Reign The Conqueror, Vol. 1: Ascension
This bizarre reworking of the story of Alexander the Great features character  designs by Peter Chung (Aeon Flux). It's a singularly weird mixture of  anime conventions, sci-fi and fantasy elements, special effects, and muddled  ancient history. Alexander's comrades and future generals, including  Hephaestion and Ptolemy, have been recast as effete courtiers. Bucephalus  ("Ox-head"), his steed, is a flesh-eating monster. His mother is a  Medea-esque sorceress, and his tutor Aristotle has the inevitably spunky  niece, Cassandra. The magician-disciples of Pythagoras appear and disappear,  searching for the "Platohedron." The elongated, mannerist figures bear  Chung's distinctive stamp. The women wear revealing robes; the men run around  in bits of armor and codpieces.Reignis slated for the Adult Swim  bloc on the Cartoon Network, but editing this violent series to American  broadcast standards will pose real challenges. (Unrated; suitable for ages 17  and older: violence, nudity, alcohol use, grotesque imagery, sexual  situations)--Charles Solomon