Memetic: The Apocalyptic Trilogy Deluxe Edition

by James Tynion IV, Eryk Donovan (illustrator)

A deluxe edition hardcover collecting the original apocalyptic horror trilogy by James Tynion IV--Memetic, Cognetic, and Eugenic-- all precursors for his later hit series like A Nice House On The Lake and w0rldtr33!
In Memetic, a weaponized meme leads to the utter annihilation of the human race within 72 hours. The root of this apocalypse is a single image on the internet, a "meme" in the popular sense. A meme that changes everything. In Cognetic, a powerful psychic being that once controlled one-third of the world's population as a part of its hivemind, returns to humanity in modern-day New York City. Meanwhile, the young assistant to the Director of the FBI may be the only one who can save humanity, but at a terrible, terrible cost. In Eugenic, a new vision of humanity's future arrives. When a plague ravages the world, one scientist discovers the cure and becomes the savior of mankind. Hope is restored, and the world rebuilds. But then people who took the cure begin having children who are... unnatural, and the definition of "normal" is forever altered. This deluxe hardcover collection not only contains the trilogy of self-contained horror comics from the GLAAD Award-nominated team of James Tynion IV (Something is Killing the Children, Detective Comics) and Eryk Donovan (Constantine: The Hellblazer), but acts as a precursor to the creative titan that would take the comics world by storm with the Slaughterverse, w0rldtr33, and The Nice House At The Lake. Collects Memetic #1-3, Cognetic #1-3, Eugenic #1-3.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Science Fiction

366 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

And here's a curious story for you this morning... a strange image was posted on the popular internet message board reddit this morning that's setting the internet on fire. It might look just like a happy sloth, but people around the world are reporting feeling waves of euphoria each time they look at it. Posted from an account that was created minutes before the image went online, no one is entirely certain how this image is creating this effect.

I am going through a bit of a James Tynion IV phase at the moment and having caught up with his more recent works, such as Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1, The Nice House on the Lake: the Deluxe Edition, W0Rldtr33 Vol. 1, and Nightmare Country, Vol. 1, I decided to check out some of his earlier work.

This trilogy of stories once again hit home with their bleak horror, dystopian undertones, and cynical view of humanity. The stories are raw and I can see how some of the themes have been expanded on in the newer works.

I really enjoyed them with the titular story stealing the show. I have to mark it down slightly as they aren't as well polished compared to Tynion IV's current work, but the trilogy still gets 4 1/2 stars.

[Martijn Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

A trilogy in theme not in story. Memetic is by far the best of the three stories presented in this deluxe hardcover and has vibes Tynion will later explore in his masterpiece 'The department of truth'. Cognetic is the second and weakest of the bunch. I don't know what to write about this because i already forgot most of it. Eugenic is the final story and altough it starts off a bit weak and ends on a moralistic tone is really liked the message it brought in its final pages.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well. That was weird.

[Christian Rosander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite fun and scary but Eryk Donovans artwork isn't the best at times

[Edd Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Strong 3/5 Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Graphic Novel Collection about very speculative (and semi-imaginative) scenarios of humanity's final death throes.