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fitsee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kateraed's review
5.0
The more I dive into this world, the more plausible it seems.
I love Rucka's complex, strong women leads!
I love Rucka's complex, strong women leads!
dchaseb's review
4.0
Very cool dystopian graphic novel series. Timeline in the back reads a little too realistic for comfort ha. Some 24 style action and plot with twists full of betrayal and epic action pieces.
trike's review
3.0
I quite enjoyed this story, even though it feels very familiar. Basically this is a mash-up of x-23 and Into the Badlands. 3.5 stars.
X-23 is the genetically engineered daughter of Wolverine who is trained to kill from birth. She shares Logan’s healing ability, which makes her an unstoppable assassin. (The X-23 stories by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost are masterpieces. Go read them.)
Into the Badlands is a TV series on AMC (and now Netflix) that’s about a post-apocalyptic America that’s been carved into fiefdoms ruled over by families and their loyal retainers. Firearms are hard to come by so most people use swords and other bladed weapons. It has some of the most inventive action scenes outside of a Jackie Chan movie. The third season starts in April 2018. Here’s the trailer for season 2 - there aren’t any real spoilers and it gives you a feel for the world: https://youtu.be/Nvn1laEhI_A
The main character here is Forever Carlyle, sometimes called Eve, a genetically engineered warrior with rapid healing ability who has been trained from birth to be a fighter, living in a post-crash world ruled over by a 16-family plutocracy. Each family has their own version of an unstoppable assassin who can reboot and rise from the dead. Hence “Lazarus.”
This comic feels like Rucka dropped Laura (X-23) into the badlands. X-23 came out a full decade before this book, so it seems clear that was an inspiration, while Into the Badlands started filming at the same time this was being published, which means they probably have a shared source that sparked these ideas.
It’s unusual that a comic would be more grounded than a wuxia-influenced TV series, but that’s the case here.
We don’t get a lot of answers about Forever or how this world comes to be. I’m hoping that stuff is revealed in the next volume. Instead we get hints of larger political machinations going on within and between the ruling families, as well as smaller stories about the common people who have to live in this hardscrabble future. In that regard it reminds me of 100 Bullets, which used a similar technique of doling out tidbits as we learned more about that world.
The art is really nice and Michael Lark’s style is perfectly matched with this gritty and bloody story. A couple times I lingered over pages admiring the efficiency of the line work which conveyed emotion with just a few lines. Really good stuff.
X-23 is the genetically engineered daughter of Wolverine who is trained to kill from birth. She shares Logan’s healing ability, which makes her an unstoppable assassin. (The X-23 stories by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost are masterpieces. Go read them.)
Into the Badlands is a TV series on AMC (and now Netflix) that’s about a post-apocalyptic America that’s been carved into fiefdoms ruled over by families and their loyal retainers. Firearms are hard to come by so most people use swords and other bladed weapons. It has some of the most inventive action scenes outside of a Jackie Chan movie. The third season starts in April 2018. Here’s the trailer for season 2 - there aren’t any real spoilers and it gives you a feel for the world: https://youtu.be/Nvn1laEhI_A
The main character here is Forever Carlyle, sometimes called Eve, a genetically engineered warrior with rapid healing ability who has been trained from birth to be a fighter, living in a post-crash world ruled over by a 16-family plutocracy. Each family has their own version of an unstoppable assassin who can reboot and rise from the dead. Hence “Lazarus.”
This comic feels like Rucka dropped Laura (X-23) into the badlands. X-23 came out a full decade before this book, so it seems clear that was an inspiration, while Into the Badlands started filming at the same time this was being published, which means they probably have a shared source that sparked these ideas.
It’s unusual that a comic would be more grounded than a wuxia-influenced TV series, but that’s the case here.
We don’t get a lot of answers about Forever or how this world comes to be. I’m hoping that stuff is revealed in the next volume. Instead we get hints of larger political machinations going on within and between the ruling families, as well as smaller stories about the common people who have to live in this hardscrabble future. In that regard it reminds me of 100 Bullets, which used a similar technique of doling out tidbits as we learned more about that world.
The art is really nice and Michael Lark’s style is perfectly matched with this gritty and bloody story. A couple times I lingered over pages admiring the efficiency of the line work which conveyed emotion with just a few lines. Really good stuff.
carroq's review
2.0
This book collects issues #1-9 of the Lazarus series. There are two story arcs, "The Family" in issues #1-4, and "The Lift" in issues #5-9. The story is set on a future earth where the 16 richest families in the world have split up control, replacing the current governments.
"The Family" revolves around the Carlyles who control the western portion of the United States and Canada. It eases the reader into the world by establishing some of the major players and showing what Forever Carlyle, one of the so-called Lazarus, can do. She is protector of the family, but struggles with some of the decisions she has to make to keep it safe. The family is attempting to resolve a feud with one of the neighboring families. The contrast that the creators show between them is pretty interesting.
"The Lift" focuses less on the Carlyles by incorporating a poverty stricken family, the Barrets, who live in Carlyle territory. The story is split between Forever trying to uncover a plot that could weaken the Carlyle family and the Barrets as they struggle to escape poverty. This arc is done well and the creators do a good job of linking these stories.
The world the creators built is fantastic. It is well thought out and almost has a life of its own. I was disappointed that there wasn't a better effort to get the reader more familiar with the world and the jargon used. In the first arc there is reference to population in terms of family, serfs, and waste. There isn't much to distinguish between the three castes though. This is covered better in the second arc, but I would have liked to see it addressed earlier and more clearly.
Outside of Forever Carlyle and the Barret children, there isn't much for character development either. We see other characters on stage and what they are doing at the time. However, the limited view that the creators use puts a little too much distance between them and the reader.
"The Family" revolves around the Carlyles who control the western portion of the United States and Canada. It eases the reader into the world by establishing some of the major players and showing what Forever Carlyle, one of the so-called Lazarus, can do. She is protector of the family, but struggles with some of the decisions she has to make to keep it safe. The family is attempting to resolve a feud with one of the neighboring families. The contrast that the creators show between them is pretty interesting.
"The Lift" focuses less on the Carlyles by incorporating a poverty stricken family, the Barrets, who live in Carlyle territory. The story is split between Forever trying to uncover a plot that could weaken the Carlyle family and the Barrets as they struggle to escape poverty. This arc is done well and the creators do a good job of linking these stories.
The world the creators built is fantastic. It is well thought out and almost has a life of its own. I was disappointed that there wasn't a better effort to get the reader more familiar with the world and the jargon used. In the first arc there is reference to population in terms of family, serfs, and waste. There isn't much to distinguish between the three castes though. This is covered better in the second arc, but I would have liked to see it addressed earlier and more clearly.
Outside of Forever Carlyle and the Barret children, there isn't much for character development either. We see other characters on stage and what they are doing at the time. However, the limited view that the creators use puts a little too much distance between them and the reader.
greatnate008's review
5.0
This is a chilling look at what could be the near future. I loved the art style and the story.
letsgolesbians's review
4.0
Wtf that's where it ends?
Edit:
Interesting story, great female character, fucked up family stuff and possibly racial tension but I can't really tell. Disappointed that it ended where/when it did.
Edit:
Interesting story, great female character, fucked up family stuff and possibly racial tension but I can't really tell. Disappointed that it ended where/when it did.
heartsib's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
intorilex's review
5.0
Find this and other Reviews at InToriLex
Throughout the series Forever Carlyle works hard to defend her family and home. But struggles throughout the series with her own identity. This series is violent, emotional and very entertaining. Throughout the series it highlights the great disparity in wealth distribution that exists in the world, people outside of family's or their service are considered Waste. The series was inspired in part by the Occupy WallStreet movement, so many parallels are intentional.
Forever is a feat of science, physically enhanced and perfected to be the Family's perfect defender. All of the powerful Family's in Lazarus have their own Lazari for their family. But Forever must grapple with the possibility she is not biologically related to her family. There is quite a bit about how the allegiances are formed between families and the corrupt nature of this world, but how Forever deals with it all, is the most fascinating.
The large majority in this overpopulated world are Waste. Waste exist at the brim of poverty and the mercy of the Family's charity. Most people work hard and go though a selection process called Lift that will make them valuable servants to a family and improve their status.
The action scenes are great along with the rest of the artwork, and this shifting perspective comic has alot left in store for readers. Forever is not quite a super hero and the dystopian society brings a wonderful story line to the medium. If your not into comics but enjoy dystopias, this comic is definitely something you should check out. How wealth and power corrupt in this futuristic setting is close enough to home to make you think about the society we live in. (P.S. I will only review larger collections of comics at a time.)
Throughout the series Forever Carlyle works hard to defend her family and home. But struggles throughout the series with her own identity. This series is violent, emotional and very entertaining. Throughout the series it highlights the great disparity in wealth distribution that exists in the world, people outside of family's or their service are considered Waste. The series was inspired in part by the Occupy WallStreet movement, so many parallels are intentional.
Forever is a feat of science, physically enhanced and perfected to be the Family's perfect defender. All of the powerful Family's in Lazarus have their own Lazari for their family. But Forever must grapple with the possibility she is not biologically related to her family. There is quite a bit about how the allegiances are formed between families and the corrupt nature of this world, but how Forever deals with it all, is the most fascinating.
The large majority in this overpopulated world are Waste. Waste exist at the brim of poverty and the mercy of the Family's charity. Most people work hard and go though a selection process called Lift that will make them valuable servants to a family and improve their status.
The action scenes are great along with the rest of the artwork, and this shifting perspective comic has alot left in store for readers. Forever is not quite a super hero and the dystopian society brings a wonderful story line to the medium. If your not into comics but enjoy dystopias, this comic is definitely something you should check out. How wealth and power corrupt in this futuristic setting is close enough to home to make you think about the society we live in. (P.S. I will only review larger collections of comics at a time.)