Historical events shape the world into what it is today, however, what if something was to change? What if, for example, ancient Romans had landed in the Americas, more than a thousand years, before Columbus did?
Written by Brian Wood along with Justin Giampaoli and drawn by Andrea Mutti, Rome West is an alternate history graphic novel based on the aforementioned scenario that manages to captivate its readers with its propelling world building, epic storyline and a diverse set of characters.
The plot follows the remains of a Roman fleet that land upon what is now known as the Hudson River Valley in 323 AD. At first, the Romans try to fight the ingenious people but once they realize they are outnumbered, legionnaire Lucan Valerius settles for peace. From there, the two different worlds combine and a new colony, Roma Occidens, is born. From that fateful encounter, the timeline of America, if not, the whole world is forever changed as seen through eyes of the descendants of Valerius.
Though the story is nothing too drastic, writers Wood and Giampaoli still manage to make it intriguing and fun, especially for history nerds. Similar to Watchmen, Rome West is based on “what if†scenarios, such as the cultural diffusion between the Roman and Hopewell societies, events taking place several centuries before their occurrences such as the creation of the Panama Canal, or even famous celebrities with different names such as Marek Tellane, appearing. For people who are interested in history, they will have fun with this graphic novel as they can point out the historical differences in what happened in our world and the world of Rome West. Mutti, the artist of Rome West, deserve a special mention, as the characters throughout the story resemble human beings instead of being too cartoony and each prop, machinery, or fashions pop out.
Rome West does what any good alternate history graphic novel is supposed to do, keep you entertained while you go on a voyage through time. You enter a world that is completely different, but at the same time, feels remarkably familiar. Though the story is rather short, as it is 116 pages and at times can feel rushed, think of it as an anthology series set in the same universe with different characters, rather than a concrete plotline, it’s easy to get into and fast to read by if you got time to spare. For Rome West, the journey is far more engaging than the destination.
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