The Dying and the Dead

The Dying And The Dead #1-3

by Jonathan Hickman

A murder at a wedding reveals a 50-year-old secret. At great cost, a man with a dying wife is given the opportunity to save her. A lost tribe is reborn in another time. All seemingly disparate events that force relics from the Greatest Generation to come together for one last mission. Brought to you by award-winning writer JONATHAN HICKMAN and fan-favorite artist, RYAN BODENHEIM, THE DYING AND THE DEAD is high adventure meets end-of-life. Collects issues #1-10.

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Science Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2019

About the author

Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenally good book....A fascinating story, amazingly detailed art, interesting characters. But it also represents all that I find wrong with the comic book industry these days, and why the industry is slowly dying the death of a thousand cuts.

First off, the book itself has no description of the contents. it is being sold on author Jonathan Hickman and the visuals alone. Who is going to pick this up in a bookstore, see no description, no synopsis, nothing, and think "This looks good. Take my money!" The cover is certainly not what I would call a grabber- an old man clutching a spear, with a young woman standing behind him, both taking up about a quarter of the half-blank cover.

Next, this collects three issues of an open-ended series. There's a lot of good stuff here, but not only do you not get a complete story, but you don't even get a satisfying partial story. This was published in 2017, and, as far as I can tell, there were three more issues published, and a ten-issue collected edition was solicited for December 2019, but doesn't appear to have been published.

I read a LOT of comics. I own a lot, and buy a lot, although the amount that I buy is dwindling because of things like this. If I read a collected edition, I have so many books that there is no telling when I will get to the next volume. So I appreciate recaps, which seem to be verboten these days. You're just supposed to remember what happened last time, who everyone is and what they want, and if you can't, then tough shit. And a lot of books, especially creator-owned books, come out on a "Whenever we feel like it" schedule. I loved Jason Aaron's SOUTHERN BASTARDS. I raved about the first volume to anyone that would listed, gushed over it on my review blog, could not WAIT for future volumes. But wait I did, because the trickle out a few issues a year, if that, which seriously diminishes reader's enthusiasm, patience, and appreciation when a new installment DOES arrive.

When I pick up a new book, I'm entering into an implied contract with the creators: We will keep making this, and tell you a complete story, as long as you keep buying. Yes, shit happens. Sales are bad, books get cancelled, creators get better offers, but to start a book like THE DYING AND THE DEAD, and basically abandon it...not cool. Which is why I find myself increasingly just waiting for books like this to end, and either hoping for an omnibus, or picking up the trades all at once. Because no matter what happens, this book, as good as it is, makes me feel ripped off. I either wasted ten bucks on a story that will never be finished, or else I wasted ten bucks because the collection that may or may not be forthcoming will include these three issues anyway. So my trust in the industry diminishes, and I get more careful about what I buy, because the creators and the publishers keep violating that implied contract. Marvel and Kevin Smith never finished that Bullseye mini-series. Warren Ellis waited so long between MINISTRY OF SPACE issues that I vowed to never buy another Ellis story unless it was already complete and fully collected. And now Hickman creates a very enjoyable book, and seemingly abandons it....and they wonder why comic sales are so low. This is a great read, with a ton of potential, but, sadly, I just can't recommend it.

[Alex E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A race of immortal beings offers our hero the chance to save his wife from cancer.

So first thing, I'm really writing this review for all 6 issues that have come out so far, because I cant find a collected edition anywhere. It seems that the book is dead (which is a goddammed shame) so we are left in this weird limbo where I have to review this book instead of a normal collected edition.

With that being said, this was pretty awesome. Jonathan Hickman has a way of having these great pitches to stories, but then delving much deeper into the premise and way past the initial pitch. You can see how the story unfolds issue by issue and the plot thickens panel by panel. One moment you think you're reading about some old timers and their last mission, the next your reading about the Axis of Evil leaders assembling a mythological weapon that can kill the aforementioned immortals. This is why Hickman is one of my favorite writers because he can get so far into the details while at the same time maintaining this tone of seriousness - no matter how crazy it gets. And it gets pretty damn crazy.

I really wish they would pick this up again because the story is amazing, the art is amazing as well, and there is no ending. In fact, the book stops pretty much in the middle of act 2. Which sucks so so much. I highly recommended the book with the added warning that there is no ending. But the ride is pretty good so if you are into Hickman books, definitely check this out.

[RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah!! I picked this up without any prior knowledge only knowing it was a Hickman story. And did it deliver. Great world buidling and story. The artwork is awesome and compliments the story perfectly. Highly recommend this one just wish there was more of it.

[Des Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great, but it's going to be a long haul Hickman story, and any right-minded reader should fear this book's troubled publishing schedule. I would read 100 issues of this, and Dying and the Dead makes a great compliment to Hickman's other long haul science books, but if this trade and a few loose issues afterwards is all we end up getting, it's an awesome set-up for something that may not see completion. As a team though, Hickman and Bodenheim are a heavenly match, and this book is drop-dead gorgeous, even considering all the color-drained imagery and blanket brown and red tones.

Fingers crossed for a bunch more of this. Hopefully the scheduling woes are over and we can really get the ball rolling. This book deserves it.

[Václav · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,1 of 5 of this promising and UNFINISHED alt-history conspiracy action thing)
This is actually good comic, all the 6 issues of it. The art looks very fine, the basic setting and plot are pretty nice and it unveils with a very good and engaging spirit. BUT from the second half, I wasn't sure where it will go and probably Hickman started to feel the same which sadly ended in premature demise.

[Jesse Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good but at this pace it will 100 issues to resolve.

[Terry Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been quite the fan of Hickman since getting back into comics. His ability to command the imagination and leave the reader revisiting his story after the last page is turned is fantastic.

Now, for those who have picked up his Marvel stuff, be warned, this isn't quite as friendly. Neither is it as esoteric as East of West.

It sits comfortably between the two, marrying the action of a Christopher Nolan film, with some rather intriguing philosophical pondering. And the volume, which collects the first three super-sized issues, leaves you just puzzled enough that you push ahead.

Take a dive in, because I suspect that this will be optioned into a Hollywood-blockbuster sometime very soon.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I held of on reading this for years in hopes that it would be completed or at least show signs of being completed. Then Ryan Bodenheim died tragically, and I waited for a while to see if the remaining issues may be collected in some way. I haven’t heard of any plans to do so, but I finally gave in a decided to read what there was of this series. This first trade is very good, stereotypical Hickman stuff. Ryan’s art is amazing, and Michael Garland’s coloring is incredibly unique and adds a lot of atmosphere and drama. I still wish Image would collect everything, but I’m not holding my breath.

[Chad Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best comics series I have ever read. Hickman strings together an amazing tale of alternate history, murder and the supernatural. I nearly cried out of frustration when I got to the end. I wanted more!

[Beelzefuzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cancer western crouching in the shadow of Raiders of the Lost Ark while Nephilim adjacents watch. Fun. I will seek out the rest based on the strength of these few.
I do understand now I bought the wrong edition, and this is pointless since the complete collection exists.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three words: Hickman and Bodenheim

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hickman delivers pretty consistently, and I'd say he does here as well. If the publishing schedule for this gets more consistent this could turn into a very interesting thing.

[Grg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is pretty goofy (old man A-Team vs immortal Hitler youth) but I love the way Hickman doles out plot details with an eye dropper. It really makes you hungry to read more.

[Logan Polk]

Genius but misleading, it only contains the first three issues of a six issue story. The final three are not collected anywhere.

[Kate Curtis-Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dying and the Dead is a prime example of how comics as a medium can lose some of its most excellent material merely because of a lack of sales, promotion, or both. Mr. Hickman is one of my favorite writers and for as ambitious and wide-sweeping of a project as this book seemed, I had heard nothing about it back when the series was first released in issue format. If it hadn’t been for a recommendation by a member of staff at a comic book store, after they didn’t have what I was looking for, I probably would never have learned about this series existence.

The narrative follows a man who is summoned by a mysterious group of people that live below the Earth who have tasked him to find an ancient weapon that could be world-altering if it's used. At a previous time in the protagonist’s life, he had successfully completed a job for these same people and so he goes in search of his old crew in order to complete this new task, despite the fact that they’re all much older in age now. What drives the main character to complete the mission assigned to him is the promise that if the weapon is returned then his wife will be saved from her terminal cancer, but he’s working against a ticking clock, a detail which adds even higher stakes to the story.

This was easily one of the most fascinating comics I’ve come across in a long time. Mr. Hickman is one of my favorite writers and I think he happens to be one of the best creative minds working in the comics industry today. His imaginative talents are on full display here, and its masterfully paced and plotted to boot. This story not only tracks what is going on in the present as the band of possible heroes begin their quest to find the weapon, but it also goes back in time to track the history of the weapon and the interactions between humanity and the mysterious beings who made it. Mr. Hickman does an excellent job of giving the reader enough information to get their bearings in the world of the comic but no so much that the mystery at the heart of the story loses its intrigue. As an end result, The Dying and the Dead becomes a story that every reader will want to know more about, begging for the details that are required to fully understand just what is going on.

I must also give my complete compliments to the artist, and particularly the colorist. No single panel is given a complete treatment of color, rather each is stylized with an overall shade that matches the mood of the scene while certain details are highlighted for accentuation. Each of the main characters is colored in a sepia tone to represent their age while the mysterious beings are left as a stark white to emphasize their otherworldly, almost god-like manner. When it comes to the penciling there is a great amount of detail to firmly set the image in the readers mind, and certain attention is given to characters or panels for additional realism. Decisions like the coloration and art only further prove just how great the series could have been if Image hadn’t placed it on hiatus.

From what I can tell, there were more issues published in this series than the three that are contained in this volume, but trying to obtain the others may prove to be a real challenge. As I mentioned above, this series is currently marked as “on hiatus” on the Image Comics website, whether that demarcation actually means that it’s canceled remains to be seen, but for the sake of the industry, I certainly hope not. If that unfortunate reality does come to pass, I think that what has already been written will go down as a cult series in the hearts and minds of the readers who got a chance to read what had been written thus far. Please Image, don’t deprive the world of comics of such a quality book.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn it, I sure wanted to see the ending. The hiatus for this great comic is ruining my experience.

Edward James Canning wants to save his wife who is slowly dying of cancer. He is given the opportunity to do so by the Bishop, a member of an organization called Baduri that created the world. As powerful as they are, they have one weakness - a weapon forged by their own hands that can kill them and thus end their control over the world.

The history of the Baduri is a long one. They were the masters of men thousands of years ago. The humans rebelled several times and were always severely punished for it. That is until the Baduri began a civil war. They created a weapon that can be used to end their immortality. The Baduri rebels were defeated and the weapon was disassembled and hidden away. The Baduri are still around now, but are controlling only a part of the world.

During WWII the Axis leaders found the components for the Baduri weapon. At their meeting Hirohito killed Hitler and Mussolini and took the weapon for himself. The Baduri had the US use the atom bomb against Japan to frighten Hirohito into returning the weapon. Hirohito decides to exchange the weapon in return for immortality, but the Baduri want extra security in obtaining the weapon. Enter James's team who are last seen in reach of the weapon. They must defeat Hirohito's son first.

[Corwyn Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great lines (dialog), bad-ass art, really cool fantasy/demigod concepts, and some kick-ass old dudes, which is always fun. Hickman is a marvel of a creator and everyone (with half a brain) should aquatint themselves with his work. So why didn't I give this any higher rating than 3 stars? Because it's incomplete. It's one of those storylines that seemed to have gotten lost in the melee of whatever-storylines-get-lost-in-the-melee-of, and who knows if it'll ever be revisited by this creative team. So, basically, if you're reading it for free or really cheap, and just want to indulge in some Hickman & Bodeheim, definitely check it out. Is gud chit, mang. But don't spend any considerable money on it because it doesn't deliver the goods and probably never will. Bummer.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewing #1-7 (run is on hiatus).

This is a story about the Greatest Generations Last Story. Of a Golden Age hero's last hurrah. It's really about "the golden years not being so golden, but holding on to the idea that they can be"

Sometimes one of your favorite writers will pitch a story that you have no interest in, but when you give it a try, you're completely drawn in.

[Benjamin Barham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope they get around to finishing it, this is a great creative team.

[Will Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Hickman but this is very slow and convoluted and leads to basically nothing since they didn't finish the series. I can't give a high rating to something collected like that.