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Lazarus #5-9
Lazarus, Vol. 2: Lift
While Forever keeps watch on her sister Johanna, she finds hints of rebellion brewing in LA.
At the same time, the Barrets, a family of "Waste," lose their home and land, and must pursue their only chance for a better life - a 500-mile journey to Denver in the hope that one of their family will be noticed by the Carlyles and "lifted" to Serf status.
Collecting LAZARUS #5-9
At the same time, the Barrets, a family of "Waste," lose their home and land, and must pursue their only chance for a better life - a 500-mile journey to Denver in the hope that one of their family will be noticed by the Carlyles and "lifted" to Serf status.
Collecting LAZARUS #5-9
104 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
About the author
Greg Rucka
1,366 books1,843 followersGreg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
April 24, 2023
My name is Sarah and I am naught but a harebrained nitwit. Why? Because I almost gave up on this most wondrous series after reading this instalment. I thought it was disappointing. And kinda sorta meh. And kinda sorta boring. So I wasn't exactly excited and enthusiastic and thrilled at the prospect of reading the next volume in the series.
Yep, that's right. I'm a complete and total simpletonish lamebrain. Because had I given up on this most astounding series, I wouldn't have read Conclave. And Conclave is shrimping awesome. Hence, I am naught but a moronic imbecile. QED and stuff.
The end.
Damn, I'm getting real good at this whole Crap Cutting Business Thingie (CCBT™)!! Go me and stuff!!
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, previously published in digital format only and now included in vol. 7) ★★★★
· Fracture: Prelude 2 (issue #28, previously published in digital format only and now included in vol. 7) ★★★★
· Volume 6: Fracture I ★★
· Volume 7: Fracture II ★★★
· Sourcebook Collection Vol One ★★★★
Yep, that's right. I'm a complete and total simpletonish lamebrain. Because had I given up on this most astounding series, I wouldn't have read Conclave. And Conclave is shrimping awesome. Hence, I am naught but a moronic imbecile. QED and stuff.
The end.
Damn, I'm getting real good at this whole Crap Cutting Business Thingie (CCBT™)!! Go me and stuff!!
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, previously published in digital format only and now included in vol. 7) ★★★★
· Fracture: Prelude 2 (issue #28, previously published in digital format only and now included in vol. 7) ★★★★
· Volume 6: Fracture I ★★
· Volume 7: Fracture II ★★★
· Sourcebook Collection Vol One ★★★★
August 27, 2015
Hundreds of thousands flock to Denver for the “Lift”, aka the job interview from hell, where “Waste” (people who live under the Families’ rule but are unemployed) get the chance to be “Serfs” (receive jobs and in return get a better way of life for them and theirs). Meanwhile, there’s a threat against the Carlyle family that Forever must neutralise, and we’re introduced to the Barrets, a “Waste” family, who lose their home and make the journey to Denver to try and become “Serfs”.
Lazarus Volume 2 is largely a setup book. It explains Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s dystopian future world a bit more while introducing new characters that, given the amount of space allocated to them, will likely have a major role to play in future volumes. Unfortunately, this is also a very dreary read with Rucka borrowing heavily from other dystopian sci-fis and not bringing enough of his own to the series or developing the story he started fairly well in the first volume.
One story thread follows Forever as a kid, training vigorously to become the killing machine her father wants her to be. We return to this flashback throughout the book and all that happens is that she’s not good enough at first and then she is by the end. Predictable and boring.
In fact, Forever steps back quite a bit in this volume as she’s involved in more of a background plot. In the present, she’s looking for a terrorist group with her family’s name on a bomb. Think she stops them in the end? And that’s that plotline! Again, predictable and boring.
Instead of this it would’ve been preferable if Rucka had explored the idea of the Lazarus itself – where did this come from? Why is it that each ruling family has one and only one? Rather than look into this, we get the dreary terrorist subplot and the repetitive training scenes.
The bulk of the story concerns new characters, the Barrets, as they lose their home in Montana and hit the road to Denver. It’s a tough world surviving out there in this dystopian future where everything sucks, and they struggle against bandits and a total lack of resources. It’s a scenario that anyone who’s read/watched their share of sci-fi will have seen innumerable times before and Rucka’s rendering is nothing short of drearily unimpressive. I’ll just say it: Robert Kirkman does this scenario so much better in The Walking Dead, and I’m not even that much of a fan of that series either!
There’s one cool scene near the start where Forever visits her family’s border with rival group, Bittner and Hock, one of whose soldiers shoots Forever, but of course she heals. Rather than picking up her own gun and taking him out, she uses her words to have the soldier’s own people punish him for his potshot. It’s an imaginative and original moment which is why it stood out to me amidst the rest of this rote story.
Rucka’s storytelling is very unimaginative but his writing is competent and Michael Lark’s art is very good. I can’t fault Lazarus Volume 2 too much on a technical level, but the story is unappealing, very dull and overly miserable without any payoff. I realise this is only Volume 2 so there’s unlikely to be any payoff yet but I’m not encouraged to go any further to see what happens next. I simply don’t care about any of these characters or their world - I don’t think this series is for me.
Lazarus Volume 2 is largely a setup book. It explains Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s dystopian future world a bit more while introducing new characters that, given the amount of space allocated to them, will likely have a major role to play in future volumes. Unfortunately, this is also a very dreary read with Rucka borrowing heavily from other dystopian sci-fis and not bringing enough of his own to the series or developing the story he started fairly well in the first volume.
One story thread follows Forever as a kid, training vigorously to become the killing machine her father wants her to be. We return to this flashback throughout the book and all that happens is that she’s not good enough at first and then she is by the end. Predictable and boring.
In fact, Forever steps back quite a bit in this volume as she’s involved in more of a background plot. In the present, she’s looking for a terrorist group with her family’s name on a bomb. Think she stops them in the end? And that’s that plotline! Again, predictable and boring.
Instead of this it would’ve been preferable if Rucka had explored the idea of the Lazarus itself – where did this come from? Why is it that each ruling family has one and only one? Rather than look into this, we get the dreary terrorist subplot and the repetitive training scenes.
The bulk of the story concerns new characters, the Barrets, as they lose their home in Montana and hit the road to Denver. It’s a tough world surviving out there in this dystopian future where everything sucks, and they struggle against bandits and a total lack of resources. It’s a scenario that anyone who’s read/watched their share of sci-fi will have seen innumerable times before and Rucka’s rendering is nothing short of drearily unimpressive. I’ll just say it: Robert Kirkman does this scenario so much better in The Walking Dead, and I’m not even that much of a fan of that series either!
There’s one cool scene near the start where Forever visits her family’s border with rival group, Bittner and Hock, one of whose soldiers shoots Forever, but of course she heals. Rather than picking up her own gun and taking him out, she uses her words to have the soldier’s own people punish him for his potshot. It’s an imaginative and original moment which is why it stood out to me amidst the rest of this rote story.
Rucka’s storytelling is very unimaginative but his writing is competent and Michael Lark’s art is very good. I can’t fault Lazarus Volume 2 too much on a technical level, but the story is unappealing, very dull and overly miserable without any payoff. I realise this is only Volume 2 so there’s unlikely to be any payoff yet but I’m not encouraged to go any further to see what happens next. I simply don’t care about any of these characters or their world - I don’t think this series is for me.
December 10, 2015
In Lazarus Vol.2: Lift, Rucka and Lark gradually broaden the story's scope. While the first volume's focus on the intrigant upper crust sometimes felt like watching Dallas or Dynasty (not an experience I am keen on), this second volume starts to explore life outside the family's guarded walls - a world defined by poverty, desperation, crime, corruption, and guerrilla activity. Nothing terribly original or surprising, but Rucka and Lark get the details right, and the result is a slow-burning, stylish, relevant, increasingly complex read. My only concern is that it may be a bit too slow-burning for its own good, as it isn't all that entertaining to watch familiar tropes in slow motion.
July 12, 2022
This series is so middle-of-the-road it hurts. The characters are meh. The worldbuilding is meh. The plot is okay. Nothing about it really grabs me. And I still think the art isn't very good.
2.5 stars
Buddy-read with Kadi Carlyle.
2.5 stars
Buddy-read with Kadi Carlyle.
March 27, 2017
Bullet Review:
Fantastic! WOW! We get background on Forever, but also we see how life is for non-family - for non-serf. The waste that populate most of the planet.
Full Review:
Now that we're moving into volume 2, Rucka and gang open up the story with several storylines. In the first, we see Forever training as a child, how desperately she wants the love and affection of her father and how far she will go to get that affection. The second and third stories are "main timeline" - Forever tries to suss out the terrorist plot against the family, and the latter introduces a bunch of new characters, Joe, Bobbie, Michael, and Lee Barrett as they suffer the loss of their farm due to severe flooding.
I adored Volume 1 - it was exactly the type of dystopian story I love to read, with great characters, an interesting, complex story and good worldbuilding. Ruck and company use Volume 2 to flesh out and expand on Volume 1 - instead of just focusing on the Carlyle family, we get to see into the life of your average "waste". And like you would expect, it isn't fun - and also like you find out, half of the battle is who you know.
Sequels or middle-volumes are hard to write reviews for - you neither want to repeat yourself, but also, you don't want to give anything away from the earlier volumes. So pardon me as I fumble around for proper words to describe Volume 2.
What I feel makes Volume 2 just as good as Volume 1 is that it spends time exploring Forever's background and why she does a lot of what she does. I suppose you could say, there's some pretty obvious foreshadowing of a showdown in the future, but for me, it works. Forever is a character that could easily just become a fighting machine, a Terminator. The backstory shows her humanity, while the main plotline shows her as she starts to question her surroundings.
The other part of Volume 2 that was critical was the inclusion of the Barretts. This gives the story its reason for existing - the lives the waste live are horrible and while they may not be slaves in the traditional sense, they will be forever paying off debts to the family in economic slavery. And as I found in Volume 1, the new characters of Volume 2, namely the Barretts, are for the most part, memorable - Michael loves to read, an eternal seeker; his mother, Bobbie, is somewhat a hot-head, but passionate for her children; Joe is her calming companion. (Leigh admittedly doesn't spend much time in the book, so I am removing her from the "memorable" part.)
The hard part for authors is following up a smash Volume 1 with a solid Volume 2, proving you have a concept, characters and story that aren't just a fluke or just work in one setting. Rucka and gang have that here - I'm currently working on Volume 3 and already I can see the world is getting ever more complicated and intriguing.
Fantastic! WOW! We get background on Forever, but also we see how life is for non-family - for non-serf. The waste that populate most of the planet.
Full Review:
Now that we're moving into volume 2, Rucka and gang open up the story with several storylines. In the first, we see Forever training as a child, how desperately she wants the love and affection of her father and how far she will go to get that affection. The second and third stories are "main timeline" - Forever tries to suss out the terrorist plot against the family, and the latter introduces a bunch of new characters, Joe, Bobbie, Michael, and Lee Barrett as they suffer the loss of their farm due to severe flooding.
I adored Volume 1 - it was exactly the type of dystopian story I love to read, with great characters, an interesting, complex story and good worldbuilding. Ruck and company use Volume 2 to flesh out and expand on Volume 1 - instead of just focusing on the Carlyle family, we get to see into the life of your average "waste". And like you would expect, it isn't fun - and also like you find out, half of the battle is who you know.
Sequels or middle-volumes are hard to write reviews for - you neither want to repeat yourself, but also, you don't want to give anything away from the earlier volumes. So pardon me as I fumble around for proper words to describe Volume 2.
What I feel makes Volume 2 just as good as Volume 1 is that it spends time exploring Forever's background and why she does a lot of what she does. I suppose you could say, there's some pretty obvious foreshadowing of a showdown in the future, but for me, it works. Forever is a character that could easily just become a fighting machine, a Terminator. The backstory shows her humanity, while the main plotline shows her as she starts to question her surroundings.
The other part of Volume 2 that was critical was the inclusion of the Barretts. This gives the story its reason for existing - the lives the waste live are horrible and while they may not be slaves in the traditional sense, they will be forever paying off debts to the family in economic slavery. And as I found in Volume 1, the new characters of Volume 2, namely the Barretts, are for the most part, memorable - Michael loves to read, an eternal seeker; his mother, Bobbie, is somewhat a hot-head, but passionate for her children; Joe is her calming companion. (Leigh admittedly doesn't spend much time in the book, so I am removing her from the "memorable" part.)
The hard part for authors is following up a smash Volume 1 with a solid Volume 2, proving you have a concept, characters and story that aren't just a fluke or just work in one setting. Rucka and gang have that here - I'm currently working on Volume 3 and already I can see the world is getting ever more complicated and intriguing.
August 4, 2018
This series is gaining strength. The first volume left me wondering about how this bleak world works, especially with so few having control over so many, and how they would enforce and keep it. In light of this, it was interesting to see Forever's training flashbacks and childhood, although this is so sad. I truly want to hurt ALL the Carlyles.
It’s also a smart move to show us people outside the ‘families’ and their efforts to survive in this unforgiving world. The Barrets’s experience is heart-breaking.
This is not the nicest narrative, with all thise violence and pain and death, but it has caught my interest. Who is contacting Eve and telling her about her ‘father and siblings’???? And what will happen when she finally believes it?
It’s also a smart move to show us people outside the ‘families’ and their efforts to survive in this unforgiving world. The Barrets’s experience is heart-breaking.
This is not the nicest narrative, with all thise violence and pain and death, but it has caught my interest. Who is contacting Eve and telling her about her ‘father and siblings’???? And what will happen when she finally believes it?
December 6, 2018
Just another example of why Image is where all the best comics are published today. (My 90's self never would have thought I'd ever be saying that.) Great art by Michael Lark. Yet another great story by Greg Rucka. This man can do no wrong.
The story follows Forever Carlyle, the youngest daughter in a family who controls the western half of the U.S. They've ground everyone else under their heels and people are barely surviving as serfs for the family. Forever is slowly discovering the underside of her family as she provides security for their fiefdom.
The story follows Forever Carlyle, the youngest daughter in a family who controls the western half of the U.S. They've ground everyone else under their heels and people are barely surviving as serfs for the family. Forever is slowly discovering the underside of her family as she provides security for their fiefdom.
February 6, 2015
Another great Buddyread with my amazing Shallow Comics Readers for Indie week!
My God is Forever ("Eve") a hard, cold person. Raised as she was, ever at arms' length, and constantly trained in death, tactics and diplomacy, it's no wonder - but still, man did it produce results. I'm a pretty odd duck, and I was raised pretty well all things considered. If I'd been raised like that, I think I'd be a ravaging baboon with a fixation on pleasuring myself with my own weapons.
And sunuvabitching, they bring in new characters from the Waste class, and finally give us a glimpse what it's like to live outside of ANY support network, raging chaos just outside of view of what might've passed for subsistence living, once upon a time.
This world was fascinating enough just through the lens of The Family - now we get to see it through the eyes of Waste at the same time, for related plot lines, and maybe even see a few crossed paths? Damn guys, you're making me hard just with all this excitement of such solid storytelling.
Gimme more now. Oh shit, I'm caught up? I think I ought to drive across town, find out where Rucka lives and show him a little Stephen-King-in-Misery hospitality.
My God is Forever ("Eve") a hard, cold person. Raised as she was, ever at arms' length, and constantly trained in death, tactics and diplomacy, it's no wonder - but still, man did it produce results. I'm a pretty odd duck, and I was raised pretty well all things considered. If I'd been raised like that, I think I'd be a ravaging baboon with a fixation on pleasuring myself with my own weapons.
And sunuvabitching, they bring in new characters from the Waste class, and finally give us a glimpse what it's like to live outside of ANY support network, raging chaos just outside of view of what might've passed for subsistence living, once upon a time.
This world was fascinating enough just through the lens of The Family - now we get to see it through the eyes of Waste at the same time, for related plot lines, and maybe even see a few crossed paths? Damn guys, you're making me hard just with all this excitement of such solid storytelling.
Gimme more now. Oh shit, I'm caught up? I think I ought to drive across town, find out where Rucka lives and show him a little Stephen-King-in-Misery hospitality.
September 18, 2014
Every bit as fascinating as the first volume. This volume gives more insight into the world of Lazarus, and gives a very welcome look at the "Waste" classes. I felt like there was more plot momentum and less exposition in this volume, and I'm feeling more and more comfortable in the world that Rucka is building here. I also love that this is a single, complete story, without wrapping up every single loose end in the story. I'd say that there's even more interesting things ahead for this series.
November 3, 2018
I liked this one but not as much as the first. Honestly the middle was kind of confusing because two of the characters looked similar but belonged to different groups. It kind of messed me up a little bit and took some of the enjoyment out of it. All they had to do was change the hair color of one of the characters and I would've been fine. Other than that it had a good story and art. The ending was interesting and made me want to read Vol. 3.
April 20, 2023
(Buddy read with Mr Grumpy Pants)
Slow but thoroughly developed, this is a sequel to laud!
The plot was very well-written, managing to juggle three different focuses that all combined by the end to provide a satisfying and notably happy conclusion.
The new characters were, at first, something to be sceptical about, however, the more they were followed and the more they endured, the more likeable they became. They had spunk and drive despite all that had happened to them and so they were people to root for. Moreover, this vol dropped unlikeable characters like Jonah and irrelevant characters like Beth in favour of giving the spotlight to the delightfully deceptive Johanna. Every scene with her felt dipped in danger as the reader knew more about her motivations than her unsuspecting sister, surely spelling disaster for the protagonist Eve in the future.
This vol delivered exactly on what Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family lacked most of all and that was backstory. It really took the time out of the plot to explore Eve’s childhood and that made for some great character depth for her. It made her instantly more human and understandable which in turn made her very interesting considering she was supposed to be an unfeeling humanoid being. And it was because of this focus on character development and the introduction of new characters that there wasn’t really time to spare to invest in much world building. It was a shame because the setting was what made this story so unique yet no history about the world order is ever discussed, something which could easily have been slipped into dialogue. Still, there’s always hope that that will come in Lazarus, Vol. 3: Conclave and if it’s anything like this one it’ll be just as enjoyable and engaging!
(Recommended by Mike)
Slow but thoroughly developed, this is a sequel to laud!
The plot was very well-written, managing to juggle three different focuses that all combined by the end to provide a satisfying and notably happy conclusion.
The new characters were, at first, something to be sceptical about, however, the more they were followed and the more they endured, the more likeable they became. They had spunk and drive despite all that had happened to them and so they were people to root for. Moreover, this vol dropped unlikeable characters like Jonah and irrelevant characters like Beth in favour of giving the spotlight to the delightfully deceptive Johanna. Every scene with her felt dipped in danger as the reader knew more about her motivations than her unsuspecting sister, surely spelling disaster for the protagonist Eve in the future.
This vol delivered exactly on what Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family lacked most of all and that was backstory. It really took the time out of the plot to explore Eve’s childhood and that made for some great character depth for her. It made her instantly more human and understandable which in turn made her very interesting considering she was supposed to be an unfeeling humanoid being. And it was because of this focus on character development and the introduction of new characters that there wasn’t really time to spare to invest in much world building. It was a shame because the setting was what made this story so unique yet no history about the world order is ever discussed, something which could easily have been slipped into dialogue. Still, there’s always hope that that will come in Lazarus, Vol. 3: Conclave and if it’s anything like this one it’ll be just as enjoyable and engaging!
(Recommended by Mike)
May 14, 2016
The first volume focused mainly on the Carlyles, one of the 1%er families that now rule the world, replacing nation states. And we met the Carlyle Lazarus, Forever, who is a kind of Ronin-type super-protector who has not yet learned she is biologically engineered. In this volume, she learns this, as a move within her family to break it up, maybe. We don't know what she will do with this information yet, actually.
The main focus of this volume is a couple different dimension of the waste, all the people that are being crushed by the Top Richest families. They fight for what are diminishingly few resources, no surprise, this is dystopian fiction, and we come to care about one family who proceed to Denver to be one of the few families to be chosen for a "lift," to move from wasteland to serfdom, or what slaves might have saw as a step up, to being overseers for slave-owning family.
And then there is another group, a terrorist group we like, who hope to foment revolution or. .. just terror, it's not clear. Forever has to face this challenge.
I like the focus in this volume on the other 99%, whom I now think will play a part in the overall story. The art is good, the story competent, and I am getting a little more interested though it isn't really original, at least not yet.
The main focus of this volume is a couple different dimension of the waste, all the people that are being crushed by the Top Richest families. They fight for what are diminishingly few resources, no surprise, this is dystopian fiction, and we come to care about one family who proceed to Denver to be one of the few families to be chosen for a "lift," to move from wasteland to serfdom, or what slaves might have saw as a step up, to being overseers for slave-owning family.
And then there is another group, a terrorist group we like, who hope to foment revolution or. .. just terror, it's not clear. Forever has to face this challenge.
I like the focus in this volume on the other 99%, whom I now think will play a part in the overall story. The art is good, the story competent, and I am getting a little more interested though it isn't really original, at least not yet.
August 6, 2015
This is a volume that I was very excited to get to because I only very recently picked up Volume 1 and was blown away by how much I ended up enjoying the concept of this world and the character of Forever. In this book we get introduced to a few more of the characters such as the 'Barrets'. I have to say that this book was very captivating and I found myself wanting to pick it up as soon as I could to read and enjoy it because I was so sure it would be wonderful, and it didn't disappoint.
In this storyline we not only meet the Waste Barret family (waste is the population who do not have any protection from a 'Family' [a ruling power in this dystopian future] and are usually not well off or well looked after) but we also get to learn more about the Family, the dynamics of the world, and the past of Eve (aka Forever).
I found the introduction of the Barret family to be a fairly easy one to connect with because they were instantly in trouble and couldn't get the hep that they needed, making them an easy set of characters to feel for. I liked Leigh and Michael, the brother and sister, and I also liked the girlfriend of Michael who accompanies them a lot. They were all people who seemed to have a pretty bad lot in life, but they made the most of it, and I could feel for them and root for them.
The backstory for Eve was also something I enjoyed a lot. We got to see more of how she toughened herself up and made herself the Family Lazarus (essentially a specially designed bodyguard/hit-woman). I liked that we now understand more of her history, and I look forward to seeing what she will do about the messages she keeps getting (which is something we haven't resolved yet, but which promises to be messy when it is addressed no doubt).
The artwork of these is not my favourite by any means, but it's easy enough to follow and connect with the characters still and the musty muted tones do seem to work well with the world. I liked the sunset scenes and the night time scenes which were more beautiful and showed that there are still moments of wonder, even in such a messed up world.
Overall this was once again a very wonderful read from the team of Lazarus and I will be on the look out and ready to pick up volume 3 whenever I can find it because I certainly want to know what is going to happen next and the whole 'lift' storyline and idea was very fascinating to me. 4.5*s and certainly a recommended graphic novel!
In this storyline we not only meet the Waste Barret family (waste is the population who do not have any protection from a 'Family' [a ruling power in this dystopian future] and are usually not well off or well looked after) but we also get to learn more about the Family, the dynamics of the world, and the past of Eve (aka Forever).
I found the introduction of the Barret family to be a fairly easy one to connect with because they were instantly in trouble and couldn't get the hep that they needed, making them an easy set of characters to feel for. I liked Leigh and Michael, the brother and sister, and I also liked the girlfriend of Michael who accompanies them a lot. They were all people who seemed to have a pretty bad lot in life, but they made the most of it, and I could feel for them and root for them.
The backstory for Eve was also something I enjoyed a lot. We got to see more of how she toughened herself up and made herself the Family Lazarus (essentially a specially designed bodyguard/hit-woman). I liked that we now understand more of her history, and I look forward to seeing what she will do about the messages she keeps getting (which is something we haven't resolved yet, but which promises to be messy when it is addressed no doubt).
The artwork of these is not my favourite by any means, but it's easy enough to follow and connect with the characters still and the musty muted tones do seem to work well with the world. I liked the sunset scenes and the night time scenes which were more beautiful and showed that there are still moments of wonder, even in such a messed up world.
Overall this was once again a very wonderful read from the team of Lazarus and I will be on the look out and ready to pick up volume 3 whenever I can find it because I certainly want to know what is going to happen next and the whole 'lift' storyline and idea was very fascinating to me. 4.5*s and certainly a recommended graphic novel!
August 16, 2018
What a horrible place this future is. To be called Waste is dispiriting, and also limiting.
We get to seems family of Waste individuals, whose farm is destroyed by bad weather. They pick up and leave for Denver, hoping to get their kids picked up by the Carlyles as Serfs. Anyone who remembers their Middle Ages history remembers just how glorious it was being a serf, so while better than Waste, it's still not great.
And we get to see Forever's early physical and mental training. That is some messed up treatment she had as a kid.
We get to seems family of Waste individuals, whose farm is destroyed by bad weather. They pick up and leave for Denver, hoping to get their kids picked up by the Carlyles as Serfs. Anyone who remembers their Middle Ages history remembers just how glorious it was being a serf, so while better than Waste, it's still not great.
And we get to see Forever's early physical and mental training. That is some messed up treatment she had as a kid.
June 21, 2015
I had trouble rating this because it lacks the impact of the first volume. Forever seems to get lost in the shuffle, and she was less defined as a character. Although I felt the flashbacks give more insight into Forever's relationship with her 'father.' The new storyline about the Barrett family, who have to leave their homestead and travel to the city was interesting, but also sad. At first I didn't get how it tied into the main story, but their paths intersect with Forever in a very pivotal way. It will be interesting to see where their story leads next.
I still like Forever's character a lot and will keep reading this for her. I think without her as a focus, the story is much less interesting though. I'm not much of a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, but I love women warriors/kickbutt artists like a house on fire. Rucka seems to like them as much as I do.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
I still like Forever's character a lot and will keep reading this for her. I think without her as a focus, the story is much less interesting though. I'm not much of a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, but I love women warriors/kickbutt artists like a house on fire. Rucka seems to like them as much as I do.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
October 20, 2014
This volume takes a nice close look at a part of this world that I was very interested in seeing.
The Waste.
The waste are the peoples of this world that aren't currently employed as 'serfs' for any of the families. I was intrigued by the social hierarchy in the first volume and was hoping that I could get a closer look at how things worked. Volume 2 delivers that in spades.
While this trade was a little less action packed than the first I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
Onward and upwards.
July 29, 2015
Really picked up for me when we met the family from the Wastes. I didn't really care about the Carlyle family at all. Forever is interesting enough, seeing her value of life that she has, in flashback and in limiting the violence at a border incident. We also see another flash of humanity when she feels remorse for the terrorists or freedom fighters after their interrogation and they're broken.
I'm more interested in the tale of people who aren't even considered serfs, but wastes. A normal family, who care about their kids, and lose their land and everything to the family, even having to pay for the privilege of assistance that comes AFTER the flood, when useless, but still stuck with the tab...sounds like the people of New Orleans 9th Ward post-Katrina to me...hmm?
Anyhow, they decide to pack in and head for Denver, a safe zone or developed city run by the Carlyles. There's the Lift, a culling of the herd where the lucky few "wastes" who have skills are lifted up to serfdom, and given a life of servitude to the family. However I this case, that's like winning the survival lottery, so you can guess what happens to the waste family, or this would be a pretty bleak tale.
However, it doesn't all go perfectly and in the end, Forever sees something of herself I think, in one of the kids (not actually the daughter, but neighbour kid) and hopefully this sets up our next volume....which is right here next to me, happily! When the library works out and you get
I'm more interested in the tale of people who aren't even considered serfs, but wastes. A normal family, who care about their kids, and lose their land and everything to the family, even having to pay for the privilege of assistance that comes AFTER the flood, when useless, but still stuck with the tab...sounds like the people of New Orleans 9th Ward post-Katrina to me...hmm?
Anyhow, they decide to pack in and head for Denver, a safe zone or developed city run by the Carlyles. There's the Lift, a culling of the herd where the lucky few "wastes" who have skills are lifted up to serfdom, and given a life of servitude to the family. However I this case, that's like winning the survival lottery, so you can guess what happens to the waste family, or this would be a pretty bleak tale.
However, it doesn't all go perfectly and in the end, Forever sees something of herself I think, in one of the kids (not actually the daughter, but neighbour kid) and hopefully this sets up our next volume....which is right here next to me, happily! When the library works out and you get
June 5, 2016
I'm really getting in to this world. I understand this might be a slow burner for some. It's a lot of world building, and that continues here. I love Forever, and yes she's somewhat emotionless but not completely and that makes her interesting. I've always had a soft spot for Terminator like characters with emotion and motives yet still robotic.
This volume basically goes back and forth with forever as a kid and now. I really loved the past, and it helps us care a lot more about the character. I also loved the part in this book when they meet the other family and a certain something happens that really gets wrapped up in a smart way instead of just bloody shoot out. Very neat.
On flipside we get a band of people who are trying to get to the lift. They aren't all that interesting, and even when something major happens, I wasn't engaged. It wasn't until the very end I actually cared about them and eager to see where they go from here.
I hope Lazarus continues to impress, because I'm really enjoying the overall feel of this series.
This volume basically goes back and forth with forever as a kid and now. I really loved the past, and it helps us care a lot more about the character. I also loved the part in this book when they meet the other family and a certain something happens that really gets wrapped up in a smart way instead of just bloody shoot out. Very neat.
On flipside we get a band of people who are trying to get to the lift. They aren't all that interesting, and even when something major happens, I wasn't engaged. It wasn't until the very end I actually cared about them and eager to see where they go from here.
I hope Lazarus continues to impress, because I'm really enjoying the overall feel of this series.
October 18, 2020
Addictive. Amazing graphic novel. But I can't spend all day in front of the screen, can I?
I'll devour vol. 3 tomorrow.
I'll devour vol. 3 tomorrow.
August 29, 2018
Her „father“ is despicable. The look back at Eve‘s childhood was chilling. I am dreading to find out what her sister is up to.
I really liked the storyline about the waste family. It added more depth to the world building and was well done. It is the main reason I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Great dystopian narrative that I wouldn‘t mind reading more of as a novel.
And regarding the e-comic, the page numbering is not right. My comiXology comic has 132 pages and 5 chapters. On Amazon and everywhere I can find, it says 104 pages. So unpractical, that comiXology doesn‘t list ISBN numbers for easier reference.
I really liked the storyline about the waste family. It added more depth to the world building and was well done. It is the main reason I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Great dystopian narrative that I wouldn‘t mind reading more of as a novel.
And regarding the e-comic, the page numbering is not right. My comiXology comic has 132 pages and 5 chapters. On Amazon and everywhere I can find, it says 104 pages. So unpractical, that comiXology doesn‘t list ISBN numbers for easier reference.
May 13, 2018
This was great. The world building is where its at with this one. Its still a relatively slow build but its worth your investment. The artwork is great but at times the plot didnt really introduce characters so it was at times hard to distinguish.
December 2, 2018
This is good... just not as good as the first.
What’s it about?
This is basically the continuation of the comic book series Lazarus. I unfortunately can’t fully explain that well without spoiling a bunch of volume one.
Pros:
The story is still very interesting.
The artwork is freaking astounding! It’s a well drawn, gritty style that suits the story perfectly.
Forever (the main character for those of you who don’t know) is very interesting and gets even more interesting in this volume.
This volume is full of intense, gritty action and it’s fantastic.
This comic is very unpredictable.
The ending is very interesting.
Cons:
Most of the characters aren’t interesting (as in, I don’t really care about the characters that are not named Forever).
Despite disagreeing with it, I thought the political commentary was very well written in volume one. Can’t say the same for this. It becomes more preachy and less well written here.
Overall:
This book is pretty good, just not as good as the first volume. I would highly recommend to people who really like dystopian stories.
This volume may not be flawless but the story, action, art and suspense are great! This is a very interesting comic that I definitely recommend to fans of these types of stories.
4/5
What’s it about?
This is basically the continuation of the comic book series Lazarus. I unfortunately can’t fully explain that well without spoiling a bunch of volume one.
Pros:
The story is still very interesting.
The artwork is freaking astounding! It’s a well drawn, gritty style that suits the story perfectly.
Forever (the main character for those of you who don’t know) is very interesting and gets even more interesting in this volume.
This volume is full of intense, gritty action and it’s fantastic.
This comic is very unpredictable.
The ending is very interesting.
Cons:
Most of the characters aren’t interesting (as in, I don’t really care about the characters that are not named Forever).
Despite disagreeing with it, I thought the political commentary was very well written in volume one. Can’t say the same for this. It becomes more preachy and less well written here.
Overall:
This book is pretty good, just not as good as the first volume. I would highly recommend to people who really like dystopian stories.
This volume may not be flawless but the story, action, art and suspense are great! This is a very interesting comic that I definitely recommend to fans of these types of stories.
4/5
October 15, 2014
I am really, really excited to see where this series goes. I liked this a lot better than the first volume. There's a lot of great expansion on the world (I cannot wait to see what apocalyptically-tinged event is responsible for the whole Family/serf/waste division), a well-rounded bunch of new characters, no incest, and wow, I absolutely adore Forever even more than I did. Another of those books that I think fail only because they're just not long enough.
April 24, 2017
3/4 Bloody sad stars
Less gripping that the first collection, slower in pace, predictable at moments, but sadder and bloodier at the same time. There's more world-building from the side of the Waste population, more past and emotional background for our Lazarus, more scruples and social commentary.
I certainly want to read more.
Less gripping that the first collection, slower in pace, predictable at moments, but sadder and bloodier at the same time. There's more world-building from the side of the Waste population, more past and emotional background for our Lazarus, more scruples and social commentary.
I certainly want to read more.
February 7, 2017
Where was I when this series first came out? Must been off planet or something. What a great series. Reminds me a lot of the TV series: Into the Badlands. Dark future and such. Forever is one kick butt enforcer/commander also known as the Lazarus of her family. But she was created, not natural born. Sooner or later she will get hip to all that. Read the first two volumes (covering 9 issues) via my digital library. Now I am searching thru Amazon and will certainly pick up Volumes 3 and 4 now, and Volume 5 in April when it comes out. Probably get them in paperback and then go back and pick up Vols 1 and 2 as well. Well written and drawn.
August 12, 2014
An excellent series continues to maintain its strengths and build its believable future world. Rucka's future is one of the more believable I've read, especially if current trends regarding the 1% vs. the 99% continue to hold true. In this future, the world has been parceled out to a variety of "families," large corporations that have taken on the responsibilities of government, etc. People are divided into two categories: "serfs" (those who serve the family and in return get some basic protections and comforts) and "waste" (basically everyone else). The story follows Forever Carlyle, a genetically-enhanced woman who serves as the Carlyle family's head of security. We see her as a young girl, in battle training, attempting to live up to seemingly-impossible ideals set for her by her "father." And we see her in the present day as she tracks a terrorist cell in the area once known as Los Angeles, as they put together the parts for an IED that will be exploded at the family "lift" fair in Denver. We also follow a struggling family that loses everything to a flood and pins their hopes on their teenage children to possibly get selected at the Lift fair, as they make the long journey by horse and cart to Denver (along with 100,000 others). The artwork for all of this is stark and gorgeous, provided by Michael Lark. An excellent, self-contained arc that manages to build upon what happened in the first volume and to open up this world beyond the Carlyle family. This is one of the best comics series being currently published.
March 1, 2016
Damn if this isn't a ridiculously good comic. It just gets better and better. The Carlyle family Lazarus (a sort of retainer/assassin/bodyguard who can't die), Forever Carlyle, learns of conspiracies against her family. Terrorists! Bombs! The plight of the Waste, the majority of the population!
Volume 2 digs into the rest of the world a little. We're introduced to a family whose farm gets destroyed and who heads out to dystopian Denver for Lift, the day when the talented and worthy can apply for Serfdom to the Carlyle family. Paths cross, plots unfold. And we get some backstory on Forever and her dad.
Volume 2 digs into the rest of the world a little. We're introduced to a family whose farm gets destroyed and who heads out to dystopian Denver for Lift, the day when the talented and worthy can apply for Serfdom to the Carlyle family. Paths cross, plots unfold. And we get some backstory on Forever and her dad.
January 5, 2019
So Forever Carlyle is not a
cyborg?
July 29, 2022
" O mundo jaz dividido não por fronteiras políticas ou geográficas, mas pelas econômicas. Riqueza é poder e esse poder repousa agora em apenas um punhado de famílias. Os poucos que fornecem um serviço para suas famílias governantes são cuidados e protegidos.
Todos os outros são Rejeito.
Para a maioria dos Rejeitos, a vida é uma existência de subsistência. O único modo pelo qual se pode esperar melhorar de situação é se elevar ao serviço pela Família regente. Isso ocorre mais comumente através da seleção, a que tanto rejeitos quanto Famílias se referem como Elevação.
A próxima Elevação agendada pela Família Carlyle vai ocorrer dentro de três semanas na cidade de Denver. "
Seguindo a leitura, Lazarus de imediato corrige a única crítica possivelmente justa quanto a primeira parte da história. A questão dos problemas sociais e as dificuldades intrínsecas às casta mais baixa são muito bem representadas neste volume, não só no núcleo já conhecido dos Carlyle, como também, nos novos integrantes do elenco.
Estes são os Barret, composta por Joe, Babbie, Michael, Leigh e uma amiga da família, Cassei. Através deles, é apresentada uma ideia ainda oculta, embora óbvia: a exploração quase unilateral que em muito remete a uma sociedade feudal. Assim, após a perda trágica de todos os seus pertences, os Barret se veem obrigados a iniciar uma viagem, seguindo uma rota perigosa devido à escassez de tempo, até Denver e em busca de uma vida melhor.
Quando a Forever, a trama dela é um pouco mais complicada, após os eventos do primeiro arco, ela é mandada para cuidar da irmã em Los Angeles e lá descobre um plano subversivo contra a sua família, porém, desta vez, não orquestrado por uma Família rival.
"Entre os Rejeitos, há os que resistem.
A Família os chama de terroristas.
Eles se chamam Libertos. "
Lift é um volume mais sombrio e maduro se comparado ao anterior, justificando a classificação indicativa com sangue, mortes e sexo, o que é de certa forma irônico uma vez que cada um dos números se inicia com uma cena da infância, embora de nenhuma forma infantil, da Forever. Mais especificamente, a relação com o patriarca da Família e os teste que a levaram à posição de Lazarus dos Carlyle.
" Estou tão feliz em vê-lo! Ninguém me contou que vinha!
E este o modo adequado de saudar o seu pai?
Não, senhor. Desculpe, senhor. É um prazer vê-lo novamente, pai. "
Como nem tudo é perfeito, o roteiro, para unir a trama e justificar a plena continuidade do núcleo adicional, desliza em suas páginas finais, contradizendo a maior sequência de ação das últimas edições em uma conclusão totalmente desnecessária.
Nada capaz de estragar as merecidas três estrelas da nota, porém.
Todos os outros são Rejeito.
Para a maioria dos Rejeitos, a vida é uma existência de subsistência. O único modo pelo qual se pode esperar melhorar de situação é se elevar ao serviço pela Família regente. Isso ocorre mais comumente através da seleção, a que tanto rejeitos quanto Famílias se referem como Elevação.
A próxima Elevação agendada pela Família Carlyle vai ocorrer dentro de três semanas na cidade de Denver. "
Seguindo a leitura, Lazarus de imediato corrige a única crítica possivelmente justa quanto a primeira parte da história. A questão dos problemas sociais e as dificuldades intrínsecas às casta mais baixa são muito bem representadas neste volume, não só no núcleo já conhecido dos Carlyle, como também, nos novos integrantes do elenco.
Estes são os Barret, composta por Joe, Babbie, Michael, Leigh e uma amiga da família, Cassei. Através deles, é apresentada uma ideia ainda oculta, embora óbvia: a exploração quase unilateral que em muito remete a uma sociedade feudal. Assim, após a perda trágica de todos os seus pertences, os Barret se veem obrigados a iniciar uma viagem, seguindo uma rota perigosa devido à escassez de tempo, até Denver e em busca de uma vida melhor.
Quando a Forever, a trama dela é um pouco mais complicada, após os eventos do primeiro arco, ela é mandada para cuidar da irmã em Los Angeles e lá descobre um plano subversivo contra a sua família, porém, desta vez, não orquestrado por uma Família rival.
"Entre os Rejeitos, há os que resistem.
A Família os chama de terroristas.
Eles se chamam Libertos. "
Lift é um volume mais sombrio e maduro se comparado ao anterior, justificando a classificação indicativa com sangue, mortes e sexo, o que é de certa forma irônico uma vez que cada um dos números se inicia com uma cena da infância, embora de nenhuma forma infantil, da Forever. Mais especificamente, a relação com o patriarca da Família e os teste que a levaram à posição de Lazarus dos Carlyle.
" Estou tão feliz em vê-lo! Ninguém me contou que vinha!
E este o modo adequado de saudar o seu pai?
Não, senhor. Desculpe, senhor. É um prazer vê-lo novamente, pai. "
Como nem tudo é perfeito, o roteiro, para unir a trama e justificar a plena continuidade do núcleo adicional, desliza em suas páginas finais, contradizendo a maior sequência de ação das últimas edições em uma conclusão totalmente desnecessária.
Nada capaz de estragar as merecidas três estrelas da nota, porém.
April 12, 2022
This one gets a little post-apocalypse-y, which is not to my taste.
Actually, that's wrong, I LOVE post-apocalypse stuff, but I think I'm worn out on it.
We've just seen so many flavors of it. Except for mine: Cumworld.
In a world where natural resources run dry...
a brilliant scientist creates an engine that's powered for miles on a single drop of semen.
Men become cattle, "milked" for the energies.
But one man dreams of a better life, a life where he's used for the contents of his mind, not the contents of his balls.
Mostly, I imagined this scenario because it would be hilarious to have a chase scene where the characters need to make a desperate escape, so our hero has to jerk off into a car's gas tank as fast as possible in order to get away.
This idea is now "fixed in a medium," so don't steal it. No matter how badly you want to.
Actually, that's wrong, I LOVE post-apocalypse stuff, but I think I'm worn out on it.
We've just seen so many flavors of it. Except for mine: Cumworld.
In a world where natural resources run dry...
a brilliant scientist creates an engine that's powered for miles on a single drop of semen.
Men become cattle, "milked" for the energies.
But one man dreams of a better life, a life where he's used for the contents of his mind, not the contents of his balls.
Mostly, I imagined this scenario because it would be hilarious to have a chase scene where the characters need to make a desperate escape, so our hero has to jerk off into a car's gas tank as fast as possible in order to get away.
This idea is now "fixed in a medium," so don't steal it. No matter how badly you want to.
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