to get to know the characters. There’s a bit of a focus as to why they’re undertaking this mission but it’s not to the point we really care if they succeed. So, we know the why of it all but it feels like it’s at a distance.

Giorgio Pontrelli‘s art is good. With color by Emilio Lecce and lettering by Dave Sharpe, the characters, dress, and setting all look like ancient Rome. I’m not an expert and can’t speak to the accuracy of it all but it feels right and enough that it immerses the reader without distracting. The visuals overall help move the story along focusing in on details and panning in or out to capture what’s going on. It handles the more emotional moments and also delivers solid action as well.

Circus Maximus #1 is an interesting debut that has a lot of potential. It rushes through the introduction and the initial part of the heist, making it intriguing to see where it goes. The historical aspect makes it feel fresh and for those that know that history, I’m sure it’s a more intriguing read. The fact it can pull off the surface level and deeper enjoyment is impressive.

Story: Mark Sable Art: Giorgio Pontrelli
Color: Emilio Lecce Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics

Preview: Circus Maximus #1

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Circus Maximus #1

(W) Mark Sable (A) Giorgio Pontrelli (C) Emilio Lecce (L) Dave Sharpe

Rome. 64 AD. The most daring heist in history is being planned by an unlikely crew – a former slave, a Vestal Virgin, a charioteer and a disgraced architect – each with their own personal motives. While Rome is distracted by the chariot racing and gladiatorial games of the Circus Maximus, the crew plans to rob the Imperial treasury under the Temple of Saturn. But when Emperor Nero sets fire to the city, they’ll be lucky to escape his wrath with their lives, let alone the loot.

From Mark Sable (Graveyard of Empires, Miskatonic) and Giorgio Pontrelli (Miskatonic) CIRCUS Maximus is GLADIATOR meets HEAT – a blood-soaked historical thriller.

Circus Maximus #1

The Greatest Heist of the Ancient World Begins Beneath the Temple of Saturn, in one blood-soaked thriller, Circus Maximus

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The empire is on fire (literally), and amid the chaos, a band of outcasts dares to rob Rome blind. Circus Maximus, a brutal, cinematic historical heist set during the fall of Nero’s reign, lands this November from Mad Cave Studios. Written by Mark Sable, with art by Giorgio Pontrelli, colors by Emilio Lecce, and letters by Dave Sharpe, Circus Maximus is a blood-and-smoke-soaked epic where vengeance is personal and freedom comes at a steep price—featuring Cover A by Paul Azaceta and Cover B by Francesco Francavilla.

Rome. 64 AD.  The most daring heist in history is being planned by an unlikely crew – a former slave, a Vestal Virgin, a charioteer and a disgraced architect – each with their own personal motives.  While Rome is distracted by the chariot racing and gladiatorial games of the Circus Maximus, the crew plans to rob the Imperial treasury under the Temple of Saturn.  But when Emperor Nero sets fire to the city, they’ll be lucky to escape his wrath with their lives, let alone the loot.

Circus Maximus #1 hits comic shops and digital platforms on November 5, 2025, and FOC is October 13, 2025.