| Title | : | Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1607068095 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781607068099 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 106 |
| Publication | : | First published October 9, 2013 |
| Awards | : | Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Best New Series (2014) |
In a dystopian near-future, government is a quaint concept, resources are coveted, and possession is 100% of the law. A handful of Families rule, jealously guarding what they have and exploiting the Waste who struggle to survive in their domains. Forever Carlyle defends her family's holdings through deception and force as their protector, their Lazarus. Shot dead defending the family home, Forever's day goes downhill from there...
Collects LAZARUS #1-4 and previously only-available-online, four-page short, "Family: Prelude."
Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family Reviews
-
Wow! I don't normally drift outside of my Capes and Tights comfort zone when it comes to graphic novels, but I had a few of my Goodreads pals shove this one toward me.
Thanks, guys!
I may not be thanking you for Chew...so don't get too excited.
So Eve (or Forever), is the Lazarus of her Family. This means she has special regenerative powers and goes around exacting punishment on folks who betray her mafia-style clan.
Evidently, the world is a dystopian wasteland, resources are scarce, and there's no real form of government.
Her Family isn't the only one in charge, and apparently several of these groups exist across the country.
I wish there was a little more background info on all of this!
There's a lot of infighting, double-crossing, and backdoor deals being made within the confines of her immediate family, though. Her brothers and sisters are all quite scummy, and apparently incestuous, as well.
*gags*
And poor Eve is just getting used and abused by these turds. She seems to be the only one with a conscience, and it's causing problems.
She's also the only one who isn't in on the 'secret' that she was made in a lab, and they all seem to live in fear that one day she's going to find out.
dum, dum, dum.....
My only problem with this is that it wasn't longer, but other than that, Lazarus was really cool. -
That was awesome! She's a bad @ss!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾 -
In the future there will be no countries or governments. The world will be controlled by the wealthiest families. Anyone who serves the family is considered serfs and will be protected. Everyone else is Waste. Each family will have a Lazarus - a family member created to serve and protect the family and its possessions, by whatever means. Like the real Lazarus, these creations can bounce back from almost any amount of damage, including near death.
Forever is the Carlyle family’s Lazarus and her unique skill set is perfectly suited for her family role; however, no matter how much guilt-inhibiting drugs are pumped into her system, she is starting to have feelings of doubt.
Greg Rucka and Michael Lark do a great job in not only world building, but also fleshing out the characters in the dysfunctional (Is there any other kind?)Carlyle family. Forever is now my new favorite kick-ass heroine. Sadly, I predict Hollywood will buy the rights to this and make a crappy movie starring a starlet du jour. -
Waiting for the Redeemer from Above?
There is no shortage of dystopian tales featuring heroes who gradually learn that they are not really who they think they are, and it remains to be seen whether Lazarus will be able to distinguish itself from the competition. While both Rucka and Lark are competent storytellers who know how to patiently establish characters and build a fictional world, I have at this early stage some doubts about the premise.
We are introduced to a world that is not controlled by governments or corporations but by a handful of exorbitantly wealthy families, and we learn that each of these families relies on what appears to be an artificially enhanced human - a so-called Lazarus - to protect its interests. My question is: why would these power-hungry families limit themselves to only one Lazarus? What prevents them from building a Lazarus army and taking over the world?
Apart from this logical concern, I also have an ideological one. If the story is supposed to be a critique of late-capitalism, it may not be such a great idea to cast a super-powered member of the ruling class as the redeemer of the world - which seems to be where the story is going. I mean, what is the message here? Are we supposed to take comfort in the notion that we are mere victims of a corrupt system, and that all we can do is wait for a member of the ruling class to develop moral scruples or for genetic engineering to backfire on its corporate owners?
Despite my doubts, I am intrigued enough to keep reading. We'll see how things unfold. -
I enjoyed this. It had interesting characters, an intriguing plot, wonderful world building, and fantastic art. This would honestly make a really good movie. I can't wait to read Vol 2! I highly recommend this to lovers of action and sci-fi 😊
-
Dayum girl.
Honestly I really liked the art and the concept of this g-novel. I feel like this is one of those series which can really pull you in with its action and interesting plot and schemes. The characters seem extremely complex and I can't wait to find out what happens next with them and their little plans! Also, Eve is a hottie + a tortured bad ass. I mean, that's the winning combo peeps! -
Dystopian series by Greg Rucka and drawn by Michael Lark about a time in the future when the world is ruled not by governments or even multinational corporations but by rich families--think Renaissance Medici and Borgia families--who are murderous, incestuous, betraying, all that. What's new here? Well, each family has a Lazarus, who can't (easily?) be killed, obviously, who protects it. The Carlyle family has Forever (bad name, ugh).
We seem to be setting up for a war between families--why have a story about rich families if not to kill them off?--but not too much happens in the first volume. I am not that engaged with any of the characters yet. Everything feels generic. We don't care about anyone at all yet. I guess the interesting thing about this for Rucka is that Forever doesn't know she is actually created, not a real daughter. It's not that interesting an angle to me yet.
But I took a glance at Goodreads ratings averages, and each volume seems to go up, so this means a lot of people think it gets better, so that's encouraging. Then before I post this I see that my own Goodreads friends are all over the board on this one. Some love it, some hate it, some gave it three volumes and lost interest. Hmm.
I read this in part because I had really liked Gotham Central, that they did with Ed Brubaker. I do like the art a lot. I think the idea is okay, and the world-building so far is okay. I liked Gotham Central (so far) much better (the Brubaker factor, is my guess). I'll read other reviews now to see if/how I am wrong. -
America, sometime in the future. It’s a libertarian’s dream as the durn govm’t’s gone! Except society has devolved into a feudal-type state where ruling families control vast fiefdoms and the people are divided between the Serfs (who work for the families) and Waste (those who do not but live on their land).
Resources are scarce for everyone but the families. They keep control with the help of enforcers called Lazarus (what’s the plural – lazaruses? Lazarii?), a genetically enhanced member of the family who not only can’t die but possesses superhuman fighting abilities.
Forever Carlyle (what a wanky name!) is the Lazarus of the Carlyle family. War is about to erupt between the Carlyles and the neighbouring family, the Morays, and Forever is sent to negotiate peace. But conflict is brewing everywhere – particularly in her own home…
Gotham Central’s Greg Rucka and Michael Lark reunite for this dystopian sci-fi action story. I usually don’t like Rucka’s work so I was surprised to find Lazarus isn’t bad – though it still has its problems.
It’s pretty clear that Rucka’s script is heavily influenced by Shakespeare’s plays. There’s a Lady MacBeth-type character making power-plays within the Carlyle family; the head of the family is a bit like Lear at the start of that play; and Forever and the Moray Lazarus have a Romeo and Juliet-like forbidden love going on (“Two households, both alike in dignity”, etc. Carlyles/Capulets, Morays/Montagues).
That’s fine, I likes Billy Shakesman and culture too, but it only adds to the impression that this is a storyline that’s been done a million times before. Feuding families, Mafioso-type battles for power, messed-up future, ass-kicking, unstoppable heroine – seen it! Forever also suffers from Superman syndrome: she’s an invulnerable character who can’t be killed or stopped by anyone, so it’s really hard to create a tense storyline around them. What tension is there in seeing Forever go up against a squad of heavily-armed soldiers when we know she’ll beat them all easily?
And that’s the other thing: why does each family only have one Lazarus? Surely, given how deadly they are, the more the better? Maybe it’s a resources issue – each Lazarus does seem expensive and high-maintenance. But the families have private armies, all of whom are seem useless when going up against a Lazarus. Maybe get rid of those private armies and redirect the resources that would’ve gone into them into having one or two more Lazaruses for a major advantage? I’m sure Rucka’ll address why There Can Be Only One in a later book though (Queen’s Who Wants To Live Forever plays).
I can forgive Rucka for having an underdeveloped world because this is a first volume (and only four issues long at that) but, like his other books, Rucka imbues his story with the emotional resonance of a brick. Michael Lark’s art looks great but Rucka has him drawing gun battles, ‘splosions, and hand-to-hand fighting. It looks like a Roland Emmerich movie (big budget blandness).
Also, our heroine is a seemingly emotionless robot surrounded by evil 1%-ers who only want more, more, MORE because they’re the cartoonish bad guys. It’s tough to give a damn about anything that’s happening, not just because it looks like corny Hollywood action bullshit (with soap opera-style drama – that ending!), but because it’s near-impossible to connect with any of the characters.
This first book is borrowing elements from lots of sources though it seems to be beginning to make something different with them so I’ll stick with Rucka and Lark for now to see where they’re headed. Lazarus Volume 1 is slickly presented and mildly entertaining but don’t expect anything too special. -
Rucka's built a fascinating world, and he does it, in part, by throwing the reader in head-first. It's the near future, resources are scarce, and government apparently non-existent. Resources are managed by the mafia-like Families, and serving a Family is the only protection you can get. The rest are Waste, and on their own. So many writers would try to pull us in with pages of exposition. Rucka just tosses us in and lets it all unfold around us. I think that's part of why it works so well, and feels so fully realized.
Now, much of this volume is setting up future conflict, but that's ok. This is, after all, only the first five issues of a series, I expect a writer to lay down a lot of groundwork early on in a new property. That said, there's absolutely no lack of action here. More compelling, of course, is the complicated web of relationships Rucka builds, both within main character Forever's Family and outside it.
Forever herself is a compelling character. She's formidable and capable, and she was designed to be. But she's also stretching past her supposed limitations. I ended up really liking her, and I think there's a great deal of room for growth for her. The characters are interesting in their conflicting, hidden motives, and their sheer dysfunction level.
Really, Lazarus works on every level. I even like the art, though the somewhat scratchy. Not normally a style that I like, but it's just so well executed that I can't dislike it. This was one of those trades that I was sorry to finish. -
Well, Gregbert Rucka does love his immortals, doesn't he?
Also interesting (mildly), it's BRZRKR but with actual characters and things happening!
Things I liked:
- It has a story.
- It has its own little arc.
- It didn't get confusing, which easily could've happened.
Things I liked less:
- The art and the colouring. Very military sci-fi, very muted and dull.
- The Lazarus people looking like a Terminator under their skin. So silly.
That's it. Thank you for reading.
This is a buddy-read with
fartface (it's a term of endearment)! -
Buddyread with the Shallow Comics Readers for Indie week. Thank gods they gave me an excuse to finally dig this up.
This is a grand old tale, Shakespearean in scope, and widescreen cinema in feel. Lazarus is a futuristic horror tale when the Republicans get their way and *all* the money belongs to a tiny number of kings. I am *all* over this - so fucking sick of naive tales of dystopian evil despotic governments that ruin everything, as if a huge bureaucracy could ever lumber towards anything with any greater purpose than a few men with all the money could.
Yeah, Rucka is right up my alley with this one. Gorgeous ideas fleshing out the real future and populating it with exactly the kind of corrupt silver spoon genetic degradation that family dynasties generate. Great characters with clear allegiances and infighting, a nice set of conflicts (both micro and macro) to keep me hooked on the story, and a wonderful female protagonist who takes shit from exactly no one (at least not without her own larger plan).
Breathless action here and there, tense political scenes, touching moments of humanity between those least human... quite a piece of creation that Rucka and Lark pull off. Not to mention an incredibly detailed world they've built, and some honest-to-gods stakes for us to immediately give a shit about. Which wouldn't be the case of these characters weren't interesting (even if currently cloudy ciphers, the battle lines are being drawn and allegiances are emergent).
Maybe it's a guy thing to like Rucka's hard-writing style - minimalist, suggestive, glowering in tone and sparse amounts of humour or warmth. I mean, there are some genuine moments between characters, so it's not like they're all robots or Geoff Johns caricatures, but there's something just slightly intellectual or distant in the tone of his writing, and Lark picks it up and runs with it.
I don't know if I've seen Michael Lark's art since Gotham Central, and I feel like he's gotten a lot better. This art is sharp, wide open, with very well staged compositions, and which tells a ton of story without any superfluous words. Even more stunning is the surprisingly amazing work by Santi Arcas - gorgeous colours that create moods and scene shifts like I've only seen in the best comics. Amazing.
This book is a total sleeper - I see so little mention of it online, and yet I think it's one of the best books I've read in a year. I can't wait to dig into the next volume (lying in wait, nearly hidden among the dark folds of my tablet, just waiting to strike deep for the occipital lobe). -
I already reviewed each of these individually, but this volume has a tiny bit extra at the end involving Forever and her father. It was a great little peak into Forever's backstory. This series is a definite 5 stars for me so far. I hate that it took me years to finally pick it up.
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This is sci-fi dystopian done right. I wasn't entirely sure what this was all about when I began other than knowing it was a dystopian world where there's a fair amount of 'families' who control most of the population and each one has a 'lazarus' who is a defender/soldier for their family. This idea is fairly simple but when you add in the beautifully drawn artwork with characters who are easy to identify and like, and also the interesting abilities which the Lazarus has, you get a pretty cool story straight away.
We focus on Eve (aka Forever) who is the Carlyle Lazarus. She has been having a few issues surrounding her ability to carry out the families orders whilst not feeling regret or remorse over the actions she must take. She's a great character because she can hit hard, and whenever she 'dies' she can reboot herself again. She's certainly not someone who you'd want to be on the wrong side of, and I found myself liking her character and initiatives easily.
On the whole this is a very easy (if rather brutal and bloody) read filled with a lot of very original or very clever ideas which make it fun. The story is fast-paced and easy to slip into, and you can quickly discover more and more about the family dynamics, politics and state of the world just through the main narrative.
This is a series I'll for sure be continuing with and I had a lot of un reading. 5*s, just fun, awesome and cool all the way through :)
(read as part of the #TBRTakedown 2.0) -
Bullet Review:
F$&@ing awesome. I didn't realize that it GOT BETTER from the already amazing first issue.
And Joacquim Morray is a dream.
Where is volume 2?!?! I NEED VOLUME TWO STAT!!!!
5000 stars.
Full Review:
Forever "Eve" Carlyle is the "Lazarus" of the Carlyle family (Stephen, Jonah, Johanna, and Beth with the patriarch, who I believe is Malcolm, but I don't have the book near me to check). This basically means she's nearly invincible - in the beginning panels she is attacked in a Carlyle facility by what we see are "waste" (that is people not serving the family), fatally wounded, yet she picks herself off and "picks off" the attackers - who have invaded the Carlyle warehouse for...food?
If it's not obvious that this is a dystopian/post-apocalyptic world it quickly becomes clearer as Eve is forced to enact discipline on the upper management of the facility (not family - "only" serfs) and faces a choice - kill an innocent man or wipe out all of the people. The story unfolds as we see her deal with her actions, the trauma of taking a human life - and as other characters reveal they have their own hidden agendas.
Lazarus is a great example of everything I love in the world. It's got fantastic characters, a compelling story, an intricate world, and a balance between nice, quiet character moments, action pieces, and many person-dialogue ("infodump") sessions.
This is how you do dystopia, people. Take notes.
The first time I read it, I wasn't in the reviewing mood. All I wanted to remember was that I loved it. This time around, I want to tell everything I love about this introduction.
Top 5 Things I Love about Lazarus
1) Characters - The characters are SO memorable! I don't have volume 1 with me, but I can list most of the main cast plus a few other side characters (James, Joacquim, Charles, for example). Each one really feels like a fully realized person - imperfections and all! For instance, Jonah is somewhat of a brute and easily led - and also easy to rile up. Beth is quite the nerdy type and sometimes forget her sister is also a human being.
2) Eve - I know she is a specific character, so technically falls in above, but since she is our protagonist, I think its more than fair she can have her own bullet point. Eve has the body of a born martial artist and can kill pretty much anyone - but she also has remorse. It's obvious she hates to take a life, and she is starting to question this world around her - maybe a little too much. Something that can be rare in a female protagonist - someone who knows what she's doing and isn't constantly questioned about it. Eve ticks BOTH boxes - she's competent, not only in killing, but obviously strategy and tactics, diplomacy, and investigation. And yet she still has her flaws - trusting too much in other members of the family as a big one. She even gets a hint of romance with Joacquim - and that hint is way better than all the blubbery over-dramatic romance I've seen in other series.
3) World - Dystopia is so chic these days. A lot of books (and movies which are based on them) are basically "girl lives in sh!tty futuristic world, finds a boy, saves the world). It's rarely done right; dystopia works best when it's not just "someone lives in this world where there is no WiFi", but when there is an explicit message behind it, something that speaks about problems in our world today. And that's what makes Lazarus so good in my mind - it takes a few items (the world becoming harder to farm, certain people, perhaps even corporations, owning access to the food, heightened military everywhere, etc.) and punches it up to highlight how our world could become if we get lazy. THIS is how I like my dystopia - not those wishy-washy "Love is outlawed, but my world is basically the same as 2014 in which this book was written".
4) Story - Basically, Characters, World, and Story all have to work together in a good book (and Number 5 comes in for a good comic), especially if that book is dystopian. It's a 3-leg stool; take one of the legs away and the whole thing collapses. Lazarus' story is a typical one - the story of revelation and learning what humanity means and why it is important. I suppose this could end up being a supremely boring story premise, but let's face it, most of fiction is to tell us as much about who we are as humans as it is to entertain us
5) Art - Most of the above could easily apply for both graphic novels/comics or books, but art is an exclusively comic medium. It's also a huge personal choice - everyone loves different things in their comics, so what one may find ugly, another will adore. I do have a similar arbitrary aesthetic, but I also like comics where I can discern the major characters, who look consistent from panel to panel, that has a good flow from panel to panel (so I can follow the action), and that has good, thematic color choices. Lazarus ticks all those boxes for me.
I think I've elaborated nicely on my initial 4 sentence Bullet Review. I've probably written a novel myself at this point! But I do so because I want to show that I like things and I will spend as much time writing about them as books that I hate . I have basic requirements - doesn't everyone?
I adore Lazarus, the second time as much as the first.
Now excuse me...I have volume 2 to read! -
Wow. Just wow. This book kicked some serious ass.
Then there's the story that's here, too. The interesting world. And the art that pulled me in and kept me clicking for the next page.
Set in a post-apocalyptic (of some sort) wasteland where "Families" vie for power and control. Think mafioso, except with some dysptopian sci-fi thrown in. Eve, short for Forever, is the Lazarus of her family. This means that she is often sent on the dangerous missions, as she can regenerate from extreme damage, things that would nearly kill anyone else. I loved her from page 1, where she slaughters a bunch of guys that think they're going to kill her.
She kicks some serious ass throughout this graphic novel. Every time she did I fell a little bit more in love with her. Add in the plot with back-stabbing family politics, spying, and a possible romance, and you've very nearly hit everything on my wish list. Not to mention the fact that Eve is clearly the only one not in on the secret that she isn't *really* related to her family. Something that is sure to come out ... probably pretty damn soon.
This was a super quick read, at only 104 pages which left me done before I wanted to be.
One thing is for sure, I can't wait to see what Eve does next, who she kills, and where she goes.
Read more at
The Alliterates -
Aaargh. The art was pretty average. I'm not saying it was ugly... but it was. And it's a major put off for me in graphic (sic!) novel.
The plot is sort of interesting, pretty harsh dystopian world looks cool and ruthless. The drama is on Shekespearean level - two families trying to dominate on the ruins of what used to be California (or something), involving everybody around them, especially their invincible, almost immortal Lazarus (nomen omen) offsprings. Lazarus line is pretty cool, especially Forever's, main female character's, who is a badass one and will surely be the main driving force of the series.
But I'm not sure if this story is going to surprise me much, I can already imagine what happens next and I don't really care how many betrayals will happen in future, and from what I already learned it's sure gonna be more. Also dead bodies, also pain and mutilation. Also cliches. I feel like I've seen it before, read it before.
Maybe I will come back to it someday, but not too soon, that's for sure. -
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
➽ The girl kicks serious ass.
➽ There is serious blood & gore, and lots of limbs get deliciously severed.
➽ There is a serious supply of treacherous assholes and devious bastards.
➽ And it's a pretty cool world. Oh yeah.
The murderous crustaceans are ecstatic. They just got drunk to celebrate.
PS: want to read actual reviews for this bloody feat? Read
Evgeny's. Or
Jeff's. Or
Anne's. You're welcome.
Chronological Reading Order:
· Volume 1:
Family ★★★★
· Volume 2:
Lift ★★★
· Volume 3:
Conclave ★★★★
· Volume 4:
Poison ★★★★
· Volume 5:
Cull ★★★★★
·
Lazarus X+66 (side stories about supporting characters) ★★★★
· Fracture:
Prelude 1 (issue #27, digital format only) ★★★★
· Fracture:
Prelude 2 (issue #28, digital format only) ★★★★
· Volume 6:
Fracture I ★★
·
Sourcebook Collection Vol One ★★★★ -
4 Blood can't erase feelings Stars
What can I say, my friends? There is nothing not to like here.
A violent dystopian future where most of the human race is Waste; elite families in control of the scarce resources via extreme violence; dysfunctional families full of jealousies and betrayal; a genetically engineered and modified heroine who never dies - or better she dies and come back to life every time, like Lazarus - called Forever, the tip of the sword, the shield of the Carlyle family, whom is developing her own emotions despite being considered just a tool and whom is absolutely kickass at her job; perhaps a romance in the making; themes of eugenics and manipulation running through the whole thing; sacrifice...and did I mention a lot of bloody, bloody fights? Yes, blood, stabbing, shooting, punching...the lot. I liked the art too, I just want more now! -
Not a bad start to a series. This is set in a dystopian future where the world population is divided into "Families" who rule their own piece of dirt, "Serfs" who serve them and then the vast majority who are just trying to survive - also referred to as "Waste." Has a very "Godfather" like feel.
The Patriarch of the Carlyle family has six he calls "children" - but one is not really his. The Lazarus - the tip of the family sword - genetically modified for violence and rapid recovery - even from death. Eve, also called Forever is the family Lazarus and she is totally badass.
Interesting premise with a lot of potential. The art worked well in communicating the story. I'm reserving judgement to see where this might go. For now it gets ...
3.5 stars -
Comprised of the series first four issues, this debut volume written by Greg Rucka, and illustrated by Michael Lark with the colors done by Santi Arcas, is a dystopian science fiction story that definitely holds promises.
I actually liked it even if it's only a hundred pages long. My review for this graphic novel collection is positive enough although I can't say yet what is in store for the rest of the series, seeing as the four issues of Lazarus felt like watching a pilot for a TV show. With that comparison, I believe these issues hold enough weight on their own both as separate installments and as a singular story that unfolds efficiently well. Action-packed and well-balanced when it comes to exposition and dialogue, Lazarus: Family is something readers can easily consume in one sitting but it's also a substantial serving which would make them come back for more.
Speaking of TV pilots, this series might actually be adapted for a television show, and based from what I have seen so far, I think it would work well. The plot of the story focuses on a futuristic setting where capitalism is the dominating status quo that had abolished real governments across the world. The wealthy and privileged reign as supreme rulers and each city in the states is governed by a 'Family' while the rest are deemed as Waste (not even kidding, it's that blunt). Essentially, the modern world reverted back to a brutal age when elitist rich families are considered the most valuable while everyone else are cattle and slaves.
How demeaning is it that after that much progress humans societies have made throughout history that the shift of power had only moved back from what was once considered ancient and barbaric? But I digress. I can actually see this future happening someday because of frighteningly good reasons when you consider the widening chasm and disparity growing between the rich and the poor even to this day.
Now the heart of this socio-political is our protagonist Forever Carlyle, who serves as the 'Lazarus' of the Carlyle family. As the namesake implies, she can never die and can come back from any method of killing or death. She's reserved and obedient, but also quite inquisitive and kind. Forever (or Eve) had started asking questions about her purpose and calling which is something her 'siblings' and the man she calls 'father' are not so thrilled about. The first four issues delved in the beginnings of Rucka's world-building where the Carlyle family has some strained relationships with other feuding families from across the state lines and within their own parameters of territory. There is enough betrayal and deceit to go around with, and characters who will become main players for the narrative are fleshed-out enough to compel readers to look forward to their roles and participation in the future.
I get this vibe that Lazarus will have the sensibilities of The Sopranos and Game of Thrones since it is about the privileged families who are also engaged in organized crime. I think it's not a bad direction to go for, and I'd be interested to learn how Rucka would pull it off in the next installments. Lark's illustrations are detailed and particularly enjoyable to look at especially with scenes that have a weight of importance. I like the way each panels are positioned not only during action sequences but also during the quieter moments. Colorist Arcas had employed rather dark colors for his palette, but they worked exceptionally well to deliver the atmosphere of prejudice and power struggle which the characters are engaged in.
Overall, this is an impressive debut series with a satisfying first arc and a tantalizing heroine to match it. I definitely look forward to the other volumes in the series!
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT
-
*Buddy read with
Lexazarus*
“And like the finest blade she is beautiful and she is lethal and she is precise and I appreciate her for all of those things. But one cannot love an object as one loves a person.”
This was a great start to the series with intriguing mysterious origins, a compelling family dynamic, and action to boot. Apart from the lack of romance (which was surprising but refreshing), there was a bit of something for everyone and that made it a well-rounded comic.
Eve was an interesting protagonist, although her backstory wasn’t explored at all. Likewise, there wasn’t enough world building to explain how the Family system worked in the dystopian or alternative history setting. However, the close focus on the family made for good foundations and enjoyably dramatic dialogues.
This had potential and I’m intrigued to see where it’ll go next in
Lazarus, Vol. 2: Lift...
(Recommended by
Mike) -
Strong start, nicely dark imagery, very violent.
I like it very much—the line art, the dark colours, the gorgeous sunsets, interesting plot.
There is enough world building to give a general feel for the setting, but I would like more backstory. How did we come to end up in this world, where a few families rule, supported by a few „serfs“ and a large populace of „waste“, that seems to live in squalor. Despicable, calling the general populace „waste“!
Forever‘s family is all kinds of horrible, too. She seems to be the only person in this with any semblance of a consience. And at this point I am not sure, if she is a person at all. Her family, the devious turds, certainly don‘t think so. Should be fun, when she finds out. I like her, she kicks ass. And her potential love interest is not shabby, either.
Another review compared this to mafia families in a dystopian SF setting, which sums it up very nicely. And makes Forever their enforcer. I am getting a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe as well.
I have the next two volumes, so I will definitely dive deeper into this. -
This is another dystopian near-future story where a handful of people, families, have taken all the resources and are exploiting the rest of the population, which they treat either as 'serf’ or ‘waste’! This volume sets the scene through action, most of it very violent, and the art style, one that is not my favourite kind, works well with the genre.
The narrative follows Forever/Eve, the Carlyle’s Lazarus, Uber soldier of sort who is as ‘immortal’ as their technology permits, as well as a few other key people. All are hiding an important truth - the only thing that allows them to control Eve - and their motivations are all pretty nasty. Throughout the four ‘episodes’, this becomes even more prominent: Forever, the one person that has been ‘designed’, is the only one who shows any kind of caring and concern for others.
Rucka’s created an intriguing protagonist and world, but I have many questions. How did this world come to be? How is it enforced? How was Eve created? -
Reading a Greg Rucka book comes with the expectation that its going to be good but Lazarus, his creator owned title with Michael Lark, is just so good that I wondered why I wasn't reading more Rucka.
In a few issues, Rucka has a build a very detailed world and some compelling characters to populate it. The heroine of the book is Forever Carlyle and she is the Lazarus of the ruling elite that has divided up North America of a dystopic future into fiefs. A Lazarus is a sort of super solider that can take on huge amounts of punishment and even rise from the dead.
Michael Lark provides some beautiful art from his end. Developing a concept for a creator owned comic brought out the best work I've seen from this creative team. My only complaint is that four issues is too short for a first volume collection. Obviously, it leaves the reader wanting more. -
A promising idea and a promising series!
In a post-apocalyptic society, select few families own all the resources, including land and supplies and people. The families have Lazaruses to protect them. My understanding is that a Lazarus is a genetically engineered human that has modifications that allow them to survive major trauma and injuries to the body.
In the case of the Carlyle family, their Lazarus is named Forever, and she thinks she is a daughter and sister of the family. She's wrong.
This is an intense action thriller book. Lazarus is thought-provoking as well. The future society make up is hardly an ideal place for most people, with a few families owning all the resources, possessing power over the life and death of everyone under their authority. In one scene, Forever has to execute an innocent man (who confesses to a crime he didn't commit) because the alternative is that all the serfs on the property will be executed.
Forever seems to have a conscience, moreso than her other family members, but she is used as a strategic weapon, and will in fact, do what is necessary for her family. A privilege they abuse with impunity.
Readers who love their heroines lethal will enjoy this. I'm not a big fan of dystopia, but the worldbuilding is interesting. The whole situation seems to be a powder keg about to explode. The house of Carlyle has traitorous forces within it, but the patriarch isn't unaware completely. Forever seems as though she has a crucial role to play in the whole situation, the one who can bring change and perhaps even justice. Which is why members of her family want her taken out of the equation.
I have a feeling that soon Forever will wise up to her situation and decide she no longer desires being a lethal weapon for anyone but herself. I will continue reading this series to find out. -
Not really enough here to keep me going with this series.
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So I had read this before but re-read before catching up a bit and yeah, now it’s time for a review!
What’s it about?
Forever is a manufactured person (it makes sense when you read it) that works for a family, however she thinks she’s a human who is part of the Carlyle family. The Carlyle family is the merciless ruling family of a futuristic shithole by the way. But yeah, Forever is beginning to realize various things and that might fuck things up for dystopian ruler family.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is well written and done in a way that takes what seems like a fairly typical story but with various spins making it more interesting.
This book has a gritty art style that suits the story very well.
The characters are written in a way that makes me more curious about volume 2. I’m not super invested in any of them yet but they have an interesting introduction here.
The action scenes are fantastic. Probably the highlight of this book. If you like the TV show Into The Badlands, you’ll like this because of the similarities including the way the action is done.
This book is surprisingly suspenseful.
There’s some commentary about illegal immigration here and it’s actually well written. I personally think that immigrants should do everything the legal way and be documented which is almost the opposite to what this book’s political message is but it’s very well written and made me think a lot about the other side of the argument which is a sign of fantastic political commentary IMO.
Overall:
This comic is really good and I highly recommend it. If you’re into dystopian sci-fi this is probably a must read. It’s full of action, is very well written and this first volume is a great introduction to the series so yeah, if you like this kind of stuff check it out.
5/5 -
I've heard all kinds of buzz about this, and I see what people like, but I feel like I've seen this before...
It's trying to be Brubaker/Philips, but Rucka is usually decent enough, so I'm hoping there's more to it than this.
I actually found the characters in-fighting of the family to be boring and predictable, a well powered family where there's some incest and in-fighting? Doesn't sound at ALL familiar...
I like the stuff with the other Lazarus, Joachim, there's some potential there, and the father is obviously more than meets the eye, but the rest of it? Kinda run-of-the-mill.
Art's decent but I feel like this is the RC Cola version of Brubaker/Philips.
Get this review and more at:
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41st book read in 2015.
Number 111 out of 469 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyINS... -
A lot of questions raised by the end of this volume. A depressing world, with rich families controlling resources, with several serfs, surrounded by many they call waste--charming.
So there are family politics, inter-family plotting, and lots of violence for the Lazaruses to deal with. Forever Carlyle has her share of violence to mete out in these issues, and there are questions raised about her, which I hope begin to be answered in the next volume.
