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Rachel Rising #4
Rachel Rising, Volume 4: Winter Graves
Aunt Johnny lies dead in a mortuary, Manson is buried under the snowstorm of the century and Jet is possessed by a 15-year-old boy from the 1600s. Rachel can save them all, if she can find the spell chest she buried 300 years ago. But first, she must learn the truth about her troubled past. This new volume collects issues #19 to 24 of Terry Moore's critically acclaimed series.
154 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2014
9 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Terry Moore
824 books649 followersFollowing the examples of independent comic creators such as Dave Sim and Jeff Smith, he decided to publish Strangers in Paradise himself through his own Houston-based "Abstract Studios" imprint, and has frequently mentioned a desire to do a syndicated cartoon strip in the authors notes at the back of the Strangers in Paradise collection books. He has also mentioned his greatest career influence is Peanuts' Charles Schulz.[1] Some of Moore's strip work can additionally be found in his Paradise, Too! publications.
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1-8, which was collected in the trade paperback "I Dream of You".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1-8, which was collected in the trade paperback "I Dream of You".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 28, 2023
The fourth volume of the Rachel Rising series is no less dark, cynical and full of strong women, black humor and horror than the first three volumes. It was especially interesting to read at Christmas of all days about the (impending) rise of the Antichrist …
Another masterful and very feminist work by Terry Moore, cartoonist and Godfather of Graphic Novel.
5 stars!
Another masterful and very feminist work by Terry Moore, cartoonist and Godfather of Graphic Novel.
5 stars!
January 1, 2020
This series continues to kill it (often literally). Rachel's flashbacks to her past life were brilliantly drawn. I love the visuals of her starting to awaken from time to time. Zoe is both hilarious and murderous. Moore continues to let his wicked humor shine through this macabre tale. I love how he continues to tie up plot threads while opening new ones. There's never a feeling of being strung along to sell more issues.
August 11, 2016
The (Evil) Priest: The world is a terrible place. Wouldn’t you like to reboot it? Just start over and get rid of everything that is wrong?
Zoe: Not if it means giving birth to the Anti-Christ!
Zoe, the Priest sees, is part of “the solution” (yes, like The Final Solution, ala Hitler, but he also wants to be the guy to help her give birth to the Anti-Christ). But in this arc, what does this exactly entail? We’ll see!
I like how each issue is framed by an epigraph, appropriate to a theme of that issue:
“Best friends, forever.
Thick or thin, whatever.
Old and gray, friends for life
To the grave and afterlife”
(which pertains to the girls, friends, who “arose” to fight the Anti-Christ, Lilith, Malus).
"Six little whores, glad to be alive,
One sidles up to Jack, then there are five."
(This is a reference to Jack the Ripper, a relative of Zoe, but also the name of the knife Jack the Ripper used, which was also in previous eons a sword of Satan, passed down to Zoe and used, in this volume, in an interesting way).
I like the little literary references in this series; in this one Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Doran Gray figures in, deftly.
Things occasionally get confusing; okay, let me give you an example from the central tale here of this volume: A long time ago, Bryn Erin and James, apparently teens, maybe younger, said they would marry when they grew up, but James would seem to have been killed, and so was Bryn Erin, as it turns out. . . but then (spoiler alert) James comes back and inhabits the body of Bryn Erin’s best friend Jet. . . yes, complicated! And let’s just say possibly embarrassing for a teen—no matter 300 years old—boy.
To make it more complicated, in a sort of humorous way, large, shy Earl had—has—a crush on the recently arisen Jet, now inhabited by a boy. Earl says to Rachel, “I don’t like it, this man in Jet’s body.” Ha! Some kinda twist on jealousy!
More bizarre horror humor: So Aunt Johnny is apparently dead, among others, poisoned by Lilith, but Earl and Dr. Siemens (yes, that’s his name!), work to prepare Johnny’s body for spirit reentry. As she was just about to die, the spirit left and now inhabits her. . . dog. . .yep, dog, but we have a problem: How can we get that spirit back into Aunt Johnny?! Because, you know, family and friends are everything. Horror always has to have this warm family and friends thing going on so the world can finally be set right. And gender-bending, apparently.
Okay, again, the pace of this is steady and none too fast, but there’s near the end of this volume a really powerful visual of the (spoiler alert) hung witches of Manson, rising into the air, just in case you were wondering if it might be worthwhile. But whew! It is! I like all the clever friend dialogue and humorous touches amidst the (black and white, not bloody) gore.
Big satisfying finish to this arc, involving Lilith, Zoe and Malus (the bad guys) and (the good guys) Bryn Erin, James and his sister Mary Scott. The last epigraph is telling: "Death is not the worst thing that can happen to you"--Plato
Zoe: Not if it means giving birth to the Anti-Christ!
Zoe, the Priest sees, is part of “the solution” (yes, like The Final Solution, ala Hitler, but he also wants to be the guy to help her give birth to the Anti-Christ). But in this arc, what does this exactly entail? We’ll see!
I like how each issue is framed by an epigraph, appropriate to a theme of that issue:
“Best friends, forever.
Thick or thin, whatever.
Old and gray, friends for life
To the grave and afterlife”
(which pertains to the girls, friends, who “arose” to fight the Anti-Christ, Lilith, Malus).
"Six little whores, glad to be alive,
One sidles up to Jack, then there are five."
(This is a reference to Jack the Ripper, a relative of Zoe, but also the name of the knife Jack the Ripper used, which was also in previous eons a sword of Satan, passed down to Zoe and used, in this volume, in an interesting way).
I like the little literary references in this series; in this one Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Doran Gray figures in, deftly.
Things occasionally get confusing; okay, let me give you an example from the central tale here of this volume: A long time ago, Bryn Erin and James, apparently teens, maybe younger, said they would marry when they grew up, but James would seem to have been killed, and so was Bryn Erin, as it turns out. . . but then (spoiler alert) James comes back and inhabits the body of Bryn Erin’s best friend Jet. . . yes, complicated! And let’s just say possibly embarrassing for a teen—no matter 300 years old—boy.
To make it more complicated, in a sort of humorous way, large, shy Earl had—has—a crush on the recently arisen Jet, now inhabited by a boy. Earl says to Rachel, “I don’t like it, this man in Jet’s body.” Ha! Some kinda twist on jealousy!
More bizarre horror humor: So Aunt Johnny is apparently dead, among others, poisoned by Lilith, but Earl and Dr. Siemens (yes, that’s his name!), work to prepare Johnny’s body for spirit reentry. As she was just about to die, the spirit left and now inhabits her. . . dog. . .yep, dog, but we have a problem: How can we get that spirit back into Aunt Johnny?! Because, you know, family and friends are everything. Horror always has to have this warm family and friends thing going on so the world can finally be set right. And gender-bending, apparently.
Okay, again, the pace of this is steady and none too fast, but there’s near the end of this volume a really powerful visual of the (spoiler alert) hung witches of Manson, rising into the air, just in case you were wondering if it might be worthwhile. But whew! It is! I like all the clever friend dialogue and humorous touches amidst the (black and white, not bloody) gore.
Big satisfying finish to this arc, involving Lilith, Zoe and Malus (the bad guys) and (the good guys) Bryn Erin, James and his sister Mary Scott. The last epigraph is telling: "Death is not the worst thing that can happen to you"--Plato
July 10, 2018
Such a wonderful story. Eloquently written with likeable characters and unpredcitable interactions make this a unique graphic novel.
October 25, 2014
I know the series isn't finished yet, but this rating is more for the entire run to date than any single volume. I think Rachel Rising is going to rival Echo for being my favorite Terry Moore title, and the good thing is they are both different genres that sometimes touch upon common themes. I'm enjoying seeing Moore show his flexibility as a writer.
Rachel is probably the most steadfast member of the cast, and while her character has changed the least so far, that's fine. I think Rachel has one main purpose in this story, and that is to stop Lilith and preserve the people of Manson. I'm certain, depending on the title's eventual length, that Rachel will do more, but if it ends soon her upcoming confrontation with Lilith will be her main story line.
Jet remains the character who keeps getting bounced around and providing surprises and humor. In this volume Zoe's story and character arguably gets advanced the most, and in a direction I didn't expect. Poor Malus, it looks like his plan might not go the way he expected it would.
And, yes if you read volume 3, the cast is dealing with the repercussions of the ending of that volume (I refuse to give out spoilers here for this).
Rachel is probably the most steadfast member of the cast, and while her character has changed the least so far, that's fine. I think Rachel has one main purpose in this story, and that is to stop Lilith and preserve the people of Manson. I'm certain, depending on the title's eventual length, that Rachel will do more, but if it ends soon her upcoming confrontation with Lilith will be her main story line.
Jet remains the character who keeps getting bounced around and providing surprises and humor. In this volume Zoe's story and character arguably gets advanced the most, and in a direction I didn't expect. Poor Malus, it looks like his plan might not go the way he expected it would.
And, yes if you read volume 3, the cast is dealing with the repercussions of the ending of that volume (I refuse to give out spoilers here for this).
January 7, 2017
THIS.IS.AWESOME.
Lmfaooo I'm absolutely hooked. The dark humor , the twists and turns and the overall unbelievability is just!!
January 31, 2016
This is much better than volume three. There is a lot of action, and the climax at the end is pretty intense. The ending left me wondering where this series will go next.
January 24, 2017
Wow that was unexpected!
World: The art is fantastic, I've talked about it and I don't need to say anymore. The world building is solid also with lots of history and context which we've been waiting for. Add to that the character moments in the past that inform the characters making it more deep. Great!
Story: The story was frantic! This is the mid series finale and all the pieces have been moving to have the end we see in this arc. It's well written, the dialog is great, the pacing is wonderful and the consequences felt. I really liked how it called back to the past giving readers some insight but also giving us a look at the future and how this series will move forward. Things are already in place for the next half of the series.
Characters: The characters are great and another wrinkle into the story made it so much more interesting. The pieces are in place and I like how Rachel and the team are seeing things and learning as we learn giving readers very relatable characters. Wow the end was great! I can't wait for the story to move forward with these characters.
Amazing!
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fantastic, I've talked about it and I don't need to say anymore. The world building is solid also with lots of history and context which we've been waiting for. Add to that the character moments in the past that inform the characters making it more deep. Great!
Story: The story was frantic! This is the mid series finale and all the pieces have been moving to have the end we see in this arc. It's well written, the dialog is great, the pacing is wonderful and the consequences felt. I really liked how it called back to the past giving readers some insight but also giving us a look at the future and how this series will move forward. Things are already in place for the next half of the series.
Characters: The characters are great and another wrinkle into the story made it so much more interesting. The pieces are in place and I like how Rachel and the team are seeing things and learning as we learn giving readers very relatable characters. Wow the end was great! I can't wait for the story to move forward with these characters.
Amazing!
Onward to the next book!
August 10, 2016
More answers, more questions, once again.
Terry Moore is hilarious when he wants to be. Zoe's dialogue is priceless.
There were two standout visually creative sequences in v4. First the POV panels as the recently poisoned Rachel fades in and out of consciousness. Second when the power goes out and Rachel stumbles through a house. Each panel is framed as if she's moving sightlessly through a furnished room, and Rachel is drawn clearly, but the background is perfectly black. It conveys her experience of body awareness but absolute blindness.
Plot points:
Terry Moore is hilarious when he wants to be. Zoe's dialogue is priceless.
There were two standout visually creative sequences in v4. First the POV panels as the recently poisoned Rachel fades in and out of consciousness. Second when the power goes out and Rachel stumbles through a house. Each panel is framed as if she's moving sightlessly through a furnished room, and Rachel is drawn clearly, but the background is perfectly black. It conveys her experience of body awareness but absolute blindness.
Plot points:
September 3, 2019
Наче як, тут має завершення одна із основних сюжеток серії, сюжетка помсти.
Тим часом, мала Реґан Макнікл (іф ю ноу, уот аі мін) стає дедалі цікавішим персонажем.
Поки що найбільше це нагадує "Рівердейл", при чому навіть не у форматі нового коміксного "Арчі", а у інтерпретації від Netflix. Не добре, не погано, просто легко та бадьоро.
Пи. Си.: відгуки на окремі томи цілої серії - справа доволі дивна, бо і спонукати тих, хто це читає, має лише до вибору "закинути" чи "продовжити". і я шось не сильно можу не спойлерити та писати про таке
Тим часом, мала Реґан Макнікл (іф ю ноу, уот аі мін) стає дедалі цікавішим персонажем.
Поки що найбільше це нагадує "Рівердейл", при чому навіть не у форматі нового коміксного "Арчі", а у інтерпретації від Netflix. Не добре, не погано, просто легко та бадьоро.
Пи. Си.: відгуки на окремі томи цілої серії - справа доволі дивна, бо і спонукати тих, хто це читає, має лише до вибору "закинути" чи "продовжити". і я шось не сильно можу не спойлерити та писати про таке
December 15, 2023
Contradiction
How can a graphic novel be so dark, so bloody, contain such malice & evil, yet still be simultaneously hilarious? It is a constant struggle for me because I want to move ahead to see what happens next (I am not very mature), and I want to savor it, make sure I don't miss a detail or a nuance. Terry Moore's work overall is terrific, spell binding & in need if multiple reads.
How can a graphic novel be so dark, so bloody, contain such malice & evil, yet still be simultaneously hilarious? It is a constant struggle for me because I want to move ahead to see what happens next (I am not very mature), and I want to savor it, make sure I don't miss a detail or a nuance. Terry Moore's work overall is terrific, spell binding & in need if multiple reads.
January 8, 2021
4.5/5* this story is shaping up to be everything i ever wanted from the topics it explores!
January 5, 2020
Aunt Johnny lies dead in a mortuary, Manson is buried under the snowstorm of the century and Jet is possessed by a 15-year-old boy from the 1600s. Rachel can save them all, if she can find the spell chest she buried 300 years ago. But first, she must learn the truth about her troubled past.
January 3, 2021
The best volume to date in this series. A really nice mix of humor as Zoe seems to be growing into a distinct character/voice. Really looking forward to what's coming next.
May 17, 2025
Incredible story arc!
Fantastic art, dialogue, pacing, and story from beginning to end. I was often wowed by this series! I’m very happy the story continues.
Fantastic art, dialogue, pacing, and story from beginning to end. I was often wowed by this series! I’m very happy the story continues.
November 28, 2016
Unlike the previous volumes there's some quality humor here. Kinda dark, but that's how I like it. I'm glad I got this far. It looks like there are a great many things to be revealed still.
April 18, 2014
Not for the faint of heart, this series is fucking sickening. But like, in a good way. Visceral, sadistic, cold, uncomfortable, and dark, yet so, so readable. I don't get it. I love it, yet I understand how gruesome it is. Yet I love it.
It's a female, semi-ensemble cast that celebrates female power by eviscerating it's ladies. I don't get it. But I love it. Another fantastic installment.
It's a female, semi-ensemble cast that celebrates female power by eviscerating it's ladies. I don't get it. But I love it. Another fantastic installment.
March 5, 2016
This volume sheds some light on the past - of Lillith, Rachel and the spirit possessing her, the town, and the horrible thing that Lillith wants revenge for. I'm really wondering where this story is going. Creepy and cool!
Similar titles:
Fatale
Similar titles:
Fatale
March 28, 2015
And the plot moves forward, which I like, but I predicted a lot of what happened in this volume. Still good, but not wowing me in any one facet (story, dialogue, art).
February 8, 2022
Rachel is strangled to death by a perverted serial killer and left to rot in a shallow grave. Not long after that, Rachel rises from her grave in nearly perfect condition. She meets up with her aunt who works as a coroner to discuss her miraculous defiance of death in hopes of catching the man who killed her, but things get even more complex. Rachel finds herself to be caught up in a twisted revenge plot that has been in the making for centuries, a plot that defies time, death and the limits of human existence.
Rachel Rising is a true hidden horror gem in the world of graphic novels. The plot is insanely original, reminiscent of the darker side of Neil Gaiman, China Meiville, Gerald Brom and other writers of morbidly beautiful tales of magical realism. The story starts off as a simple psychological thriller, but gradually ramps things up with elements of paranormal horror, Christian mythology and gruesome surrealism.
Though there are some truly horrifying and grotesque things that happen all throughout the story, it also manages to handle comedy and romance extremely well. I genuinely felt invested in all the friendships, romantic relationships and laughed out loud quite a few times. The comedy is morbid as hell and the romance feels earned. It doesn’t feel out of place with the dark fantasy and horror elements at all. The fine balance of all these qualities reminds me of Preacher a bit.
The art is stunning. The character expressions are some of the most highly detailed I’ve ever seen. I loved all the main characters. My favorites were the mortician Aunt Johnny and a little psychopath girl named Zoe who brutally murders people throughout the entire story while somehow remaining consistently charming, hilarious and empathetic.
Great series!
Rachel Rising is a true hidden horror gem in the world of graphic novels. The plot is insanely original, reminiscent of the darker side of Neil Gaiman, China Meiville, Gerald Brom and other writers of morbidly beautiful tales of magical realism. The story starts off as a simple psychological thriller, but gradually ramps things up with elements of paranormal horror, Christian mythology and gruesome surrealism.
Though there are some truly horrifying and grotesque things that happen all throughout the story, it also manages to handle comedy and romance extremely well. I genuinely felt invested in all the friendships, romantic relationships and laughed out loud quite a few times. The comedy is morbid as hell and the romance feels earned. It doesn’t feel out of place with the dark fantasy and horror elements at all. The fine balance of all these qualities reminds me of Preacher a bit.
The art is stunning. The character expressions are some of the most highly detailed I’ve ever seen. I loved all the main characters. My favorites were the mortician Aunt Johnny and a little psychopath girl named Zoe who brutally murders people throughout the entire story while somehow remaining consistently charming, hilarious and empathetic.
Great series!
February 18, 2018
Ad essere onesti, non son mica sicura che questa serie mi piaccia.
Da un lato Rachel come protagonista è favolosa: ciò che è diventata, come si comporta, le battutacce. Dall'altro, però, la storia è veramente confusa a volte. Dubito che una terza lettura aiuterà. E poi, caspita, ho tanta roba da leggere e non mi va di dover leggere qualcosa tre volte prima che mi si accenda la lampadina.
Forse l'autore ha aggiunto troppa carne al fuoco e fa fatica a gestirla. Ci son alcune ragazze che non muoiono; altre che hanno il potere (??) di uccidere chiunque; ci sono ragazzi che si risvegliano nel corpo di una ragazza trecento anni dopo essere morti; ma ci sono anche demoni e Lilith, la prima donna; c'è un vecchio dottore che tiene in casa il cadavere della moglie (e si lamenta che, "giocando" con lui, si staccano sempre dei pezzi)... Ecco, troppa roba. E solo 128 pagine per volume.
Va beh, ormai finisco la serie visto che mancano solo tre volumi.
Da un lato Rachel come protagonista è favolosa: ciò che è diventata, come si comporta, le battutacce. Dall'altro, però, la storia è veramente confusa a volte. Dubito che una terza lettura aiuterà. E poi, caspita, ho tanta roba da leggere e non mi va di dover leggere qualcosa tre volte prima che mi si accenda la lampadina.
Forse l'autore ha aggiunto troppa carne al fuoco e fa fatica a gestirla. Ci son alcune ragazze che non muoiono; altre che hanno il potere (??) di uccidere chiunque; ci sono ragazzi che si risvegliano nel corpo di una ragazza trecento anni dopo essere morti; ma ci sono anche demoni e Lilith, la prima donna; c'è un vecchio dottore che tiene in casa il cadavere della moglie (e si lamenta che, "giocando" con lui, si staccano sempre dei pezzi)... Ecco, troppa roba. E solo 128 pagine per volume.
Va beh, ormai finisco la serie visto che mancano solo tre volumi.
October 29, 2023
The town of Manson is having the snowstorm of the century, much like my fine city of Detroit did this past winter when we shattered the previous record snowfall set in 1880-81. It always snows in Manson, just like it snowed almost every day in Detroit this past winter. Rachel and Jet are possessed by victims of Manson's dark past. Manson was the site of witch hunts 300 years ago, and Moore does a great job tying the past into the present. Now about the future...Malus isn't going to be satisfied by anything less than the end of all, is he (it)?
Sorry to be so vague, folks. This series is deceptively simple yet pleasingly nuanced. While it is a Horror comic, it is a subtle Horror bordering on drama. It's still not too late to jump on board, folks. No fair weather fans or bandwagon accusations here in comic books.
Sorry to be so vague, folks. This series is deceptively simple yet pleasingly nuanced. While it is a Horror comic, it is a subtle Horror bordering on drama. It's still not too late to jump on board, folks. No fair weather fans or bandwagon accusations here in comic books.
October 5, 2025
Rachel and Jet were poisoned, but they didn’t die. Of course!
I didn’t really get the history. Was that Rachel’s memory from when she was lying dead?
For once, the little girl redeems herself and spares the dog…but then she runs down the dog owner. Well, that was cool…as long as the dog was alright.
Such action. Such violence. The violence can get pretty gruesome. Makes me glad that this was in black and white. A good read!
I didn’t really get the history. Was that Rachel’s memory from when she was lying dead?
For once, the little girl redeems herself and spares the dog…but then she runs down the dog owner. Well, that was cool…as long as the dog was alright.
Such action. Such violence. The violence can get pretty gruesome. Makes me glad that this was in black and white. A good read!
July 2, 2018
This series just continues to impress me. Every time Moore throws a wrench in to the works, I expect it not to work... and then, it does. At this point, I'm a little afraid that I'm starting to get some of the character arcs confused (the black and white art isn't helping), but I'm largely enjoying this.
July 6, 2021
The past is becoming clearer, now with the appearance of Rachel's old flame, but nothing is simple, so of course he's in Jet's body. And Aunt Johnny is dead (really, it was her turn). Rachel can save everyone, only if she can find her box of magic from back when, which is buried under a whole bunch of concrete, which is buried under a whole bunch of snow. Zoe continues to add to the body count.
May 8, 2020
Things are seriously going south in Manson, Massachusetts these days, not that things were really any better 300 years ago...
I nominate this page for best-in-graphic-novel:
I nominate this page for best-in-graphic-novel:
May 19, 2023
This was good. Not nearly as good as the first volume, but better than two and three. The characters are well written, and new depth keeps being added. The artwork is great, and the black and white, as always, is moody and fitting.
December 31, 2016
Ok... i REALLY like Rachel Rising. I love the story so far! Cant wait to real vol5!
Lat book I've read in 2016.
Lat book I've read in 2016.
November 7, 2017
God, I love this series.
November 21, 2017
Stunning, horrifying, occasionally funny, and always full of character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews