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The Last Fall #Complete
The Last Fall
Marcus Fall is a battle-hardened soldier in a long-running inter-planetary war. After multiple combat tours, Fall is finally able to leave the military and return to his beloved wife and son. But his happy homecoming comes to a tragic end when a suicide bomber murders his family. Devastated, Fall returns to the war with one bloody mission in mind: revenge against the enemy... every last one of them!
132 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2015
About the author
Tom Waltz
614 books43 followersTom Waltz is the Senior Staff Writer and Editor in IDW Publishing, better known as the writer of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 7, 2015
At first I thought - this sounds familiar. A stronger, more advanced civilization colonizing and stealing from an indigenous population. And these folks have "religion" backing them.
But then I saw the protagonist was from the colonizing side and it looked like the book was going to be sympathetic to him.
Soon I really wondered where this was going.
The art was okay - a bit cartoony for my taste with the subject matter. And the faces look…I don't know…weird.
But the story ended up being an interesting allegory for our time.
I thought it was worth a read. And some thought.
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond, and IDW for a copy in return for an honest review.
But then I saw the protagonist was from the colonizing side and it looked like the book was going to be sympathetic to him.
Soon I really wondered where this was going.
The art was okay - a bit cartoony for my taste with the subject matter. And the faces look…I don't know…weird.
But the story ended up being an interesting allegory for our time.
I thought it was worth a read. And some thought.
Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond, and IDW for a copy in return for an honest review.
December 27, 2015
The Last Fall is a tragic scifi war story that's so true on many levels. It tells the story of Marcus Fall, a soldier, whose family dies and he himself seems to have lost the will to live and find reason in the universe. We have two opposing forces, a religion to make justice for everything and an outcome so different to what everyone fighting for it ever thought. All the noble ideals die under greed and lies. I really enjoyed the story line and how we think we fight for good, when in reality it's quite far from it - friends turn to enemies and vice versa. The Last Fall is very real in a sense and so very sad. It's not too philosophical though and the war side is well constructed. In a way this is more like a war comic instead of anything else.
The art looks interesting, since it's childish and colorful. It's a good contradiction to the theme. There's a bit too much text though as in many of the panels are full. Also, the flow of the comic isn't fully working and the rhythm isn't smooth all the time. It would've been great to know about the "enemy nation" more and how they actually differ. Just looking at the art you cannot really tell. As a personal journey this works well and Marcus as a baffled character is a great pick.
The art looks interesting, since it's childish and colorful. It's a good contradiction to the theme. There's a bit too much text though as in many of the panels are full. Also, the flow of the comic isn't fully working and the rhythm isn't smooth all the time. It would've been great to know about the "enemy nation" more and how they actually differ. Just looking at the art you cannot really tell. As a personal journey this works well and Marcus as a baffled character is a great pick.
December 6, 2018
That was a good book. The story is very present to the world we live in today. Although it takes place in a futuristic planet far away the story is easy to read. The characters are straight forward and the story plays out well. I look forward to the next volume of this story.
I read this book via NetGalley. I thank them for this book. #NetGalley
I read this book via NetGalley. I thank them for this book. #NetGalley
February 25, 2016
The second story for today was a bit better, but not enough to make me finish it.
What did I like about this story?
I'm sure there was something... The graphic was colorful, but sometimes too colorful. It was war after all and yet everything was in such a bright colors, everyone had it's own armor (which actually helped to distinguish them). The plot was OK, but not very imaginative. A classic betrayal and come back to taste the glory and destroy the culprits. Predictable.
What I disliked?
- Yet again I have to say - the main character. He was annoying, but a bit better than Fletcher from Terminal Hero.
- The time jumps - there were many of these and they weren't marked in any way.
Final thoughts:
Just like the previous story - leave it be. I'd rather spend my time reading something more original with a better story flow.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Check my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
What did I like about this story?
I'm sure there was something... The graphic was colorful, but sometimes too colorful. It was war after all and yet everything was in such a bright colors, everyone had it's own armor (which actually helped to distinguish them). The plot was OK, but not very imaginative. A classic betrayal and come back to taste the glory and destroy the culprits. Predictable.
What I disliked?
- Yet again I have to say - the main character. He was annoying, but a bit better than Fletcher from Terminal Hero.
- The time jumps - there were many of these and they weren't marked in any way.
Final thoughts:
Just like the previous story - leave it be. I'd rather spend my time reading something more original with a better story flow.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Check my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
January 12, 2016
This was a pretty good book, but it's too easy to see how it could have been much better. For one thing, the story of a grunt and an officer and their mutual hatred, with the background of an interplanetary religious war, could have been so much more scathing – and a lot less woolly and verbose – if it had been given a sort of 2000AD treatment. For another thing, things are too obvious. If it wasn't so blatantly and predictably an Iraq metaphor – war with religion the excuse and fuel the goal – it practically tells you. But despite that the end result is something that does have some little intrigue, and quite a bit of personality and character. The artwork is nothing much – the lead really unattractive at times – and the world not built terribly well, but in the end I did actually quite like it. If sequels arrive, I would like to be on board.
January 31, 2016
This story follows a soldier, Marcus Fall, fighting in a war that caused the death of his wife and son. I liked the story and artwork, although I don't think the story was all that unique.
There is an interplanetary war, the soldier is jaded after the loss of his son, he meets a woman from the enemy race, he learns secrets that makes him rethink what he is fighting for. I did enjoy the characters--I liked Marcus' soldier friends even though they were background characters. They had personalities that you could get from just a few lines of dialogue. I was confused about how much time passed each time. It seemed to jump quickly through the story, and Marcus went from depressed to righteous with just one experience.
The artwork was bright and colorful, and I think it was the highlight of the book.
I received an ebook copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
There is an interplanetary war, the soldier is jaded after the loss of his son, he meets a woman from the enemy race, he learns secrets that makes him rethink what he is fighting for. I did enjoy the characters--I liked Marcus' soldier friends even though they were background characters. They had personalities that you could get from just a few lines of dialogue. I was confused about how much time passed each time. It seemed to jump quickly through the story, and Marcus went from depressed to righteous with just one experience.
The artwork was bright and colorful, and I think it was the highlight of the book.
I received an ebook copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2015
Science fiction comic collection about a religious war
Ground-Sergeant Marcus Fall leads an attack against the Krovinites in their war of religion against Merkonia: however his motivation is not religious but revenge. Left for dead after a covert mission, he finds himself at the mercy of the enemy. The war, we discover, is more complicated than the grunts thought and Marcus Fall is out to avenge betrayal.
Illustrations are colourful and cartoony but reasonably clear. The writing is basic and quite engaging but no real surprises in the plot.
Ground-Sergeant Marcus Fall leads an attack against the Krovinites in their war of religion against Merkonia: however his motivation is not religious but revenge. Left for dead after a covert mission, he finds himself at the mercy of the enemy. The war, we discover, is more complicated than the grunts thought and Marcus Fall is out to avenge betrayal.
Illustrations are colourful and cartoony but reasonably clear. The writing is basic and quite engaging but no real surprises in the plot.
February 8, 2016
This was actually pretty good. The story is about a sargeant who has lost it all during a religious war between 2 planets. Decent art with some anime influences, especially in the coloring.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2016
A good SciFi comic book. The artwork has its moments where it's really good and it always is serviceable. The concept is interesting and the story will engage you. I don't know if the creators went beyond these five issues but I hope they did as the real story would be what comes next.
April 27, 2016
A powerful meditation on war, loss, and the passage of time. 5 stars.
July 12, 2017
While the Last Fall isn't up to my usual expectations for Image Comics, it's certainly not a complete loss. Military science fiction with a conscience, it tells the story of Marcus Fall, whose mission of revenge for his slain wife and son is complicated when he finds out that the bad guys aren't who he thought they were. The anti-war/pro-peace message of the book is undermined somewhat by the number of panels devoted to battles which do little to undermine how cool it looks to fight on another planet in battle armour. Nevertheless, it's well-paced with strong layouts and very good sequential art, so if you enjoy Military SF with a message, this one is worth a quick read.
June 5, 2019
Nice concept, something at the execution left me wanting.
Its a tragic scify GN about a soldier who seffered a great loss, leaving him with a deathwish, and that's in the middle of an inter-planetary war.
Its interesting and all, just not enough to be great in my taste. A nice read for the lovers of the ganre, who want a tight, self contained story you can read in one sitting. For the longer and more rewarding journey,see Saga..
Its a tragic scify GN about a soldier who seffered a great loss, leaving him with a deathwish, and that's in the middle of an inter-planetary war.
Its interesting and all, just not enough to be great in my taste. A nice read for the lovers of the ganre, who want a tight, self contained story you can read in one sitting. For the longer and more rewarding journey,see Saga..
July 19, 2017
Reading some graphic novels from independent publishers.
A reasonable example of military sci-fi, where Fall, the central character is wondering at the point of it all. This is a holy war, combined with terrorism - and space suits. Some nice artistry making for an above average sci fi graphic novel.
A reasonable example of military sci-fi, where Fall, the central character is wondering at the point of it all. This is a holy war, combined with terrorism - and space suits. Some nice artistry making for an above average sci fi graphic novel.
November 28, 2017
an interesting story about life on another planet where a certain race invades another planet to take resources for its own gain. Sounds nothing like any war that's happened in the last thirty years.
June 4, 2016
'The Last Fall' by Tom Waltz with art by Casey Maloney is a story of revenge, and an allegory for certain recent historical events as well.
Marcus Fall is the kind of hardened soldier you want on your side. He has death in his eyes and revenge in his heart. In flashbacks, we learn why. Which is why he is out to destroy the enemy. When a mission he goes on goes badly, he begins to learn the truth, or at least another side of the story. He has to choose what he will do, and how he will reconcile the rage he has inside.
The art is a bit strange and kind of anime looking. The characters expressions are a bit over-exaggerated. Marcus has weird eyes that sort of pop out. The armor design is a bit strange with odd helmets and shoulder pads that look like big bubbles. It's not explained why they wear what seems to be such unwieldy equipment.
I used the word allegory at the beginning of this review, but the story is a thinly veiled protest against current world conflict. The motive given is religion, then it's another thing, and both of those are revealed to be "bad." This felt a bit preachy. I can appreciate the viewpoint, but I would hope the story would have been more imaginative in telling it. It's a SF setting, but that just means cool looking weapons and armor and planets. It was okay, but I was hoping for something a bit deeper.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Marcus Fall is the kind of hardened soldier you want on your side. He has death in his eyes and revenge in his heart. In flashbacks, we learn why. Which is why he is out to destroy the enemy. When a mission he goes on goes badly, he begins to learn the truth, or at least another side of the story. He has to choose what he will do, and how he will reconcile the rage he has inside.
The art is a bit strange and kind of anime looking. The characters expressions are a bit over-exaggerated. Marcus has weird eyes that sort of pop out. The armor design is a bit strange with odd helmets and shoulder pads that look like big bubbles. It's not explained why they wear what seems to be such unwieldy equipment.
I used the word allegory at the beginning of this review, but the story is a thinly veiled protest against current world conflict. The motive given is religion, then it's another thing, and both of those are revealed to be "bad." This felt a bit preachy. I can appreciate the viewpoint, but I would hope the story would have been more imaginative in telling it. It's a SF setting, but that just means cool looking weapons and armor and planets. It was okay, but I was hoping for something a bit deeper.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
January 29, 2016
1 star is a brutal rating, I know. But I did not enjoy this at all. poorly written, dialogue, Artwork.. Just not for me.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews