Villordsutch reviews Aphrodite IX: The Hidden Files #1…
“PEEK INTO THE PROPRIETARY BLACK BOX OF APHRODITE’S MIND! The cybernetic assassin Aphrodite IX has survived the rise and fall of countless civilizations. What sacrifices and tragedies has she seen that have been erased from her memory?”
The Hidden Files #1 should be entitled “Everything you wanted to know about the Aphrodite IX universe (but where too afraid to ask)”, for that is what this is, and it’s a rather splendid collection of lore and art related to A9 from Top Cow Productions and of course Image.
There isn’t much of a “story” to this issue to be brutally honest, but as you quickly realise this fact you’re being treated to numerous pictures beautifully drawn version of our favourite enhanced killing machine and the world she occupies, along with the history that binds them together.
Other than admiring the artistic talents of Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade) – and he is certainly skilled in his art as he provides us with numerous styles of the Aphrodite “sisters” along with the other races and landscapes – it’s quite clearly that both Matt Hawkins (Think Tank) and Ryan Cady (A Voice in the Dark) haven’t sat down and said, “We’ll let the nimble and quite attractive woman sell this alone”. Along with the art, we’re given stats from Bench Press strength to the real science behind Bone Strength; nerdgasams all around people. A lot of work is being put into Aphrodite IX and this issue alone shows you that.
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
Originally published January 21, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
