Review: Lazarus Risen #2
There are some pretty incredible stories and fictional worlds out there. So many in fact that it is probably impossible to be familiar with them all. However, it is always a pleasant surprise when you find an incredible book like Lazarus Risen and then find that this wonderful comic is based on rich source material. It’s like finding a gem and as you dig to uncover it you find it is attached to a vein of gold.
The world of Lazarus Risen exists in a future where elite families have taken control of the world and it’s various regions. These families, utilizing their financial and corporate power, control the lives and destinies of the people in the regions they rule. The people in these regions are divided into three classes. The actual family members sit at the top of society and are all powerful. Below them are the serfs, people who provide vital services to the family and are thus considered to be vital cogs in this new society and are therefore given status and protection. Finally, everyone else in society is considered “waste”. They are expendable assets who are only useful in the sense that they are the fodder for the families to continue to accumulate power and wealth.
Additionally, these families are constantly struggling with each other for power and dominion over the world. While these families do have vast military forces, those forces are often held as a secondary option for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the vast damage done to infrastructure, serfs, and waste when military forces are brought to bear. Instead, each family also has a Lazarus agent, an avatar that exhibits all of the strengths, technology and martial prowess of the family in question. These Lazarus struggle with each other and carry out various missions of assassination, corporate sabotage and espionage.
This book, written by Greg Rucka (Detective Comics, Dragon Age: Mage Killer) and drawn by Michael Lark (Siege: The Cabal, Secret Avengers) and Tyler Boss (Archie, We Can Never Go Home) follows the Carlyle family. Specifically, this volume of Lazarus follows Forever Carlyle, the seventh in a series of genetically engineered humans designed to serve the Carlyle family. Currently being trained is Eve Carlyle, Forever’s successor who is not aware that she is genetically engineered or that there have been seven others like her that came before. This current issue begins with Forever engaged in combat with the Lazarus agents of two other families. Forever emerges as the victor from that battle and the real world repercussions are seen as the book progresses.
The artwork has a very real world, military flavor to it that reminds me of the work done by Brian Hitch on ‘The Ultimates’. The line work and inking done on the various characters is done sparingly but with great affect giving a stark look to each face that somehow manages to convey a great depth of emotion and character. The architecture in the book is utilitarian, drawn realistically and with no artistic flair. This ultra realistic art style serves as a contrasting backdrop when scenes that contain futuristic technology are presented and further highlights the science fiction aspects of the book.
I really can’t recommend this book highly enough. It has so many good things going for it with an incredible world as a backdrop, great writing, great characters and excellent artwork. If you are an old school gamer like myself, this book very much reminds me of a game called ‘Syndicate’ where corporations warred for power across the world. Either way, this is a very interesting book that would seem to have real world relevance as multi-national corporations continue to gain wealth and power. It is always hard to say that a book is a warning for the future but it is interesting to read books that have futures that could possibly happen. Even if you don’t want to get into deep waters, the book itself is quite enjoyable as the action packed sci-fi romp it is.
Writing – 4.5 of 5 Stars
Art – 4.5 of 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Writer:Â Greg Rucka
Art:Â Michael Lark, Tyler Boss
Color:Â Santi Arcas
Letters:Â Simon Bowland
Author Profile
- Nemesis is a poet, writer and author of the upcoming novel The Long Game. He is a writer of science fiction and supernatural thrillers. Besides novels and short stories he writes for UK based ASAP Comics developing new stories for Level 8 and OPSEC. Nem is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and tries to bring those experiences into his writing.
He lives and works out of his home in Riverside, California with his wife and three children. When not writing he enjoys reviewing comic books and graphic novels for ComicCrusaders.com and living the Southern California life with his family.
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