This issue marks the beginning of the more common known history of Rasputin and his eventual rise to power. Powerful story filled with great warmth and despair. Worth checking out if you are a new or on-going reader- pick it up at your LCS while you can. Read Full Review

As we move more and more into the real life events that Rasputin is known for, I’m confident that these creators can tell a moving and rewarding story so long as they hone the backstory or flash-forward elements even just a little bit more. History hasn’t been this fun for me in a long, long time. Read Full Review

Rasputin consistently hits the mark and has yet to falter, carefully building its momentum as it quietly creeps through its narrative while expertly balancing Rasputin's fraught and reinvented history with the final contemplative moments of his life. Read Full Review

A couple of very large things happen in this issue, particularly for the history of Rasputin if you know it, and you cant help but feel its all leading to something bigger even if, as mentioned at the start, this series is destined to finish its story sooner rather than later. Not being one to pay any attention to the numbers, hopefully Rasputin is getting the sales it deserves because it really is a special book. Grecian, Rossmo and Plascencia are hitting every note, every single time they release an issue. Rasputin might be a bit of a dark horse amongst a lot of the other Image titles available right now, but its one that surely demands and deserves your attention. Read Full Review

While the slower pace and lack of punching this series offers might not be for everyone, I honestly think that, in terms of mystery and intrigue, “Rasputin” is one of the best comics I've read in a long time. The artwork is superb, perfectly pitched for the shadowy back-rooms of 19th century Russia, and the magic, though few and far between, is so focussed on consequence and causality that every instance of sorcery draws you into the story. Read Full Review

All-in-all, Rasputin has been an enjoyable ride. I'm interested to see how this first arc wraps up and how these characters get fleshed out more. Read Full Review

In the end, I maintain the view that Rasputin has potential. This is a series that could one day be pretty great – unfortunately could is the operative word here. Right now the series really isn't living up to its potential with characters that lack personality, and a plot that really isn't very engaging. Things have at least improved since the second issue, with more dialogue and a slightly faster pace helping to keep things a little more interesting, but still the book is a long way to being where it should be. The artwork continues to be the one saving grace this book has, but unless you're happy to buy a comic on art alone then for now you might be best to spend your money elsewhere. Read Full Review