the jman sayeth: Image Comics Lazarus 1 and 2

I’m not much of an indie reader.  I’m a dyed in the wool (whatever the hell that means) superhero comic book reader.  That is…I was, until recently.  Don’t get me wrong, I still read the superheroes, but I’m finding as I get older I’m branching out a bit.  Your friendly neighborhood jman’s been reading titles like East of West, which continues to be a really interesting read, Mark Waid’s Irredeemable (I know.  I know….Irredeemable is still technically about superheroes.  But it’s published under an indie brand (Boom! Studios) so I’ll just check that off as an indie title, thank you very kindly) and Garth Ennis’ The Boys (Yeayeayea.  Whatever.  Another quasi-superhero title.)

Which brings me to the book, Lazarus.  Written by Greg Rucka and published by Image Comics, Lazarus takes place in a dystopian future (surprise!), where a handful of families control everything.  The population is categorized as Family, Serf (those that service the Family) or Waste.  And as you can imagine, most of the population falls into the “Waste” category.

Each of these families has a protector, a “Lazarus”, if you will (and you will).  A bio-engineered “superhuman”.  The family Carlyle, which we’re introduced to in the first book, is protected by one of the Carlyle “daughters” named Forever.  I put “daughter” in quotes, because after two issues, and an interesting fight between Beth and Jonah Carlyle (who’s a real wanker…fyi.  More on him later.) it’s still up for grabs exactly what Forever is about.  Besides a pill popping, chemical injected, lean, mean fighting machine, that is.

The story opens up…brutally.  I mean…BRUTALLY.  If the cover doesn’t inform you, that you’re in for a helluva ride, the first 10 pages of just the first issue will surely have you convinced.  Someone in the Carlyle serf population is believed to be in collusion with a rival family, the Morrey.  Part of a Carlyle facility is ransacked and raided by a contingent of Morrey forces that waltz right into the normally heavily protected compound.

I know a story is good, when characters are pissing me off.  And Jonah, one of the Carlyle family members, is doing just that and right off the bat, too.  He’s a total and complete wanker.  He’s going to ruin EVERYTHING, if he’s not already involved with the Morrey family.  I don’t know what his story is yet.  But, I know he’s not just a hot head.  There’s something up with this cat.  Either way, I’m really hoping he gets his in the end.

Issue 1 is still on the newsstands (so, is issue 2, btw).  I picked it up a few weeks ago.  So, you should still be able to get it for the $2.99 cover price.  Be warned though, it is violent.  And graphic.  It’s not violence for the sake of violence, more to show you what Forever is about.  If you’ve got an extra 3 bucks, and a light week…check out Lazarus.

Time to get yourself excited!  The next episode of Your Friendly neighborhood jman’s almost internet famous internet show is coming soon!