Geiger, Vol. 3

Geiger #7-8, 15-17

by Geoff Johns (Writer), Gary Frank (Illustrator), Paul Pelletier (Illustrator)

The critically acclaimed team of storytellers Geoff Johns and Gary Frank return to the nuclear wasteland in the third volume of GEIGER!

On his quest to find a cure to his radioactive existence, Tariq Geiger, Barney, and Nate the Nuclear Knight come across a hidden community in the wastelands—one that offers an echo of what once was suburban America…and a hope for what it could be again. But dark forces in pursuit of The Glowing Man—namely Nate’s former comrades-in-arms from the Camelot casino and their formidable leader, the New King—threaten to destroy it all, and only Geiger's unleashed rage can stop them. But will Tariq go too far? The answer: yes, and he will never be the same again.

This new edition also includes Geiger: Ground Zero #1-#2 that recounts the days soon after The Unknown War rained nuclear devastation across the U.S. Experience Tariq Geiger’s earliest days as the Glowing Man, trying to survive his new normal and the hellish landscape left in the wake of war.

Collects Geiger Vol 2 (2024) #7-#9 & Geiger: Ground Zero #1-#2.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2025

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-) 80% | Very Good
Notes: Sidetrack plots (both add a lot) build out and quilt the world: what still exists, how folk persist, and origins unfurled.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #7-9 ◦ Geiger: Ground Zero #1-2

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geiger & Nate continue the search for a cure.



Supposedly, that was someone else like Tariq, and supposedly, he found a cure for his condition. We shall see...
But along the way, Geiger, Nate the Nuclear Knight, Barney the two-headed dog, and ZigZag the 3-eyed zebra run into a group of survivors that have managed to stay hidden and create a somewhat normal community. Except for the book burning. Ok, and while I'm (obviously) very anti-book burning, this was oddly crammed in there and didn't make much sense.
The leader was trying to protect the children from all of the "ideas" that led the world into this mess. But it was stupid because burning children's books didn't fit that narrative. I could see it if he was burning books on engineering or weapons making or even religion...but not just any old book. While I appreciate Johns taking a stand on censorship, this kind of fell flat for me.
Though sometimes I look around and think that maybe I've been giving people too much credit, and this sort of stupidity is just a breath away.



The second part of the volume was basically the origin of Tariq's rods that allow him to wander around without frying everyone who comes near him. It's told from the point of view of a man who is searching for his wife.



I didn't think this one was as good as the first two volumes, but it still continues to be a really good comic.
Recommended.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're going to do a "Post Apocalyptic Survival/Quest" story it should be at least this good in terms of writing and art quality.

Hints are beginning to emerge as to how this story will intersect with the related titles, I'm not entirely sold a shared universe was required but then again I'm not a corporate honcho who will be shopping it around to potential TV or film adaptations, either. We'll see how it goes!

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world gets fleshed out..in the two GROUND ZERO issues and the continuation of the main story in #7/9.
compelling.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here we are: Geiger, Vol. 3. At this point, Geoff Johns could hand me a radioactive grocery list scrawled in fallout dust and I’d still be on board.

After two killer volumes, this one arrives like a well-aimed nuke to the face: explosive, emotional, and, while sadly shorter than the previous 2 volumes, it somehow remains just as good. Volume 3 does exactly what a third act should, taking all the groundwork from Volumes 1 and 2 and starts setting fire to it (sometimes literally).

The plot opens up in big ways, and Johns leans all the way in on the mythology of Geiger, transforming him from a lone, tragic wanderer into a true legend of the wasteland. There’s more lore, more emotion, and more nuclear chaos, and it still never feels bloated or self-indulgent. It’s tight, smart, and keeps moving like it’s afraid you might stop to breathe.

At this point, Geiger himself is no longer just “that glowy guy with a tragic backstory.” He’s become a full-on myth—equal parts protector, ghost, and walking cautionary tale. And yet, Johns doesn’t lose the human core of the character. There are some real emotional moments here, ones that remind you this guy isn’t just fighting mutants and warlords; he’s carrying the weight of everything he’s lost and everything he’s trying to protect. He might be radioactive, but damn if he isn’t relatable.

This marks my third Johns original comic (Redcoat was a blast, Geiger is now three-for-three), and I’m not even pretending to resist anymore. Whatever this “Unnamed Universe” is building toward, I’m here for it. Johns clearly has a long game in mind, and if the journey continues to be this good, I’ll follow it into the irradiated sunset.

Geiger, Vol. 3 isn’t just another entry in a cool post-apocalyptic comic: it’s the point where everything starts to feel epic. The story expands, the characters deepen, and when Gary Frank is in charge of the artwork, it’s one of the best illustrated comics of all time (giving the incomparable Janell Duursema a run for her money). This entire story of Tariq Geiger is emotionally charged, visually stunning, and proof that even in a world reduced to ash and madness, good storytelling still shines brightest. Or glows brightest. Whatever. You get it.

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geiger Volume 3 continues the story of Tariq Geiger, also known as The Glowing Man, as he roams across a post-apocalyptic America with his companions, Nate the Nuclear Knight (and his baby zebra), and Barney, the two-headed dog. They are being pursued by the New King and his men, out for revenge for killing the Old King. This volume includes Geiger issues 7 through 9 and the two-issue mini-series, Geiger: Ground Zero, which recounts the time directly after the The Unknown War and tells the origin of how Geiger got his radioactive powers under control with the help of a Russian defector/scientist named Molotov.

I enjoy this series as something different from either Marvel or DC (where Johns made his name) and not a typical superhero story. Johns is a writer who understands comics, letting the art of his collaborators (especially Gary Frank, with whom he did some memorable Superman stories) tell the story. I always enjoy a comic book writer who knows when to shut up and let the art tell the story. That’s what comics are all about.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

ground zero was an exceptional read. we finally get to witness how Tariq (the glowing man) manages to survive the nuclear catastrophe that has decimated the U.S. And how he comes across the Boron rods that keep his radioactive powers in check.

and in the present timeline, Tariq and Nate, the Knight continue their arduous journey to find the other "glowing man" who may have been cured. another fun volume! can't wait for the next.

[Ferenc · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/5 - Graphic Novels
3/5 - Science Fiction / Dystopia
3/5 - Characters
2/5 - Story

[Chris Moutafis · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love independent comics ! I want to explore this world and learn all the lore

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a solid series with excellent artwork. By the end of this third volume, everything is in place for some really big world building.

3.5/5

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really dug this volume again. I think Geoff Johns really has a great main lead in Tariq Geiger (the Glowing Man) and a strong supporting cast, especially his canine companion, Bongo.

This time we deal with a new group of characters: The Unkowns (or the "Knowns," depending on who you ask). Geiger deals with a group of isolated kids, the last remnants of a pre-war society, living in a hidden, high-tech fallout shelter—and protecting them. He eventually brings them back to their home only to realize their parents (the adults of the Knowns/Unkowns) are doing them a disservice. Not letting them learn from actual books about the world's history before the "The Great Blast" is essentially a form of psychological abuse. Keeping them isolated and ignorant of the truth can be their downfall.

But it’s when the Knights of the Atomic Thunder—the militant faction hunting Geiger—come after the group that things get explosive. We get some really brutal fights, especially involving the lethal and mysterious Americommando, and some intense deaths. Overall, some great shit when it comes to that part of the action.

The volume also includes the “Ground Zero” prequel special, which is solid. It focuses on the moments Tariq sacrificed himself during The Great Blast, giving us good context and adding more sadness to his character's origin.

Overall, Geiger is a very strong work that only gets better the more Johns and [artist] Gary Frank focus on the Glowing Man's painful humanity.

A 4 out of 5.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume was so good. We get to see Nate and Geiger team up to go to a new town and we see how the people have made a life for themselves and the whole thing with the elders there not wanting the children to read books as they propagate new and dangerous ideas and all the like and how that impacts Geiger then the coming of the NEW KING from LV and his army and Nate and Geiger fighting them and its a cool fight and you can see how dangerous Geiger is and the attack on Nate and him fearing losing control and the doubts starting to creep in and tease of whats to come!

And then it collects "Ground Zero" 2 issues which tells the story of Dr Molotov or rather from his pov and we see who he is and his contributions which led to the Unknown war and how he meets and helps Geiger and in controlling his power, he gave him the rods basically and I love the story. It brings another POV to this story and showcase this hero and fleshes out the larger story behind the circumstances which we find this world in. I wish it could have been a bit longer than 2 issues but it does the job and shows another side of the origin of this hero!

Its a fun volume and continues one of the best ongoing series atm and I am really enjoying it! Definitely read it if you're reading this series already!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume includes the next 3 issues of the main Geiger book, and the two issue Ground Zero mini-series that came out between the first mini-series and the ongoing series.

The first three issue arc welcomes Paul Pelletier on as guest artist, which is a nice surprise, even if the story's a little predictable. There looked to be a moral about book burning in here somewhere, but they kind of walked past it to have Geiger blow people up instead, which...y'know, I get it.

The story from Ground Zero feels like a re-tread, but I can't remember for the life of me if it's because it's a story that slots into previous Geiger stories, or because I've read it before. It's still effective, don't get me wrong, it's probably my own memory playing tricks on me.

Still solid, if a bit less substantial than the first two trades. The flashback/sideways stuff with Junkyard Joe and the other Ghost Machine characters gets me every time, though. I can't wait for all these books to collide.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I've read a few other Ghost Machines series, it's clear that Geiger is the unparalleled front-runner. I think that stems from the fact that it's very judicious with the world-building and instead focuses on character work. You can't not like the Knight, and you've got to keep reading to find out whether the brooding Tariq will ever care about anything ever again.

This volume packages another battle between Tariq and the Vegas folks, as well as Tariq and the Knight's discovery of a town that survived mostly unscathed. There are those weird hints at a bigger world, like GI Robot showing up in the town after the pair leave. Someday: a crossover! Sigh.

The back half of the volume features prequel material showing how a Russian scientist helped Tariq settle down shortly after the Unknown War filled him with nuclear energy. Gently paced and thoughtful, this is a good addition to the world.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chef's Kiss Too sick to do a video review, so here we go. This time around Tariq and his knight fight the king and his men to save the children from them. Once defeated, Tariq and his crew venture out to find the other glowing man. And then the other story is the backstory of Tariq with his family and how he met a doctor who made him the rods to control the radiation. Great story and awesome graphics.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I thought the juxtaposition of his actions with his family and the town that is cut off from everything was super interesting. I loved the flashback learning about how he got his rods and how they function. This one just really hit. We had great discussions about the importance of books, an interesting moment between the knight and the glowing man, and some backstory facts that I really needed to get into this story.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geiger, the Glowing Man is a post-apocalyptic super hero and has a hero's journey that parallels a typical one. He is visually appealing (the art is effective, especially when Frank is on duty). He has a sidekick (who provides a bit of conscience) and a couple of weird pets, a two-headed dog and a three-eyed baby zebra.

This has a bit of back story as well.

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was more like half a story with a bunch of promotional content for there lame crossover series. Im not on board and i don't see how they will sensibly mesh together 🤷🏽

If they actually finish any of individual storylines first, i will probably just stop at that.

3.1✨

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geiger and Nate the Knight find a small town that was untouched by the nuclear war when they help some children in a 3 issue story drawn by Paul Pelletier. Then we see some of Tariq's history after the bomb dropped and how he got his control rods. It's all good stuff with great art.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only three issues of the main story? This thing is proceeding at a snail's pace. The art continues to be the main recommendation here. The story stays goofy and old-fashioned, though I do like the emphasis on books and how important they are and can be as an escape.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I know he's a glowing abomination wandering a cruel and unforgiving nuclear wasteland as a pre-blast academic with cancer who is now plagued with memories of his family and how he failed them, but I wish he'd lighten up.

[Eric Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a somewhat slow start with volume 1, volumes 2 and 3 have not disappointed, advancing the overall story in exciting ways. This volume was great, and offered some needed backstory for Geiger's origin.

[Bo Dixen Pedersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back story moves along the plot more than the main story.

My main criticism is that nothing much happens it's all a setup. Geiger sort of just wanders around and is heading to the next destination in this one and stuff happens.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more you read, the more heartbreaking and human the characters become.

[Minki Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

+ Still fun, rich world and atmosphere, other ghost machine titles starting merge with Geiger world
- Overarching plot is slow moving, filler-y arc that doesn't add much other than to entertain

[Luke Costin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geoff Johns is just so damn readable.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as volumes 1 and 2, but still a fun story.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Adam Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

He surviving, he reading, he chilling. Barney is still the main character.