Is anyone else reading or read this comic/graphic novel? Though it's a different medium than I am used to, this is probably one of the best books I have read in a LONG time. Written by Brian Vaughn who authors Ex-Machina and is a writer for the TV Show LOST. The series has been critically accliamed and just this year wrapped up with the final issue (I am almost finished with the series, so PLEASE Don't spoil the ending)

The Premise:

On July 17, 2002, something (speculated to be a plague) simultaneously kills every mammal possessing a Y chromosome - including embryos, fertilized eggs, and even sperm. The only exceptions are Yorick Brown, a young amateur escape artist, and his Capuchin monkey Ampersand.

Society is plunged into chaos as infrastructures collapse and the surviving women everywhere try to cope with the loss of the men, their survivors' guilt, and the knowledge that humanity is doomed to extinction. Vaughan meticulously crafts the new society that emerges out of this chaos, from the conversion of the phallic Washington Monument into a monument to the dead men, to the genesis of the fanatical ultra-feminist Daughters of the Amazon, who believe that Mother Earth cleansed itself of the "aberration" of the Y chromosome, to male impersonators becoming valued romantically and professionally.

The story is pretty complex as you have these differnt fractions of society and what they are doing to survive. Meanwhile you have Dr Allison Mann trying to get Yorick from NYC to San Francisco with Agent 355 to be the muscle and protection to make sure they get there safe so that DR Mann can run tests to determione what aved Yorick from the plague and perhaps what actually caused it. In a day and age where there are no male pilots to fly planes and people are looking to get their hands on any left over rations, getting from point A to B while hiding the last male on earth, can be tricky esp when the Last man is in love with his Girlfriend Beth who is in Australia and all he wants to do is go and be with her.



Yorick Brown


Agent 355


Dr Allison Mann


Ampersand
[Edited 6/20/08 12:56pm]

Probably the best book you are not reading

I wouldn't know because I'm not reading it.

It's awesome. I love the series.

Not only thrilling but funny and exciting, too.

i have the first volume or two of it. it's good. i wasn't completely blown away by what i read, but i can see how if i had the whole series in one big book i'd get addicted to it.

Anxiety said:

The first two were a little slow on me too. But as you get further into it you start wanting to get the next one once you finish the preceeding volume. I found myself gasping many times towards the 4th book or so.

They will start releasing bigger volumes starting in October. And the last book (Book 10) comes out in July.

Efan said:

I agree! There is a lot of humor to be found, even though the series is dealing with a heavy subject. I do love the plot twists! The only thing I don't like are the "covers" for each of the books that came out. There are a few that are good like this one....



But even this cover isn't representative of the art inside. My partner calls them over produced and I agree. There was one image in one of the later issues that shown Yorick, Agent 355 and Ampersands Hands/Arms coming together in a grasp that looked like a Y and it was pretty powerful, as it was symbolic of the 3 of them and thier journey and most importantly thier committment to each other to get though this journey together and alive. They each have risked their lives at various points throughout the series to help another even if it meant doing something they probably shouldn't do.

See, I didn't like that cover, because it's in the superhero vein as far as his muscles and looks are concerned, and the comic is removed from that. I loved the cover for the trade paperback "Cycles" and "Kimono Dragons"--that one especially I thought was beautiful.

Efan said:

The fact that it's not about superheores entices me even more. I did like the Kimono Dragons cover as well.

You know, if you like Y last man, you might like Ex-Machina. The premise is The series details the life of Mitchell Hundred (also known as the Great Machine), the world's first and only superhero, who, in the wake of his actions on 9/11, is elected Mayor of New York City. The story is set during Hundred's term in office, and interweaved with flashbacks to his past as the Great Machine. Through this, the series explores both the political situations Hundred finds himself in, and the mysteries surrounding his superpowers. The artwork is STUNNING. He uses actual people, photgraphs them in poses and then inks down from there. The covers are even better. as he (tony harris) creates a cover that when folded out is one big cover. Brian Vaughn also is writing that story as well.

Brian is writting Renaways another critically acclaimed series about the children whose parents are villians. I have only heard good things about it.

Oh and I am not a comic book fan.

superspaceboy said:

I couldn't get into Ex-Machina for some reason. But I do recommend "Pride of Baghdad," also by Vaughn.

I haven't checked out Runaways yet, but I should give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

not bad not bad-not brilliant

pride of baghdad was okay too

im kinda dissapointed by graphic novels of late

the last truly great one was FROM HELL and that was almost a decade ago

jonylawson said:

I am reading Watchmen. It's good...dense and complicated, but good.

superspaceboy said:

watchmen is one of my absolute faves.

Anxiety said:

I am getting to the part about Dr Manhattan. I really hope they don't mess this up next year when it comes out in the Movies.

Anxiety said:

superspaceboy said:

i love that they're totally keeping dr. manhattan out of the sneak peek images that have been released for the upcoming watchmen film. i don't know how i feel about billy crudup playing that role, but with the right effects and makeup, it could be very cool. the production/set pics i've seen so far have given me a good feeling about the film...
[Edited 6/23/08 11:33am]

Anxiety said:

I'm not sure how I feel about Crudup either. He really doesn't seem right for Dr. Manhattan. I do love the idea of him being naked throughout the film, but I doubt they'll keep that part.

Efan said:

crudup is the hottness. but isn't he also really, really short? not exactly what i think of for doc manhattan. even if they can play with camera angles and whatnot, i think of doc manhattan as having a longer, lankier body...kinda like a basketball player or something.

Anxiety said:

To be honest, most of the actors seem wrong for their roles, to me--but I hate when comic book geeks like me start judging movies way beforehand and with nothing but a few stills to judge from. Still, I think Patrick Wilson is too sexy to play Nite Owl, who was definitely a bit out of shape and plain-looking, which was part of his charm. Matthew Goode as Ozymandias seems way too young. On the other hand, the filmmakers have really nailed the costumes and sets, which gives me great hope.

Efan said:

yeah, when i saw nite owl, i was like "where's the paunch?"

but if the movie can be even 50% faithful to the book, it still has a fair shot of being fantastic.

Anxiety said:

I feel ruined by Watchmen because it was the first graphic novel that I read, and nothing has come close to engaging me like it did.

NDRU said:

the transmetropolitan series has come close. i don't think it bucked as many conventional comic book cliches as watchmen, but the story and the dialog were fantastic and satirically very smart.

Anxiety said:

superspaceboy said:

Anxiety said:

Hey at least Mel would be dead even before the title sequence! So at least there is that.

superspaceboy said:

I hope that's a joke!

NDRU said:

radiohead ain't doin no watchmen soundtrack

NDRU said:

It is. I'd be in complete horror if Spielberg and Shyalaman were behind it regardless who was acting in it. Besides M. Night didn't write this book. That crazy guy who wrote V for Vandetta did.

superspaceboy said:

right, Alan Moore? I didn't read the fine print!

superspaceboy said:

not to mention michael douglas hasn't looked that young since the late 80s.

Wanted to bring this thread back because I just read the 10th and final book in this series today and damn! I won't give any spoilers. But it was impressive. And I think this is the first time that a graphic novel has made me cry.

Superspaceboy, have you finished it?