bedsitter23

Lazarus: Risen #1 by Greg Rucka

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have a fond rememberance for 2013.

It seemed to me like one of the high points in comics. Image seemed to be moving in a spot that Vertigo user to occupy. I am not sure if it’s a cloudy rear view but I have no trouble defending it (standout titles by Rucka, Remender, Seeley, Fraction and Brubaker followed by memorable titles by Williamson, Kirkman, Aaron, Gilles, and Brubaker in 2014). It sure feels comparable to that creative time in the early to mid 90s.

It didn’t appear that Image did a whole lot to capitalize on this, in retrospect. The biggest effect was most of these writers went to steady jobs at The Big Two. Of course, how much of this is personal recollection and relation to my personal comic shop, I am not sure. In any case, it was a strong impression.

Of 2013-14, Rucka’s Lazarus is one of the few things that still remain. It has now been relaunched in a sort as a longer now quarterly format. Seemingly, this feels like a good modern move, bridging the best features of the weeklies and Graphic Novels.

Lazarus is easily one of the best comics of this decade. The relaunch doesn’t exactly work as a starting point, although it certainly tries.

It does allow a big chunk of story which works in favor of Lazarus. Not that it ever had an issue, but this is a bigger story and it should not be tied to size limitations.

Of course, the team of Rucka, Lark, Bowland and Arcas are near peerless. Every detail- story, art, color is top notch.

If I have to nitpick, I do think at time it suffers at its overambition. I am afraid at times it may get to Game of Thronesy with so many subplots. Of course, this is for most intents, a first issue. I also suspect some of my issues may have to do more with some fatigue of what’s roughly a good three years or more of material.

It’s a minor quibble of course, since Rucka works well at both micro (characterization, dialogue) and macro (world building) levels.

The addition of a strong prose story by Lilah Sturges as well as a few related content (cool fake ads) and a top notch letters page would make me feel I was getting my money’s worth. (At $8, I doubt I would have flinched either way)

For those not familiar with the title, it is a well thought Dystopia that seems much more related to the real world than modern Dystopia stereotypes would suggest. Certainly, a worthy inclusion to the "What comics should I be reading?" discussion

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