Rook: Exodus #1

Rook #1

by Geoff Johns (Writer), Jason Fabok (Illustrator), Brad Anderson (Colorist)

SERIES PREMIERE
GEOFF JOHNS (GEIGER) and JASON FABOK, the celebrated team behind the smash hit Batman: Three Jokers, reunite for an all-new science fiction series!
Hundreds of years from now, the man known as Rook was once a simple farmer who fled the crumbling Earth for a new life on the planet Exodus; a terraformed planet where all of nature, including its imported animal population, was completely controlled by humans called Wardens. But when Exodus’s world engine failed, the Wardens’ power fell into the wrong hands, creating chaos and mass evacuation…for those who could afford it. The rest, like Rook, must scavenge for an escape vessel as the war for control of what’s left of Exodus begins. Don’t miss out this new entry in the exciting Ghost Machine rollout—and it’s 44 pages of story for only 3.99!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2024

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: It's a sci-fi dingy, not lore stingy, lifelike lived-in setting, with a Castaway-like day-to-day and frequent fauna-fretting.

*Progress update

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first issue builds worlds to cradle humanity away from Earth, but corporate greed still turns one of them into a collapsing ecosystem abandoned by a population who can pay themselves with a ticket out of it.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third of the Ghost Machine titles.

Accessible Sci-Fi storyline and there's enough teaser to keep me reading.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This was dope!! Love the world Johns and Fabok have built here and the concept of the story. Earth is running out of resources for everyone. Better-World has terraformed a planet in the Kepler system and has build it to for people to live and work there. Our main character, Rook, was lucky enough to get moved up the list to go to this planet and train as a Warden. These Warden’s wear special helmets that allow them to control certain animals. Rook controls crows, ravens and rooks. His friend controls wart hogs and another they spoke about, Dire Wolf, controls wolves. The world engine has failed and everything is deteriorating fast. Better-World had evacuated everyone important and told the wardens and other workers they would come back for them. They didn’t and now everyone is scrambling to build their own space ships to leave this place. Great artwork, dope action and awesome characters has me hooked in.

[Kevin Halter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging story with great artwork.

This first issue sets things up without giving everything away. The art by Jason Fabio is great, and the co!it's by Brad Anderson add to the visuals masterfully.
Geoff is a master story teller who knows how to pace a story, and I'm hooked on this one.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad for a first issue.

An interesting setup, and the artwork's not too bad.

Plus I'm always interested in stories that involve animals so I'm looking forward to some more chaos going forward.

[Jordan Meuse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci fi wasteland dystopia on another planet. War of the wardens. Count me in!

[Trevor ComicFan · Rating 5 out of 5]

98

Holy cow this was good. Fabok’s art is astounding. Every panel is super detailed. There is a two page spread of a desolate city that I probably looked at for over three minutes. This is going to be a kick ass series and I hope it gets the oversized treatment when it’s all said and done. Will definitely be picking up issue two the day it hits the shelves!!!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strong start, I love the concept and I love the world building (or lack or world building given this story lol), and I’m excited to see more. This story takes us to the yeah 2173 on the colony world named Exodus that was found in 2153 and had its earth engine fail in 2170. The main evacuations for anyone that could afford it took place in 2171…leaving everyone who couldn’t to have their lives devolved to fight to flight…most choose flight, and every week our narrator sees glued together ships go up and most of the time come crashing down. They were promised that they would be back to save them, but that isn’t happening. Our narrator is one of the last farmers in existence, he came from Earth to the colony planet exodus because everything was supposed to be better here, this is literally coming from a corporation called better world. So why face the problems of overpopulation, pollution, and poverty when you can just leave them all behind? Our main characters name is Rook and when he got here he was designated as a Warden. These are specific people with specially designed helmets that let them control specific wildlife on the world, and our guy controls all the crows. Once he tried keeping them from scavenging his crops, now he is the scavenger. The world itself is changing, with the world engine offline the climate is reverting to the baron world it was originally, water is drying up, and the animals grow hungrier and the survivors desperate. Usually rook wouldn’t come out in the frontier but with the most recent ship crashing he needs parts. Rook has this badass mad max style all terrain vehicle that can also pull a trailer for parts, all with his fleet of crows following close behind. He has to call out far to reach the only other warden he trusts, Swine, a warden who controls pigs and who he needs help from to search the wreckage before it blows. But over the radio he is far away and deep in bottles of alcohol he found so he isn’t going to make it. Rook doesn’t have the time to curse him out, and it seems that time is running out for the man who tried to fly as well, as he now sits on the ground with a piece of metal through his stomach. He recognizes the man as a weatherman, which I’m sure implies control over the weather and who he remembers as looking down on the wardens, but even so he makes a point to try and make his last moment pain free…but the man declines. He knows he is dying and doesn’t want room to waste it, instead he hands rook a folder and asks him to not let them burn before finally dying. One concept introduced here is the idea that while connected to the birds he can also feel their thoughts come back, and the only thing they can think of is their hunger and this dead man ripe for eating. He has to force them away but rook quickly has to jump into action as a GIANT bear comes in and starts crashing the site. When it comes down to fight or flight, the only option right now is fighting. There is no telling if it’s the difference in planet size or the artificial water but the animals have started to grow on this planet to the point took can literally climb onto the side of the bear. This makes me question why he doesn’t command a fleet of giant birds but I digress. Rook is able to use his own skills with a knife and the birds to claw and rip at the giant bear and send it running. Rook buried the dead man and then set out for food, getting fish and disconnecting his birds so they can feed.

We are then introduced to where rook is living, as it turns out new Mason was one of the only super cities that was actually built, and its currently population total: one, soon to be zero as rook is building his own rocket. Rook tried to get a break from the birds when he can, but the only way he can is through the bottom of a bottle. I’m not sure why anyone hasn’t found this place yet, it’s a scavengers gold mine as all over the place are red x’s rook has spray painted on rooms and places he has emptied. Each room in each hotel is outfitted with food and alcohol that he goes through on the daily. As rook catches a movie, which is auto playing, he finally gets a chance to open the envelope the man on the rocker gave him. It’s full of pictures of the man and his family, he has no idea if they came to this place or if they already went back or what the man meant by not letting them burn. The actual people or just their memories? He’ll never know. And as the days go by and the same cycle of scavenging, building, eating, “clearing his head,” and starting the whole process all over again, the day finally comes that be is met back up with his old friend, swine, after a group of warthogs trampled his camp and ate his food. They were quite hungry, and as you would expect swine is a big man with a big warthog like helmet. It’s white badass, but as we see with his connection to his animals the neural network is failing alongside all the other tech on this world. But swine isn’t convinced it’s as easy as that, he thinks something else is interfering but even with all of these troubles he isn’t planning on leaving this world with rook. It seems he is the only one that wants to stay and fight for a chance, compared to the nothingness they left behind on earth. Rook is convinced that the moment their helmets go off their animals will rip them apart, but swine believes he has a deeper connection to them and is curious if rook has talk to some of the other wardens, like dire wolf, about the glitches. He has r and doesn’t want to and only wants to focus on getting the parts he needs, but swine is quite convincing and gets him to drink with him.

Rook came back home drunk and instead of passing out like a normal person the world decided to force him to do it after he started trying to work and something blew up in his face and knocked him on the ground…sending him down a painful memory lane to his time on Earth. We witnessed rook growing up in 2148 as one of the last young farmers in the world on his dad’s land. And as his troubles shifted from keeping the crows away, to seeing everyone get in their ships and leave altogether due to all the super fires, earthquakes, riots, viruses, and every other trouble plaguing the world all while the better world company promises a way out for those who can afford it. The one person not buying into it is Rook’s dad, he refuses to quit on this world and run away from it. It took 15 years to change his mind and for rook’s dad to burn down the farm with him inside of it. Even after being told his dad was the one to start the fire and die in it as a final freeing gift to his son, rook refused to believe it. His dad would never do this. And I have to admit with the deal he got from better world to create a launch site on their land, it kinda makes sense that he wouldn’t be the one to do it. But either way rook took his chance and the payout and got himself a job on a better world for the hope of a better tomorrow. All while getting onto the ships and looking down and seeing first hand the people who are being left behind and forgotten. It took 13 months to get to exodus from Earth, and we know how we ended up here. As the issue comes to an end rook wakes up the next day and heads out to find swine so they can leave immediately…only to instead find a smoking massacre with swine’s truck destroyed and his warthogs ripped apart. Swine is currently on the run with the hogs he has left but he isn’t for long as suddenly they are surrounded by giant bears and swine is taken to the ground by the giant, and party robotic, Ursaw, the warden in control of the bears! Now I’m not exactly sure yet if he is a warden, the synopsis mentioned lower of the wardens falling into the wrong hands…an these hands seem pretty wrong.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently read both Geiger and Ghost Machine, I thought both were well written and had decent artwork though both suffered from trying to build a connect universe versus just telling great stories. ROOK: EXODUS #1 suffers from more of the same but delivers a creative concept with gripping storytelling and stunning artwork. However, the lack of explanation for certain elements may hinder readers immersion in the story. I will probably wait till the mini-series comes out in trade paperback to continue reading the story.

[David H Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rook Exodus #1 Review
Creators: Geoff Johns & Jason Fabok
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover Artist: Jason Fabok & Brad Anderson; Ivan Reis, Danny Miki & Brad Anderson
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 3, 2024

When Rook needed a fresh start, the Better-World company delivered. Now Rook inhabits a planet all but abandoned by Humans. The warden races against the clock to build a rocket and launch it into space before all technology fails. But is he already too late? Let's put on our helmets, leap into Rook Exodus #1, and find out!

Story
Out-of-control population growth and global warming strained Earth’s ecosystem to the breaking point. Humans endured earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and pandemics until their trust in society broke. Rioting, insurrection, and war followed.

Better-World purchased Planet F in the Kepler system. They rebranded the planet Exodus, brought in their world engine, and began colonizing it six years later. Advertisements showed scenes of pristine nature. Imported animals inhabited verdant fields, explored forests, and sated their thirst in clean rivers and streams.

Perhaps Better World should have left the planet's name as F because the company royally f---ed up. Eleven years after they radically changed the planet’s ecosystem, their terraforming world engine coughed and died. But Exodus seems apt in hindsight, as the colonists couldn’t abandon their hastily remodeled planet fast enough. After assisting with their flight from Exodus, the company's porcine management left employees like Rook and his friend Swine behind. Better-World promised to provide transportation for them, but two years later, Rook, Swine, and the other wardens are still waiting.

In Rook Exodus #1, Rook watches a rocket launch into the atmosphere. Like most jury-rigged transports, a system failure brings it crashing down. Rook evokes Mad Max as he spots the burning wreck and races over in his armored dune buggy. Without Swine’s help, Rook doubts he can find the remaining components he needs before everything becomes slag. When Rook spies a man dying in the wreckage, all hope dies.

Losing his father was a hard blow. The way Better-World treated him made Rook cynical. The company's Weathermen looked down on wardens like him and Swine. He should hate them. After all, their failure to maintain the world engine led to this catastrophe. Yet Rook abandons his scavenging to ease the man’s final moments.

Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s story demonstrates the fallacy of quick fixes. Building anything worthwhile that lasts takes time. The issue also shows how people react to failure. Some leaders struggle to continue or give up. Others shrug, say, "So what," and make new plans. Sadly, some always seek advantage in tragedy. They don’t try to fix what’s broken. Instead, they become hunters and view everyone else as prey.

Art
A spaceship perches on its launch pad, surrounded by industrial infrastructure, in Rook Exodus #1. The fire from its thrusters produces smoke that startles birds in the surrounding forest. Then, the thruster explodes, and the vessel descends into a scenic valley like Yosemite National Park. Rook spies this distant tragedy through computer-enhanced binoculars. His metal helmet evokes a demonic bird. Spikes adorn shoulder plates and forearm armor. Clad in a shredded trench coat, chest armor, and military-like fatigues, Rook carries equipment and guns as he strides through the forest.

Birds surround Rook as he walks. They circle his buggy as he races through the forest. They survey the burning wreckage. They’re not as large as Swine’s boars. Yet, we sense Rook's fears over his dwindling control. Once severed, will they reenact the brutal ferocity of Hitchcock's classic "The Birds"?

Brad Anderson breathes life into a world of fading beauty in Rook: Exodus #1. We gain glimpses of the paradise this word seemed, even though yellow and brown now choke the skies. Windblown dirt coats the fantastic cities that have fallen into disrepair. Rook inhabits a realm of perpetual twilight, a noir dreamscape filled with few people and abandoned cities. Anderson’s pleasing color tones enhance the lifelike art, even if the tones cluster for comfort amid the shattering finale of this mesmerizing 46-page story.

Small upper-case letters fill dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Rob Leigh provides contrast and interest through eye-catching lettering colors, fonts, and balloon shapes. His sound effects strengthen every moment of action and drama in Rook: Exodus #1.

Final Thoughts
Haunted by his past, Rook fears his friends will turn against him. Abandoned by his fellow humans, he works frantically to escape his adopted planet before it descends into savagery in Rook Exodus #1.

9.2/10

[Aleandro Saglimbene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great first issue to establish the facinating setting of this universe. The art by Fabok is astonishingly, hauntingly beautiful. I love the frequent use of the 9-panel grid for whatever reason. Usually, for an action-oriented book such as this I would prefer less of those and more creative panelling like they were done back in the 90s. But for some reason it just works here.

What I find interesting is that this is the only book released so far that is not part of the Unnamed universe. I wonder why... Could it be that the Earth they have escaped is the Earth where Geiger walks, the Earth of now (in the comic)? Could Rook and the others join the fight later on? I look forward to finding out!

I have bought some sleeves to store my monthly comics and I'm all geared up for this! I have not been this excited about comics since I was reading Vertigo stuff. And whilst this is not on the same level as things like Sandman or Swamp Thing, it's certainly deeper than a lot of other comics today whilst also bringing us new, badass characters. I can't wait to see what else Ghost Machine has cooking for us!

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humanity is in full swing with terraforming planets and surviving outside of earth. Perhaps not so much as a hobby or a way to make a better living, but rather in order to survive. Some are left behind on failed planets and are trying to scavenge and escape asap.

Jason Fabok and Brad Anderson are great, as usual. Jason has a overly detailed style though, that can be draining after a while. Every scene and everything is detailed and hatched and cross hatched, in favor of a polished look. A bit like Jim Lee. Most characters look samey, and like they are all metrosexual models. This hurts immersion a bit. Besides that, the art is really good.

When it comes to Geoff, I'm cautious. He can write well, but he can also be mediocre and oftentimes woke to boot. That gives us about 1/3 chance for this to be good. The first issue is pretty good, but a little immature. The will to create action-figure-worthy characters seem more important to the creators than tellling a believable story. Thus, let's hope for a fun action comic with some awesome art and I think we have a chance

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rook Exodus: Created by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, colorist is Brad Anderson, letterer Rob Leigh, cover artists are Jason Fabok and Brand Anderson. When life on Earth becomes more and more impossible, many people emigrate to a planet called Exodus, which has been terraformed into an alternate earth. But then the machine that runs the planet breaks down and the world begins to revert. The rich folk f;ee and the servants are left behind. Some of those servants are called “Wardens” and they have special helmets that allow them to communicate and generally control various forms of wildlife. The major character is Rook, who controls the crows. That control is never complete, of course. Now, one of the wardens seems intent on killing the others and taking their helmets so he can rule all the animals and by extension the planet. The art here is fantastic, although a little darker than I’d like for my old eyes. The story is pretty good but there are glitches here and there that don’t quite make sense. All in all, I liked it pretty well and may look for the sequel.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This issue is a perfect reminder of just how phenomenal Geoff Johns is as a writer. Rook: Exodus proves once again why he’s considered a legend in the industry. Johns not only introduces a brand-new world and its backstory seamlessly, but he also makes you immediately connect with the protagonist and his struggle. The concept itself is fantastic, these helmets, colossal creatures, and the psychological toll this world takes on Rook and the others create an atmosphere that’s both epic and deeply personal.
Jason Fabok’s art is equally spectacular. His attention to detail and command of scale perfectly complement Johns’ storytelling, and together they make an unbeatable creative team. Every page feels cinematic, and I couldn’t put it down. Rook: Exodus is breathtaking from start to finish, and I can’t wait to see where this world goes next. Highly recommended. Grade: A

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty great first issue. Fantastic art by Fabok while John’s weaves an interesting tale of intrigue and already high stakes. Sci fi and fantasy can sometimes take me a bit to get accommodated to the world but it was easy to get immersed in the setting laid out here. It also helps that our MC, Rook is sympathetic. His design is badass and intimidating but he’s just a farmer turned survivalist at heart. Even in this apocalyptic landscape he can’t help but show kindness at times.

This issue was pure set up, not much action here but hell of a cliffhanger for issue 2.

[Matthew Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best comics, I 've read in a long time. The story flows smoothly and it has a way of sucking you into it. The characters are interesting as well as the concept for the store. Making you want to keep reading.

The art is next level. the colors and illustration so beautiful. Show casing the uniqueness of the world this takes place on. The characters designs are different from other media.

This an excellent series!

[Chloe Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought when it first came out but never got round to it- I’ll be honest I thought it was gonna be some same stuck on a different planet tryna get back to earth bs… I was wrong😬 This was sooooooooo good, I feel like I’m gonna really like this series. The art and story line are so cool and have SUCH potential!

PISSED I DID NOT PUT THIS ON SUB THEN😭 now looking like £14 for next volume urghhhhhhhh

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting story concept, 'the end of yet another human inhabited world' ..lol

This human created world has decided to make each group of animals have a master, who is the servant of the real master, who is actually the servant of the boss who is under the leader who is connect to....jk but also seriously

[Ziyad Baksh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool worldbuilding.

The issue split into two halves- first half focuses on Rook scavenging for spaceship parts on planet Exodus. The second is a flashback explaining his background.

Its mostly setup but interesting enough for me to browse next issue.

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part Batman with Batmobile, part Black Panther with tribalism, part Mad Max Fury Road, part whatever that video game was with the giant animals roaming everywhere. Story would make an interesting novel but for a comic the grind may not be worth the patience.

[Raymond St. Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Yeah this comic has me interested in continuing reading thus far an the art is good enough to see what comes next. I wanted more but this is the opening issue of the story, prefer the following issues aren't a disappointment.

[Patrick Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

A deep, apocalyptic tale of one man struggling to survive on a newly-ruined world that's even worse than the one he sought to escape. Believable characters with believable behaviors.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

A very good comic. I am absolutely falling in love with this new universe. Top talent on top books. Very unique and awesome. Can't wait to catch up on all that I have missed. Super good.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. Definitely curious to keep going.

Art is stellar, like 10/10 holy crow (pun) fantastic.

[Alex Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Debbie Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first issue

This first issue of this book gives you everything and more you need to be excited for this new in print.

[Matt Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing world with a lot of potential for story lines and some good settings available.

[Ethan Jarmush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool as hell. Now hurry up and make more

[Stephanie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pulls you in quick! Enjoyed the concept of this series and IMAGERY is amazing!!