Lazarus Volume 1 (LAZARUS TP)

I'm always impressed by the variety and quality of Image Comics and was tempted again to try something new. Lazarus tells the story of warring families in what looks like a post-WW3 world; families run vast territories and the Lazarus is a defender of a house, an effectively immortal humanoid bodyguard bound to do the families bidding.Unfortunately beyond the initial premise I feel there is little by way of story and story progression. In the entire first volume there are only a few key events; the world is outlined but not vividly, there are lots of characters but ironically we don't actually get that much of the protagonist; events happen too easily when they do; it just lacks depth. I didn't get the feeling of inevitability of change, of conflict brewing; it lacks the emotive intensity of other productions from Image.Is it worth it just to explore the artwork; I'm 50-50. The art is much less detailed and ambitious than Low or perhaps Postal; it's a study of how minimal colour range can portray characters in a few easy strokes. Light and subtle posture changes are used throughout to give scenes atmosphere.Overall I'd say it's 'OK', one for your B-list;there are better options if you're looking for a story to be absorbed by or art to croon over.

Lazarus is set in a near future dystopia where a group of families rule and use the others known as 'the waste' to keep themselves in power and advance their influence. The Carlyle Family use their Lazarus, Forever to maintain control and enforce their rule wherever dissent might rise. After being shot dead and risen again after defending the family home, Forever faces betrayal and begins to realise there might be members of her own family hiding secrets from her and working against her.I really enjoyed this first entry into the Lazarus series, completely hooked me in from the brutal opening pages to the final plot twist on the final pages. Plus exploring this strange new world through the eyes of the lead character was an absolute joy. I read this first volume in one sitting and can't wait to get through the others. It's a fast paced story with great art work and well written characters who I hope to see developed further in the coming volumes. I am also hoping there will be further explanation of how this world came into being in future volumes as this world is ripe for further exploration as is it's history.

Lazarus Volume 1 collects the first four issues of the new science fiction series. It opens with a deeply defined world and interesting post apocalyptic premise, showing us the remnants of the USA and regions of Mexico which are ruled by a number of families which essentially control private millitary groups and act as tribes each tribe has a "Lazarus" a genetically engineered human with an ability to withstand extreme damage and rapidly regenerate cells effectively rendering them immortal. The first volume follows Forever of the Carlyle family as she attempts to secure a deal with a rival family, under command from her father, the head of the Carlyle family, she must also deal with a traitor within the family. The first few issues collected in this paperback are strong albeit much slower paced than many other contempory comics, this however is a positive as Greg Rucka builds a deep and intriguing world and sets up an array of complex relationships between the various multi dimensional characters within the story, the writing is exceptional and engages the reader into Forever's world. The comics strength also lies within its artwork by Lark which contains both realism and a sense of simplicity, each line conveys dynamism and has a concise feel to it. The volume also contains a lot of strong graphic violence which is captured well by Lark there is little galmourisation of violence it is depicted brutally and realistically also the colouring plays a significant role in creating atmosphere and mood using different hues of blues, greys and purples. Overall the first volume of Lazarus is captivating and sets up the premise of a potentially brilliant science fiction comic.

Good story, starts slower and more subtly than I was expecting. Will probably now have to buy the next in the series just to find out what happens next...Interesting take on a dystopian future where big companies and conglomerates rule.

Post apocalyptic, dystopian game of thrones about rich people double crossing each other and the likable pawns in their power struggles. There are twists and turns which manage to be neither boringly predictable nor unsatisfying obtuse. It rumbles along at an astounding pace without sacrificing story line, violence is gratifying without being unnecessary and the characters range from deviously abhorrent (without becoming too cliched) to tantalizingly grey. The 'Sci' element lends credibility to the events and technologies without becoming tiresome while the 'Fi' is contextualized through recognizable and relatable concepts widely considered plausible in our own uncertain future. It maintains both heart and mind though is devoid of sentimentality. The art is super good too.

I have to admit to being a fan of most of Greg Rucka's work, so I came to this in the hope that it would be a good read. In fact it's more than that. When working with Michael Lark he seems to come into his own, and this is no exception.A great start to what become a really strong fan cult favourite series. The concepts of the Lazaruses (Lazari?) protecting the families from outsiders and each other is a really intrguing one and I hope it will be given the time to develop and unravel.Great start, guys!