IXth Generation, Vol. 2

IXth Generation #5-8

by Matt Hawkins, Atilio Rojo (Illustrator)

In 2102, the world ended but don't worry: someone was planning on it. For centuries, a m aniacal genius named Francesca Taylor set about implementing a masterful plan known as the "Aphrodite Protocol," an elaborate series of events designed to initiate the apocalypse on human terms. After a series of extension level events in the 22nd century, the Protocol began its work, breeding human survivors into cyborgs strong enough to withstand the harsh years ahead, herding them towards a society of Taylor's own design complete with its own pantheon. Now, 700 years later, these cybernetic deities the IXth Generation have awakened to find themselves in charge of a world kneeling at their feet with mixed results.

Following the events of IXTH GENERATION VOL 1, the bickering and battles between these young technological gods has only gotten worse, as the IXs find themselves threatened by an ancient evil known as the Darkness. But instead of unifying against this common enemy, the IXs have fallen into bitter infighting and territorial battles, risking the fate of the world they were meant to rule. Will the discovery of other ancient Artifacts including Aphrodite IX's wielding of the Witchblade bring hope to this barren future? And will the Protocol be fulfilled or subverted?

Written by MATT HAWKINS, with art from newcomer ATILIO ROJO, check out the series that critics have called "superb," "astonishingly fresh," and "something huge." Full to the brim with transhumanism, political intrigue, and mindblowing scifi action, this series has something for everyone.

COLLECTS IXTH GENERATION #5-8.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Sequential Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2016

Reviews

[47Time]

Some degree of sexyness is returned to the artwork with the new artist. The story is as convoluted as ever, but I enjoyed the destruction at least. The conflicts between the IXs reach boiling point with everyone betraying everyone else. Aphrodite seems to be the purest one in the bunch, but she too is forced into the struggle for survival. The ending pretty much destroys everything in a total war between the IXs and their Mother. It's a continuous whirlwind of death and destruction. Not bad, really, but maybe a slower pace would have been more enjoyable.

Aphrodite invades Hades' territory with Artemis and Appolo's help. They meet no resistance, but the guys insist on punishing Hades' XVs. They are stopped by a more level-headed Aphrodite. Apollo sets out to rebuild the resurrection chambers, but his ship is sent into the sun by Velocity. Ares attacks Athena's city, but he is bested by her in single combat. Before she can strike, though, the Darkness possesses him after finding he is a descendant of Estacado, a previous owner of the Darkness. He kills her and broadcasts her death to everyone, right as Poseidon destroys Ares' city. Ares retaliates by attacking Poseidon's capital by himself. Aphrodite seeks answers from Mother, but is told that their infighting is according to plan and that she should use the Coin of Solomon for enlightenment.

Meanwhile, Hephaestus is possessed by the Angelus force and changes to female form, for some reason. In Hermes City some of the XVs are planning a revolt against the IXs. A battle breaks out between Velocity on one side and Aphrodite, Artemis and Hermes on the other. It ends with Velocity aiming a sword thrust at Aphrodite, but hitting Artemis instead and killing him. The battle between Poseidon and Ares is broken up by Hephaestus whose Angelus force has always been the enemy of Ares' Darkness.

A greaving Aphrodite is alerted by one of her people that her capial is under attack by Velocity. On her way home her ship receives backlash from energies used by the lunar sanctuary to destroy all the other sanctuaries. Poseidon is making a run for the Moon to seize an artifact for himself, followed by Ares and Hephaestus, but he doesn't make it. When Aphrodite arrives, it turns out it was all a trap set by Mother to capture the Trinity whose energies can resurrect her. Aprodite returns to her capital, still being attacked by Velocity. Their fight is interrupted by Hermes, possessed by Mother. The only chance is to into the past and alter history with the Wheel of Shadows. Even killing Mother as a child didn't erase Aphrodite, but made her the chairwoman.

[Jenna]

Didn’t care for the new art compared to that of volume one, and it all seemed even more rushed and ramped up to level 11. I felt like I missed one too many crossover issues and don’t care to follow up. Convoluted plot and unsatisfactory ending, for me.

[Elliot]

Slightly rambling; otherwise exciting stuff.

[Johan]

Destroy everything. Kill everyone. A sole survivor. End of story.

[Charline]

Better story than the first volume, even if a little too rushed! I enjoyed it.
I missed the art of the volume 1, though... Can't have it all, I guess!

[David Raz]

I got this as part of the Humble Comics Bundle: Sex & Science by Top Cow, somewhere late 2017ת and from some reason I forgot about it till now (April 2022).
As a direct continuation of IXth Generation Vol. 1, the IXth generation continue their fight over power and we learn what Francesca had in mind all along. The artist for this volume changed and Atilio Rojo took the helm. Its not that I don't like the art, I just don't like changing artists in the middle of the story.
The story is OK, and if you liked the previous volumes and are invested in the Power Cow universe I'm sure you'll enjoy, but I felt I am missing quite a lot of context about the artifacts to enjoy all layers of the story. My main problem is that the ending is very rushed, the same thing that happened in Cyber Force: Rebirth, Vol. 2. I'm not sure why they can't plan ahead properly but it happened again. All in all, it's a solid volume, but nothing special, three stars out of five.

[Paul Allard]

Continuing from Volume 1, the remaining IX fight on

With a handy synopsis at the beginning, Volume 2 kicks of from where the last one ended with Aphrodite, Apollo and Athena looking for answers – and finding them. More in-fighting and killing ensues and the Darkness takes over Ares's body while the Angelus takes over Hephaestus's.

A different artist this time (perhaps not as enjoyable in my opinion) but still my pet gripes about white lettering on green or black backgrounds etc.. and too frequent flashbacks. The whole lot concludes which presumably means an end to the series.