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The Surrogates #1
The Surrogates
The year is 2054, and life is reduced to a data feed. The fusing of virtual reality and cybernetics has ushered in the era of the personal surrogate, android substitutes that let users interact with the world without ever leaving their homes. It's a perfect world, and it's up to Detectives Harvey Greer and Pete Ford of the Metro Police Department to keep it that way. But to do so they’ll need to stop a techno-terrorist bent on returning society to a time when people lived their lives instead of merely experiencing them.
The Surrogates is a story about progress and whether there exists a tipping point at which technological advancement will stop enhancing and start hindering our lives. It is also a commentary on identity, the Western obsession with physical appearance, and the growing trend to use science as a means of providing consumers with beauty on demand.
This volume collects all five issues of the acclaimed comic book series. Packed with bonus content, inside you will find never-before-seen sketches and artwork, as well as commentary from the creative team that brought this breakout story to the page.
The Surrogates is a story about progress and whether there exists a tipping point at which technological advancement will stop enhancing and start hindering our lives. It is also a commentary on identity, the Western obsession with physical appearance, and the growing trend to use science as a means of providing consumers with beauty on demand.
This volume collects all five issues of the acclaimed comic book series. Packed with bonus content, inside you will find never-before-seen sketches and artwork, as well as commentary from the creative team that brought this breakout story to the page.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2006
29 people are currently reading
853 people want to read
About the author
Robert Venditti
794 books391 followersRobert Venditti is a New York Times bestselling author of more than three hundred comic books and graphic novels. Some of his works include the monthly comic book series Justice League, Superman ’78, Hawkman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics, X-O Manowar, Armor Hunters, and Wrath of the Eternal Warrior for Valiant Entertainment, and the graphic novel Six Days, inspired by the story of his uncle’s participation in D-Day. He has also adapted Rick Riordan’s global bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus novels, as well as Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia and Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz. His graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted into a feature film by Touchstone Pictures, and his work on The Flash was the basis for season three of the CW television series.
Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.
Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
November 1, 2016
This was a surprisingly great sci-fi read. In the year 2054, a majority of Americans utilize artificial “surrogates” for most of their day to day affairs. These surrogates, or life-sized robots that can be controlled remotely, are used for work, pleasure, and everything in between while their operators control them from a hookup back home, safely insulated from the many hazards (both physical and emotional) present in the real world. When someone starts killing surrogates on the streets of Atlanta, however, two detectives are drawn into an investigation larger than either of them could have imagined.
The story here is compelling in a mystery/action sense, but also offers up some very thought provoking concepts in the best tradition of the science fiction genre. The idea of humanity using some kind of avatar for its day-to-day affairs is not brand new to sci-fi (although typically this is explored in some kind of online context, in my experience). However, the execution of this idea is something special. Venditti does a great job of showing how such a dramatic technological shift would change society (dating, work, stereotypes, etc.), sometimes in unexpected and thought provoking ways. The surrogate concept pairs with the mystery genre like peanut butter and chocolate; when nobody is who they appear to be (literally), the sense of mystery and suspense can’t help but be heightened. The artwork is not fancy, but the noir-like color palette and slightly out of focus lines fit the material very well, and overall I found it to be very effective.
My one critique is that the story felt a bit too short. Five comic issues isn’t a ton of time to tell a story, and Venditti is weaving a huge one here, with a fictional history, a modified society featuring tons of fascinating changes, a murder-mystery, and quite a bit more that I won’t spoil. I would have loved to see what Venditti could have done with 12 issues here. But that’s just quibbling; what is here is an excellent tale that works on multiple levels to create something pretty special. 5.0 stars, highly recommended!
The story here is compelling in a mystery/action sense, but also offers up some very thought provoking concepts in the best tradition of the science fiction genre. The idea of humanity using some kind of avatar for its day-to-day affairs is not brand new to sci-fi (although typically this is explored in some kind of online context, in my experience). However, the execution of this idea is something special. Venditti does a great job of showing how such a dramatic technological shift would change society (dating, work, stereotypes, etc.), sometimes in unexpected and thought provoking ways. The surrogate concept pairs with the mystery genre like peanut butter and chocolate; when nobody is who they appear to be (literally), the sense of mystery and suspense can’t help but be heightened. The artwork is not fancy, but the noir-like color palette and slightly out of focus lines fit the material very well, and overall I found it to be very effective.
My one critique is that the story felt a bit too short. Five comic issues isn’t a ton of time to tell a story, and Venditti is weaving a huge one here, with a fictional history, a modified society featuring tons of fascinating changes, a murder-mystery, and quite a bit more that I won’t spoil. I would have loved to see what Venditti could have done with 12 issues here. But that’s just quibbling; what is here is an excellent tale that works on multiple levels to create something pretty special. 5.0 stars, highly recommended!
July 18, 2012
My interest in this title was sparked by a trailer for the upcoming movie version. I think a lot of people discovered it about the time I did, since it took a couple months for a copy to make its way to me after I reserved it at the library.
Surrogates is a deceptively simple book. There are no confusing plot twists, no complex language, no overwhemlingly large cast of characters. However, it is a tightly-woven story filled with enough cultural analysis to keep your brain working long after you've turned the last page. Each dialogue bubble has a purpose, the story is full and satisfying, and the world feels alive. Each chapter in the book wraps up with a world-building document - pages from a news website, or an academic paper, for instance. They feel believable and real and go a long way towards fleshing out the story. The art is dark and foreboding and matches the story perfectly.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I'm eagerly awaiting the movie in hopes that it understands the book's themes and doesn't strip them out in favor of a Bruce Willis sci-fi-action flick with lots of flying lasers.
Surrogates is a deceptively simple book. There are no confusing plot twists, no complex language, no overwhemlingly large cast of characters. However, it is a tightly-woven story filled with enough cultural analysis to keep your brain working long after you've turned the last page. Each dialogue bubble has a purpose, the story is full and satisfying, and the world feels alive. Each chapter in the book wraps up with a world-building document - pages from a news website, or an academic paper, for instance. They feel believable and real and go a long way towards fleshing out the story. The art is dark and foreboding and matches the story perfectly.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I'm eagerly awaiting the movie in hopes that it understands the book's themes and doesn't strip them out in favor of a Bruce Willis sci-fi-action flick with lots of flying lasers.
March 9, 2020
3.5 substitutes stars
Este es el comic en que se basó la pelicula del mismo nombre. En 2054 la gente elige usar sustitutos-androides para ir a trabajar y socializar. El daño fisico se ha minimizado y el crimen violento casi esta extinto, porque las personas estan tranquilamente en sus hogares conectados a una realidad virtual mientras conducen sus vidas externas.
Cuando una pareja de androides aparece electrocutada, es cuando el detective Tte. Harvey Greer y su compañero empiezan a investigar la extraña presencia de un tercero, que más tarde empieza a parecer estar en contra de los sustitutos.
Con visos de novela Noir y una crítica a la sociedad que deja de vivir por estar conectada 24/7 , viviendo vidas de fantasía, y eligiendo una belleza más que artificial es interesante. Asi como la presentación de los disidentes como un culto muy agresivo.
El Arte es en sepia, a ratos desdibujado en exteriores, pero con unos buenos trazos con mejor o peor acierto, aunque mejora hacia el final.
Este es el comic en que se basó la pelicula del mismo nombre. En 2054 la gente elige usar sustitutos-androides para ir a trabajar y socializar. El daño fisico se ha minimizado y el crimen violento casi esta extinto, porque las personas estan tranquilamente en sus hogares conectados a una realidad virtual mientras conducen sus vidas externas.
Cuando una pareja de androides aparece electrocutada, es cuando el detective Tte. Harvey Greer y su compañero empiezan a investigar la extraña presencia de un tercero, que más tarde empieza a parecer estar en contra de los sustitutos.
Con visos de novela Noir y una crítica a la sociedad que deja de vivir por estar conectada 24/7 , viviendo vidas de fantasía, y eligiendo una belleza más que artificial es interesante. Asi como la presentación de los disidentes como un culto muy agresivo.
El Arte es en sepia, a ratos desdibujado en exteriores, pero con unos buenos trazos con mejor o peor acierto, aunque mejora hacia el final.
September 5, 2018
The comlexity of this universe is a thing to behold. The author even created a fictitious newspaper with articles, classifieds and ads set in this future world. They add quite a bit of depth to this futuristic detective story. The focus on one of the detectives' marriage is also pivotal in showing the two conflicting sides of pro and anti-surrogates. The ending is a bit too fast and quite unexpected, given the advantage of the good guys, but it doesn't take away from a really good story.
Technology has evolved to the point where people don't have to leave their homes any more. They control surrogates instead - androids who go out into the world and get jobs, have relationships, all the stuff we now consider normal.
Two surrogates are found destroyed after a mysterious individual electrocutes them. Two experienced, hardcore and wonderfully sarcastic detectives are investigating this crime where the perpetrator said one word before frying the surrogates: 'live'.
Technology has evolved to the point where people don't have to leave their homes any more. They control surrogates instead - androids who go out into the world and get jobs, have relationships, all the stuff we now consider normal.
Two surrogates are found destroyed after a mysterious individual electrocutes them. Two experienced, hardcore and wonderfully sarcastic detectives are investigating this crime where the perpetrator said one word before frying the surrogates: 'live'.
March 24, 2017
I never did connect this book with the forgettable Bruce Willis movie of the same name. Same story, maybe put together better here. The art never quite connected for me.
September 21, 2025
Surrogates, based on novel by Robert Venditti
Seven out of 10
Surrogates is a good science fiction motion picture, although it is not sharing the gallery of classics with 2001 A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, Planet of the Apes, A Clockwork Orange or Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames share the big screen again, but this is very different from the cult movie, probably one of the best ten of all time, Pulp Fiction.
In the distant future, people would be able to let robots or Artificial Intelligence take the risks for them, going out in the world through the Surrogates, while enjoying the comfort of their homes, the serenity brought about by pills that tranquillize and offer an artificial equanimity.
This is probably the most important aspect of the film, the fact that it purports that the future could see humanity on a dangerous trajectory, isolated in homes and engaged through AI, which to some extent is a tendency we can observe in the present.
People are obsessed with their smart phones, continuously watching, consulting them to see if they have any new message, something happened in the virtual world where more and more spend their lives, if not completely, almost all of them.
This a frequent joke now, the fact that humans attend concerts that they do not experience, for they are concentrated on recording them on their phones, to upload them on Facebook, so that friends can see how well they are enjoying themselves, when in fact they are not savoring the moment, they just ignore life for an illusory, false parallel reality.
It has even been suggested, amusingly, that when they film their daughter’s school events, ceremonies where they get a prize, anniversaries or dances at parties they should place yet another smartphone in front of the one they are filming with, so that later, if they watch it – which most often never happens anyway – they could recall the “experience’ just as it has been – filming the moment, not taking it in.
The metaphor of the Surrogate is therefore very meaningful and poignant.
There are advantages in the advanced technologies and they are apparent in the film, together with the serious drawbacks, for Artificial Intelligence is already helping humankind in the medical, transport, military, cinematic and other fields, where drones and other intelligent machines can take the risks and allow the people to control them from the ground, when they are not completely autonomous.
The serious dangers are exposed in the motion picture, where FBI agent Greer has to investigate serious crimes – at one stage; a billion people can die when an inventor, Canter, is willing to take revenge on the world by killing humans by means of the Surrogates, hacking into the computer system.
The hero has been through a personal tragedy, when his son has died, and he is now facing another calamity, given that his wife is a recluse, lying on the bed and ingurgitating pills, while a much more beautiful, nearly perfect simulacrum is living her life, appalled when the FBI agent does not show the handsome, young substitute to the world.
Maggie, Greer’s wife, is played by Rosamund Pike.
The plot is interesting at times/
That notwithstanding, the major attraction of the film seems to be the invitation to think about the future.
We could look at present trends and worry that some of the dark aspects could and would be continued in the future.
The other day, a distinguished professor from Yale University talked about the message from his book that worries about the effect Russia has and would have while abusing the instruments offered by the new technologies:
The internet, Facebook, twitter
The Russian disinformation machine has managed to create a sense of uncertainty, hacking into the American elections of 2016 and preparing to do so again, helping extremists there and in other countries.
A feeling that it is hopeless, people do not know what to think anymore, it is useless to act anyway helps these monsters and they have had a series of victories in attacking the pillars of democracy in the west- less educated men and women do not trust the mass media – some of which is controlled by evil forces anyway – and they have been brain washed to the extent where they vote for clowns like Trump.
It could be argued that this impostor is the Ultimate Surrogate.
He has proved on a multitude of occasions that he is unable to think for himself, he is the Epitome of the Narcissistic Liar, self-obsessed beyond the pathological limit – this is a medical case, as a prestigious doctor from Harvard has explained on CNN –and he operates as a
Putin surrogate
Seven out of 10
Surrogates is a good science fiction motion picture, although it is not sharing the gallery of classics with 2001 A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, Planet of the Apes, A Clockwork Orange or Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames share the big screen again, but this is very different from the cult movie, probably one of the best ten of all time, Pulp Fiction.
In the distant future, people would be able to let robots or Artificial Intelligence take the risks for them, going out in the world through the Surrogates, while enjoying the comfort of their homes, the serenity brought about by pills that tranquillize and offer an artificial equanimity.
This is probably the most important aspect of the film, the fact that it purports that the future could see humanity on a dangerous trajectory, isolated in homes and engaged through AI, which to some extent is a tendency we can observe in the present.
People are obsessed with their smart phones, continuously watching, consulting them to see if they have any new message, something happened in the virtual world where more and more spend their lives, if not completely, almost all of them.
This a frequent joke now, the fact that humans attend concerts that they do not experience, for they are concentrated on recording them on their phones, to upload them on Facebook, so that friends can see how well they are enjoying themselves, when in fact they are not savoring the moment, they just ignore life for an illusory, false parallel reality.
It has even been suggested, amusingly, that when they film their daughter’s school events, ceremonies where they get a prize, anniversaries or dances at parties they should place yet another smartphone in front of the one they are filming with, so that later, if they watch it – which most often never happens anyway – they could recall the “experience’ just as it has been – filming the moment, not taking it in.
The metaphor of the Surrogate is therefore very meaningful and poignant.
There are advantages in the advanced technologies and they are apparent in the film, together with the serious drawbacks, for Artificial Intelligence is already helping humankind in the medical, transport, military, cinematic and other fields, where drones and other intelligent machines can take the risks and allow the people to control them from the ground, when they are not completely autonomous.
The serious dangers are exposed in the motion picture, where FBI agent Greer has to investigate serious crimes – at one stage; a billion people can die when an inventor, Canter, is willing to take revenge on the world by killing humans by means of the Surrogates, hacking into the computer system.
The hero has been through a personal tragedy, when his son has died, and he is now facing another calamity, given that his wife is a recluse, lying on the bed and ingurgitating pills, while a much more beautiful, nearly perfect simulacrum is living her life, appalled when the FBI agent does not show the handsome, young substitute to the world.
Maggie, Greer’s wife, is played by Rosamund Pike.
The plot is interesting at times/
That notwithstanding, the major attraction of the film seems to be the invitation to think about the future.
We could look at present trends and worry that some of the dark aspects could and would be continued in the future.
The other day, a distinguished professor from Yale University talked about the message from his book that worries about the effect Russia has and would have while abusing the instruments offered by the new technologies:
The internet, Facebook, twitter
The Russian disinformation machine has managed to create a sense of uncertainty, hacking into the American elections of 2016 and preparing to do so again, helping extremists there and in other countries.
A feeling that it is hopeless, people do not know what to think anymore, it is useless to act anyway helps these monsters and they have had a series of victories in attacking the pillars of democracy in the west- less educated men and women do not trust the mass media – some of which is controlled by evil forces anyway – and they have been brain washed to the extent where they vote for clowns like Trump.
It could be argued that this impostor is the Ultimate Surrogate.
He has proved on a multitude of occasions that he is unable to think for himself, he is the Epitome of the Narcissistic Liar, self-obsessed beyond the pathological limit – this is a medical case, as a prestigious doctor from Harvard has explained on CNN –and he operates as a
Putin surrogate
September 23, 2009
I just didn't want to finish the book. Cause that's all folks.
Man, I haven't read a graphic novel this well written in a while. I was a dedicated comic collector as a kid and most of them were nicely done and worth a quick read.
But this drama is not only written extremely well, but it flows effortlessly with the sparse duotone drawings. They don't get in the way, but accentuate the multiple story lines--even with the sublte change in color from scene to scene. Seeing this as a movie would be exciting and perhaps anti-climatic since they have to effectively humanize everything about this for the total visual appeal of the non-comic/graphic novel reading public.
This set contains five issues and each is worth at least a second read. Multi-layered drama and very human relationship. Enjoyed this outing.
Man, I haven't read a graphic novel this well written in a while. I was a dedicated comic collector as a kid and most of them were nicely done and worth a quick read.
But this drama is not only written extremely well, but it flows effortlessly with the sparse duotone drawings. They don't get in the way, but accentuate the multiple story lines--even with the sublte change in color from scene to scene. Seeing this as a movie would be exciting and perhaps anti-climatic since they have to effectively humanize everything about this for the total visual appeal of the non-comic/graphic novel reading public.
This set contains five issues and each is worth at least a second read. Multi-layered drama and very human relationship. Enjoyed this outing.
July 13, 2017
For those unfamiliar with the story (it was adapted into a movie starring Bruce Willis in 2009), The Surrogates is a dystopian science fiction thriller that asks just how human we can remain when we replace our bodies with machines. The Surrogates opens in 2054, a time in which virtual reality and cybernetics have combined in the invention of the surrogates (or “surries” as they’re colloquially known). Originally created to add the elderly and those with debilitating physical handicaps, surrogates are artificial bodies that allow their users to occupy a body other than their own by linking their mind to it and controlling it via electrical impulses. The popularity of this invention has led to its mass adoption by anyone who can afford the price tag, leading to an astounding 92% use in the United States. As you might expect, not everyone is as accepting of the new technology and a group known as the Dreads actively campaigns against the use of surrogates. When a techno-terrorist starts killing surrogates using the flash lightning storms as cover, it’s up to Harvey Greer and Pete Ford of the Metro Police Department to stop the terrorist before its plans to eliminate all surrogates come to fruition.
The Surrogates is written by Robert Venditti (largely known for Surrogates though he has some other creator-owned properties as well) and illustrated by Brett Weldele. The concept of humanity versus technology is always an interesting and compelling one, not to mention being a concept we’ve been obsessed with since the dawn of technology. In many ways, this story reminded me of Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan as it deals with many of the same issues. Due to people’s ability to occupy bodies other than their own, they no longer feel life in the same way nor do they fear death. Why should they when all it means is a loss of property and the financial cost that entails? How does it change criminal justice and society when your body is no longer your only body? Could you accept it? And what if you can’t afford a surrogate? How would you view those who could? All of these questions lead to a fascinating take on virtual reality and cybernetics. While the story is interesting, the ending isn’t particularly surprising. What makes the story so good is the compelling world building that’s gone into it and in large part, the contributions of the artwork.
While I enjoyed the story and absolutely loved the world building, the art by Weldele is nothing short of masterful. It’s been awhile since I read a story in which I was more impressed by the art than the writing but The Surrogates was definitely one of those special cases. Like Templesmith, Weldele’s style uses minimalist linework and a muted palette of alternating browns and blues to create a dark, dystopian atmosphere. Unlike Templesmith, Weldele’s linework is very heavy and uses little detail, relying on the watercolors and a skillful use of shadows to intensify the atmosphere of the panels. There are panels that are little more than sketches but in comparison to the heavy linework in the other panels, this adds to the feelings evoked by the story in a way that a less varied style would not. In addition, there are ads and additional information at the end of each issue that contribute to the immersion into the world that Venditti and Weldele have created that absolutely blew me away.
While I’ve enjoyed many science fiction graphic novel series, The Surrogates is far and away one of my absolute favorites. The writing by Venditti is good (straight spectacular when it comes to world building) but it’s Weldele’s art that really brings this series to life.
The Surrogates is written by Robert Venditti (largely known for Surrogates though he has some other creator-owned properties as well) and illustrated by Brett Weldele. The concept of humanity versus technology is always an interesting and compelling one, not to mention being a concept we’ve been obsessed with since the dawn of technology. In many ways, this story reminded me of Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan as it deals with many of the same issues. Due to people’s ability to occupy bodies other than their own, they no longer feel life in the same way nor do they fear death. Why should they when all it means is a loss of property and the financial cost that entails? How does it change criminal justice and society when your body is no longer your only body? Could you accept it? And what if you can’t afford a surrogate? How would you view those who could? All of these questions lead to a fascinating take on virtual reality and cybernetics. While the story is interesting, the ending isn’t particularly surprising. What makes the story so good is the compelling world building that’s gone into it and in large part, the contributions of the artwork.
While I enjoyed the story and absolutely loved the world building, the art by Weldele is nothing short of masterful. It’s been awhile since I read a story in which I was more impressed by the art than the writing but The Surrogates was definitely one of those special cases. Like Templesmith, Weldele’s style uses minimalist linework and a muted palette of alternating browns and blues to create a dark, dystopian atmosphere. Unlike Templesmith, Weldele’s linework is very heavy and uses little detail, relying on the watercolors and a skillful use of shadows to intensify the atmosphere of the panels. There are panels that are little more than sketches but in comparison to the heavy linework in the other panels, this adds to the feelings evoked by the story in a way that a less varied style would not. In addition, there are ads and additional information at the end of each issue that contribute to the immersion into the world that Venditti and Weldele have created that absolutely blew me away.
While I’ve enjoyed many science fiction graphic novel series, The Surrogates is far and away one of my absolute favorites. The writing by Venditti is good (straight spectacular when it comes to world building) but it’s Weldele’s art that really brings this series to life.
August 15, 2024
85%
The graphic novel is a thoughtful and insightful commentary on a possible future for humanity, in which we turn to robotic 'avatars' for us to use instead of risking our lives by going outside; I would put it in the same genre as 1984 or the Hunger Games. I particularly enjoyed the added world-building media in between chapters, such as interview transcripts and ads for the surrogates.
I haven't seen the movie, but I watched the trailer before reading the book, and I'm fascinated by the choice Hollywood made to have the death of a surrogate = the death of the controller, whereas in this book the destruction of the personal property that are the surrogates was enough to incite civil unrest. The choice felt very unnecessary; Americans sure do love their personal property and would definitely lose their shit over it.
The graphic novel is a thoughtful and insightful commentary on a possible future for humanity, in which we turn to robotic 'avatars' for us to use instead of risking our lives by going outside; I would put it in the same genre as 1984 or the Hunger Games. I particularly enjoyed the added world-building media in between chapters, such as interview transcripts and ads for the surrogates.
I haven't seen the movie, but I watched the trailer before reading the book, and I'm fascinated by the choice Hollywood made to have the death of a surrogate = the death of the controller, whereas in this book the destruction of the personal property that are the surrogates was enough to incite civil unrest. The choice felt very unnecessary; Americans sure do love their personal property and would definitely lose their shit over it.
December 13, 2009
I decided to buy and read "The Surrogates" because, of course, the movie was coming out soon and it had Bruce Willis in it, and I've lately been drawn into the graphic novel universe. So I said, why not? I've read a few other graphic novels and the concepts presented in this one were interesting.
First off, the graphic novel is significantly different from the movie, so you should probably read it even if you have already seen the movie. It starts off with the same initial setup--some surries get zapped and detectives are there to investigate--but pretty much from that moment on it diverges from the movie. Characters are the same, but they don't do what they did in the movie, tec. So read the novel, it's worth it.
The storyline is definitely interesting and pulls you along, weaving the actual detective work together with the life of the main detective, Greer. You find out about his relationship with his wife and how the introduction of the surrogates--androids that the user controls and that pretty much act out everyone's daily life for safety reasons--has altered society and interpersonal relationships to a huge extent. The main idea of the surrogates is what kept me interested in the novel, although the plotline about who's zapping surrogates and why also drew me in. The ramifications on every aspect of society if we did ever reach a point where the majority of the population lived their lives through surrogates is . . . astounding. And that's why this graphic novel rocks.
It's also why it's slightly disappointing. There are so many aspects of life that would change that what was presented in the novel seemed . . . limited. I loved the story and the novel, but when I was finished I felt that there was SO MUCH MORE to explore with this concept and I was disappointed that there wasn't more, a volume 2 or something. I know there's a prequel, and I will definitely read that, but I seriously hope that there will be more set in this world in the future because there is so much more left to explore.
Since this is a graphic novel, I must also comment on the artwork: spectacular. The artwork was subtle and appropriate and a perfect amalgamation of art and photoshopping, especially regarding some of the SF elements that were incorporated into the artwork, such as realistic digital screens and such. At the same time, the artwork was extremely simple. The level of detail was appropriate and minimalistic, as well as the color palette. Some panels were sketchy and blocky, others were more finely detailed, and the ability of the artist to convey complex emotions through facial expression and such was astounding.
So, overall a very good graphic novel, the only drawback being that the world created had SO MUCH potential that I felt there should have been much more done in this universe and with this plotline, so was disappointed when the novel ended. I'd love to see more from this pair, and even if you've seen the movie, I'd definitely suggest reading the novel.
First off, the graphic novel is significantly different from the movie, so you should probably read it even if you have already seen the movie. It starts off with the same initial setup--some surries get zapped and detectives are there to investigate--but pretty much from that moment on it diverges from the movie. Characters are the same, but they don't do what they did in the movie, tec. So read the novel, it's worth it.
The storyline is definitely interesting and pulls you along, weaving the actual detective work together with the life of the main detective, Greer. You find out about his relationship with his wife and how the introduction of the surrogates--androids that the user controls and that pretty much act out everyone's daily life for safety reasons--has altered society and interpersonal relationships to a huge extent. The main idea of the surrogates is what kept me interested in the novel, although the plotline about who's zapping surrogates and why also drew me in. The ramifications on every aspect of society if we did ever reach a point where the majority of the population lived their lives through surrogates is . . . astounding. And that's why this graphic novel rocks.
It's also why it's slightly disappointing. There are so many aspects of life that would change that what was presented in the novel seemed . . . limited. I loved the story and the novel, but when I was finished I felt that there was SO MUCH MORE to explore with this concept and I was disappointed that there wasn't more, a volume 2 or something. I know there's a prequel, and I will definitely read that, but I seriously hope that there will be more set in this world in the future because there is so much more left to explore.
Since this is a graphic novel, I must also comment on the artwork: spectacular. The artwork was subtle and appropriate and a perfect amalgamation of art and photoshopping, especially regarding some of the SF elements that were incorporated into the artwork, such as realistic digital screens and such. At the same time, the artwork was extremely simple. The level of detail was appropriate and minimalistic, as well as the color palette. Some panels were sketchy and blocky, others were more finely detailed, and the ability of the artist to convey complex emotions through facial expression and such was astounding.
So, overall a very good graphic novel, the only drawback being that the world created had SO MUCH potential that I felt there should have been much more done in this universe and with this plotline, so was disappointed when the novel ended. I'd love to see more from this pair, and even if you've seen the movie, I'd definitely suggest reading the novel.
October 24, 2018
It's a very weird thing to me that the movie adaptation is so underrated. At the time, when I watched it in a movie theater, I had no idea it was an adaptation. Maybe fans of the comic were disapointed. That I can understand. The two works are very different.
The movie has a different tone and visually creates a very different atmosphere. When I watched the series "Caprica", in my mind "Surrogates" (the movie) had been its influence. There is a bright, artificial world, that contrasts with a rough reality. If I make a comparison, the movie's design seems to transmit more of the artificiality of the bodies that people "wear" virtually, their avatars. And the comic is dry and harsh, as if leting the psychologic constrains soak and contaminate everything.
It was hard for me to read this, since the imagery is so austere and monolithic. Maybe the opposite happened with me: unlike the comic fans that had big expectations about its cinematic adaptation, I hoped a lot from the original comic. And the story is ilustrated in a very severe, rough fashion. Something was clashing in my mind, and probably the film's visuals had contaminated my ideas about this story beyond repair.
The movie has a different tone and visually creates a very different atmosphere. When I watched the series "Caprica", in my mind "Surrogates" (the movie) had been its influence. There is a bright, artificial world, that contrasts with a rough reality. If I make a comparison, the movie's design seems to transmit more of the artificiality of the bodies that people "wear" virtually, their avatars. And the comic is dry and harsh, as if leting the psychologic constrains soak and contaminate everything.
It was hard for me to read this, since the imagery is so austere and monolithic. Maybe the opposite happened with me: unlike the comic fans that had big expectations about its cinematic adaptation, I hoped a lot from the original comic. And the story is ilustrated in a very severe, rough fashion. Something was clashing in my mind, and probably the film's visuals had contaminated my ideas about this story beyond repair.
January 7, 2022
The movie was better.
The illustration style made it hard to visualize what was going on and the story was just okay. Granted, this was probably more of a unique book when it was published versus when I read it.
The illustration style made it hard to visualize what was going on and the story was just okay. Granted, this was probably more of a unique book when it was published versus when I read it.
March 21, 2019
3.5 stars
July 20, 2025
A solid quick read graphic novel with an eerily timely concept. While the idea of the surrogate technology is very much in the sci-fi genre, this one reads much more like a noir detective drama. The case itself is intriguing and Venditti put a lot of effort into building up the world and history of the surrogates with the insert supplements in between each “chapter” which allowed this information to be worked into the story without clunky exposition. While I was definitely invested in the story and the outcome, I wish that the characters, particularly Detective Greer and his wife, had been expanded and their lives explored in more detail. I also found the ending, which did satisfactorily provide answers to the actual case itself, to be a bit abrupt in terms of the larger impact of the outcome for the society and the impact on the characters involved. Overall though, this one brings up some interesting questions regarding surrogate technology which is perhaps even more relevant today given the advances in technology and increase in online lives/personas.
February 23, 2025
3.75/5 stars. It was a good read, very interesting concept. Probably just needed to be longer to capitalize on the interesting plot and add more time for characters to develop.
January 27, 2010
Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, The Surrogates (Top Shelf, 2006)
It is by now a Hollywood cliché, not to mention a Hollywood truism, that the book is better than the movie. And that is certainly the case where The Surrogates is concerned. That said, in some ironic way, reading Robert Venditti's original source material gave me a slightly greater respect for Jonathan Mostow's bloated, listless adaptation. I can see why he made the changes he made, and some of them I actually agree with. (The two big ones, as it turns out, were direct contributors to the movie's downfall, to the point where I may actually go back and revise my review to include a discussion of them.)
If you saw the movie trailers, you've got a basic idea, but I'll give you a rundown anyway: it's 2054, and the world is populated by human beings who live vicariously through androids known as surrogates. The human flops down in a chair, puts on a headset, and bam, virtual reality. Surrogates work for their owners (allowing the out-of-shape to be construction workers, say), drink and do drugs for their owners (all the sensation with none of the withdrawal symptoms), have illicit affairs for their owners, etc. You get the idea. 92% of the world's humans, we're told, own and use surrogates. The rest are not too happy with this. In the metro Atlanta area where the book takes place, the head of the non-surrogate-using humans, known as the Dreads, is The Prophet, a mover and shaker in the anti-surrogate riots of 2039 who eventually agreed with the mayor of Atlanta that he and his Luddite pals needed to move out of Atlanta to a reservation seventy miles away. All of what I'm giving you here is setup for the actual plot, which involves two surrogates who we see being fried in the opening scene, and the two detectives assigned to the case.
While no one would call The Surrogates a subtle book, in comparison to the movie it's like a velvet glove. The main reason for this is that the movie changes the book anti-consumer message to something far more muddled, yet far closer to the surface (in the movie, the deaths of the surrogates travels back over the wires to kill their owners, which changes the whole nature of the movie's plot). Venditti also has some strong words about addiction which are cut, rather brutally I might add, out by the changing of a few key scenes. They are the book's most powerful (especially Venditti's final panel), and the movie's weakest. That Mostow failed miserably in his attempt to bring The Surrogates to the screen, and that the changes made to it were exactly the wrong ones, does not make Hollywood any less respectable for at least trying to take a very good, if transparent, indie piece and being it to the masses. It gives me some small version of hope that someone in Hollywood still actually cares about art. *** ½
It is by now a Hollywood cliché, not to mention a Hollywood truism, that the book is better than the movie. And that is certainly the case where The Surrogates is concerned. That said, in some ironic way, reading Robert Venditti's original source material gave me a slightly greater respect for Jonathan Mostow's bloated, listless adaptation. I can see why he made the changes he made, and some of them I actually agree with. (The two big ones, as it turns out, were direct contributors to the movie's downfall, to the point where I may actually go back and revise my review to include a discussion of them.)
If you saw the movie trailers, you've got a basic idea, but I'll give you a rundown anyway: it's 2054, and the world is populated by human beings who live vicariously through androids known as surrogates. The human flops down in a chair, puts on a headset, and bam, virtual reality. Surrogates work for their owners (allowing the out-of-shape to be construction workers, say), drink and do drugs for their owners (all the sensation with none of the withdrawal symptoms), have illicit affairs for their owners, etc. You get the idea. 92% of the world's humans, we're told, own and use surrogates. The rest are not too happy with this. In the metro Atlanta area where the book takes place, the head of the non-surrogate-using humans, known as the Dreads, is The Prophet, a mover and shaker in the anti-surrogate riots of 2039 who eventually agreed with the mayor of Atlanta that he and his Luddite pals needed to move out of Atlanta to a reservation seventy miles away. All of what I'm giving you here is setup for the actual plot, which involves two surrogates who we see being fried in the opening scene, and the two detectives assigned to the case.
While no one would call The Surrogates a subtle book, in comparison to the movie it's like a velvet glove. The main reason for this is that the movie changes the book anti-consumer message to something far more muddled, yet far closer to the surface (in the movie, the deaths of the surrogates travels back over the wires to kill their owners, which changes the whole nature of the movie's plot). Venditti also has some strong words about addiction which are cut, rather brutally I might add, out by the changing of a few key scenes. They are the book's most powerful (especially Venditti's final panel), and the movie's weakest. That Mostow failed miserably in his attempt to bring The Surrogates to the screen, and that the changes made to it were exactly the wrong ones, does not make Hollywood any less respectable for at least trying to take a very good, if transparent, indie piece and being it to the masses. It gives me some small version of hope that someone in Hollywood still actually cares about art. *** ½
April 7, 2024
Very, very dumb. I can't even buy the premise, to be honest.
(this Goodreads entry is for issue #1, but I'm talking about the full 5-issue series)
What, precisely, were the stakes at any given moment?
The "killing" of surrogates is treated like a crime scene, but those affected by the destruction of their surrogates seem relatively non-plussed by the destruction. It's basically asking me to feel as invested in these crimes as a murder, but it's really more like car theft?
I truly don't think the premise is followed through to its logical conclusions. The author basically said, "What if our world were exactly the same, except everyone were a robot?" And yet, why would that be? Why would the external world be built around the physical limitations of real humans? If people don't feel tired or physically fatigued, why would chairs still exist in corporate boardrooms, for example? Why would telephones still be in use, rather than some built-in phone module? Why wouldn't GPS be built-in to every surrogate? Why wouldn't anyone have ever thought before about EMT pulses being a threat? Wouldn't hacking and EMT-similar attacks be a constant threat from international adversaries? Why wouldn't surrogate hijacking be a thing? Is the whole world like this, or just the United States? Why would "sonics" be any kind of a threat against a surrogate, when falling off a building provides no sense of fear or adrenaline; why wouldn't the headset protect the user from harmful effects of sound like it does for other things?
Characters say odd things like when a news anchor surrogate is attacked and disabled on live TV. Literally one hit and she's down for good. Another character says of that attack, "I saw what they did to that Reid woman. How terrible." But was it terrible? Her own TV crew says immediately after she's attacked that the TV station has extra surrogates to replace her. So what was terrible about it? What did "they do" to her, really? The author himself doesn't present any kind of consistent worldview about surrogates and how they're viewed by the people who live in that world. A surrogate being destroyed is treated as both a disposable object that can be easily replaced, but it's also "terrible" and tragic when one is destroyed.
A mess of a story that squanders the core conceipt in bland, uninteresting ways. Altered Carbon, and even Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, take much bigger swings for the fences with their "disposable body" premises.
(this Goodreads entry is for issue #1, but I'm talking about the full 5-issue series)
What, precisely, were the stakes at any given moment?
The "killing" of surrogates is treated like a crime scene, but those affected by the destruction of their surrogates seem relatively non-plussed by the destruction. It's basically asking me to feel as invested in these crimes as a murder, but it's really more like car theft?
I truly don't think the premise is followed through to its logical conclusions. The author basically said, "What if our world were exactly the same, except everyone were a robot?" And yet, why would that be? Why would the external world be built around the physical limitations of real humans? If people don't feel tired or physically fatigued, why would chairs still exist in corporate boardrooms, for example? Why would telephones still be in use, rather than some built-in phone module? Why wouldn't GPS be built-in to every surrogate? Why wouldn't anyone have ever thought before about EMT pulses being a threat? Wouldn't hacking and EMT-similar attacks be a constant threat from international adversaries? Why wouldn't surrogate hijacking be a thing? Is the whole world like this, or just the United States? Why would "sonics" be any kind of a threat against a surrogate, when falling off a building provides no sense of fear or adrenaline; why wouldn't the headset protect the user from harmful effects of sound like it does for other things?
Characters say odd things like when a news anchor surrogate is attacked and disabled on live TV. Literally one hit and she's down for good. Another character says of that attack, "I saw what they did to that Reid woman. How terrible." But was it terrible? Her own TV crew says immediately after she's attacked that the TV station has extra surrogates to replace her. So what was terrible about it? What did "they do" to her, really? The author himself doesn't present any kind of consistent worldview about surrogates and how they're viewed by the people who live in that world. A surrogate being destroyed is treated as both a disposable object that can be easily replaced, but it's also "terrible" and tragic when one is destroyed.
A mess of a story that squanders the core conceipt in bland, uninteresting ways. Altered Carbon, and even Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, take much bigger swings for the fences with their "disposable body" premises.
September 30, 2009
The collected miniseries raises some interesting questions about the price of technological progress and of social appearances. Venditti knows when it's necessary to pull back the dialogue and let Weldele's art speak for him. For a story that relies on no captions, the dialogue works well to establish the background and push the plot forward.
Weldele uses an interesting mix of computer-generated effects and art to supplement his scratchy drawings. But art style seems too dark for the story, as if using earthy and scuffed metal colors would be enough to convey that this futuristic world is fundamentally flawed.
There's no urgency in the storytelling, which works for and against the story. On one hand, we get to learn about this plausible future and to hear hints of its history. On the other, it's difficult to want to know who's committing these crimes against surrogates.
Bonus materials which include articles, interviews, and advertisements that enhance the world that Venditti and Weldele have created. There's a back section that shows the comic from conception to creation with a pinup gallery.
Weldele uses an interesting mix of computer-generated effects and art to supplement his scratchy drawings. But art style seems too dark for the story, as if using earthy and scuffed metal colors would be enough to convey that this futuristic world is fundamentally flawed.
There's no urgency in the storytelling, which works for and against the story. On one hand, we get to learn about this plausible future and to hear hints of its history. On the other, it's difficult to want to know who's committing these crimes against surrogates.
Bonus materials which include articles, interviews, and advertisements that enhance the world that Venditti and Weldele have created. There's a back section that shows the comic from conception to creation with a pinup gallery.
March 15, 2010
I've thoroughly enjoyed this series. The concept of owning a surrogate and living vicariously through it in your career, relationships, and daily life is equally fascinating as it is horrifying. I loved how much Venditti thought through the implications of this technology and what kind of an impact vicarious living could have on culture, politics, and religion. I was lucky enough to read the collected volumes which included some extremely creative advertising from Virtual Life Inc. It was so believable that, if we had this technology today, I could absolutely see people clambering in lines to get their first "surry"!
I felt that the only drawbacks to the series are the lack of detail in the artwork (yet I know this is why it's called art) and one "hole" in the story; it wasn't realistic that the government would "reward" the Dread people for their deadly violence in 1939 by giving them 70 square miles of their own land along with billions in funding for agriculture, property development, etc. Realistically speaking, these people would've been hunted down and imprisoned for their crimes. Aside from these 2 minor points I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I felt that the only drawbacks to the series are the lack of detail in the artwork (yet I know this is why it's called art) and one "hole" in the story; it wasn't realistic that the government would "reward" the Dread people for their deadly violence in 1939 by giving them 70 square miles of their own land along with billions in funding for agriculture, property development, etc. Realistically speaking, these people would've been hunted down and imprisoned for their crimes. Aside from these 2 minor points I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
September 21, 2009
Well done mystery/sf thriller with interesting world building. I'm not sure about some of the speculation as to the effect surrogates would have on the populace, but most of it is moderately plausible at least. The pacing is dead on, incorporating the crime investigation, the detective's personal life and background on the use of surrogates in just the right amounts at just the right times.
I would be very interested to learn what happens after the end of this story: however, I suspect the author has said what he wants to say.
I was fascinated by Brett Weldele's artwork. It seemed to be made primarily of rough sketches, geometric shadings and blocky highlights, which doesn't sound like much, but he manages to capture so many emotional moods and storytelling tones with this technique. I also quite appreciated the script-to-page extra in the back that included the four-step process for the final artwork.
While it won't win any awards for character development, it does work beautifully as a crime story.
I would be very interested to learn what happens after the end of this story: however, I suspect the author has said what he wants to say.
I was fascinated by Brett Weldele's artwork. It seemed to be made primarily of rough sketches, geometric shadings and blocky highlights, which doesn't sound like much, but he manages to capture so many emotional moods and storytelling tones with this technique. I also quite appreciated the script-to-page extra in the back that included the four-step process for the final artwork.
While it won't win any awards for character development, it does work beautifully as a crime story.
March 30, 2009
I figured since I worked on the upcoming movie, I should read The Surrogates to get a real sense of the story beyond the snippets here and there that I pieced together. I was pleasantly surprised. The book isn't overly complex, which is good. Instead of bogging down in the science, Venditti lets you get to know Detective Harvey Greer and gives you a feel for what society has become by looking through his eyes.
The storytelling is crisp and compelling, and I liked the inter-chapter sections - journal articles, news transcripts, surrogate-sales advertisements, stuff like that. I also really liked Brett Weldele's artwork. It was dark and dirty and gritty, and I liked his use of color.
There isn't anything in The Surrogates that will blow your mind, but it is a nice little story with strong artwork. It's also a reminder to go outside once in awhile and interact with people in real life... there is still a world beyond your computer.
The storytelling is crisp and compelling, and I liked the inter-chapter sections - journal articles, news transcripts, surrogate-sales advertisements, stuff like that. I also really liked Brett Weldele's artwork. It was dark and dirty and gritty, and I liked his use of color.
There isn't anything in The Surrogates that will blow your mind, but it is a nice little story with strong artwork. It's also a reminder to go outside once in awhile and interact with people in real life... there is still a world beyond your computer.
January 7, 2016
I just reread this during the week, and I am now struck by the similarities between this and David Brin's Klin People. Oh, there are significant differences. I think both authors hit on some very social aspects of the common use of doubles, but Brin has more faith in human beings being able to stay in the real world than Venditti.
I read this because I just got the DVD from Netflix. In a very short span the writer brings up what some of what the problems of VR and living your life through it could be. Most people link into an android surrogate to do their daily work. The sudden destruction of surrogates including that owned by the police department's investigator leads the cop to give up his surrogate and to experience the investigation using his real body. Doing so he becomes convinced that for several years he has not been living, and now he wants to experience life, and not through an artifuicial shell. BTW this story does have a tragic ending.
I read this because I just got the DVD from Netflix. In a very short span the writer brings up what some of what the problems of VR and living your life through it could be. Most people link into an android surrogate to do their daily work. The sudden destruction of surrogates including that owned by the police department's investigator leads the cop to give up his surrogate and to experience the investigation using his real body. Doing so he becomes convinced that for several years he has not been living, and now he wants to experience life, and not through an artifuicial shell. BTW this story does have a tragic ending.
August 15, 2009
I loved this book. The writing is top notch and the art, though a bit too scribbly for my taste, worked well with the "sci-fi noir" feel of the story. I think Venditti did a good job of making his social point without becoming preachy, perhaps partly because you get the feeling that he'd like to operate a surrogate as much as most of his characters do.
Reading this off the back of Moore's Black Dossier, I can't help but praise Venditti's intelligent use of the "ancilliary documents" technique that Moore is too quick to vomit on the page. Such documents here serve the story superbly rather than harming it for the sake of the author's self-indulgence.
Reading this off the back of Moore's Black Dossier, I can't help but praise Venditti's intelligent use of the "ancilliary documents" technique that Moore is too quick to vomit on the page. Such documents here serve the story superbly rather than harming it for the sake of the author's self-indulgence.
March 12, 2010
Everything I've read recently has been mutated/adopted by another medium (mostly movies, but Wicked is a musical and icanhascheeseburger is a website...and yes, I 'read' icanhascheeseburger the book).
Thought the Bruce Willis flick looked kinda interesting, so I thought the graphic novel would inspire me enough to finally add the movie to my queue. It has, but it's number 478 or something. There were a couple of cool extra stuff between chapters (brochure from company selling surrogate robot-bodies, newspaper from the future!, etc.), and I'm always down to read robots vs human stuff, but meh.
A big part of me can't find the appreciation for the artwork that I feel I should have. Even if the story is good, I won't really get into a graphic novel unless the art is cutesy or at least something like Chris Ware's.
Thought the Bruce Willis flick looked kinda interesting, so I thought the graphic novel would inspire me enough to finally add the movie to my queue. It has, but it's number 478 or something. There were a couple of cool extra stuff between chapters (brochure from company selling surrogate robot-bodies, newspaper from the future!, etc.), and I'm always down to read robots vs human stuff, but meh.
A big part of me can't find the appreciation for the artwork that I feel I should have. Even if the story is good, I won't really get into a graphic novel unless the art is cutesy or at least something like Chris Ware's.
September 26, 2009
I'm not a fan of graphic novels. However, if the artwork is good and the story is interesting I'll give it try. The drawing was excellent and the coloring was very similar to the 30 Days of Nights graphic novels which I thoroughly enjoyed. And the story, of course, warning us against the dangers of becoming disconnected from the world...it could have been heavy-handed but it wasn't. The ending was a bit abrupt and, unfortunately, I figured out early on who the "killer" was. Still, I highly recommend it.
July 11, 2009
I liked the main character and his relationship with his wife, otherwise, I felt the story was too simple and predictable. Actually, I was bored. And the art needed something. For an idea that I would normally eat up, I feel disappointed.
July 9, 2009
Something about the art didn't catch me, but it was distinctive and fluid. Something about the concept didn't catch me either--I just couldn't buy into it, and it wrapped up so implausibly neatly. Still, an enjoyable read. I'll be interested to see how they do the movie version.
June 8, 2015
Très bon style graphique mais un peu trop de blabla. Le final est saisissant et donne envie de voir la suite. Très jolie réflexion sur ce qui fait l'humain et les technologies qui coupent de la vraie vie.
September 10, 2012
Not my favorite style of comic art, but it is perfect for the dreary dystopian theme.
October 17, 2022
This book reminds me of a homework project you don’t really want to do, but have to do a decent job at it to get a passing grade.
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