Caesar’s Spy
It is the last days of the Roman Republic. The armies expanding into Gaul face increasing resistance from the Helvetii and Germanic 
tribes. The future of Rome itself is in question.
All of this is meaningless to Coax. He is Gallic, yet knows nothing of his tribe, for his parents were enslaved by Romans before he was born and died in the revolt led by Spartacus. He was content to be a slave himself, until an act of sacrilege destroyed his family. He freed himself and became a pirate, bleeding Rome as much as he could. And yet, while his thirst for the blood of Roman soldiers is great, he still ransoms one young officer who convinces Coax he is worth more alive than dead. Surprisingly, he proves to be right, and soon has the ransom Coax set.
Years later, Coax is in bondage again, captured and sentenced to slavery for his crimes. He seems sure to die in the arena as a gladiator, but for the intervention of a Roman officer. To his surprise, it is the officer he ransomed years before—a man named Gaius Julius Caesar. He offers Coax a choice – serve as his spy in those places where a Gaul can pass that a Roman cannot. In exchange, Caesar offers Coax his aid in finding those responsible for killing his daughter and driving his wife to end her life.
It is a devil’s bargain, though the two fighting men get along well enough despite their different stations. However, Coax is not under any delusions that he is anything but a weapon to Caesar. And though he does not realize it, his actions in the service of his savior may yet bring about the downfall of Rome.
I went into Caesar’s Spy with enthusiasm. Not out of any love for Roman history, but because of the pedigree of the creative team. I was familiar with Max Von Fafner’s work on various Conan the Barbarian books and loved what I had seen. I was less familiar with French writer Jean-Pierre Pecau, though I did enjoy his steampunk Sherlock Holmes story Moriarty: Clockwork Empire. Both are in fine form in Caesar’s Spy.
While it is tempting to call Coax a Conan substitute based on Max Von Fafner’s designs, Coax is a radically different character. He lacks Conan’s crude chivalry, though he does have a code of honor. He gives respect to those who respect him, even if they are Roman. He also takes offense at Caesar going against Coax’s word that a group of Helvetii refugees would be given safe passage. Not enough to stand against Caesar, who he honors as his commander. But enough to free the Helvetii princess Sanian, who is presented to him as a slave.
This goes on to form one of the main conflicts of the novel, with Sanian organizing her own campaign against Rome and Caesar. The irony is that she and Coax might have been allies, had it not been for Coax’s promise to Caesar and, later, Sanian’s rebellion killing one of the few men Coax calls friend. This is but one example of the emotional complexity of Jean-Pierre Pecau’s scripting. The story is also well-researched regarding Roman history during The First Triumvirate.
In terms of art, Caesar’s Spy is equally fantastic. As I said earlier, I’m a big fan of Max Von Fafner. His artwork is beautifully detailed and visceral, yet subtly streamlined. The action scenes are intense and the period costuming generally well depicted. The sole exception to this is some of the women’s clothing seems more like specialty lingerie than the sort of thing an Egytpian noblewoman would wear in her private chambers. In fairness, Von Fafner does not shy away from showing fit young men in equally revealing outfits.
On that note, Titan Comics rated Caesar’s Spy as 15+. Generally, I would agree with that assessment, but I would still classify this one as a graphic novel for adults. There is ample sexual content, brief nudity, and copious violence, though nothing I would classify as pornographic. The sexual acts are not depicted on the page, though we do see the characters naked before and after the acts. And yet, I would classify this as a work for adults because most teenagers are unlikely to appreciate the complex relationships and emotional depth of the characters.
Caesar’s Spy
By Jean-Pierre Pecau
Art by Max Von Fafner
Titan, 2025
ISBN: 9781787746978
Company Age Rating: 15+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Creator Representation: French, Serbian,
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