Lazarus: The Second Collection

Because it may be another 18 months before the next volume comes out. I'm out of Homeland episodes and now Lazarus too.This volume introduces more of the other families and the political/military maneuvering between them. We get brought out of the Carlyle family's internal drama as they get thrust into a global power struggle.The finer details are what make Lazarus so good. To take an example that starts in the first volume: each family's fiefdom has its own twist on controlling its population. As you know everyone in Carlyle is chipped and tracked, but they preserve a certain bleak democracy through things like the Lift and a bastion of higher education at the Farm (Stanford). On the other hand, in V.2 we see that everyone in Hock's lands is held under the gun and force fed mood control drugs in a society that is like 1984 Lite. The Lite is a good thing - it's the added depth we need to get sucked in, but it's never overdone. Rucka practices a lot of restraint in his "world building," in order to make it realistic. That's one reason this title is so good.The dialogue is similarly no-frills, which helps with the realism. There's nothing worse than hyperbolic exchanges to make reading a comic feel like a cartoon version of watching WWE. I was ready for some of that when we first met Jacob Hock in V.2, but no, he's a refreshingly realistic nemesis. There is some increased military action in V.2 which comes with some military jargon that I would say works pretty well. The end is kind of abrupt though, so again take your time.Also, the art deserves a lot of credit. I feel like a lot of otherwise good titles fall apart because of an aversion to realistic art. If I had to choose, I'd rather have a mainstream superhero look than the "alternative comic" look that seems popular for some independent action/sci-fi titles these days. But thankfully Lazarus goes for a more fitting look than either of those. It's a sophisticated, realistic and detailed style with the rough lines left in to give it a nice edge. Volume 1 secretly had some really lush color and backgrounds. Volume 2 is more gritty and limited in its palette, in line with the current story. But overall it's just as good as V.1, with emotions coming across powerfully for every character.There is no hangover from reading this book, it's super clean. The only problem is if you wait for these juicy, huge hardback volumes you're going to have to wait another long while for the next one.

When it comes to literature, there are a couple of things I’m a complete sucker for: badass antihero assassin characters, and warring factions with mob-like structure. And of course if this series could be summarized in a single sentence, well, there you have it.Forever Carlyle has found her way onto my list of favorite female characters in any form of media.

Fantastic artwork and engaging story. I really like the environment spun by the author (post-apocalyptic world ran by a handful or warring families). One thing that's really nice about this volume is that it delves deeper into the other families and the political structure of this new world order. I also appreciate the maps that accompany the novel (helping to visualize the domain of the families and the factional boundaries).

Love this series and this comic collection is absolutely fantastic. High quality hardcover collection that looks fantastic on any bookshelf. I've got all the single issues and still had to get the hardcover. I was not disappointed!

Unique in idea and futuristic view. Believable characters, lots of action, bad guys good guys, but really you can't go wrong with a Greg Rucka story.

A good, solid continuation of the storyline with an awesome twist at the end. This is very clever writing, and the art supports it well. I will buy the third collection in this upscale format and steal what I can.

Excellent

Awesome collectors edition at a great price

Forever Carlyle, Lazarus of the Carlyle Family in a world where Families rule what's left of a world where wealth and position have taken over importance from trying to make a better world for everyone, is going to War. After the events of Collected Edition 1, she was left between a rock and a hard place-but suspected she didn't have the full picture. Here, we see that she was right. And that the Carlyle Family, led by Malcolm, who may or may not be Forever's biological father, has been lying to Forever since the day she was born. About what, though? That would be telling. Suffice to say Forever is changed in this story in ways even she doesn't see coming...ON a lighter, character-driven note, Forever's sort-of romance with the Murray Lazarus, Joacquim, continues to develop, as she dances with him during the Conclave on Triton One. Her sister says Forever was throwing herself at Joacquim-and poor Forever, only 19 years old and totally inexperienced in romance, doesn't know how to respond. A hilarious card game ensues between the collected Lazarus's, where we get to see them and how they behave away from their Families-and, again, poor Forever doesn't know how to respond when another Lazarus compliments her on her skills. A surprising friendship also develops, when Sonja Bittner, the Bittner Lazarus, hits it off remarkably well with Forever.In terms of plot development, we see what happened to Jonah, who fled Carlyle to escape Forever after a truly spectacular betrayal in book 1. Donovan Hock, who is clearly the "Bad Guy" here, doesn't see his new "guest" as anything other than a resource-and Jonah finds out the hard way how little human life, even Carlyle's, means to the old man. Jonah might just have walked into the closest thing to Hell he'll ever know-and has no way out. Hock takes Jonah's presence to Malcolm, who calls a Conclave to deal with the issue, which see's all of the Families gather in one place for the first time in decades. Malcom and Hock are shown to be playing a highest-stakes game with the difference being life and death during the Conclave-and Forever herself is the tipping point. One way or another, her actions or inactions will settle the issue.But Hock may have a plan with a very different outcome in mind...The world-building continues apace, as well, as we see representatives of all of the families, the various Lazarus, and get a feel for the politics and economics of this "new" world. Except for the Families and those they have in their employ, the remnants of the worlds population seems to be living in conditions which would have done the Victorians proud. It's a glimpse into a new Dark Age-and things are getting no better, unlikely ever will while the Families stand, from Rucka's portrayal and Lark's artwork.All in all, this is one of the most imaginative, interesting, well-drawn and written books out there. There may be no bright paradise or bigger world out there waiting for us, according to this world, but the greatest hope is Forever herself. While she lives, there is still better to be imagined and, maybe, had. Catch up with this series while it's still young, you'll regret it if you don't.

Oh the wonderful world of Lazarus. Forever may be the main focus but she's in a world full of fully developed characters and the art and story are gripping!!! A must -read...However I'm really not happy with the spine design as it doesn't match Vol.1. Small detail I know but it doesn't look good side on, on the shelf.I sent the first copy I had back as the pages were torn! Also the paper has crinkled water marks. This is due to moisture and the type of paper. Again a SMALL detail but books like this aren't cheap either.And a book with a perfect story and art, should be perfectly printed.

I was very impressed by the quality of the collection, if I had known it sooner I would have bought the first one too. The pages are thick and bright and the storyline keeps impressing me. I love the characters. This collection has explanations and comments by the authors at the back, including their work process. Very glad I bought it.

Along with the first hardcover, this is the first act of a classic-in-the-making. Good as the first 11 issues were, stakes really rise in the two story arcs collected here. Conclave especially is such a great balance of thriller, action and interpersonal relationships, telling the reader so much about the world of Lazarus in a few short scenes. And the final page of the book takes the series in a whole new direction.More so than the first collection, this book guarantees that I'll be continuing with the series through to whatever conclusion it takes.

Honestly, this is the most gripping ongoing series, SAGA is good and everyone raves about it but the characters and setting in Lazarus is something else, it draws you into this world in a way few comics can do. Highly recommended!