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Y: The Last Man #3-4
Y: The Last Man, Book Two
No MAN’s Land
In 2002, the world changes forever. Every man, every boy, every mammal with a Y chromosome everywhere on Earth suddenly collapses and dies. With the loss of nearly half the planet’s population, the gears of society grind to a halt, and a world of women are left to pick up the pieces and try to keep civilization from collapsing entirely.
The “gendercide,” however, is not absolutely complete. For some unknown reason, one young man named Yorick Brown and his pet male monkey, Ampersand, are spared. Overnight, this anonymous twentysomething becomes the most important person on the planet — the key, it is hoped, to unlocking the secret of the mysterious sex-specific plague.
For Yorick himself, the most important person on the planet is 10,000 miles away — and he will stop at nothing to find her. But as he travels across this strange new world, both danger and opportunity alike threaten to derail his journey — and with it the future of the human race.
Writer Brian K. Vaughn and artist Pia Guerra’s acclaimed VERTIGO series Y: THE LAST MAN brings to vivid life the age-old speculation: What would really happen to the last man on Earth?
Collects Y: THE LAST MAN 11-23.
In 2002, the world changes forever. Every man, every boy, every mammal with a Y chromosome everywhere on Earth suddenly collapses and dies. With the loss of nearly half the planet’s population, the gears of society grind to a halt, and a world of women are left to pick up the pieces and try to keep civilization from collapsing entirely.
The “gendercide,” however, is not absolutely complete. For some unknown reason, one young man named Yorick Brown and his pet male monkey, Ampersand, are spared. Overnight, this anonymous twentysomething becomes the most important person on the planet — the key, it is hoped, to unlocking the secret of the mysterious sex-specific plague.
For Yorick himself, the most important person on the planet is 10,000 miles away — and he will stop at nothing to find her. But as he travels across this strange new world, both danger and opportunity alike threaten to derail his journey — and with it the future of the human race.
Writer Brian K. Vaughn and artist Pia Guerra’s acclaimed VERTIGO series Y: THE LAST MAN brings to vivid life the age-old speculation: What would really happen to the last man on Earth?
Collects Y: THE LAST MAN 11-23.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2009
139 people are currently reading
1419 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,059 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 489 reviews
July 31, 2020
(A-) 82% | Very Good
Notes: It uses peril as a vehicle for backstory, while its sparse backcountry landscape accentuates dread, desolation and loss.
Notes: It uses peril as a vehicle for backstory, while its sparse backcountry landscape accentuates dread, desolation and loss.
September 29, 2019
3-1/2 stars
I'm not sure I have a ton to say about this installment. The story is interesting enough to keep me reading, and the artwork is appealing, even in the scenes spattered with blood.
I personally found the Arizona/southern belle ladies of the militia story line to be absolutely chilling.
I do admire how this series does an excellent job of reflecting all the various kinds of women there are, and filling its world with them (why, almost as if women were just regular people!). On the other hand, it does still have a bit of a feel of being written by a man, and it's a little aggravating to me that the story of a world populated almost entirely by women is getting told through the eyes of a man.
So, mixed feelings here. But I am very fond of the little core group of characters, and committed to seeing them through to however this story ends.
I'm not sure I have a ton to say about this installment. The story is interesting enough to keep me reading, and the artwork is appealing, even in the scenes spattered with blood.
I personally found the Arizona/southern belle ladies of the militia story line to be absolutely chilling.
I do admire how this series does an excellent job of reflecting all the various kinds of women there are, and filling its world with them (why, almost as if women were just regular people!). On the other hand, it does still have a bit of a feel of being written by a man, and it's a little aggravating to me that the story of a world populated almost entirely by women is getting told through the eyes of a man.
So, mixed feelings here. But I am very fond of the little core group of characters, and committed to seeing them through to however this story ends.
September 27, 2021
Reading this series with GoodReadseses own delight, Old Woman Anne!
Still not blown away by this series. The only character that's interesting and/or likeable is 355, and she's as much as a cypher as most of the characters, except in her case that cypherness is part of her character.
I feel the series (at least up til now) has weak narrative thrust, because their goals are so vague.. I get it, we're off to California, because Dr Mann needs her laboratory.. but why? Why can't she use the laboratory in the secret government lab we visit in this Book..?
Yordick wants to go to Australia to find Beth, which is such a vague and huuuge undertaking - it's almost impossible currently to travel by air, and then Australia itself is enormous.
Yorrick's quest also lacks urgency because he constantly is falling for all these damn ladies that want to have sex with him, for whatever reason.
I like that Vaughan tries to retcon Yorrick's braindeadness in earlier volumes, but making it because he has suicidal thoughts feels like it comes out of nowhere. And then we get sexy therapy, as if this is an early 90s Vertigo title.
I don't know what to do with the theater story.. it feels like Vaughan trying to do a Neil Gaiman, and failing at it.
On and on we go..
Still not blown away by this series. The only character that's interesting and/or likeable is 355, and she's as much as a cypher as most of the characters, except in her case that cypherness is part of her character.
I feel the series (at least up til now) has weak narrative thrust, because their goals are so vague.. I get it, we're off to California, because Dr Mann needs her laboratory.. but why? Why can't she use the laboratory in the secret government lab we visit in this Book..?
Yordick wants to go to Australia to find Beth, which is such a vague and huuuge undertaking - it's almost impossible currently to travel by air, and then Australia itself is enormous.
Yorrick's quest also lacks urgency because he constantly is falling for all these damn ladies that want to have sex with him, for whatever reason.
I like that Vaughan tries to retcon Yorrick's braindeadness in earlier volumes, but making it because he has suicidal thoughts feels like it comes out of nowhere. And then we get sexy therapy, as if this is an early 90s Vertigo title.
I don't know what to do with the theater story.. it feels like Vaughan trying to do a Neil Gaiman, and failing at it.
On and on we go..
March 11, 2018
Although it's slower and a little less compelling than Book One (possibly due to the lack of an imposing and formidable villain like Victoria), it's still a well-written season with witty comedy and true heart. Excited to see where the series goes next!
December 27, 2022
This volume, the second in an apparently ten volume series (I should have checked that out beforehand), continues the journey of one Yorick Brown across the man less continental United States. While, the first volume seemed fresh and unique, this one felt like a placeholder. It fell into the trap of many sequels, which is by staying close to its original focus it lacks originality. The three main characters: Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr. Mann make an overland expedition in search of Dr. Mann’s research lab. In route they come across a gaggle of potential holdups. Whether it is international operatives or homeland terrorists they kind of all meld together as none of them stand out. In spite of the numerous acts of violence and the constant peril of his life, Yorick still acts impulsive and like he is invincible. No doubt, it would be easy to develop a superman complex being the sexiest man alive but Yorick still acts like girls have cooties. While, on one hand it is admirable that Yorick is so loyal to his Outback bound fiancée on the other his opportunities are endless and his aw shucks boy scout act starts to grow stale. On a positive note, his friendship with Agent 355 and her subsequent opening up is a nice surprise. Another noteworthy event is the torture/dominatrix scene which was the high point of this largely forgettable second act. It appears that business will soon pickup as the eagerly anticipated arrival of an important character is on the horizon. Overall, this was a rather tepid edition that is in dire need of memorable events or characters. A high 2/low 3 is where this volume is placed in my estimation.
March 20, 2018
The story is developing really well. Loving the characters even if still a little cliched. Already got the next book.
August 23, 2021
Mostly a really great volume.
This one covers the landing of the space shuttle which leads to some surprising ending that I didn't fully expect but excited to see how it ends. The middle had a two parter about a show actors were putting on. It was okay though the ending was funny as hell. The last half is the best part. One dealing with Yorick staying with a friend of Agent 355 and learning a truth about himself. And then the crew having to cross state lines but dealing with a 8 woman team stopping people from going in and out.
The showing deaths of this volume really bring light to this new world they all live in. On top of that the excellent art stays making for some wonderful action shots as well as landscape shots. I really enjoyed Yorick growth in this volume by the end. The two parter was a weaker part and not as interesting and we do throw around the word "retarded" a lot, though this is early 2000's, and that word was just used for everything.
This volume kicks up some humor too help give some levity. Overall, another great volume.
This one covers the landing of the space shuttle which leads to some surprising ending that I didn't fully expect but excited to see how it ends. The middle had a two parter about a show actors were putting on. It was okay though the ending was funny as hell. The last half is the best part. One dealing with Yorick staying with a friend of Agent 355 and learning a truth about himself. And then the crew having to cross state lines but dealing with a 8 woman team stopping people from going in and out.
The showing deaths of this volume really bring light to this new world they all live in. On top of that the excellent art stays making for some wonderful action shots as well as landscape shots. I really enjoyed Yorick growth in this volume by the end. The two parter was a weaker part and not as interesting and we do throw around the word "retarded" a lot, though this is early 2000's, and that word was just used for everything.
This volume kicks up some humor too help give some levity. Overall, another great volume.
September 10, 2016
Still not feeling it. I liked the second book of Y even less than the first one, because at least the first one had some originality going for it. In the second, Yorick is still the only male human alive in the world, and Ampersand is still the only male monkey. And the world still revolves around them. They still haven't reached California, and on the way ridiculous things happen. Mostly the women seem extremely horny, in shape and wear not many clothes. Even though some of those women say things like "now that there are no men, why do we need hair?"
It also bugs me that nothing works. I mean, really? It's been months & years since the men went, and it's not like a zombie apocalypse where everyone is vulnerable. Half of the population is still there, and so are the books. The expertise is still there if anyone wanted to take advantage of it, considering even in this stupid world there are a few women who were in jobs like electricity and running water and roads, pre-plague. But then again, no one cares, because oh my god, no men. What shall we do for sex? Plague or no plague, no one's turning a lesbian because that seems to be the ultimate curse. It's not even kids they want, they just want a fuck. Speaking of kids, I don't think Yorick has encountered a single child. Probably because they wouldn't be able to seduce Yorick, and thus they don't have a purpose.
In other words, I'm hate reading this series. It's like a train-wreck I can't look away from.
It also bugs me that nothing works. I mean, really? It's been months & years since the men went, and it's not like a zombie apocalypse where everyone is vulnerable. Half of the population is still there, and so are the books. The expertise is still there if anyone wanted to take advantage of it, considering even in this stupid world there are a few women who were in jobs like electricity and running water and roads, pre-plague. But then again, no one cares, because oh my god, no men. What shall we do for sex? Plague or no plague, no one's turning a lesbian because that seems to be the ultimate curse. It's not even kids they want, they just want a fuck. Speaking of kids, I don't think Yorick has encountered a single child. Probably because they wouldn't be able to seduce Yorick, and thus they don't have a purpose.
In other words, I'm hate reading this series. It's like a train-wreck I can't look away from.
August 25, 2021
Man these characters have gone through hell and back. They are trying to get from the east coast all the way to San Francisco. There is a doctor with that and she has a lab there. They are hoping to do some experiments with the last man’s blood to try and maybe fix the no men problem. But what a damn journey. They have ran into all kinds of drama. Every turn, you never know what the next BS situation that are going to come across. This book definitely hooked me in and I was definitely enjoying the ride. A lot a deaths in this one and close calls. Can’t wait to crack open book 3!!
October 4, 2016
PROBS 3.5 stars. I liked it more than book one. There was a lot more drama and excitement which I really loved and a lot of the plot points took me by surprise. Will definitely continue the series.
July 22, 2016
"With little power comes little responsibility."
"If there's one thing I hate, it's crappy works of fiction that try to sound important by stealing names from the bard."
For some reason Book One seemed to take its time getting started and it felt kinda dry. This did not. Yorick's cheese ball humor is awesome, the character dynamics are captivating, and the plot points seem less incidental and more consequential. I also found myself caring about the characters more, perhaps due to more development. Astronauts, military, fire fights, psychology, jokes galore. And whew, that Safeword chapter. Steamy!
July 11, 2025
In this part of the story, we keep heading on the journey to finding the cloning lab, along the way the sexual aspect of being the last mae alive starts to manifest, and it's a good thing that the story did not turn out to be about the sexual encounters of the last man alive like a true harem manga, and to be honest, while I knew it's not a sex centered story from the reviews about it, yet I was some what expecting sex to be a major player here, which turns out to be far from it, at least till now, will have to see where the remaining 3 volumes take us.
MiM
MiM
June 8, 2016
This deluxe edition book two collects issues #11-23, and I liked this installment even less than the first one. Let me try to articulate why.
As I've said in my review of the first volume, just because all but one man dies, it's not as if the world stops turning. In this volume, we meet more groups of women, some of whom add absolutely nothing to the plot, other than as a means to show some barely clothed voluptuous bodies. If such a apocalypse were to occur, I'd agree that not all women would respond in the same way, so some of what the author does here could be seen as quite feminist. However, when the only "good girls" around are the ones trying to save the sole man, or are all about the man, it's hard not to see that as very anti-feminist in reality. There is almost no character development or depth, so it feels like watching two dimensional cutouts move across a stage. The Israeli angle is ludicrous, and I continue to be annoyed at all the stuff that no longer works - because you know what would be solved if all the men disappeared? Unemployment.
On the plus side, I liked the art much better in this volume, and there were scenes with more realistic women bodies, but at this point I'm wondering if I'm even interested enough to see where this story is headed to continue reading on. If you've read the series, and think I should, please chime in.
As I've said in my review of the first volume, just because all but one man dies, it's not as if the world stops turning. In this volume, we meet more groups of women, some of whom add absolutely nothing to the plot, other than as a means to show some barely clothed voluptuous bodies. If such a apocalypse were to occur, I'd agree that not all women would respond in the same way, so some of what the author does here could be seen as quite feminist. However, when the only "good girls" around are the ones trying to save the sole man, or are all about the man, it's hard not to see that as very anti-feminist in reality. There is almost no character development or depth, so it feels like watching two dimensional cutouts move across a stage. The Israeli angle is ludicrous, and I continue to be annoyed at all the stuff that no longer works - because you know what would be solved if all the men disappeared? Unemployment.
On the plus side, I liked the art much better in this volume, and there were scenes with more realistic women bodies, but at this point I'm wondering if I'm even interested enough to see where this story is headed to continue reading on. If you've read the series, and think I should, please chime in.
June 24, 2018
3.5 stars. This is the second installment of the graphic novel Y: The Last Man. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first. There are a couple of parts that seem out of place and disjointed from the rest of the narrative. I had to flip back and make sure I hadn’t missed any pages.
The characters are all there, 355, Dr. Mann, Yorick and Ampersand, with a couple new and interesting introductions. The other thing that I think was missing from this book were fleshed out villains. In Book 1 we had Hero, working with the Amazons, here it felt like Amazon impostors, but with no sister working for them to make it interesting.
Still I enjoyed it overall and love the artwork as they travel across America. Can’t wait to see what they do with some of these new twists!
The characters are all there, 355, Dr. Mann, Yorick and Ampersand, with a couple new and interesting introductions. The other thing that I think was missing from this book were fleshed out villains. In Book 1 we had Hero, working with the Amazons, here it felt like Amazon impostors, but with no sister working for them to make it interesting.
Still I enjoyed it overall and love the artwork as they travel across America. Can’t wait to see what they do with some of these new twists!
August 28, 2018
Great series, this seems to split neatly into three story sections and manages a good balance between humour, action and plot development. Great character setup.
September 21, 2021
One Small Step (#11-15). The third arc examines another interesting consequence of the "Y" die-off: what if there were men in space who didn't succumb to the plague (or whatever it was)? It's an interesting idea that lets Vaughan really expand the scope of his story, but on the downside it takes time away from Yorick and the rest of our protagonists. Despite that, it maintains some nice tension and keeps connecting up threads from the first volume, this time in the form of the Israelis. In the end, you hope that we'll see some of these characters again, down the road [4/5].
Comedy & Tragedy (#16-17). Side-stories with different characters have worked well in some of the more sophisticated comics of the last few decades. Vaughan's first try on the topic doesn't really come off well, though, the main problem being that the traveling troupe that form the protagonists of this mini-arc don't really have much character. There's a bit of fun metatextuality and a good in media res story for Yorick and crew, but it's not enough to really make these two issues worthwhile [3/5].
Safeword (#18-20). I'm usually not a fan of the whole psychological-assault-as-an-intervention trope, and so I didn't love this the first few times I read it, but I came around on my third or fourth read. It's great psychological insight into Yorick that explains a lot of his actions over the comic to date. Yeah, it's over the top, but worth it for it reveals. [4/5].
Widow's Pass (#21-23). We really get back on track with "Widow's Pass", which has us ever-so-tantalizingly close to California. We get a new interesting situation (paramilitary right-wing wacko women), believable guest stars with depth, and lots of great moments and interactions for all of our main cast. And that doesn't even speak of the ending, which is ... [5/5].
Comedy & Tragedy (#16-17). Side-stories with different characters have worked well in some of the more sophisticated comics of the last few decades. Vaughan's first try on the topic doesn't really come off well, though, the main problem being that the traveling troupe that form the protagonists of this mini-arc don't really have much character. There's a bit of fun metatextuality and a good in media res story for Yorick and crew, but it's not enough to really make these two issues worthwhile [3/5].
Safeword (#18-20). I'm usually not a fan of the whole psychological-assault-as-an-intervention trope, and so I didn't love this the first few times I read it, but I came around on my third or fourth read. It's great psychological insight into Yorick that explains a lot of his actions over the comic to date. Yeah, it's over the top, but worth it for it reveals. [4/5].
Widow's Pass (#21-23). We really get back on track with "Widow's Pass", which has us ever-so-tantalizingly close to California. We get a new interesting situation (paramilitary right-wing wacko women), believable guest stars with depth, and lots of great moments and interactions for all of our main cast. And that doesn't even speak of the ending, which is ... [5/5].
December 21, 2012
Introduction:
After reading the first book of Brian K. Vaughan’s classic graphic novel, “Y: The Last Man,” I just had to read more from this Eisner Award winning series! So, I finally picked up the second book to “Y: The Last Man” and it was just as INTENSE, HEARTBREAKING AND EXCITING as the last volume!
What is this story about?
Yorick Brown, along with his new allies, Agent 355 and Dr. Allison Mann, still embark on the journey to reach Dr. Mann’s lab in San Francisco so that way, Dr. Mann can provide a cure for the epidemic that broke out and killed all the males in the world. Suddenly, the three allies are confronted by a Russian woman named Natalya Zamyatin who claims that there are still men in outer space and that they are on their way to Earth! Unfortunately, the four new allies will also have to face against the Israeli troops who want to take Yorick in!
What I loved about this story:
Brian K. Vaughan’s writing: Wow! Brian K. Vaughan’s writing is just as stellar in this volume as it was in the last volume! As I had mentioned before, I really enjoyed the set up that Brian K. Vaughan brought to this series as you have to wonder about what the world will be like without men. In this volume, Brian K. Vaughan further develops the story as we are introduced to more obstacles that Yorick and his allies have to get through to get to San Francisco. I loved the introduction of Natalya Zamyatin as she brings an interesting dynamic to the story as being the one who warns Agent 355 and Yorick about more men coming to Earth and I was on the edge of my seat trying to see what will become of the male astronauts and whether or not their arrival to Earth will change how everything in the story has been progressed so far. It was also great seeing another tough heroine in the story as Natalya will soon surprise you in this volume! I have been enjoying the intense storytelling that Brian K. Vaughan brings to this volume and I loved the way that Brian K. Vaughan had really developed the characters as we see a darker side to some of these characters that we never saw in the previous volume which made the stories even more interesting!
Pia Guerra, Goran Parlov, and Paul Chadwick’s artwork: Pia Guerra, Goran Parlov and Paul Chadwick’s artwork was amazing in this volume as all the characters are drawn dramatically and realistically. I loved the artwork done by Pia Guerra in the stories “One Small Step” and “Safeword” as the characters have realistic features and the backgrounds were realistically drawn, especially the scenes with the trees. Paul Chadwick’s artwork in “Comedy and Tragedy” is similar to Pia Guerra’s artwork as he does a brilliant job in shadowing the character’s faces whenever they are in a dark lighting. Goran Parlov’s artwork in “Widow’s Pass” probably has the most well-defined facial expressions for the characters as the characters show realistic shocked expressions on their faces and their hair is drawn beautifully as they are wavy.
What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:
Just like the first volume, there is some strong language in this volume including the infamous “f” word and “s” word and anyone who does not like reading strong language might want to skim over these words. Also, this volume has more gory violence than the last volume as there are more characters being killed in gruesome ways such as some characters being shot to death and blood is shown spurting everywhere.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, “Y: The Last Man: The Deluxe Edition Book Two” is a truly brilliant follow-up to the first volume and anyone who is a huge fan of Brian K. Vaughan’s works or loves reading about post-apocalyptic worlds will definitely want to pick this series up!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
October 5, 2016
I guess I can proudly admit to becoming full on nerdgirl now with this comic/graphic novel love affair that I seem to have begun. Still not into video games, but there's hope for me yet.
I'm loving these. I didn't love this one quite as much as book 1, but I think that's because the first one opened up with the cool premise, intro to cool characters, et cetera et cetera, while this one has really just propagated what I loved in the first one. Every now and again I'm struck by the somewhat irksome thought that my gotta-know-attitude is perhaps not the best suited for the ever-ongoing structure of comics, but when I don't think about that I can just enjoy the ride for what it is...a really fantastic work of art and fiction, and a great display of collaborative creativity from an extraordinarily talented team of people. We are introduced to so many new characters that sometimes I am annoyed by this and wish rather that we could get on with the stories of already familiar characters, but sometimes these new characters are so kick ass that I find myself forgiving Vaughan this annoyance pretty quickly. A former CIA type turned dominatrix, a Sinead style grease monkey with a nose ring and the face and body of a Barbie (let's be real though, all of the female characters are all typecast male fantasies, all of them with their little button noses, DD breasts, tiny waisted and long legged. But I don't mind! Why not?! What is this if not Vaghan and team's fantasies drawn and brought to life via comic/cartoon?)
I've already purchased through the most current volume, and I go through each one in less than an hour so I am NOT looking forward to reaching the end and having to either read them issue by issue, or else having to wait however long it's going to take to release the next "book." However long it's going to take, I already know it's going to be too long. I reached that same conundrum with Saga, and I found myself having to skim through the former volumes to refresh my memory. Ugh!
Yorick, the supposed "last man," remains the single least interesting part of the storyline, with his sorta "duhh" demeanor wearing on me every now and again, but despite the fact that the premise of the story revolves around the last man on Earth, the part he plays is really rather secondary to all the other storylines going on all at once. So while there's the generally sexist female aesthetics that's so typical to video games and comics, there's the feminist angle of the whole women running the world thing. (Who run the world?!) Women are kicking ass, stepping into every role that was previously reserved for men only, and I dig it. I reeeeally dig it.
Oh, and I can't forget about the monkey. I just love that little monkey. He's got to be my favorite favorite character-if we can call him that-& his little monkey faces with his little monkey diaper amuses and entertains me to no end.
Characters are great, artwork is great, I've recognized several lit references peppered throughout which I think is cool, and the pacing and plot are working well for me so far. I'm looking forward to a little more character development which so far is the only thing I would like to see more of in the place of so many introductions to new people, new lives, new goings on, but truthfully I have no real complaints. Last Man, on point!
I'm loving these. I didn't love this one quite as much as book 1, but I think that's because the first one opened up with the cool premise, intro to cool characters, et cetera et cetera, while this one has really just propagated what I loved in the first one. Every now and again I'm struck by the somewhat irksome thought that my gotta-know-attitude is perhaps not the best suited for the ever-ongoing structure of comics, but when I don't think about that I can just enjoy the ride for what it is...a really fantastic work of art and fiction, and a great display of collaborative creativity from an extraordinarily talented team of people. We are introduced to so many new characters that sometimes I am annoyed by this and wish rather that we could get on with the stories of already familiar characters, but sometimes these new characters are so kick ass that I find myself forgiving Vaughan this annoyance pretty quickly. A former CIA type turned dominatrix, a Sinead style grease monkey with a nose ring and the face and body of a Barbie (let's be real though, all of the female characters are all typecast male fantasies, all of them with their little button noses, DD breasts, tiny waisted and long legged. But I don't mind! Why not?! What is this if not Vaghan and team's fantasies drawn and brought to life via comic/cartoon?)
I've already purchased through the most current volume, and I go through each one in less than an hour so I am NOT looking forward to reaching the end and having to either read them issue by issue, or else having to wait however long it's going to take to release the next "book." However long it's going to take, I already know it's going to be too long. I reached that same conundrum with Saga, and I found myself having to skim through the former volumes to refresh my memory. Ugh!
Yorick, the supposed "last man," remains the single least interesting part of the storyline, with his sorta "duhh" demeanor wearing on me every now and again, but despite the fact that the premise of the story revolves around the last man on Earth, the part he plays is really rather secondary to all the other storylines going on all at once. So while there's the generally sexist female aesthetics that's so typical to video games and comics, there's the feminist angle of the whole women running the world thing. (Who run the world?!) Women are kicking ass, stepping into every role that was previously reserved for men only, and I dig it. I reeeeally dig it.
Oh, and I can't forget about the monkey. I just love that little monkey. He's got to be my favorite favorite character-if we can call him that-& his little monkey faces with his little monkey diaper amuses and entertains me to no end.
Characters are great, artwork is great, I've recognized several lit references peppered throughout which I think is cool, and the pacing and plot are working well for me so far. I'm looking forward to a little more character development which so far is the only thing I would like to see more of in the place of so many introductions to new people, new lives, new goings on, but truthfully I have no real complaints. Last Man, on point!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2011
I love this series!!! The dialogue is snappy, smart, and funny, the characters are multi-dimensional with their own distinct histories and motivations and the action is compelling and suspenseful. Not only is this an original idea, it is executed with real finesse and with a great sense of humor.
Yorick is the perfect not-hero. He's just your regular guy, young, impulsive, mouthy, a little stunned sometimes but basically in possession of real heart and good intentions. It's not easy being the last guy on Earth, especially when your two escorts across the country are a top-notch secret agent who is secretly in love with you, and a brilliant geneticist who is secretly in love with the secret agent. Talk about a triangle worthy of the Apocalypse!
As if that weren't drama enough there are umpteen special interest groups -- political, paramilitary, rogue, cult -- that want you dead or captured to suit their specific agendas. Including your very own sister!
What I love about the writing of this series is that it stays fresh and alive and the situations -- while dramatic -- don't seem contrived. The cast of characters that come and go out of the storyline are all richly drawn no matter how brief their contribution to the story. This time around I'm particularly partial to the lovely Natalya and her broken English in America to rescue a Russian Cosmonaut.
All I can say is I can't wait to see what happens next!
Yorick is the perfect not-hero. He's just your regular guy, young, impulsive, mouthy, a little stunned sometimes but basically in possession of real heart and good intentions. It's not easy being the last guy on Earth, especially when your two escorts across the country are a top-notch secret agent who is secretly in love with you, and a brilliant geneticist who is secretly in love with the secret agent. Talk about a triangle worthy of the Apocalypse!
As if that weren't drama enough there are umpteen special interest groups -- political, paramilitary, rogue, cult -- that want you dead or captured to suit their specific agendas. Including your very own sister!
What I love about the writing of this series is that it stays fresh and alive and the situations -- while dramatic -- don't seem contrived. The cast of characters that come and go out of the storyline are all richly drawn no matter how brief their contribution to the story. This time around I'm particularly partial to the lovely Natalya and her broken English in America to rescue a Russian Cosmonaut.
All I can say is I can't wait to see what happens next!
April 24, 2019
This was more of everything I loved about the first two volumes of this story. It made me giggle, turn pages in hyper-speed and just have a good time altogether.
I felt like there was less depth to it this time around. That doesn't mean that there wasn't loads of stuff happening: a Russian Soyuz capsule is coming down, carrying three passengers: one woman and two men. Men, guys, men! We also get confronted with Yorick's survivors guilt and our group running against a roadblock in Arizona in form of the not-so-friendly female remains of the Sons of Arizona militia.
I'm still in love with Yorick big time. He's still far from being smart, but he's good-hearted and that makes all the difference. I think he's still develop into something rather fascinating in upcoming issues... I'm also starting to like characters that I hadn't gotten quite used to in previous issues. Dr. Mann for example. I don't know why. It's taken a while.
There were passages that I didn't quite get the point of. Two volumes focussed on this theatre group performing plays based around the Last Man on Earth, which is a nice gimmick, but they didn't really add anything to either the main plot nor were interesting enough to work on their own.
All in all, this is a fast-paced and still exciting series that I am happy I still got multiple issues left of.
I felt like there was less depth to it this time around. That doesn't mean that there wasn't loads of stuff happening: a Russian Soyuz capsule is coming down, carrying three passengers: one woman and two men. Men, guys, men! We also get confronted with Yorick's survivors guilt and our group running against a roadblock in Arizona in form of the not-so-friendly female remains of the Sons of Arizona militia.
I'm still in love with Yorick big time. He's still far from being smart, but he's good-hearted and that makes all the difference. I think he's still develop into something rather fascinating in upcoming issues... I'm also starting to like characters that I hadn't gotten quite used to in previous issues. Dr. Mann for example. I don't know why. It's taken a while.
There were passages that I didn't quite get the point of. Two volumes focussed on this theatre group performing plays based around the Last Man on Earth, which is a nice gimmick, but they didn't really add anything to either the main plot nor were interesting enough to work on their own.
All in all, this is a fast-paced and still exciting series that I am happy I still got multiple issues left of.
July 14, 2016
I enjoyed this one even more than the last one! There are still some issues of backwards transphobic comments and some other problematic dialogue. Aside from that, this series has quickly become one of my favorites!
Yourick continues to develop into a more complex character. It was painful watching him go through 711's suicide intervention. The scenes with him and PJ were adorable and his relationship with 355 continues to interest me. Their partnership has clearly grown into a friendship and it's awesome to see.
Admittedly, the playwright storyline waned a bit for me at times but it was interesting to see how other female characters have coped since the plague.
The real standout for this book was Dr. Mann's and 355's relationship. I have wanted them to get together since the first book and this just made me want that even more! I was really drawn to Dr. Mann's confession that she just wanted 355 to like her, her bravery and trust in 355's judgement. I love the way they've come into their own way of communicating and 355 is as protective over her as she is Yourick. Sure, her pretending/pretending to pretend (?) she has feelings for Yourick was interesting but a relationship between her and Dr. Mann would be awesome.
I have no doubt the next book will be just as great as the last 2.
Yourick continues to develop into a more complex character. It was painful watching him go through 711's suicide intervention. The scenes with him and PJ were adorable and his relationship with 355 continues to interest me. Their partnership has clearly grown into a friendship and it's awesome to see.
Admittedly, the playwright storyline waned a bit for me at times but it was interesting to see how other female characters have coped since the plague.
The real standout for this book was Dr. Mann's and 355's relationship. I have wanted them to get together since the first book and this just made me want that even more! I was really drawn to Dr. Mann's confession that she just wanted 355 to like her, her bravery and trust in 355's judgement. I love the way they've come into their own way of communicating and 355 is as protective over her as she is Yourick. Sure, her pretending/pretending to pretend (?) she has feelings for Yourick was interesting but a relationship between her and Dr. Mann would be awesome.
I have no doubt the next book will be just as great as the last 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2019
In “Y: The Last Man, The Deluxe Edition, Book Two”: The Israelis, tasked with finding Yorrick, have followed him to a nowhere town in Kansas, which also happens to be where the three survivors (two male and one female) of the Soyuz Space Station have programmed their escape capsule to land; meanwhile, since movies and TV and most of the nation’s electrical grid are nonexistent since 50% of the population died, traveling acting troupes are the new big thing; Yorrick’s monkey, Ampersand, is picked up by said acting troupe, which is putting on a show called “The Last Man on Earth”, and there is a ninja lurking in the shadows; in Arizona, a militia group called the Sons of Arizona (a misnomer since all of the sons---and fathers, brothers, and husbands---are all dead) is blocking all traffic to the West Coast, which is suffering severe water and food shortages.
Brian K. Vaughan/Pia Guerra’s exciting and thought-provoking graphic novel series about gender identity politics is pretty awesome, and it definitely cements Vaughan (his series “Saga” is one of---correction: my all-time favorite comic series, ever) as one of the best contemporary graphic novelists working today.
Brian K. Vaughan/Pia Guerra’s exciting and thought-provoking graphic novel series about gender identity politics is pretty awesome, and it definitely cements Vaughan (his series “Saga” is one of---correction: my all-time favorite comic series, ever) as one of the best contemporary graphic novelists working today.
October 10, 2021
This series is one that I've been meaning to read for as long as I can remember. It's a classic series, up there with Watchmen and Sandman in terms of you've just got to read this... award-winning, in developmental hell for as long as people can remember, and constantly referenced elsewhere. Why did it take me so long to read it? Who knows, but I'm remedying it now.
I read this volume in a single day. I think the rest of the series is likely to fare similarly once I get my paws on the volumes.
A plague has wiped out every creature on earth with a Y chromosome, with the exception of the loser Yorick and his pet money Ampersand. Yorick, together with Culper Ring member Agent 355 and scientist Dr. Mann, are traveling to California. Dr. Mann has a lab in San Francisco with her cloning research there... perhaps she can figure out why Yorick and his monkey have been immune to the disease? The only problem is that their starting point is in Massachusetts, and there are multiple setbacks along the way.
This volume sees them meet up with a Russian - are their men still alive in the International Space Station? They decide to help them return to earth, and... well... you have to read it. There is a play being put on in Nebraska about the Last Man On Earth with a conclusion that sticks in Yorick's mind. Yorick also gets left with Agent 711 for a mind-bending trip of sorts that leaves him reevaluating his perspective on life. Finally, the group heads to Arizona where the Sons of Arizona have created a blockade that is stopping the entire supply chain across the US. They believe some conspiracy theories regarding how this plague happened, and what should happen next... disaster, needless to say, ensues.
This is a fast-paced volume with some really intriguing philosophical questions raised. I've been talking to my partner about it since I finished it, and I can't wait to dig into volume 3. Especially with the way this volume ends. Remember Hero? What on earth will she be up to next?
I read this volume in a single day. I think the rest of the series is likely to fare similarly once I get my paws on the volumes.
A plague has wiped out every creature on earth with a Y chromosome, with the exception of the loser Yorick and his pet money Ampersand. Yorick, together with Culper Ring member Agent 355 and scientist Dr. Mann, are traveling to California. Dr. Mann has a lab in San Francisco with her cloning research there... perhaps she can figure out why Yorick and his monkey have been immune to the disease? The only problem is that their starting point is in Massachusetts, and there are multiple setbacks along the way.
This volume sees them meet up with a Russian - are their men still alive in the International Space Station? They decide to help them return to earth, and... well... you have to read it. There is a play being put on in Nebraska about the Last Man On Earth with a conclusion that sticks in Yorick's mind. Yorick also gets left with Agent 711 for a mind-bending trip of sorts that leaves him reevaluating his perspective on life. Finally, the group heads to Arizona where the Sons of Arizona have created a blockade that is stopping the entire supply chain across the US. They believe some conspiracy theories regarding how this plague happened, and what should happen next... disaster, needless to say, ensues.
This is a fast-paced volume with some really intriguing philosophical questions raised. I've been talking to my partner about it since I finished it, and I can't wait to dig into volume 3. Especially with the way this volume ends. Remember Hero? What on earth will she be up to next?
December 8, 2020
Book 2 was a fast read (300 pages in a couple hours in one evening), still a fun premise, action moves fast and keeps the pages turning, and the writing quite funny too. It's not faultless but I don't think it's supposed to be a "hard" apocalypse story, clearly the author & art team are having some fun.
March 21, 2019
How is it a story always get better when a dominatrix shows up? second volume get stronger in both story and illustrations.
February 27, 2012
What if all the men, except one young man and his male monkey pet, were wiped out all over the world and nobody knew why exactly? That's the setup for this series that takes a look at gender issues and progressive science versus a natural order of things. I like that the explanation for the plague is not known and there are several possibilities. In this volume we deal with the possibility that Yorick is not the only human male still alive, Israeli agents trying to abduct him, a play about the Last Man on Earth, Yorick's conflicting subconscious emotions to kill himself and the push to San Francisco through a militant zone in Arizona. The main character, Yorick, is a putz and sometimes clueless but believable enough even though some might argue he is a passive character who has very little “game” with women. My favorite part in this volume was the hallucinogenic voyage undertaken unwillingly by Yorick. This is a good starting read for people new to comics/graphic novels. The series has received 5 prestigious Eisner Awards. Hollywood has been trying to make this into a movie since 2007. Some say this series saved Vertigo Comics from financial problems. The deluxe edition includes a watered down script in the back. CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B plus; STORY/PLOTTING: B plus; ARTWORK: B plus; THEMES: B plus; WHEN READ: February 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B plus.
March 13, 2018
Two things I can say that is better about it’s predecessor is the dialogue
and characters. Of course they are the same characters, but a lot more
fleshed out, which make you care for them a bit more. The dialogue is
a lot more clever, hilarious, realistic, and a lot more messed up! I thought
volume 2 of this series was really great. Like I already stated you learn
a lot more about the characters, especially Yorick. I liked most of the new
characters brought in to the mythos as well. This book is broken up into 4
parts in my eyes. The 3rd and 4th act were incredible. The 3rd being
totally insane and off the rails while also being very important to our main
character, and the 4th being very intense and tragic. The 1st and 2nd acts
were not as compelling. The first act was very formulaic and predictable, and
the 2nd not really adding anything except filler to the story. Not to say I didn't
find them enjoyable, I just wanted to get to some more interesting plot lines.
One other nit pick I have is to do with a certain character that shows up in one
panel at the of the book, even after teasing a return in the last story. Over all the
the second chapter of this story wasn't as good as the first but still definitely worth
reading and made me want to read the next story right away. Letter Grade: (A)
and characters. Of course they are the same characters, but a lot more
fleshed out, which make you care for them a bit more. The dialogue is
a lot more clever, hilarious, realistic, and a lot more messed up! I thought
volume 2 of this series was really great. Like I already stated you learn
a lot more about the characters, especially Yorick. I liked most of the new
characters brought in to the mythos as well. This book is broken up into 4
parts in my eyes. The 3rd and 4th act were incredible. The 3rd being
totally insane and off the rails while also being very important to our main
character, and the 4th being very intense and tragic. The 1st and 2nd acts
were not as compelling. The first act was very formulaic and predictable, and
the 2nd not really adding anything except filler to the story. Not to say I didn't
find them enjoyable, I just wanted to get to some more interesting plot lines.
One other nit pick I have is to do with a certain character that shows up in one
panel at the of the book, even after teasing a return in the last story. Over all the
the second chapter of this story wasn't as good as the first but still definitely worth
reading and made me want to read the next story right away. Letter Grade: (A)
August 15, 2016
I;m glad I read this book, as it addressed one of my key concerns of this series: protagonist character development. We finally see Yorrick "grow the beard" some and it is done as well as you could hope in this collection (which collects volumes 3 & 4) and I hope it is sustained in the future volumes. I am not a very experienced reader of sci-fi, but I know my dystopian fairly well so I get a little agitated when the genre is not properly executed. This volume , though, is handled well.
February 7, 2022
The political influences and astronaut plot threads were interesting and what kept me going.
However, there were some parts where I felt that Brian K. Vaughan was trying too hard to be woke/feminist and it backfired. The obvious straw feminism is quite eye-roll-worthy.
Also, he hyper-sexualized women and makes a point to show them either naked or crazy and it didn't sit right with me. I hope the series progresses toward more post/apocalyptic and less thinly veiled male fantasy.
However, there were some parts where I felt that Brian K. Vaughan was trying too hard to be woke/feminist and it backfired. The obvious straw feminism is quite eye-roll-worthy.
Also, he hyper-sexualized women and makes a point to show them either naked or crazy and it didn't sit right with me. I hope the series progresses toward more post/apocalyptic and less thinly veiled male fantasy.
January 23, 2019
Quite possibly the best graphic novel series I've read as an adult. It's a book that would have been trenchant and vital on its publication in 2002, but in light of #metoo and #timesup it's taken on even more relevance. This volume continues Yorick's – the "last man" of the title – westward journey with 355, the government agent sent by his Senator mother to protect him, and Dr. Mann, the physician who may have the secret to curing the plague that killed every man on the planet (except Yorick and his monkey Ampersand).
Along the way, in the midst of plotlines involving the International Space Station, itinerant theater troupes, Israeli soldiers, and all-woman militias, author Vaughn takes up a range of thematic issues that still resonate more than 15 years after publication. Are men actually necessary? How does their unexpected absence affect the way women now view themselves? Are traditional gender roles suddenly and permanently obsolete? And if so, what should rise to take their place? What role does science play in this new reality? And where does one find hope in a situation that seems so intrinsically hopeless?
It's sort of astonishingly deep stuff, and Vaughn's writing is insightful, funny, and profane. The book is aided by Pia Guerra's conventional-looking pencils, the combination of progressive, genre-busting writing with traditional art forming a cool little juxtaposition at the series' center. This whole thing really is a stunner.
Along the way, in the midst of plotlines involving the International Space Station, itinerant theater troupes, Israeli soldiers, and all-woman militias, author Vaughn takes up a range of thematic issues that still resonate more than 15 years after publication. Are men actually necessary? How does their unexpected absence affect the way women now view themselves? Are traditional gender roles suddenly and permanently obsolete? And if so, what should rise to take their place? What role does science play in this new reality? And where does one find hope in a situation that seems so intrinsically hopeless?
It's sort of astonishingly deep stuff, and Vaughn's writing is insightful, funny, and profane. The book is aided by Pia Guerra's conventional-looking pencils, the combination of progressive, genre-busting writing with traditional art forming a cool little juxtaposition at the series' center. This whole thing really is a stunner.
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