Writer: Greg Rucka
Art & Letters: Michael Lark
Colour: Santi Arcas
Cover: Michael Lark
Publisher: Image Comics
In 2003 Greg Rucka and Michael Lark teamed up over at DC for Gotham Central, a police procedural that told of the trials and tribulations that went on amongst the Gotham City Police Department. The series was met with outstanding reviews, Eisner award nominations and abysmal sales. Despite its genius, the book was cancelled and now lives on through strong word of mouth due to its loyal fan base.
It’s now been 13 years since Rucka and Lark had worked together and the dream team are back. Ever since they announced their new, creator owned project over at Image Comics, entitled Lazarus, the comic world has been frothing with anticipation. Would Lazarus be able to achieve the same lofty heights as Gotham Central? Could the dream team strike lightening twice? Will anybody buy it? These are some of the questions readers have been wondering since the series was announced and now, the day has finally come and Lazarus is upon us. The comic shelves are now a better place for it.
Lazarus takes place not far into the future, in an alternate reality where America and the world eventually succumbed to the great depression. Those lucky families who were able to maintain their wealth eventually made a grasp at power, and so the world is divided into financial boundaries, each controlled by a family. Each family must choose one of their own to be trained to become the perfect security measure. An unrelenting killing machine with one purpose; protect the family. This person is called the ‘Lazarus.’ In the family Carlyle, their Lazarus is called Forever, and this is her story.
In just 22 quick pages, Rucka manages to not only set up an entire world, but has also given us a fantastic new heroine in Forever. She’s tough as nails, but also extremely sympathetic. By utilizing the family dynamic, and a bit of that old Catholic guilt, Rucka knows just how to work his audience, like putty in his hand. He knows every reader has family, but what he wants to know is how far you are willing to go to protect them. The world of Lazarus is shrouded in moral ambiguity. The poor hoodlums only wanted to eat to feed their families, but what would have happened if they had ran into Forever’s sister instead of herself? Is protection enough to justify killing? These are the questions that Forever, and Lazarus, raises and these thoughts will stick with you long after you’ve put down the book.
Michael Lark’s artwork is the perfect companion to tell Rucka’s tale. By utilizing cinematic paneling, each page feels like it has been lifted from a Jason Bourne flick. That’s not to say its lacking in originality, the books just has the feel that it’s in the hands of an auteur, not a hack. What’s more interesting is Forever’s character design. She is built. Not Wonder Woman, skinny waist, jacked-rack built. But she maintains the body type of a person who has been trained to kill entire life. One glance at Forever and you know she could destroy you in less than three moves. She’s a terrifying entity that owns ever panel she’s in. Lark has successfully crafted a gorgeous book set in an ugly world.
After that god awful Age of Ultron conclusion that left a bad taste in a lot peoples mouths, Lazarus #1 manages breathe life back into comics. It’s an original, action packed story that is loaded with heart. It’s drawn close to perfection, and even packed with extras at the end. Lazarus is the true comic event of the summer.
-Sean
