Aphrodite IX originally debuted in 1996 and featured art by David Finch featuring a female android assassin who suffers from amnesia. While the original series didn’t deliver very many issues it still cemented the character as a central member of the Top Cow Universe with variations also appearing in Cyberforce and Witchblade.
Now writer Matt Hawkins and artist Stjepan Sejic resurrect the character in an all new series aptly named Aphrodite IX. The new series takes place in a dystopian future where a cyborg killer is the most human thing left. Although this is the first regular series for the character in over a decade, they do a great job of making this a standalone series. As this issue sets all the characters and world in place the audience is given the mentality of Aphrodite through a series of thought squares prior to her resurrection. The direction and locale Hawkins has placed the character in was tailor made for her and fits the character perfectly. The story showcases some interesting direction and supporting characters to create something different for the future than just the standard post-apocalyptic direction most go for. Hawkins writing is both complex and simple delivering an intriguing first issue for those just being introduced to the character and sure to satisfy those fans of the original incarnation. He takes clear advantage of the possibilities of the character and shows a clear direction to where he is taking her. The artwork by Sejic is absolutely beautiful. He brings both the futuristic technology and fantasy elements together to create a visual treat not seen in comics like this very often. The creature design along with the technology gives the overall book a feel of a movie as opposed to just a straight comic enhancing the experience.
Aphrodite IX was one of those characters that burst onto the scene and left what to quick back in the day and it is great to see her being resurrected with such perfection. If this first issue was any indication this is sure to be an amazing series and no doubt one that will keep her with the fans for a long time to come. This is a perfect starting point for the new fans, but offers a great nostalgic feeling for the old school fans complete with a splash of new originality that is sure to please.
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