Last Man, tomo 4

Last Man #4

by Bastien Vivès

¡PREMIO A MEJOR SERIE EN ANGOULEME 2015!
¡NOMINADA A MEJOR OBRA EXTRANJERA EN EL SALÓN DE BARCELONA!

Marianne Velba no es solamente una mamá atenta, también es una mujer llena de determinación que sabe lo que quiere. Tras los pasos de Richard, ella y Adrian llegan a Paxtown, una megaciudad ultramoderna, un lugar lleno de posibilidades para aquellos que conocen las reglas…
Lejos del universo seguro y tranquilo del Valle de los Reyes, Adrian sigue descubriendo el mundo y Marianne no acaba de dilucidar el misterio Aldana mientras se enfrenta a algunas realidades muy concretas.
LastMan se está convirtiendo en todo un fenómeno multimedia: videojuego, serie de animación…aparte de estar recibiendo un gran reconocimiento en múltiples festivales. Sin duda, una de las mejores series realizadas en Europa en los últimos años.

Genres: Comics, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Manga, Fantasy, France, Fiction

Paperback

First published March 19, 2014

About the author

Bastien Vivès is a Parisian who has drawn or collaborated on more than a dozen graphic novels since his published debut in 2006, including most recently The Butchery (Fantagraphics, 2021). The Angouleme Comics Festival granted Vivès the “Revelation” Award in 2009 and the prize for best series in 2015.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth volume in a French adventure manga constructed by a video gamer, an animator and a comics guy, so it draws on all these elements. In this one, Marianne and Adrian chase Richard Aldana to Paxtown, a sort of Vegas or Monte Carlo crime-syndicated controlled fighting capitol. We meet the exotic Tomie, Aldana's ex, who looks a little like the curvy cartoonish Jessica from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. And why is we have to have a brothel in this story, as many French comics seems to feature?
Marianne ans Adrian sign up to compete against Aldana in the Fighting Fists Funeral Cup. Aldana is now mob-controlled. . . . I like this a little less than the last volume, but at the conclusion we are set up for the Big Fight's showdown... This has magic and boxing and romantic intrigue! Well done series!

[Sebastien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lastman series continues! I'm addicted, I've fallen in love with the art and storytelling. Really weird quirky and unique visual style which I find expertly drawn. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is mine!

Characters are engaging, various mysteries and subplots, I lose myself in this world (which is a good thing!).

[First Second Books]

The Last Man series continues -- as action-packed as ever! We think that this series is just delightful -- it's like potato chips.

You can't read just one!

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this volume! Plot unfolding and thickening, characters being great, art remains fluid and emotive.

[Céline NARICADOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'adore les dessins, les cadrages!! C'est trop bien. Et le scénar est génial!!

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This French manga just continues to hold its excellent appeal. Continuing on this whole volume centers on Richard, Marianne and Adrian being caught in Paxtown where they all are competing in a live ultimate fighting-type tag team tournament under duress. Paxton is a mega-opolis society with undertones of Judge Dredd and Hunger Games and Richard remains as elusively mysterious as ever as more layers are added to the plot. Other characters from Marianne's homeland arrive and new characters are introduced keeping the story fresh and familiar at the same time while ending on a small cliffhanger to keep us eagerly awaiting the next volume. I love everything about this series, the plot, the characters and the art.

[Kate Atherton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I tiring of this series or is it getting worse? Aldana truly proves his Han Solo ways in this fourth installment of 'Last Man' in which it's clear he's a sell out gambler who originally went to the Valley to get some money to pay off some debt....or did we know that before? Now Marianne and Adrian are in a BIG city world (like Couruscant) and in another tournament of sorts....more like boxing or WWE but it becomes clear to us readers that no one here has powers and no one seems to get that they have powers. One time when Adrian uses a water spell they speculate a pipe burst...This series uses elements familiar from Avatar the last air bender and other elemental battling stories with the grit and grime of city crime boss stories....Honestly I couldn't even tell you much of what's happening anymore...it's pretty forgettable but I will finish the series anway.

[D.T. Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, the artwork is beautiful. But Adrian acts way too young to be a 12-year-old, and the women are always drawn with sensuality to the point that no matter how close, far away, or contrived there's a cleavage shot. There are some cocaine references, and a character is seen snorting it (only the top of the straw is shown; the substance is hidden).

On the plus side, the story continues to be interesting, looking at the seedy, underground world of a mixture of pro-wrestling and boxing.

[StrictlySequential ArtNarrative · Rating 3 out of 5]

flexible 15×21cm ¦ a.i. 09/2013 ¦ d.l. 12/2013 ¦ 12,50€ = eo
+jacket with @10cm diagonal-down flaps
+creator commentary and stickers

This series is stick-carroting me maddeningly! They reveal what the reader wants to know most in the s l o w e s t fashion possible to the point that the mother's entire life before the boy and the reason the main dude was (would still be) running are still unknown.

[Grg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series would really benefit from people slowing down and having real conversations. Everything feels unnecessarily rushed. Still, I like all the magic-punching, and the kid looks cute in his boxing headgear.

[petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3,8)

[Jurassic Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

On avance dans l'intrigue et malgré tout je n'arrive pas vraiment à comprendre l'univers, ce que l'auteur veut en faire. J'apprécie toujours ma lecture.

[Yongyoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just exposition. Let's hope the next one delivers.

[Pietro Bellini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cambia un po' l'ambientazione, non cambia il ritmo frenetico e il piacere della lettura.

[Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say, I’m just loving this series to far

[Shane1step · Rating 4 out of 5]

Томи Катана! Ура! Ура! Ура!

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...

The Show
Vol. 4 of The Last Man
Balak + Sanlaville + Vive̒s
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Scott

Review:

Once again, this volume of The Last Man saga relies on knowledge of the previous three volumes. The fights are on and the plot thickens in this latest installment The Show. The reader, in this volume, is taken on a ride with new characters, new plot developments and new crises. The team of Balak, Saniville and Vive̒s, have upped the ante in this spellbinding graphic novel. It is even compelling enough for you to pick up the first three installments to bring you up to speed.

The writing is far more dynamic in this installment. The dialogue is terse, poignant, and doesn’t waver from character. The plotting is far more in depth than in previous installments. The twists and turns that happen are almost surprising to the reader and promotes further immersion into the story; both as an individual piece, and part of a larger story arc. The seedy districts of the metropolis, suit the thematic elements and brings a new twist to the previous volumes. The team has put together a winning mix of action and intrigue to keep you reading until the final page.

The characters are far more developed in The Show. With the previous three volumes, the personas in the volume are now fully fleshed out individuals, three-dimensional in their presentation and given enough leeway to add to the plot twists and intrigue mentioned earlier. In traditional manga style, not everything is what it seems, though, and the new characters introduced belay that sense of insecurity in the main protagonists. Here we see a real bonding between mother and son as they make their way through the trials of The Show, and the maze of the corrupt, professional fighting underbelly. You can truly feel for the protagonists now, and the slow start to the series now seems intentional, bringing you to the fevered action of the graphic novel.

The art, as always, is slick and clean – incredibly well rendered for the topic it covers. The realistic backgrounds and stylized manga characters, is as beautiful and well composed. There are no qualms here, about stating the art is worth the price of admission. Skillful lines and shading, often deep shading, depict fantastically, the crime ridden world the characters interact in. The style is taken with lettering (or dialogue balloons) in mind and the graphic novel reads both pictorially and word-wise well. The bold drawings during the bouts, “break the line” (or cause the human body to be depicted in an unrealistic manner – normally achieved by “breaking” the center line of the figure) and have a powerful impact on the fight scenes. Applause must go to the art team for keeping the art fresh and dynamic.

For fans of the Street Fighter comics, the movie Ninja Scroll, and the Matrix spin off the Animatrix, This is a sure shoe-in for your tastes. For those of you who want an introduction to manga that has both strong male and female leads, this just might be the story you’re looking for. Overall the graphic novel The Show might be a jumping on point for you.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely couldn't wait to read this graphic novel, part of the Last Man series. Now that I've finished it, I'm very sad that I have to wait for the next one. Ah, well, anticipation isn't necessarily bad when you have such an incredible story line and intriguing characters to anticipate! Richard Aldana and Marianne and Adrian Velba are all in Paxton, which is not the most attractive of towns. Addicts lie on the city's streets, and evil seems to seethe at its core. Richard has come into the clutches of Milo who plans to exact revenge on the fighter during the Fighting Fists Funeral Cup, an event that keeps the locals amused. Several ugly stories about Richard are swirling around, and Marianne and Adrian meet Richard's former wife who is gorgeous but seems consumed with blotting out some pain through various substances. When Marianne and Adrian enter the competition, they win several bouts, to the astonishment of onlookers. Marianne's wrath at Aldana and her disappointment in how he has treated her and her boy are a sight to see. The plot is becoming increasingly complex, and it isn't easy to tell the good guys from the bad ones, making this series compelling reading. Incredibly detailed illustrations insure that readers feel as though they are part of each scene. Who knows what's at the heart of all the plotting and machination or why Richard has seemingly betrayed or disappointed so many in his life? Maybe we'll find out in the next installment of this addictive series.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fourth in the Last Man series, the story starts backstage with a star named Tomie. She is a voluptuous babe in sunglasses who smokes and has many people at her beck and call. She is stalked by paparazzi and needs bodyguards to avoid the dangerous drug addicts that inhabit every corner on the streets of this planet’s metropolis. Marianne and Adrian are seeking an audience with the disgraced boxer who is “run” by the drug lord. It’s not a nice bunch. They are setting up the fight of the year and Marianne and Adrian register because it is a tag team type fight and they can use their special powers from the Valley of the Kings. I had a hard time following this, since I haven’t read any others. I’m not putting it in my high school library because of the use of words like “tit” and “asshole” and seducing the women. It isn’t a book I would care to defend and the final straw was the picture of big breasted Marianne in the shower with Adrian. Not complete detail, but too much and why in the world would she be showering with a boy who is supposed to be twelve and a half?! Ick.

[Danielle Booey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be excellent. I enjoyed the further adventures of Marianne and Adrianne in Paxton as they continued their pursuit of Richard Aldana. A more complicated web is revealed in this volume as parts of Aldana's past come forward and demand to be confronted. A few new characters are introduced as well including the slimy Milo and Richard's ex-wife(?!), Tomie. Adrianne continues to be the cutest thing around and every time Marianne unleashes a summoning and kicks someone's butt I just want to fist pump. If you liked the previous 3 volumes saddle up for more fun.

[Jason]

Though it is so different from the setting in which we have become accustomed, Vives manages to keep us hooked with an ever-thickening plot. We learn more about Aldana and what he was trying to get away from by escaping to the Valley, Cristo moves from being a villain to a hero (though we still don't know what motivates him), and Adrian develops his fighting skills and hold his own against some formidable opponents (along with his amazing mother).

[Janet Arroyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Bastien Vives and Goodreads First Reads for my free copy of " The Show". Wow, what a great graphic novel. The artwork is fantastic. I loved the storyline especially the mother and son tag team in their effort to find and fight the evil. I have 3 son's so I really liked this novel. Mom's can kick butt too. Lol. This is definitely a great read. My son's love it too. Having the graphics also encourage my family to explore our artsy side. Job well done!

[Christina Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the quality is excellent, I cannot recommend this series for purchase by a school library because of thematic elements that might invite challenge - profanity, sexual content, sexual violence, nudity, drug consumption, and organized crime. Albeit these topics are tastefully navigated and are neither glorified nor condoned by the narrative, their prominence escalates as the series progresses.

[miha ha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spet se bojo tepl, nov turnir se začenja :)

Najbol sta mi pa še vedno všeč Adrian in njegova mama, tko fino je navijat zanju, ker tamal je čist navdušen da se uči nove napade, nasprotniki so pa zmer taki butli da jih je fino videt pretepene in začudene nad porazom :)

Hehe, sj ni neko kvalitetno čtivo, ma je pa vseeno fino.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the language and the drug use in this book was uncalled for. I think that there are places for this type of material, but not a YA graphic novel. I felt as though this were something intended for your "new" adults. I will say once you figured out the story and pace of the author that the story was worth reading, but I cannot approve it for purchase for a Teen (YA) library.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand retour dans l'action, par contre l'histoire commence déjà a voir envie de prendre une tournure répétitive. Toujours divertissant, mais un développement devrait surgir rapidement pour garder l'histoire captivante!

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best book in the series thus far. We know what's happened in the series up until now and everything we've learned has significance, yet we're not sure (or at least I'm not sure) where it's going. Fast-paced and engaging.

[Dina Rahajaharison · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Maman ? Tu m'apprendras l'invocation de l'école des cieux ?"

[Sebastien · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'aime le rythme de cette histoire ,nous poussant à vouloir en savoir plus. Le personnage d'Adrien est adorable et rafraîchissant comme personnage d'enfant ,juste assez naïf et curieux.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es el mejor tomo de la serie pero sigue siendo muy entretenido, tremendamente bien dibujado, y con calcomanías divinas :D