Rome’s First Detective Returns In ‘Britannia: We Who Are About To Die’ #1 [Preview]

Last year, Britannia --- the prestige murder mystery miniseries set in Ancient Rome, from Peter Milligan and Juan Jose Ryp --- took a lot of people by surprise, but showed that Valiant remains a publisher that'll keep you guessing with the genres and conventions it'll pull out of its hat.

Next month, Rome's first and only detective, Antonius Axia, returns for a new mystery and Valiant have provided us a preview of the first issue.

Set in 65 AD, Britannia is set in ancient England at the height of the Roman Empire, but with that comes fear, superstition and murder. Only one man, Antonius Axia, has the keen eye of a detective to keep things calm and restore order to an empire on the brink, but sometimes there isn't a rational explanation for things.

The first volume of Britannia was just collected recently, so if it sounds like something you'd be into, you can catch up on the first volume before diving into the new series. If you did read the first volume and can't wait for more, you can check out the preview below:

Here's the full solicitation information:

BRITANNIA: WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1 (of 4)
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art by JUAN JOSÉ RYP
Cover A by CARY NORD
Cover B by DAVID MACK
Character Design Variant by DAVID MACK
Variant Cover by ADAM GORHAM
Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Blank Cover Also Available

Fifty thousand Romans stand on their feet, watching from the stands of the coliseum with captured breath as Achillia, a gladiator unlike any seen before, faces incredible odds as one lone warrior against five of the empire’s greatest. Such is the tradition, when a female combatant enters the fray. When the carnage is complete, the crowd roars its approval as Achillia stands victorious. Now only one match away from winning her freedom, she has begun to gain renown. The women of Rome, suppressed by their husbands and fathers, have noticed. The men, husbands and fathers to a growing horde of women entertaining ideas of independence, have noticed as well.

On the other side of the city, a strange mystery swirls through the Palatine Hill. In the dead of night, down winding alleys, the elite swear that they see visions of a blood-soaked Apollo walking the city...visions that are driving them mad. Even more are becoming sick with weird fever god-dreams. Panic spreads. The Chief Vestal, Rubria, is found guilty in the eyes of Emperor Nero and threatened with crucifixion unless the deadly curse is lifted. She asks Antonius Axia, hero of Britannia and Rome’s only detective, for help. She offers only one clue...the gladiator Achillia.

$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On Sale APRIL 26