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Unfollow #7-12
Unfollow, Vol. 2: God Is Watching
Larry Ferrell died as he lived changing the world.
The legendary founder of the social network Headspace, which connects nearly everyone on the planet, Ferrell gave away his entire fortune on his deathbed 18 billion dollars, evenly divided between 140 randomly selected strangers. With the money came one simple condition: if any of the recipients dies, their shares are automatically redistributed to those still alive.
The result? Kidnappings. Accidents. Murder. Slowly but surely, the 140 are dwindling, and no one not the rich and famous socialite, not the strangely prescient guru, not the tough-as-nails reporter is safe.
But death is not the end that it might seem. Behind this sinister experiment is a secret that Ferrell kept from everybody, including those responsible for the 140 program and now all the masks are about to come off.
Collecting issues #7-12 of the acclaimed Vertigo series, UNFOLLOW VOL. 2: GOD IS WATCHING brings a new level of savage insight to Rob Williams and Mike Dowling's razor-sharp thriller, with special appearances from guest artists Marguerite Sauvage and Ryan Kelly."
The legendary founder of the social network Headspace, which connects nearly everyone on the planet, Ferrell gave away his entire fortune on his deathbed 18 billion dollars, evenly divided between 140 randomly selected strangers. With the money came one simple condition: if any of the recipients dies, their shares are automatically redistributed to those still alive.
The result? Kidnappings. Accidents. Murder. Slowly but surely, the 140 are dwindling, and no one not the rich and famous socialite, not the strangely prescient guru, not the tough-as-nails reporter is safe.
But death is not the end that it might seem. Behind this sinister experiment is a secret that Ferrell kept from everybody, including those responsible for the 140 program and now all the masks are about to come off.
Collecting issues #7-12 of the acclaimed Vertigo series, UNFOLLOW VOL. 2: GOD IS WATCHING brings a new level of savage insight to Rob Williams and Mike Dowling's razor-sharp thriller, with special appearances from guest artists Marguerite Sauvage and Ryan Kelly."
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2017
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91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 6, 2017
An eccentric dying billionaire who made his money on social media site Chirper, where users can send “chirps” of 140 characters or less, leaves his fortune to 140 random people around the world. If one of the 140 dies, their share is split between the survivors. Oh yeah and an insane masked killer is slowly tracking down and murdering each of the 140! Who will survive long enough to enjoy their money?
Rob Williams’ twisted take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues in Unfollow, Volume 2, which is as enjoyable and delightfully bananas as the first book.
Marguerite Sauvage beautifully illustrates the issue exploring Courtney’s traumatic past before series regular artist Mike Dowling returns when she travels to Japan to live in self-proclaimed prophet Akira’s commune/fort. But how safe she’ll be is questionable as Akira is an unhinged lunatic!
Come to think of it, the story is peppered with crazies. Mad American mountain-man Deacon teams up with Dave (who sees talking cheetahs) and RaVan (who sees talking bears) and the three hire Russian gangsters to protect them, which doesn’t go well for them. Who would’ve guessed that hiring opportunistic ultra-violent Russian thugs who know you have a fortune to exploit and completely depend on them wouldn’t work out?
The masked Rubinstein remains the best character especially as he gets progressively more insane – so nutty in fact that it’s almost funny (his mask opens its own Twitter, sorry, “Chirper” account)! He’s at least one of the madmen hunting down the 140, a number which is quickly decreasing, and he steals every scene he’s in. Williams also throws in an unexpected, clever twist in the third act which changes everything, keeping the story fresh and exciting.
The flaw in the story is why some of the 140 aren’t in hiding/hiring protection to keep them alive. We see quite a few who’re continuing to live normal lives despite being given millions of dollars and finding out a masked killer is out to get them – what the hell are they thinking!? They needn’t go the route of Russian gangsters and Japanese forts but they should be doing something! And, like in the first book, the art isn’t that impressive – Dowling and Ryan Kelly do a decent job, and I enjoyed Sauvage’s issue, but it’s pretty meh overall.
Unfollow remains an unusual, imaginative, original and compelling comic that’s Vertigo’s best current ongoing. If you liked the first book, you’ll like the second and fans of non-superhero comics should definitely check this fun title out.
Rob Williams’ twisted take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues in Unfollow, Volume 2, which is as enjoyable and delightfully bananas as the first book.
Marguerite Sauvage beautifully illustrates the issue exploring Courtney’s traumatic past before series regular artist Mike Dowling returns when she travels to Japan to live in self-proclaimed prophet Akira’s commune/fort. But how safe she’ll be is questionable as Akira is an unhinged lunatic!
Come to think of it, the story is peppered with crazies. Mad American mountain-man Deacon teams up with Dave (who sees talking cheetahs) and RaVan (who sees talking bears) and the three hire Russian gangsters to protect them, which doesn’t go well for them. Who would’ve guessed that hiring opportunistic ultra-violent Russian thugs who know you have a fortune to exploit and completely depend on them wouldn’t work out?
The masked Rubinstein remains the best character especially as he gets progressively more insane – so nutty in fact that it’s almost funny (his mask opens its own Twitter, sorry, “Chirper” account)! He’s at least one of the madmen hunting down the 140, a number which is quickly decreasing, and he steals every scene he’s in. Williams also throws in an unexpected, clever twist in the third act which changes everything, keeping the story fresh and exciting.
The flaw in the story is why some of the 140 aren’t in hiding/hiring protection to keep them alive. We see quite a few who’re continuing to live normal lives despite being given millions of dollars and finding out a masked killer is out to get them – what the hell are they thinking!? They needn’t go the route of Russian gangsters and Japanese forts but they should be doing something! And, like in the first book, the art isn’t that impressive – Dowling and Ryan Kelly do a decent job, and I enjoyed Sauvage’s issue, but it’s pretty meh overall.
Unfollow remains an unusual, imaginative, original and compelling comic that’s Vertigo’s best current ongoing. If you liked the first book, you’ll like the second and fans of non-superhero comics should definitely check this fun title out.
September 12, 2017
The 140 are being whittled down with each issue while Dave and RaVan hook up with the Deacon in Russia to hide out from those of the 140 hunting down the others, but is hiding out with Russian gangsters really the best idea. Meanwhile Courtney, hooks up with Akira's collective of pacifists in the boonies of Japan. All of the characters Williams focuses on seem to be from a little to full on batshit crazy. Still loving this series and won't be surprised when it turns up on TV somewhere.
May 9, 2019
Disappointing. I really wanted a battle royale. Can’t have everything, I guess.
March 30, 2017
Solid character development in vol.2 and the pace was great. Rob Williams dives right into some good backs story on Courtney, and quickly jumps into the present with Akira, Dave, and Rubinstein. The story feels more focused and we are starting to see the 140 dwindle down. Dave decides to meet up with Deacon in Russia and also friends Ravan joining the bunch. Akira is slipping into his egotistical madness at his fortress in the forest with his 40 followers. Courtney realizes that maybe she should hide out so she joins up with Akira. Dave is still listening to his invisible leopard that only he sees and i have a feeling its not a good idea. The ending has a big event that really drops the 140 down in numbers and its revolves around that nutcase Akira. The art is from a few artists and its all above average. I like the series more now so I will look out for vol.3
May 22, 2017
Bullet Review:
I'm definitely having a good time. Wish I knew what was up with all the animals and dragons, but at least this seems to be going somewhere and not needlessly dragging out. Hopefully volume 3 will give us more answers too. (What is the mask, where did it come from, is it magical or is that just insano Rubinstein?)
I'm definitely having a good time. Wish I knew what was up with all the animals and dragons, but at least this seems to be going somewhere and not needlessly dragging out. Hopefully volume 3 will give us more answers too. (What is the mask, where did it come from, is it magical or is that just insano Rubinstein?)
December 17, 2017
Courtney decides to hide out in Akira's isolated commune where several dozen other members of the 140 also live and worship Akira. The group should be afraid since 3 other members are killed by a mysterious assassin who photographs their dead bodies and posts them online.
Larry isn't dead. It's revealed that he had an understanding with a popular member of the 140. That's a twist. He may get a more active role in the next volume.
Larry isn't dead. It's revealed that he had an understanding with a popular member of the 140. That's a twist. He may get a more active role in the next volume.
July 4, 2017
This series remains intriguing. This one is more than a bit brutal – violent in ways that even the first volume didn’t manage. And bleak. Really, really dark.
But it is a page turner with more than a bit of mystery held within. The shallow-ish characters are becoming more fully developed (for the most part) and some very intriguing moments happen in this one that change things in a big way.
Looking forward to reading the next volume when it comes out.
But it is a page turner with more than a bit of mystery held within. The shallow-ish characters are becoming more fully developed (for the most part) and some very intriguing moments happen in this one that change things in a big way.
Looking forward to reading the next volume when it comes out.
August 3, 2018
The best part of Unfollow V2 is the lead issue, #7, which gives a poignant and intriguing in-depth look at one of the 140. The rest of the volume is action-adventure, continuing on from the premise of the first volume and ending with a real bang. There's a lot less of weirdness of V1 amidst that, and though it makes this second volume somewhat more balanced, it also loses some of its depth.
Nonetheless, this remains very readable and interesting.
Nonetheless, this remains very readable and interesting.
August 25, 2025
7.5/10
February 23, 2018
More survivor/Battle Royal/ evil tech bro social media satire in graphic novel form. How can I say no to that!
February 7, 2017
FUCKING AKIRA! FUCKING COURTNEY! FUCKING DAVE!
November 2, 2020
What began as a macabre experiement into social media and the dark side of humanity gets increasingly off the rails in Unfollow, Vol. 2, God is Watching. In Vol. 1, 140 Characters, we learn that the inventor of social media, Larry Ferrell, has died and willed his $18B fortune to 140 people at random, and the more of them that die, the more each survivor gets. Thus kicks off a kind of Battle Royale among the inheritors, but now we see some alpha predators emerge from the pack, most of whom seem to be fairly insane. There is Rubenstein, Ferrell's ex-bodyguard who wears a bizarre mask that may or may not have a mind of its own. There is Akira, a self-styled messiah who has an alternative solution to the question Ferrell is asking. There is the Dragon, a hulking brute who shows up unbidden to pile up bodies. And there is Deacon, a hillbilly prophet who is a valuable ally, but clearly not all there. Add to this at least one other hero who has a running dialogue with a spectral jaguar, and it all adds up to a story that would be weird enough without all of the disjointed reality. But with it, it begins to feel overly unhinged. Also, the Akira storyline feels like it is upending the central narrative, and by the time it concludes, you kind of wonder: what was all that for? That's not a great way to end the second volume of a three-volume series.
September 19, 2017
This volume isn't quite as interesting as the first volume. Now that the major players have been introduced and the plot set, we see how they respond to the situation. There are two major groupings - we get Dave, Deacon and Yavan trying to find safety with the Russian Mafia, while Courtney joins Akira's 140 retreat. Neither group finds much in the way of safety, with Courtney in particular flying in the face of danger that was honestly pretty predictable from the beginning of the plot thread. Meanwhile, the mask is knocking off 140 members who haven't allied with anyone.
The art is still pretty strong, but the characters actually seemed to have lost some of their depth here. There are a couple twists that are effective, but one of the two plots is completely predictable from the beginning, which drops the enjoyment factor. Still, not a bad followup, just not quite up to the previous volume.
The art is still pretty strong, but the characters actually seemed to have lost some of their depth here. There are a couple twists that are effective, but one of the two plots is completely predictable from the beginning, which drops the enjoyment factor. Still, not a bad followup, just not quite up to the previous volume.
September 20, 2019
The saga of the 140 people who have become rich continues. Larry Farrell, the Founder of the Facebook type organization is dead, the body count begins to rise. Dave Austin, one of the 140 undergoes a transformation in order to survive as a result of a life changing situation. The 2nd Volume asks the reader what would you do with a fortune after becoming a Millionaire overnight? The answer isn't always pretty.
Reading this story has given me food for thought to that question and honestly, I wouldn't be selfish and ask if being a target that puts your life in danger for you and your loved ones isn't worth the trouble. The shocking ending of one of the 140 will leave you asking who survived? Eager to reading Volume 3 which concludes the saga.
Reading this story has given me food for thought to that question and honestly, I wouldn't be selfish and ask if being a target that puts your life in danger for you and your loved ones isn't worth the trouble. The shocking ending of one of the 140 will leave you asking who survived? Eager to reading Volume 3 which concludes the saga.
February 8, 2020
I should have trusted my gut and quit after volume 1. A fairly interesting idea starts to unravel due to poor plotting, few characters with any depth and a poor attempt at looking at the human psyche. I advise others to spend their precious reading time elsewhere - not worth it here.
One example of plot holes is somehow the only one to put together the main plot idea (that Ferrell is playing out Akira's fiction work which will make Akira appear prophet-like), is one of the 140. Even though people are speculating all over social media about it. It's as if everyone else put two-and-two together, but didn't do anything - the press would be all over this, but it seems as if there is only 1 member of the 140 who connects the dots.
One example of plot holes is somehow the only one to put together the main plot idea (that Ferrell is playing out Akira's fiction work which will make Akira appear prophet-like), is one of the 140. Even though people are speculating all over social media about it. It's as if everyone else put two-and-two together, but didn't do anything - the press would be all over this, but it seems as if there is only 1 member of the 140 who connects the dots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2021
Well, I'm still super intrigued but seriously confused as well. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be the case after twelve issues. The story continues to keep my interest but there are so many elements that keep me scratching my head (Rubenstein, talking leopard, Akira). However, author Rob Williams, has me invested in seeing how this ends. The art continues to be perfectly suited for the book. Overall, another good read or at least, I think it is.
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May 19, 2017The social media deathmatch continues in somewhat rushed fashion, bumping off a bunch of the e-tontine before we've had much more than a glimpse of them. But the techno-sceptical theme is shown more and told less than in the first volume, and there is an Ekranoplan.
May 22, 2017
I really enjoy this series. It's a very creative way to really highlight the villainy, lust, and greed of regular people in the age of social media. I feel like this book is very important in today's ever changing world climate.
December 6, 2017
The remaining 140 "heirs" to a tech billionaire's fortune go into hiding to avoid being killed by their competitors. I felt a loss of momentum from the first volume's introduction of the premise as we get back stories and character positioning. However, this volume does end on a significant bang.
March 31, 2025
The plot thickens in this one. But of course I just found out that my library only has two parts of this three part thing... although I guess maybe the third one wouldn't have ended things neatly either, not with the pace this is going.
Still annoying though.
Still annoying though.
December 30, 2016
This continues to be an entertaining series. It definitely benefits from re-reading as a whole versus issue to issue.
January 21, 2017
I desperately need volume three. As in the first volume, Deacon is priceless. There are some unexpected twists here. I need to know how it all ends.
January 28, 2017
A decent followup, but Williams is telling a much different story here than the one I was envisioning.
May 23, 2017
Actually getting better as it progresses, though it still thinks it's smarter than it is.
September 11, 2017
A weak middle volume that doesn't capture the excitement of the first act.
September 30, 2017
Holy hell. I mean ho-lee-hell.
May 9, 2018
Wow, this social experiment takes the expected turn for the worse. Well done.
June 14, 2018
Interesting twists as outside parties become involved in the effort to get some of the prize money.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews