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Low
Low Vol. 5: Light Brings Light
The FINAL ARC of LOW! Salus rises. The Burnt Legion attacks. Stel Caine faces the greatest challenge to her hope yet: the rage of her daughter, the Helmswoman, Delia. It all ends here -- lovingly rendered by the legendary art team of Tocchini and McCaig!
Collects LOW #20-26
Collects LOW #20-26
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2020
About the author
Rick Remender
1,166 books1,343 followersRick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 13, 2021
The final volume of Low took so long to come out that I just assumed the previous volume was the end, despite the cliffhanger. And it didn't help when this book opens in a dream sequence which we don't know is a dream sequence. It's like the worst recap page ever: previously, here's what didn't happen.
The dome of Salus is rising due to the report of a habitable planet, but they're approaching the surface people who have declared a religious war against the underwater domes.
The story is over-the-top and epic. Every character seems to die and then get back up at least once. The art is incomprehensible at times, but sometimes it's beautiful. This is a solid ending to the series.
The dome of Salus is rising due to the report of a habitable planet, but they're approaching the surface people who have declared a religious war against the underwater domes.
The story is over-the-top and epic. Every character seems to die and then get back up at least once. The art is incomprehensible at times, but sometimes it's beautiful. This is a solid ending to the series.
January 3, 2023
This was a decent conclusion to the Low series. I liked the undersea battle and the ultimate escape for humans (as if the authors would really let humanity die. not.) The graphics, as always for this series, were stunning and the final confrontations were satisfyingly conclusive. Overall, it was a decent sci-fi romp, not as good as Saga or Descender/Ascender, but nonetheless good and fun (and sometimes racy) comics!
February 2, 2022
Too intense even by American comic-book standards. A worthy ending for a worthy graphic novel.
November 23, 2021
This book lost itself around book 4 and never recovered.
…
More apt would be to say that around book 4, I realized that Remender would never pull off what he was trying to pull off, that he had made this world, this story too mean spirited and shit-filled to ever make me believe this was a story about hope.
I kind of want to go back and knock a star off the score off the previous volumes but I won’t.
The art unravelled at times and it’s the case for the first 70% of this volume, it gets better at the end but honestly, I won’t be disappointed if I never have to look at a Tochini panel again.
Worst book ever to read in a pandemic too, it’s such a complete fucking downer!
…
More apt would be to say that around book 4, I realized that Remender would never pull off what he was trying to pull off, that he had made this world, this story too mean spirited and shit-filled to ever make me believe this was a story about hope.
I kind of want to go back and knock a star off the score off the previous volumes but I won’t.
The art unravelled at times and it’s the case for the first 70% of this volume, it gets better at the end but honestly, I won’t be disappointed if I never have to look at a Tochini panel again.
Worst book ever to read in a pandemic too, it’s such a complete fucking downer!
April 10, 2021
I have loved this entire series, particularly the philosophical tension that energized the story. Some examples: What is hope? Is reality relative? Is reality simply a function of our ability to ascend to particular propositions? Is hope effectual? Will all things ultimately be redeemed? Further, the art is beautiful and so imaginative. I’ll continue to re-read this series, as there is so much to unpack.
April 6, 2021
There were so many points in this volume where it felt like we were reaching the conclusion only for something else terrible to happen. This occurred so many times over that by the time we reached the true ending it didn't feel real or plausible. I loved the series as a whole but this volume was rough.
September 30, 2023
I'm so glad I didn't read this till I re-read the entire series cause the conclusion is so much more meaningful reading it in a row.
This final arc is bombastic in a huge scale sense. A lot is happening, the return of a sister, the reveal of someone alive, the fight for HOPE. The fight for survival. The fight for the future and our children. Everything worked so well here as a cumulation of the entire series. I don't want to spoil everything, but even till the second to last issue get that signature twist and turns Remender loves to do but also the downright epic sense of scale and determination for multiple characters. This is a classic IMO and one of Remender's best. A 5 out of 5.
This final arc is bombastic in a huge scale sense. A lot is happening, the return of a sister, the reveal of someone alive, the fight for HOPE. The fight for survival. The fight for the future and our children. Everything worked so well here as a cumulation of the entire series. I don't want to spoil everything, but even till the second to last issue get that signature twist and turns Remender loves to do but also the downright epic sense of scale and determination for multiple characters. This is a classic IMO and one of Remender's best. A 5 out of 5.
January 8, 2024
Well that concludes another epic series from Rick Remender. If I'm being completely honest I couldn't fully buy in to the finale and there were many points in this series that hit harder than this final volume, but regardless what a wild ride this was. And it's just such a stunning book to look at. I'd definitely recommend going digital and reading on a sizable tablet to get a zoom in on the panels Tocchini has outdone himself with the level of detail on his pencils.
On to another Remender series soon This guy has written numerous bangers over the years from Deadly Class to Seven to Eternity. Can't wait to see what else is out there.
Overall series rating 4.5 Stars
On to another Remender series soon This guy has written numerous bangers over the years from Deadly Class to Seven to Eternity. Can't wait to see what else is out there.
Overall series rating 4.5 Stars
March 20, 2021
And hopefully this brings the end of this series, 6 years after Remender started it. I was always surprised to find another of these books come out because so much time passed between them. Volume 4 was published 3 and a half years ago, and issue 20, the first in volume 5, came out over two years ago. This much time passing between books does a disservice to Remender's characters and plot. I barely remembered much of what happened before, and the female Caine characters are indistinguishable from one another.
This has been an up and down series, with some powerful moments, like Marik's noble sacrifice, and some exciting action sequences. But it's also one that's been bogged down by Remender's depressing philosophical musings. It's the depressing philosophical musings that dominate this book, especially the latter half. The problem with this is that Remender's characters serve as metaphors for his beliefs rather than believable people. The Caine mother (Stel? Del?) is the main metaphor, representing a hopeful optimism. All other characters, including the villains, respond to this belief of hers as if she is the most important person in existence. This becomes absurd later on when one villain is on the verge of destroying all of humanity, yet somehow sees Stel as so important that he has to endlessly explain the problem with her "false hope." So tiring.
Not only do you have to slog through all kinds of pseudo-inspirational quotes to get through this book, but as a story it is a complete mess, like something Michael Bay might have directed. The sci-fi elements here are very cool, and some of the images are awesome, but Remender drowns all of that out in boring quotes and a plot filled with deus ex machinas. Characters will be on the brink of death, or you will think them dead, and then they will show up to save the day, but then you learn the villain wasn't quite defeated, so somebody else has to appear out of nowhere (at one point with an army of mice, no joke) to again save the day. Rinse. Repeat.
I hope, this time, Remender is done with Low. That way he can focus on his better projects, like Deadly Class or Seven to Eternity.
This has been an up and down series, with some powerful moments, like Marik's noble sacrifice, and some exciting action sequences. But it's also one that's been bogged down by Remender's depressing philosophical musings. It's the depressing philosophical musings that dominate this book, especially the latter half. The problem with this is that Remender's characters serve as metaphors for his beliefs rather than believable people. The Caine mother (Stel? Del?) is the main metaphor, representing a hopeful optimism. All other characters, including the villains, respond to this belief of hers as if she is the most important person in existence. This becomes absurd later on when one villain is on the verge of destroying all of humanity, yet somehow sees Stel as so important that he has to endlessly explain the problem with her "false hope." So tiring.
Not only do you have to slog through all kinds of pseudo-inspirational quotes to get through this book, but as a story it is a complete mess, like something Michael Bay might have directed. The sci-fi elements here are very cool, and some of the images are awesome, but Remender drowns all of that out in boring quotes and a plot filled with deus ex machinas. Characters will be on the brink of death, or you will think them dead, and then they will show up to save the day, but then you learn the villain wasn't quite defeated, so somebody else has to appear out of nowhere (at one point with an army of mice, no joke) to again save the day. Rinse. Repeat.
I hope, this time, Remender is done with Low. That way he can focus on his better projects, like Deadly Class or Seven to Eternity.
May 28, 2023
(4,4 of 5 for the finale which was over a top blast)
Despite the rating, I consider the last book as great. I accepted turning the tide from sci-fi to fantasy "free" so I wasn't bothered by any logic/science-based nonsense and just enjoyed the finale full of action and twists. Especially loved the rush of the main character to the generators, which has a brutal scenery and heavy atmosphere. I must say, even if it derailed from promising post-apo sci-fi, it was thrilling and enjoyable reading.
Despite the rating, I consider the last book as great. I accepted turning the tide from sci-fi to fantasy "free" so I wasn't bothered by any logic/science-based nonsense and just enjoyed the finale full of action and twists. Especially loved the rush of the main character to the generators, which has a brutal scenery and heavy atmosphere. I must say, even if it derailed from promising post-apo sci-fi, it was thrilling and enjoyable reading.
November 23, 2021
After all the hopelessness, the final volume of Low brings with it some unexpected surprises and thoughtful and heartfelt resolution.
I think Remender had a fun time writing this book, if only for really letting his darker, more pessimistic side take the reigns for a bit. I mean, this story goes to some dark places and when you think things cant get worse, they do. This volume is a culmination of the all the adventures before it, so we see each character lead their way to each other, and end up with each other - for a time at least.
There's a lot of treachery and defeat, but also redemption and ultimately a happy ending, which I didn't anticipate but I did... hope for. Remender pays off this hope with an ending that was almost a bit too positive. I mean, don't get me wrong, the road to get to where this ends is paved with misery, violence, and death, but it ends on a very positive and "nice" note. And while I appreciated it, I also found it a bit out of tone with the rest of the book.
Greg Toccini reverted his style back to his much looser style for alot of the book, and being that there was a major battle, it was hard to really make out everything that was going on sometimes. The looseness of his pencil works better with character studies, but for huge battles, it can get messy.
Overall, it was an entertaining series with a lot of lows and a few highs. I would recommend this if your a fan of slightly depressing stories.
I think Remender had a fun time writing this book, if only for really letting his darker, more pessimistic side take the reigns for a bit. I mean, this story goes to some dark places and when you think things cant get worse, they do. This volume is a culmination of the all the adventures before it, so we see each character lead their way to each other, and end up with each other - for a time at least.
There's a lot of treachery and defeat, but also redemption and ultimately a happy ending, which I didn't anticipate but I did... hope for. Remender pays off this hope with an ending that was almost a bit too positive. I mean, don't get me wrong, the road to get to where this ends is paved with misery, violence, and death, but it ends on a very positive and "nice" note. And while I appreciated it, I also found it a bit out of tone with the rest of the book.
Greg Toccini reverted his style back to his much looser style for alot of the book, and being that there was a major battle, it was hard to really make out everything that was going on sometimes. The looseness of his pencil works better with character studies, but for huge battles, it can get messy.
Overall, it was an entertaining series with a lot of lows and a few highs. I would recommend this if your a fan of slightly depressing stories.
August 9, 2021
The backgrounds have remained the best part of the art, people are drawn in a sketch style, but their features have gotten more distinct throughout the series. Overall, this was just an ok series, not bad but not great either. The premise is relatively unique, so I can recomend checking it out for that.
August 12, 2021
What an ending! My heart is full.
June 13, 2021
2.5/5 writing (not abysmal, but pretty awful for the majority with brief moments of adaquacy);
5/5 art (damn near flawless, as always); and
5/5 colors (an inspiration - among the greatest of all time).
5/5 art (damn near flawless, as always); and
5/5 colors (an inspiration - among the greatest of all time).
April 11, 2021
Almost boggling in its pacing, and a little heavy-handed in its storytelling, but something I still quite enjoyed.
July 30, 2022
Après avoir publié les 4 premiers tomes, Urban a jeté l'éponge et n'a jamais publié le dernier. Après 3 ans de patience, j'ai fini par l'acquérir en VO, assez déçu par l'éditeur français.
Tocchini reprend le dessin pour tous les épisodes, mais on sent un vrai changement dans le style, que je trouve trop simplifié. Soucis de santé ? Soucis de délais, de contrat ? Sans être bâclé, on ne retrouve le brillant style initial que par moment.
Remender conclut sa saga comme à son habitude, ce qui est très appréciable avec lui. Il pousse son concept jusqu'au bout, jusqu'à l'invraisemblance, jusqu'à l'horreur.
Au final, cette série est une réussite, un exercice de style original, une réflexion sur un personnage optimiste par essence, qui refuse de baisser les bras devant la réalité.
Tocchini reprend le dessin pour tous les épisodes, mais on sent un vrai changement dans le style, que je trouve trop simplifié. Soucis de santé ? Soucis de délais, de contrat ? Sans être bâclé, on ne retrouve le brillant style initial que par moment.
Remender conclut sa saga comme à son habitude, ce qui est très appréciable avec lui. Il pousse son concept jusqu'au bout, jusqu'à l'invraisemblance, jusqu'à l'horreur.
Au final, cette série est une réussite, un exercice de style original, une réflexion sur un personnage optimiste par essence, qui refuse de baisser les bras devant la réalité.
June 30, 2022
I wish I could rate this higher, but it never really worked for me. As pretty as the art is, it's very often incomprehensible as well and as the volume goes on, the art gets more and more crabbed and chaotic. It appears that there wasn't as much time to let Greg Tocchini loose to create multiple page splashes, etc.--more and more small, gridded pages. And Remender's story never really gets past that simplistic, "believe in hope," and "picture the reality you want" and everything will be just fine, even as the last remnants of humanity, both surface dwellers and undersea dome residents, fight it out to the last person. This book just never really achieved what it was shooting for.
May 14, 2021
A beautiful ending
October 17, 2021
Zem was a mistake.
Some ups, some downs, all in all a pretty so-so ending to a series that never really lived up to its full potential.
Some ups, some downs, all in all a pretty so-so ending to a series that never really lived up to its full potential.
August 29, 2022
Great ending to the series. Imagine the outcome you want. You must stand in darkness and tend a dying light. Reminds of The Dying Earth but in the ocean and using technology and genetic engineering instead of magic.
July 3, 2022
Don't mind me, I'll be sobbing in the corner.
10/10
10/10
May 8, 2023
I was intrigued by the premise of "Low”; a post-apocalyptic setting, where humanity seeks refuge underwater due to the dangers of the expanding Red Dwarf sun. The visuals are stunning, but looks can be deceiving. I did find that "Low" struggled with an excess of philosophical ramblings. The story became somewhat challenging to follow at times, and could have used some streamlining.
April 2, 2021
A pretty good ending to a somewhat spotty series. For the rest of these books I've been complaining about the art, but it was actually better than the story itself in this volume, so that was a nice surprise, but overall I'm not going to come back and re-read Low any time soon. Loved the message, but the delivery was a bit of a miss for me. Nothing horrible, just not particularly great or awesome or anything.
May 15, 2021
Interesting but unclear finale to this comic series.
I’d forgotten about this comic series and should probably read the lot in one go. This volume brings the story to a close with Stel and all the main characters appearing, some of which make it to the end. There’s loads of action as opposing forces join battle. A few plot twists occur but my main gripe is that the artwork isn’t always clear, is too colourful and therefore it isn’t always clear what is going on. Also it’s too wordy for my liking. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
I’d forgotten about this comic series and should probably read the lot in one go. This volume brings the story to a close with Stel and all the main characters appearing, some of which make it to the end. There’s loads of action as opposing forces join battle. A few plot twists occur but my main gripe is that the artwork isn’t always clear, is too colourful and therefore it isn’t always clear what is going on. Also it’s too wordy for my liking. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2021
I have really enjoyed this series since the first volume but this ending felt lacking. Like it was rushed.
Everyone gets rushed with more badness and at the end I felt like there were a lot of "but what about..." type questions.
At times the art and coloring seemed inconsistent and distorted but, honestly, I think that goes well with a lot of the scenes and general tone of the story so thats nit really a complaint.
I want to say more about how I felt at the end of this but that will go too far into spoiler territory. It is quite likely I'm in the minority with how I feel. I still like it, it just feels like its missing something. Maybe let it go another volume, have a couple more issues where tension can ease up in between events and some loose threads could be tied up.
Everyone gets rushed with more badness and at the end I felt like there were a lot of "but what about..." type questions.
At times the art and coloring seemed inconsistent and distorted but, honestly, I think that goes well with a lot of the scenes and general tone of the story so thats nit really a complaint.
I want to say more about how I felt at the end of this but that will go too far into spoiler territory. It is quite likely I'm in the minority with how I feel. I still like it, it just feels like its missing something. Maybe let it go another volume, have a couple more issues where tension can ease up in between events and some loose threads could be tied up.
June 23, 2021
I'm starting to notice a pattern with Rick Remender- All of his stories initially pull me in with these amazing ideas, colorful worlds, and great dialogue. But around the 75% mark in the overarching story I get completely turned around. Is it because he keeps killing characters only for them to return 5-10 pages later? Is it because of the year long gaps between volumes? Is it because up until a couple of months ago I thought vol. 4-realeased in 2017- was the last and ended on a depressing yet somewhat final cliffhanger? As I'm writing this I decided to lower my rating on it. I shouldn't have to grasp on things that are good about it just to be able to give it a 4 star review.
Also I feel like the art, which was one of the first things that drew me into the story, took a hit on this volume. Several times during the read I was wondering what was going on with some of the characters features. At times they looks like fun house versions of themselves.
Who knows, maybe with a reread down the road I can be a little more forgiving about it.
Also I feel like the art, which was one of the first things that drew me into the story, took a hit on this volume. Several times during the read I was wondering what was going on with some of the characters features. At times they looks like fun house versions of themselves.
Who knows, maybe with a reread down the road I can be a little more forgiving about it.
March 14, 2021
Epic ending to this long-running series. It’s been so long since the last volume came out that getting back into the story was difficult...especially because the first issue in this volume is a hazy, jumbled, dream-like rendition of Stela’s memories and fears. But once it gets going, it picks up speed quickly. Very satisfying ending, though be forewarned (which all Low readers should know by now) that Remender is the king of bittersweet endings...heavy on the bitter.
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November 28, 2021"Flatlining now. Even horror doesn't register anymore. It piled up so high it became normal – and it's been getting worse and worse for so long."
Well here's one I'm glad I didn't read last year – and where I'm a little spooked by how much worse things have got in the few days since I started it. The conclusion to the epic saga of humanity's last doomed remnants, long driven away from the blazing surface and towards the depths of the risen seas, where even their claustrophobic submarine habitats are now faltering and flickering out, one by one. Except here it turns out that wasn't just a matter of cultural decay, faltering technology and a general loss of the will to live – though all of those did play their part. But on top of that, there were still people on the surface after all, people betrayed centuries ago by those fleeing under the oceans. People who have nursed that grievance ever since, even as they take pride in what it turned them into, which doesn't really make a lot of sense, but isn't that how group identity often works? Worse, that pride – "We adapted to the good Sun instead of hiding from it" – means that now they also welcome the Earth's imminent consumption by the expanding Sun, having faith they can adapt to that too. Which, as a completely whacked-out, turned-up-to-11 version of climate change deniers, I rather like. And that's very much the level here – a comic operating on the scale of grand opera. Tocchini and McCaig's art is not always the clearest, but is always suitably enormous, capturing these collapsing super-technologies and mutated distant descendants at the end of Earth's span. Remender's dialogue is at the pitch where a line like "The End! Everyone you ever knew will die alone, dejected and disillusioned!" fits perfectly. But perverse as it may sound to say so, that's matched with a sense of nuance that has been missing from much of his recent work. His creator-owned stuff has often been a way of playing out philosophical dilemmas on the page – and yes, so's a lot of fiction, but with him it's particularly noticeable. The problem is that often the deck is stacked, so that in Tokyo Ghost, for instance, you could summarise the motion up for debate as 'those young people and their screens: threat or menace?' Here, though, you can see he's genuinely wrestling with the core theme, and it's one that deserves that effort because it's a hard and important question – namely, is optimism an energy necessary for change, or an opiate which stands in its way? Or just altogether futile and prone only to making matters worse: "But before I go I need you to know something. You were right – there is power in words. But sometimes when you encourage someone to hope...it makes the wreckage all the more unbearable."
Well here's one I'm glad I didn't read last year – and where I'm a little spooked by how much worse things have got in the few days since I started it. The conclusion to the epic saga of humanity's last doomed remnants, long driven away from the blazing surface and towards the depths of the risen seas, where even their claustrophobic submarine habitats are now faltering and flickering out, one by one. Except here it turns out that wasn't just a matter of cultural decay, faltering technology and a general loss of the will to live – though all of those did play their part. But on top of that, there were still people on the surface after all, people betrayed centuries ago by those fleeing under the oceans. People who have nursed that grievance ever since, even as they take pride in what it turned them into, which doesn't really make a lot of sense, but isn't that how group identity often works? Worse, that pride – "We adapted to the good Sun instead of hiding from it" – means that now they also welcome the Earth's imminent consumption by the expanding Sun, having faith they can adapt to that too. Which, as a completely whacked-out, turned-up-to-11 version of climate change deniers, I rather like. And that's very much the level here – a comic operating on the scale of grand opera. Tocchini and McCaig's art is not always the clearest, but is always suitably enormous, capturing these collapsing super-technologies and mutated distant descendants at the end of Earth's span. Remender's dialogue is at the pitch where a line like "The End! Everyone you ever knew will die alone, dejected and disillusioned!" fits perfectly. But perverse as it may sound to say so, that's matched with a sense of nuance that has been missing from much of his recent work. His creator-owned stuff has often been a way of playing out philosophical dilemmas on the page – and yes, so's a lot of fiction, but with him it's particularly noticeable. The problem is that often the deck is stacked, so that in Tokyo Ghost, for instance, you could summarise the motion up for debate as 'those young people and their screens: threat or menace?' Here, though, you can see he's genuinely wrestling with the core theme, and it's one that deserves that effort because it's a hard and important question – namely, is optimism an energy necessary for change, or an opiate which stands in its way? Or just altogether futile and prone only to making matters worse: "But before I go I need you to know something. You were right – there is power in words. But sometimes when you encourage someone to hope...it makes the wreckage all the more unbearable."
March 26, 2023
I've followed the Low series since the start and loved it over the many years it's taken to conclude. So long in fact that I'd forgotten parts of the previous entries which were actually excellent in their execution.
This final part was a surprise as part 4 could have been an final entry with the way it ended, and it's ambiguity might have suited the series better.
However, this is the widely criticized volume 5 which I felt contained some excellent artwork with such contrasting tones mixed with a storyline that felt it needed to end. Despite the dummy twist and the action heavy final battle, I'm satisfied with the conclusion to a point. The final scenes develop mixed feelings as not everyone you followed throughout were bound to survive (at least in some manner) but like a good noir novel, the lesser of two evils wins through.
I felt the passionate language and philosophical scenes of reflection were a little heavy to begin with but a superb flashback from the first volume near the end made it all worthwhile.
The hatred it invited towards the antagonist I felt didn't quite live up to the ones in previous volumes but his attempts at restricting their hope of achieving their grand plan is threat enough and done reasonably well.
I can see why many people were dissatisfied with this final entry with the top heavy battle scenes and linear story (got season 8 🤣) but I feel it couldn't have done much more with what volume 4 left over and serves as tribute to how strong the other volumes actually were.
Low created a dark, harrowing outlook on what the world could actually become when survival is surpassed by moral and social outlooks. For these reasons, along with a wealth of highly detailed astounding artwork, cemented the series, for me, into one of the most unique worlds and set of characters I've ever experienced through fiction form.
I'd advise any Sci-Fi/fantasy fan to give it a go as your expectations may be surpassed by its vast array of observation into human psychology and it's concept of hope.
This final part was a surprise as part 4 could have been an final entry with the way it ended, and it's ambiguity might have suited the series better.
However, this is the widely criticized volume 5 which I felt contained some excellent artwork with such contrasting tones mixed with a storyline that felt it needed to end. Despite the dummy twist and the action heavy final battle, I'm satisfied with the conclusion to a point. The final scenes develop mixed feelings as not everyone you followed throughout were bound to survive (at least in some manner) but like a good noir novel, the lesser of two evils wins through.
I felt the passionate language and philosophical scenes of reflection were a little heavy to begin with but a superb flashback from the first volume near the end made it all worthwhile.
The hatred it invited towards the antagonist I felt didn't quite live up to the ones in previous volumes but his attempts at restricting their hope of achieving their grand plan is threat enough and done reasonably well.
I can see why many people were dissatisfied with this final entry with the top heavy battle scenes and linear story (got season 8 🤣) but I feel it couldn't have done much more with what volume 4 left over and serves as tribute to how strong the other volumes actually were.
Low created a dark, harrowing outlook on what the world could actually become when survival is surpassed by moral and social outlooks. For these reasons, along with a wealth of highly detailed astounding artwork, cemented the series, for me, into one of the most unique worlds and set of characters I've ever experienced through fiction form.
I'd advise any Sci-Fi/fantasy fan to give it a go as your expectations may be surpassed by its vast array of observation into human psychology and it's concept of hope.
June 4, 2021
I wish so much time hadn’t passed (three and a half years) between my reading of the earlier volumes in this series and this conclusion. I had a hard time remembering who all the characters were and what had happened to them. I did remember how beautiful the artwork was but how confusing it was to follow some of the large scale battle scenes.
Well, without spoiling anything, let me say the comic book cliche that characters never really die (or at least they don’t stay dead) is supported by this volume. This is essentially a story about a family and this concluding volume is appropriately a reunion. Everyone has a role to play and those roles were foretold in this story’s opening chapters so writer Remender had a long view of where he was going. He uses a lot of words about philosophy and attitude and reality and belief to essentially promote The Power of Positive Thinking. And there are so many crescendoing crises that get resolved only to ramp up to another even greater crisis, that you wonder when it will finally end, but it is a nice wrap up with no loose ends.
The artwork is sweeping and grandiose, picturing landscapes and battlefields along with alien life forms and a lot of detailed mechanized Transformer-style exo-skeletons (called helm suits) that continually beat the shit out of each other. The colors are bright and evocative and ... well, colorful. Whether you like to zoom in for close analysis of details or be startled by bold, expansive full page spreads, this book has them both. I’d recommend reading it on paper as I had to pinch and scroll a lot on my iPad to get the art’s intended full effect.
Well, without spoiling anything, let me say the comic book cliche that characters never really die (or at least they don’t stay dead) is supported by this volume. This is essentially a story about a family and this concluding volume is appropriately a reunion. Everyone has a role to play and those roles were foretold in this story’s opening chapters so writer Remender had a long view of where he was going. He uses a lot of words about philosophy and attitude and reality and belief to essentially promote The Power of Positive Thinking. And there are so many crescendoing crises that get resolved only to ramp up to another even greater crisis, that you wonder when it will finally end, but it is a nice wrap up with no loose ends.
The artwork is sweeping and grandiose, picturing landscapes and battlefields along with alien life forms and a lot of detailed mechanized Transformer-style exo-skeletons (called helm suits) that continually beat the shit out of each other. The colors are bright and evocative and ... well, colorful. Whether you like to zoom in for close analysis of details or be startled by bold, expansive full page spreads, this book has them both. I’d recommend reading it on paper as I had to pinch and scroll a lot on my iPad to get the art’s intended full effect.
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