Memetic: The Apocalyptic Trilogy

by James Tynion IV, Eryk Donovan (illustrator)

Genres: Comics

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2025

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

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memetic: The Apocalyptic Trilogy by James Tynion IV collects Memetic, Cognetic, and Eugenic into one bold and unsettling exploration of how humanity might face the end. Memetic kicks things off with the story of a viral image that spreads across the internet, driving those who see it into violent madness within three days. Cognetic shifts gears, diving into questions of control and free will through a psychic entity capable of bending entire populations to its influence. Finally, Eugenic leaps into the future, showing a chilling vision of humanity reshaped by science into something almost unrecognisable.

I thought this trilogy was excellent overall. The artwork is strong throughout and fits the escalating sense of dread and awe, while the stories themselves manage to feel distinct yet connected thematically. Tynion plays with different apocalyptic scenarios in ways that are creative, thought-provoking, and at times deeply unsettling. Even when the ideas felt heavy, I found myself pulled along by both the visuals and the concepts - a fantastic read that lingers long after finishing.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but with: a meme, psychic warfare, and eugenics.

Tynion's opening salvo of comics, while a bit depressing, really interested me so I was glad to finally get a chance to read them.

[John Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unpleasant and uninteresting.