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The Old Guard (Single Issues) #1.1
The Old Guard #1
Eisner-winning writer GREG RUCKA (LAZARUS, BLACK MAGICK, Wonder Woman) and critically acclaimed artist LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ (THE DISCIPLINE, Deadpool, Punisher: MAX) team up together to introduce THE OLD GUARD, the story of old soldiers who never die…and yet cannot seem to fade away. Trapped in an immortality without explanation, Andromache of Scythia—“Andy”—and her comrades ply their trade for those who can find—and aff ord—their services. But in the 21st century, immortality is a hard secret to keep, and when you live long enough, you learn that there are many fates worse than death.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2017
366 people are currently reading
1250 people want to read
About the author
Greg Rucka
1,493 books1,924 followersGreg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
January 30, 2021
Real Rating: 2.5* of five
So I've watched The Old Guard and was whelmed. Decent little boom-blam-bang too-long but pretty piece of stupidity. The vaunted gay representation is, to put it mildly, pale and weak-kneed, delivered by actors devoid of any discernible chemistry. This apparently big-deal scene goes like this: An actor I've never heard of delivers a sentimental speech *about*, not even to, another actor I've never heard of and they share a totally faked (or carefully digitally obscured) kiss for ~10sec before being forcibly separated by brutal assholes for absolutely no logical reason. They're RESTRAINED in the back of an armored vehicle! They can't touch each other! They're fucking immortal, so why is the Arab guy even worried about the Italian guy in the first place?!
Go, Hollywood. Way to do it. *snort*
The moral bankruptcy of the capitalist shitheel Dudley Dursley plays, evidenced from the first by the planned murder of some violent murderers, was as expected...the film's anti-capitalist message is very agreeable to me...but it also makes Chiwetel Ejiofor's character into irredeemable scum for participating in it. Arguably he enters into an atonement spiral by the end but the planned and thus sanctioned killing of a dozen (admittedly violent and murderous) men really negates any possession of high ground for this character to return to. Also, is this really the best moment to spread a doctors-are-all-Mengele-at-heart message? AND be anti-gene-manipulation since that's most likely the best way forward out of COVID Crisis-land?
Charlize Theron's part here is to be tough and repressedly furious. Job done.
The young Black actress is fine in her role, whatever it may be. I really couldn't tell you how she became a badass supersoldier since she started out as a regular ol' Marine...nothing was made of her previous specialness. At least she gets with the supersoldiery program in record time, apparently intuiting what her role in the team is and what exactly she should do in a given situation without more than a nod and a wink! Just amazing, that.
And she's set up to be The Boss after Charlize eventually dies (there's a story, don't sweat it since it's arbitrary and unexplained, as to her loss of immortality)...despite the two gay guys being A LITERAL THOUSAND YEARS more experienced than she is. Mm. Because the straight guy who's two hundred years more experienced than she is isn't leadership material? Mm.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE ME ANOTHER OBNOXIOUS MESSAGE, READ THIS
If anyone ever wonders why I don't like comic books and/or their movies, this is the short version. I don't like the fascist Übermensch tones of superheroes; I don't care what color their skin is, what plumbing they sport, or the nature of their private sexual peccadilloes. It is inherent in the genre, this illiberal message, and it never won't bother me. I don't want to count the corpses that need burying/burning/exposure to the vultures; these are humans with families, mothers and fathers, and not every one of them can be unloved. Yes, yes, I know I'm not supposed to think about that. I do anyway, and it makes this sort of film/comic deeply distasteful to me.
And yes, the books built on similar lines as well as the damn near ubiquitous trope of women as rape objects and children as props to be harmed are off my plate as well these past several years. (I've always felt this way about animals.) I don't want to read this stuff; I don't want to watch this stuff. In my mind, this is part of the culture that makes #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter as well as the endless, underreported violence against QUILTBAG people, normalized background noise.
I dissent; I decline to participate.
ETA This backstory-filling "featurette" (horrible word, up there with "novelette" ptui) explains some stuff. Knowing the French guy's history makes me feel more like the situation leading to the whole film shoulda been seen coming by people with such enormous experience of human nature.
So I've watched The Old Guard and was whelmed. Decent little boom-blam-bang too-long but pretty piece of stupidity. The vaunted gay representation is, to put it mildly, pale and weak-kneed, delivered by actors devoid of any discernible chemistry. This apparently big-deal scene goes like this: An actor I've never heard of delivers a sentimental speech *about*, not even to, another actor I've never heard of and they share a totally faked (or carefully digitally obscured) kiss for ~10sec before being forcibly separated by brutal assholes for absolutely no logical reason. They're RESTRAINED in the back of an armored vehicle! They can't touch each other! They're fucking immortal, so why is the Arab guy even worried about the Italian guy in the first place?!
Go, Hollywood. Way to do it. *snort*
The moral bankruptcy of the capitalist shitheel Dudley Dursley plays, evidenced from the first by the planned murder of some violent murderers, was as expected...the film's anti-capitalist message is very agreeable to me...but it also makes Chiwetel Ejiofor's character into irredeemable scum for participating in it. Arguably he enters into an atonement spiral by the end but the planned and thus sanctioned killing of a dozen (admittedly violent and murderous) men really negates any possession of high ground for this character to return to. Also, is this really the best moment to spread a doctors-are-all-Mengele-at-heart message? AND be anti-gene-manipulation since that's most likely the best way forward out of COVID Crisis-land?
Charlize Theron's part here is to be tough and repressedly furious. Job done.
The young Black actress is fine in her role, whatever it may be. I really couldn't tell you how she became a badass supersoldier since she started out as a regular ol' Marine...nothing was made of her previous specialness. At least she gets with the supersoldiery program in record time, apparently intuiting what her role in the team is and what exactly she should do in a given situation without more than a nod and a wink! Just amazing, that.
And she's set up to be The Boss after Charlize eventually dies (there's a story, don't sweat it since it's arbitrary and unexplained, as to her loss of immortality)...despite the two gay guys being A LITERAL THOUSAND YEARS more experienced than she is. Mm. Because the straight guy who's two hundred years more experienced than she is isn't leadership material? Mm.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE ME ANOTHER OBNOXIOUS MESSAGE, READ THIS
If anyone ever wonders why I don't like comic books and/or their movies, this is the short version. I don't like the fascist Übermensch tones of superheroes; I don't care what color their skin is, what plumbing they sport, or the nature of their private sexual peccadilloes. It is inherent in the genre, this illiberal message, and it never won't bother me. I don't want to count the corpses that need burying/burning/exposure to the vultures; these are humans with families, mothers and fathers, and not every one of them can be unloved. Yes, yes, I know I'm not supposed to think about that. I do anyway, and it makes this sort of film/comic deeply distasteful to me.
And yes, the books built on similar lines as well as the damn near ubiquitous trope of women as rape objects and children as props to be harmed are off my plate as well these past several years. (I've always felt this way about animals.) I don't want to read this stuff; I don't want to watch this stuff. In my mind, this is part of the culture that makes #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter as well as the endless, underreported violence against QUILTBAG people, normalized background noise.
I dissent; I decline to participate.
ETA This backstory-filling "featurette" (horrible word, up there with "novelette" ptui) explains some stuff. Knowing the French guy's history makes me feel more like the situation leading to the whole film shoulda been seen coming by people with such enormous experience of human nature.
March 11, 2021
🖼️ Prettey Picturz Plz Buddy Read (PPPBR™) with the MacHalos and stuff 🖼️
Pre-review rating: 2.785698755 stars.
Post-review rating: 2.135641256 stars.
When I finished reading this issue I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I actually had to think really really hard to figure it out, which, given the current state of my two ever-decaying grey cells , was quite the painfully excruciating experience indeed. But anyway and stuff, thought about it I did and come to the following conclusion I did:
① I don’t like the art. But I don’t not like it, either. Actually, you know what? Nah, I really don't like it at all.Then again... There’s some weird, ever-so-slightly outdated 80s vibe thing going on at times:
Also, in case you hadn't noticed, the characters are ugly as fish. I mean, those faces! . Also also, most of the fight scenes are confusing messes:
But, to be revoltingly honest, I do like the layout. And the coloring is pretty cool, too.
② You'd think a story based on a bunch of immortal mercenaries would be Super Extra Scrumptious (SEC™), right? Wrong. In this case, it's Super Extra Meh (SEM™). I really didn't give a fish about any of the unlikeable as shrimp, one-dimensional characters as I was reading and had no bloody shrimping interest whatsoever in finding out what might happen next.
③ It would be quite refreshing indeed if authors tried to find alternatives to jihadists and the Taliban as the Evil Forces of Evil. Because getting seriously old this is. Thank thee kindly and stuff.
So, let's cut the crap and do some quick maths, shall we?
① + ② + ③ =
The end and stuff.
[Pre-review nonsense]
Review to come and stuff.
Pre-review rating: 2.785698755 stars.
Post-review rating: 2.135641256 stars.
When I finished reading this issue I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I actually had to think really really hard to figure it out, which, given the current state of my two ever-decaying grey cells , was quite the painfully excruciating experience indeed. But anyway and stuff, thought about it I did and come to the following conclusion I did:
① I don’t like the art. But I don’t not like it, either. Actually, you know what? Nah, I really don't like it at all.
Also, in case you hadn't noticed, the characters are ugly as fish. I mean, those faces! . Also also, most of the fight scenes are confusing messes:
But, to be revoltingly honest, I do like the layout. And the coloring is pretty cool, too.
② You'd think a story based on a bunch of immortal mercenaries would be Super Extra Scrumptious (SEC™), right? Wrong. In this case, it's Super Extra Meh (SEM™). I really didn't give a fish about any of the unlikeable as shrimp, one-dimensional characters as I was reading and had no bloody shrimping interest whatsoever in finding out what might happen next.
③ It would be quite refreshing indeed if authors tried to find alternatives to jihadists and the Taliban as the Evil Forces of Evil. Because getting seriously old this is. Thank thee kindly and stuff.
So, let's cut the crap and do some quick maths, shall we?
① + ② + ③ =
The end and stuff.
[Pre-review nonsense]
Review to come and stuff.
July 25, 2020
Not quite 3 stars (not my usual 3 stars), but it's fine for the first episode of an ongoing series.
I liked the movie and the "immortals fighting the good fight through the centuries" take, so I plan to continue the series, but it's not a top priority because comics/graphic novels aren't my preferred format. I did, however, enjoyed the movie which was a throwback to summer blockbusters.
This chapter/installment is currently available for free on all ebook platforms. Good chance to try if you're interested. (July 2020)
I liked the movie and the "immortals fighting the good fight through the centuries" take, so I plan to continue the series, but it's not a top priority because comics/graphic novels aren't my preferred format. I did, however, enjoyed the movie which was a throwback to summer blockbusters.
This chapter/installment is currently available for free on all ebook platforms. Good chance to try if you're interested. (July 2020)
Read
September 24, 2021This is making me wanna rewatch the movie so much.
October 18, 2020
Like most of the stuff, I learned about this series after watching the Netflix movie and so far the first part was was almost all in the movie and the series is only 5 issues long so no wonder they have been adapted most of the series hopefully, first one done would continue the series later as I am feeling hella sleepy. See you later and remember to Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
July 22, 2020
Watched the movie first and gasped when I saw it was based on a comic series. Gasped a second time when I found out that the writer of the comic wrote the screenplay for the movie. Gasped a third time when I saw issues 1-5 were available on my digital library app. I’m very oxygenated and happy!
From what I can tell, the movie follows the comic pretty well (not surprised because it’s the same writer). I really just want to get to that ending!
From what I can tell, the movie follows the comic pretty well (not surprised because it’s the same writer). I really just want to get to that ending!
July 12, 2020
Really enjoyed this comic strip and thought it was a good start to the series! Doesn’t tell you too much about the story or the plot but there’s enough to keep you intrigued!
The only reason I dropped a star is because of the drawings of the people’s faces... they were all just w bit bizarre 😂
The only reason I dropped a star is because of the drawings of the people’s faces... they were all just w bit bizarre 😂
July 13, 2020
Saw the movie first...
However, this was worth the download. I am usually hesitant about reading a comic after seeing film as they don't usually match up, but this is awesome. For once, they nailed it.
However, this was worth the download. I am usually hesitant about reading a comic after seeing film as they don't usually match up, but this is awesome. For once, they nailed it.
July 11, 2020
This is exactly the movie, they did a good adaptation. I wish I had known about these earlier!
July 14, 2020
Yes, I watched the movies first and then I ordered all the books before the last credit rolled. [Psst. The first ones free on Kindle]
August 1, 2020
I preferred the movie for this one
August 25, 2020
Good thing it is free at Kindle store, since the art is not good.
November 19, 2021
The art style is gorgeous with stunning colours.
December 31, 2022
Carnage.
And confusion.
But I did see the movie first.
And confusion.
But I did see the movie first.
March 25, 2024
Engaging read
Came here after watching the movie. It was an
entertaining read. It introduces you to the main characters and ends at a place which makes you want to read the next parts. I would read the next parts too.
Came here after watching the movie. It was an
entertaining read. It introduces you to the main characters and ends at a place which makes you want to read the next parts. I would read the next parts too.
October 8, 2020
This comic serves as an introduction to the Old Guard. Apparently just a group of "good" mercenaries, things go wrong when they are deployed, and... well, then the comic ends.
I read the Old Guard #1 expecting a graphic novel that would cover the movie of the same name. In my head, all the other issues would be future stories that continued where the movie ends, so it was disappointing to see that #1 barely goes beyond the beginning of the movie. Add that to a less than optimal reading experience on my Kindle, and I don't think I will be continuing with the rest.
I read the Old Guard #1 expecting a graphic novel that would cover the movie of the same name. In my head, all the other issues would be future stories that continued where the movie ends, so it was disappointing to see that #1 barely goes beyond the beginning of the movie. Add that to a less than optimal reading experience on my Kindle, and I don't think I will be continuing with the rest.
July 21, 2020
I watched the movie on Netflix, then found this as a freebie on Kindle and downloaded. It seems a near word-for-word adaptation of the movie, or vice versa. I'm not sure who's the chicken and who's the egg.
What I liked:
Andy's battleaxe
Her Asian partner who gets tossed in the ocean in an iron tomb
The ancient flashbacks
What I disliked:
Andy
The depiction of the scientists as evil gene-splicers
The token gay scene when the two guys never showed any other sign of affection towards each other
What I liked:
Andy's battleaxe
Her Asian partner who gets tossed in the ocean in an iron tomb
The ancient flashbacks
What I disliked:
Andy
The depiction of the scientists as evil gene-splicers
The token gay scene when the two guys never showed any other sign of affection towards each other
July 11, 2020
3.5 rounded up to 4
Interesting premise, seems like it's got some really good ideas, looking forward to reading more. Not sure about characters yet as haven't seen enough of them yet!
Not really a fan of that art. Great use of shadows, and some panels are really good but I don't like any of the faces, and a lot doesn't feel uniform outside of the colour and shadow usage. I'm extremely picky wirh art though 😊
Interesting premise, seems like it's got some really good ideas, looking forward to reading more. Not sure about characters yet as haven't seen enough of them yet!
Not really a fan of that art. Great use of shadows, and some panels are really good but I don't like any of the faces, and a lot doesn't feel uniform outside of the colour and shadow usage. I'm extremely picky wirh art though 😊
August 1, 2020
This issue is just the beginning of The Old Guard, not the full collection! It was nice to compare the graphics to the motion film and notice the differences between them. I felt that only Andy and Nile were drawn in a distinguishable manner, but I am sure that will improve in the subsequent issues of the series.
July 2, 2022
⚔️ Single Issue cause we are not sure we want to commit BR with the loonies @ MacHalo Asylum ⚔️
May 22, 2020
I find the idea interesting, and I love the use of a women of color. While it is violent, the violence does not feel like it is there for effect, if you know what I mean.
May 22, 2020
I liked it!
Heard about this series as a new Netflix series looked promising. So I checked out the first free issue. Going to download issues 2 to 5 and finish the first arc.
Heard about this series as a new Netflix series looked promising. So I checked out the first free issue. Going to download issues 2 to 5 and finish the first arc.
July 10, 2020
interesting start
August 1, 2020
Interesting take on immortality
Read
September 1, 2020let's go gays
March 7, 2021
When I saw the movie I knew I had to snag these and read them. Will be working my way through these. Love it.
April 20, 2021
I enjoyed it. It was a good, quick read. Really, really short lol
June 30, 2023
Great start to the start of a series.
July 26, 2023
Love the story. Wish it was a bit slower pace. Lot of scenes could have been extended and you'd have gotten more out of the book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews