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Girl Genius #4
Girl Genius Volume 4: Agatha Heterodyne & The Circus Of Dreams
The Adventure, Romance & Mad Science continues as Agatha Heterodyne's damaged aircraft comes roughly to rest in the Wastelands. She encounters a traveling circus and proves her mettle by destroying a massive spider-clank as it attacks. Meanwhile, a frustrated Baron Wulfenbach dispatches his son, Gilgamesh and deposed pirate queen Bangaldesh DuPree, to capture Agatha, whose very existence threatens the peace. However the cunning circus folk succeed in hiding Agatha, who quickly discovers she is only one of their many secrets. She begins warrior training with the circus's expert swordswoman, Zeetha, meets a trio of Jagermonsters, and attracts unexpected attention by saving everyone from the grimmest of fates. This book collects issues 11, 12, 13, & what would have been issue 14 of Phil & Kaja Foglio's Gaslamp Fantasy series in a beautiful art-book format.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Phil Foglio
155 books346 followersA popular science fiction fan artist in the 1970s, Phil Foglio began writing and drawing cartoons and comics professionally in the 1980s. His work includes Magic: The Gathering, Buck Godot, and the popular series of comics and novels, Girl Genius, co-written with his wife, Kaja Foglio.
Awards:
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist (1977 and 1978)
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2009, 2010, 2011)
Awards:
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist (1977 and 1978)
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2009, 2010, 2011)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 16, 2024
They found a traveling Circus! Will it have secrets? Will the people help Agatha?
It was all kinds of interesting. Good stuff!
It was all kinds of interesting. Good stuff!
January 8, 2016
I was so drawn in by the uniqueness of the story in the first three volumes that the beginning of this one was a big let down. There were a lot of hackneyed plot points such as, "Oh, now we must train you to fight," and "Gee, you're so good at most everything without even trying!" It was disappointly familiar. The end of the volume began to pick up a little more of the mystery for me again. I hope the next volume or two improve or I will likely move on.
Also I find the artist's depiction of the female figure really annoying. The art as a whole is still very inconsistent - sometimes beautifully detailed and sometimes awkwardly wrong.
One thing that always makes me smile though is the connection between being a scientist and being "mad." We tend to see scientists today as detached and analytical - so the different perspective in this story is refreshing.
Also I find the artist's depiction of the female figure really annoying. The art as a whole is still very inconsistent - sometimes beautifully detailed and sometimes awkwardly wrong.
One thing that always makes me smile though is the connection between being a scientist and being "mad." We tend to see scientists today as detached and analytical - so the different perspective in this story is refreshing.
Read
September 19, 2015Agatha teams up with Krosp, joins the circus, and gets on the Jager radar.
January 1, 2022
Mechanical muses? Yes, please. Is this new prince to be trusted? Unlikely.
May 20, 2014
This is the fourth volume in the TP Girl Genius series. I read the first three books as an omnibus and absolutely fell in love with this series. It’s a wonderful blend of steampunk, fantasy, and humor.
Agatha’s airship crashes in the Wastelands during her escape from Wulfenbach castle. Her only companion is the King of Cats, Krosp. They are relieved when they stumble upon a traveling circus. However, the circus members have secrets of their own and they don’t want someone who is fleeing from Baron Wulfenbach drawing attention to them.
This series continues to be laugh out loud funny. Seriously I was laughing out loud for numerous parts of this story. Krosp, the King of Cats, cracks me up over and over again. For example he steered the airship to crash into land instead of water because getting wet is worse than dying in a crash!
Agatha is a hilarious character as well. I am always intrigued to see what new steampunk device she will come up with next. One of the circus members, a warrior woman named Zeetha takes Agatha under her wing. Zeetha is determined to teach Agatha that ways of a warrior (again these scenes were pretty darn funny).
My favorite character continues to be Krosp. Although I do find Baron Wulfenbach’s son Gilgamesh and his rather vicious traveling companion the pirate queen Bangaldesh DuPree to be highly entertaining as well.
The illustration is done in very bright colors which I enjoy. The illustration is a bit more cartoony than I like in my graphic novels. It also still bothers me that all of the women characters have very manly builds...they almost look like men with fake boobs and women’s heads put on top. Despite the fact that I am not completely taken with the illustration style, it does fit the zany story and quirky characters fairly well.
The graphic novel includes a “The story thus far…” at the beginning which I love. It is a brief synopsis of the story to this point and reminds of all the important story elements. This is so helpful to me because I do read so many different series (I think I am reading 80 some different series at last count).
Overall I am loving this graphic novel series. I really enjoy the steampunk elements, the humor, the adventure, the quirky characters, and the crazy King of Cats. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel series to all graphic novel fans...it is just so entertaining. I will admit I am still not a huge fan of the illustration style, but the crazy story and world definitely makes up for that. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Agatha’s airship crashes in the Wastelands during her escape from Wulfenbach castle. Her only companion is the King of Cats, Krosp. They are relieved when they stumble upon a traveling circus. However, the circus members have secrets of their own and they don’t want someone who is fleeing from Baron Wulfenbach drawing attention to them.
This series continues to be laugh out loud funny. Seriously I was laughing out loud for numerous parts of this story. Krosp, the King of Cats, cracks me up over and over again. For example he steered the airship to crash into land instead of water because getting wet is worse than dying in a crash!
Agatha is a hilarious character as well. I am always intrigued to see what new steampunk device she will come up with next. One of the circus members, a warrior woman named Zeetha takes Agatha under her wing. Zeetha is determined to teach Agatha that ways of a warrior (again these scenes were pretty darn funny).
My favorite character continues to be Krosp. Although I do find Baron Wulfenbach’s son Gilgamesh and his rather vicious traveling companion the pirate queen Bangaldesh DuPree to be highly entertaining as well.
The illustration is done in very bright colors which I enjoy. The illustration is a bit more cartoony than I like in my graphic novels. It also still bothers me that all of the women characters have very manly builds...they almost look like men with fake boobs and women’s heads put on top. Despite the fact that I am not completely taken with the illustration style, it does fit the zany story and quirky characters fairly well.
The graphic novel includes a “The story thus far…” at the beginning which I love. It is a brief synopsis of the story to this point and reminds of all the important story elements. This is so helpful to me because I do read so many different series (I think I am reading 80 some different series at last count).
Overall I am loving this graphic novel series. I really enjoy the steampunk elements, the humor, the adventure, the quirky characters, and the crazy King of Cats. I would definitely recommend this graphic novel series to all graphic novel fans...it is just so entertaining. I will admit I am still not a huge fan of the illustration style, but the crazy story and world definitely makes up for that. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
December 5, 2012
since I promised myself to write reviews for every book I read I think I'll write one for this volume, since I now have a good idea what this series is about.
this is my first time ever to read a comic book, and it's also my first time reading steam-punk, so it was all new to me, the drawings seemed a bit childish and the situations humorous and I was afraid the the whole tune of the books is, but I didn't need to be afraid, for while it is a bit to the YA side, the concept and the story are making me interested enough to seek out the series and keep reading.
though it's my first attempt at comic books, I'd recommend this one to first timers like me :)
this is my first time ever to read a comic book, and it's also my first time reading steam-punk, so it was all new to me, the drawings seemed a bit childish and the situations humorous and I was afraid the the whole tune of the books is, but I didn't need to be afraid, for while it is a bit to the YA side, the concept and the story are making me interested enough to seek out the series and keep reading.
though it's my first attempt at comic books, I'd recommend this one to first timers like me :)
June 7, 2013
So the Heterodynes were bad news until "the boys" and the Baron was friends with her dad? The story is developing a lot of layers as it progresses. The art continues to be gorgeous, my little girl's heart just loved many of the circus panels. And Agatha continues to be a great hero, totally not cute in any way, smart and savvy and brave and just a cool girl. I'm really enjoying this serial, I'm so glad it came to my attention.
August 21, 2016
I like the travelling show setting of this one, and it's fun seeing her mysterious background unfold slowly in little hints and tiny revelations.
July 10, 2017
Ha I love the jägerkin! Best part of the books! "Ve Hunt!" Has become my battle cry.
January 12, 2018
Another exciting installment in the adventures of Agatha Heterodyne, Girl Genius. Fleeing from Wulfenbach Airship, Agatha and Krosp (the talking cat) crash into the Wastelands. Pursued by Gilgamesh Wulfenbach and Captain Dupree, Agatha finds herself joining a traveling circus and faking her own death to evade capture.
Loaded with humour from the colorful author blurbs (which put me in mind of a much less melancholy Lemony Snicket) to the banter between the characters, punctuated by a few moments of genuine pain and tragedy, Agatha is taken on as an apprentice by Zeetha, Skif warrior, toughening her up a bit. Zeetha and the other members of the traveling Heterodyne Circus are introduced, adding another thread to the tapestry of this intricate world. The Baron, Gil, Dupree, and the Jagermonsters are developed a bit more, deepening the mystery around Agatha, as a more sinister side to Lucrezia Mongfish (Agatha’s mother) and the Heterodynes are revealed.
For plot and character development, weaving in with an ever more intricate setting, this gets four stars.
Loaded with humour from the colorful author blurbs (which put me in mind of a much less melancholy Lemony Snicket) to the banter between the characters, punctuated by a few moments of genuine pain and tragedy, Agatha is taken on as an apprentice by Zeetha, Skif warrior, toughening her up a bit. Zeetha and the other members of the traveling Heterodyne Circus are introduced, adding another thread to the tapestry of this intricate world. The Baron, Gil, Dupree, and the Jagermonsters are developed a bit more, deepening the mystery around Agatha, as a more sinister side to Lucrezia Mongfish (Agatha’s mother) and the Heterodynes are revealed.
For plot and character development, weaving in with an ever more intricate setting, this gets four stars.
November 16, 2017
I actually started out reading the novelization of this--you know, the version without pictures. When I went back to look at the comics, I hated the art. I thought it was cartoony and silly and busy and hard to understand what's going on. But I'd enjoyed the novelization, so I skimmed the first and second volume of the comics, then skipped to volume four. This series had won three Hugo Awards so I figured there had to be something to it. By volume 8 I was sold. I've now read the first thirteen volumes and am officially a die-hard fan. I think the art did get a little better as the volumes progressed, but mostly I think I just got used to it. I can't say I like how much Agatha ran around in her underwear in the first volumes, or that all the women have perfectly globular gravity-defying breasts, but after a while we get a lot of shirtless princes which sort of evens the playing field.
January 27, 2019
This story is moving slowly. The Barbie doll style of depicting women has bugged me since the very first book, and I just can’t take it anymore. The combination of the story not getting to where I feel it will be more interesting, and an art style that I dislike, means I will not be searching out more of these books.
January 11, 2020
I love Girl Genius.
Now - might not be for everyone :-)
Now - might not be for everyone :-)
September 16, 2021
In which Agatha Heterodyne discovers that the Wasteland is a hazardous place, falls in with a band of traveling players, and encounters some Jagermonsters.
October 12, 2021
3.5 stars.
November 15, 2022
I like where this is going. Agatha joins up with some circus folk, antics ensue.
August 27, 2023
I love the Jägermonsters.
July 8, 2014
Having escaped from Baron von Wulfenbach’s airship, Agatha and Krosp, emperor of all cats, find themselves on the run. They stumble across a traveling circus and get mistaken for show people. Agatha lends her mechanical talents to the traveling circus, all the while concerned with keeping her identity as a Heterodyne secret. She’s learned the hard way that folks respond uneasily when a Heterodyne spark is present.
There’s subtlety and nuance at work in these storylines. Bad guys aren’t crazed, scarred villains with scary laughs (well, they can be but that’s beside the point). Sometimes the villains are simply determined men and women willing to go to any lengths to keep the peace and, if that occasionally means killing people, that’s what it takes. Look at the history of any “civilized” country and you’re bound to turn up more than a few bodies.
The characters are varied, colorful and actually witty. The action is carefully plotted, filled with battles, explosions, exposition and genuine humor. Torture, mayhem, explosions, the promise of true love, good guys, bad guys, bad guys trying to become good guys (if the good guys are always winning, what’s the point in holding out? If you can’t beat ‘em…) and a traveling circus. What more can you want?
There’s subtlety and nuance at work in these storylines. Bad guys aren’t crazed, scarred villains with scary laughs (well, they can be but that’s beside the point). Sometimes the villains are simply determined men and women willing to go to any lengths to keep the peace and, if that occasionally means killing people, that’s what it takes. Look at the history of any “civilized” country and you’re bound to turn up more than a few bodies.
The characters are varied, colorful and actually witty. The action is carefully plotted, filled with battles, explosions, exposition and genuine humor. Torture, mayhem, explosions, the promise of true love, good guys, bad guys, bad guys trying to become good guys (if the good guys are always winning, what’s the point in holding out? If you can’t beat ‘em…) and a traveling circus. What more can you want?
September 9, 2015
For many years I have followed Girl Genius Webcomic as one of my daily rituals. I have been following the Foglio's quirky humour and idiosyncratic drawings.
What I really like of the series is the depth of scope and worldbuilding, with many details becoming obvious much later than when they appear. As such the recently appeared novels are the perfect complement, as you can finally be inside the head of Agatha, overcoming one of the limitations of comic: wordcount. So instead of being sparse with words, they can let out freely.
The series takes place in an alternate Europa, one where some kind of magical technology, the Spark, has made it diverge wildly from our own. The series follows the adventures, with some sadness and romance but mostly with good humour, of Agatha, the Girl Genius, and a huge supporting cast. I would call it Steam Fantasy instead of Steampunk, but it is better than most stories with than label.
I supported the kickstarter campaign, so I got the first 12 books. I suspect they are only scratching the surface so far...
I will recycle the review for the others, because they are really part of a continuum, and all are at a high level. If you do not believe me, just try it, it is free: www.girlgeniusonline.com
What I really like of the series is the depth of scope and worldbuilding, with many details becoming obvious much later than when they appear. As such the recently appeared novels are the perfect complement, as you can finally be inside the head of Agatha, overcoming one of the limitations of comic: wordcount. So instead of being sparse with words, they can let out freely.
The series takes place in an alternate Europa, one where some kind of magical technology, the Spark, has made it diverge wildly from our own. The series follows the adventures, with some sadness and romance but mostly with good humour, of Agatha, the Girl Genius, and a huge supporting cast. I would call it Steam Fantasy instead of Steampunk, but it is better than most stories with than label.
I supported the kickstarter campaign, so I got the first 12 books. I suspect they are only scratching the surface so far...
I will recycle the review for the others, because they are really part of a continuum, and all are at a high level. If you do not believe me, just try it, it is free: www.girlgeniusonline.com
September 12, 2016
Loved the addition of Payne. Have seen the real "Master Payne the Magician" and he is really great. Thought this book was a lot of fun.
October 28, 2014
Another installment in the story. I think this is the story that changes the most on re-reading, for the dramatic irony now implicit in the tale. Spoilers ahead for the earlier ones.
But, Agatha having left the Wulfenbach airship in haste, finds her little airship about to land whether she likes or not; her patch on a leak did not hold. So she and the talking cat Krosp must trek through wilderness -- Krosp overstates his ability to a hunt just a little -- and stumbles on a traveling Heterodyne show. Their original offer to let her go with them is rescinded by Master Payne, its master. He can not afford to risk his show with a stranger who's carrying the Wulfenbach sigil.
The rest of the story involves a body burnt to a crisp and buried in the wilderness, a fake medium, three jagermonsters who are hanging about the gallows, not dead, rehearsing in the wilderness, the jager generals observing that a death is very sad, a flashback to when Agatha's parents were getting married, a woman who goes berserk when Agatha recognizes a location, and a horse with secrets.
But, Agatha having left the Wulfenbach airship in haste, finds her little airship about to land whether she likes or not; her patch on a leak did not hold. So she and the talking cat Krosp must trek through wilderness -- Krosp overstates his ability to a hunt just a little -- and stumbles on a traveling Heterodyne show. Their original offer to let her go with them is rescinded by Master Payne, its master. He can not afford to risk his show with a stranger who's carrying the Wulfenbach sigil.
The rest of the story involves a body burnt to a crisp and buried in the wilderness, a fake medium, three jagermonsters who are hanging about the gallows, not dead, rehearsing in the wilderness, the jager generals observing that a death is very sad, a flashback to when Agatha's parents were getting married, a woman who goes berserk when Agatha recognizes a location, and a horse with secrets.
February 3, 2016
Volume 4: In which Agatha runs away and joins the circus.
No. Seriously.
Agatha is growing on me. She has accepted that she is a Heterodyne, and is just trying to find to her place in the world. It's a hard road she will be walking now, but I have faith in her and Krosp. Now that Zeetha has conscripted Agatha has a novice to train, I'm certain Agatha will only become a stronger woman as the story progresses.
I do find that I enjoy the humor of this series, and it's appropriately distracting. Most of the humor is displayed to us in the artwork, with the occasional witty quip. What I enjoy most about the art is that it can also give us a good idea of the tone of the character. Krosp is often sarcastic, and I never would get that without his facial expressions.
We are getting more and more layers of development as the story progresses. As someone who loves relationships and their development, I'm a bit disappointed right now. However, I will keep pushing onward. This volume was fun, but I need a hook!
No. Seriously.
Agatha is growing on me. She has accepted that she is a Heterodyne, and is just trying to find to her place in the world. It's a hard road she will be walking now, but I have faith in her and Krosp. Now that Zeetha has conscripted Agatha has a novice to train, I'm certain Agatha will only become a stronger woman as the story progresses.
I do find that I enjoy the humor of this series, and it's appropriately distracting. Most of the humor is displayed to us in the artwork, with the occasional witty quip. What I enjoy most about the art is that it can also give us a good idea of the tone of the character. Krosp is often sarcastic, and I never would get that without his facial expressions.
We are getting more and more layers of development as the story progresses. As someone who loves relationships and their development, I'm a bit disappointed right now. However, I will keep pushing onward. This volume was fun, but I need a hook!
May 27, 2013
Everyone's favourite mad scientist, Agatha Heterodyne, has escaped from Castle Wulfenbach and now needs to make her way across a monster- and clank-infested wasteland to her ancestral home of Mechanicsburg. She and her companion Krosp (emperor of all cats) join a travelling circus and this volume tells the story of their journey.
The circus folk are fun, and when it is finally revealed, their secret is pretty impressive. This is the volume where we also meet the loveable (for given values of 'loveable') trio of Ognian, Maxim and Dimo, the Jägermonster equivalent of Larry, Curly and Mo (although with more in the way of killing).
The story zips along and the art is as lovely as ever. It's also much easier to follow in graphic novel format than trying to read it a page at a time online.
The circus folk are fun, and when it is finally revealed, their secret is pretty impressive. This is the volume where we also meet the loveable (for given values of 'loveable') trio of Ognian, Maxim and Dimo, the Jägermonster equivalent of Larry, Curly and Mo (although with more in the way of killing).
The story zips along and the art is as lovely as ever. It's also much easier to follow in graphic novel format than trying to read it a page at a time online.
January 27, 2012
Is it going to be a pattern with me that I spend more time talking about the bonus stories than the volume proper? Whatever, my goodreads, my choices. I just want to point out the bonus about a girl being fannish about the Heterodynes and Mary Sue-ing the story up is inherently delightful okay, that's all, I'm done.
So what do we get this volume? Circuses! More inventors! The return of the annoying superhero dude who is marginally less annoying when he's not trying to kill Agatha! Only a teensy bit of extra information on the Heterodynes. I am tapping my fingers on that business, give me more. I mean Lucrezia seems rad and all but I'mma need some revelations regarding Agatha's secret family history and how she wound up being the last of them. Volume 5 better deliver. 3.5 stars
So what do we get this volume? Circuses! More inventors! The return of the annoying superhero dude who is marginally less annoying when he's not trying to kill Agatha! Only a teensy bit of extra information on the Heterodynes. I am tapping my fingers on that business, give me more. I mean Lucrezia seems rad and all but I'mma need some revelations regarding Agatha's secret family history and how she wound up being the last of them. Volume 5 better deliver. 3.5 stars
December 27, 2013
I love Phil Foglio's work. Been a fan since "What's New?" started running in The Dragon many many years ago. I'd have to say that Girl Genius is one of the best things he's ever done. He and Kaja (and Cheyenne Wright) have created a wonderful steam punk world, complete with mad inventors, airships, royalty, circuses, zombies, and other cool stuff. That Phil can do comedy should come as no surprise to his many fans. That he can do drama ... well, that shouldn't surprise those of us who remember Dynamo Joe and Buck Godot anyway. This is top notch work from one of the best comics creators out there. Read it! Now!
February 17, 2019
REREAD 2019
Zeetha is in the picture! And the three jagers! I love these characters.
And we are finally really getting started on the story, I think, in this album.
It is a lot of fun reading these early stories now that I know so much more from what happens in the future. I see so many things and small tips of the future that I haven't noticed before, and seeing all of these things makes my respect for the authors grow even more.
I only wish I could read it a bit faster, but being in the middle of a move and all, I take the reading time I get when I get it. Hopefully, I'll be able to sit down a bit more come next week.
Zeetha is in the picture! And the three jagers! I love these characters.
And we are finally really getting started on the story, I think, in this album.
It is a lot of fun reading these early stories now that I know so much more from what happens in the future. I see so many things and small tips of the future that I haven't noticed before, and seeing all of these things makes my respect for the authors grow even more.
I only wish I could read it a bit faster, but being in the middle of a move and all, I take the reading time I get when I get it. Hopefully, I'll be able to sit down a bit more come next week.
April 4, 2022
Agatha and Krops meet the circus! And wherein Agatha is also first introduced to 'The boys'.
And one of my personal favorite characters join the story as we are introduced to Zeetha, Agatha's kolee.
For me this is where the story really starts getting into gear. The first volume is introduction to some of the main characters and the world, the second and third builds on that and get us behind the scenes in the Wulfenbach empire, but in the fourth we start seeing Agatha come into her own as she slowly starts finding out who she really is and what she can do.
I highly recommend Girl Genius to all. :D
And one of my personal favorite characters join the story as we are introduced to Zeetha, Agatha's kolee.
For me this is where the story really starts getting into gear. The first volume is introduction to some of the main characters and the world, the second and third builds on that and get us behind the scenes in the Wulfenbach empire, but in the fourth we start seeing Agatha come into her own as she slowly starts finding out who she really is and what she can do.
I highly recommend Girl Genius to all. :D
August 27, 2015
The series really starts to blossom. Agatha has grown into her nature as a smart, headstrong, courageous individual with a knack for gaining allies and finding trouble. The circus folks are wonderful. Zeetha makes her debut and OMG I love her so much.
I could have done without Othar though. He serves his purpose but I'm completely done with his schtick.
Girl Genius is ongoing and can be read online here. Volume 4 starts here.
I could have done without Othar though. He serves his purpose but I'm completely done with his schtick.
Girl Genius is ongoing and can be read online here. Volume 4 starts here.
September 22, 2013
Adventure! Romance! Mad Science! Add one smart-aleck talking cat, a circus traveling through a wasteland with an aura of mystery, a dash of humor, and of course a smart, sassy, relatable heroine--and how could you go wrong? There is also the usual spectacular steampunk artwork, a nail-biting cliffhanger or two, and just enough advancement of the Heterodyne mystery so expertly set up in the first three volumes to keep you turning the pages and longing for more Girl Genius.
March 10, 2012
Originally published online as a Web comic (where it can be found at www.girlgeniusonline.com), this series follows the exploits of a young woman, Agatha, who discovers she is the lost heir to a long-feared dynasty. Instead of a terribly serious version of this tale, the author/artist stick to humor over horrors. Still friends and enemies die, leaving their mark on Agatha as she grows to understand who she is and what she can do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews