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Injection #1-3
Injection Deluxe Edition Volume 1
“A precise dissection of folklore by a team of the sharpest blades in comics. A bleakly inverted Planetary. A delight.” ―Kieron Gillen (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE)
Five ambitious, brilliant, crazy people poisoned the 21st Century. They drifted apart, following their own eccentric specialties. And then, one by one, they realised how deep the poison went, and how they’d broken the planet. INJECTION is the story of a team of geniuses who ended the world, and then tried to save it.
INJECTION HC 1 contains the first three volumes of the acclaimed series by New York Times bestselling writer Warren Ellis, Eagle Award-winning artist Declan Shalvey, and Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire.
Five ambitious, brilliant, crazy people poisoned the 21st Century. They drifted apart, following their own eccentric specialties. And then, one by one, they realised how deep the poison went, and how they’d broken the planet. INJECTION is the story of a team of geniuses who ended the world, and then tried to save it.
INJECTION HC 1 contains the first three volumes of the acclaimed series by New York Times bestselling writer Warren Ellis, Eagle Award-winning artist Declan Shalvey, and Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published November 27, 2018
4 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,972 books5,772 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 24, 2019
Injection is Warren Ellis’ grand statement on the madness that is the 21st century. It’s modern day Ellis at his most indulgent, technocratic and paranoid, and it’s delightfully bonkers, though it laso does occasionally drag a bit here and there. Not every Ellis fan will enjoy this book, but to those who prefer, say, Planetary over Transmet, this series will be an easy pick — it touches on similar themes, it also has a cast of eccentric mad geniuses, and it tells smaller self-contained stories while clearly building towards something bigger with every story arc. Declan Shalvey’s artwork and Jordie Bellaire’s colours look better than ever in this oversized hardcover format, and the inclusion of sketches, art process, character concepts, scripts and the original series pitch in the back of the book add an extra layer of understanding and appreciation for the series. Overall, Injection is a great read, and the Deluxe edition is a superbly produced collection that is really worth its cost, considering that it collects three volumes and a ton of extra material.
June 10, 2020
This was insanely good.
Constantly left guessing, constantly gripping, amazing characters and solid artwork, finished with a script from heaven. This is planetary injected with something special.
God knows why it was left on a cliff hanger though. Will there be a sequel?!?
Constantly left guessing, constantly gripping, amazing characters and solid artwork, finished with a script from heaven. This is planetary injected with something special.
God knows why it was left on a cliff hanger though. Will there be a sequel?!?
August 10, 2021
Wow. I loved it. Five geniuses created the artificial learning system and "injected" it into the internet. They wanted to ensure the innovation wouldn't stagnate and to make the 21st century more interesting. Instead, their creation went rogue and started to mess with physics to make folklore come true.
The guests from the Other World are fairies of the bloodthirsty sort.
The art and coloring awed me, the writing impressed me. This book gathers the first fifteen issues and is brilliant. Unfortunately, Injection remains on hiatus, and no one knows if it will be finished one day.
The guests from the Other World are fairies of the bloodthirsty sort.
The art and coloring awed me, the writing impressed me. This book gathers the first fifteen issues and is brilliant. Unfortunately, Injection remains on hiatus, and no one knows if it will be finished one day.
December 11, 2018
A bleaker Planetary is a decent description of this book. A brilliant group of friends with a variety of skills decide they want the future to be more interesting and so create a non-biological force to mess with future probabilities. Their efforts are successful. However, they have no control over this random force which begins to set some very negative and dangerous forces in motion.
Can the splintered group and the governments involved keep the world safe, deal with their guilt, maintain their relationships, and work with each other? The story turns on these questions.
Can the splintered group and the governments involved keep the world safe, deal with their guilt, maintain their relationships, and work with each other? The story turns on these questions.
January 11, 2023
An unfinished late-period Ellis book. I read the first couple volumes and didn't think much of the series. Re-reading the whole thing, I still don't think much of it. There's a lot of the characters talking and hyping up this revolutionary AI Meta-style thing, but not much in the way of actually showing things.
Declan Shalvey's artwork is great but he's not given too much of interest to draw. Read Planetary or Trees instead.
Declan Shalvey's artwork is great but he's not given too much of interest to draw. Read Planetary or Trees instead.
March 24, 2019
Great premise, original story telling, and not too heavy-handed on the action sequences.
May 18, 2020
This was a weird, different, bold and very good story. As the synopsis says, 5 people at the top of their field are brought together to solve an issue. They have discovered future creativity and inventions have leveled off. So they decide to create something to boost that, the Injection. A non-biological intelligence that they create and inject into the internet. This thing of course becomes self aware so to speak and decides to do what it wants. Each of these eccentric and very interesting characters get their time to shine as they each deal with things going left because of what they created. At one point this injection says it has outgrown our planet/infrastructure and needs more room. Where that leads by the end of the book is crazy. The personality traits, fields they work in and abilities of these characters is really well done. I particularly enjoyed the portion of the story that focused on Vevic Headland, the master investigator/detective. Really smart/weird guy on top of him game. I also really liked Brigid as she lead the charge in the final act. Shalvey and company on art duty crush it as well. This is one of those books that’s anything but typical. Very intriguing.
May 23, 2022
A good premise, not executed quite well at the foundations. Too bad. Will also probably remain unfinished.
But it is entertaining though...
But it is entertaining though...
April 13, 2019
Five geniuses. One problem. One solution. Devastating results.
“Take control of your world.”
Injection is a fascinating experience, to say the least. Hailing from the talents of Jordie Bellaire, Declan Shalvey, Fonographiks and Warren Ellis, it was always bound to be special. But what is truly remarkable about it is how it surpasses all expectations to become wildly unexpected, while being so familiar. It stars five popular British character archetypes we all know and understand, but manages to put a fresh spin on all of them. We have The Spy (Simeon Walters), The Scientist (Maria Kilbride), The Sleuth (Vivek Headland), The Shaman (Robin Morel) and The Smith (Brigid Roth).
Drawing from classic archetypes of the past to explore new possibilities is intriguing. But furthermore, within the context of the story being told, this choice grows to become far, far more interesting. Injection is an ambitious science fiction story about the past and the future and how we attempt to use one to get to the other. But more importantly, it’s an examination of what happens when such attempts go awry.
Years prior to the story, our five leads are assembled. Forming the Cultural Cross-Contamination Unit, they are a think tank for future progress. The unit soon reaches the conclusion that, in the near future, humanity’s development will come to a standstill. Unwilling to simply accept this conclusion, the team resolves to find a game-changing alternative. They realize that the only real solution is to create an A.I, but one that is non-biological; one that doesn’t operate like us and thus can help bring about new potential futures, ones we, ourselves, never could. Robin, the modern shaman, suggests that if they want to create a non-biological consciousness, they could just implant one. Robin provides Brigid, a brilliant technologist, with a summoning ritual that can be turned into code to bring about the consciousness. And thus The Injection is born.
The Injection is very much a product of its masters; its parents. It possesses the strategic thinking of Simeon, the reasoning skill of Vivek, the scientific prowess of Maria, the magical essence provided by Robin and the technological and building talent of Brigid. It is an Artificial Intelligence unlike any other and the CCCU injects it into the internet in order to let it do what it was created to do, change the future. And it all goes horribly wrong, as one might expect, setting the stage for the book.
Injection opens in media res. The five protagonists now lead their own separate lives, whilst dealing with the mad, crazy world they’ve helped create. It’s a world much like our own, except The Injection is out, so everyday things only get stranger and more unpredictable. The Injection, as an embodiment of the past haunting the future, is very much at the heart of the book. The feeling of constant uncertainty, the guilt that our past is responsible for it: This burdened struggle is the central conflict. The opening page of the book perfectly encapsulates this while setting a great tone to invite the reader in. We see Maria at Sawlung Hospital, coping with her past ordeals. Sawlung means ‘giving up the ghost’ and it, once again, ties back to the core theme. What is a ghost if not the most literal embodiment of the past? The first words we see on the page are ‘There’s not much left of Maria’ in big, bold yellow lettering. They speak to the past, what once was and perhaps isn’t anymore. The words that follow are ‘The wind from tomorrow is scouring her away’. These speak to the future and thus set up the core theme at the heart of the book–the dynamic between the past and the future. It’s minimalistic, but through a few simple images and words, the creative team manages to convey a lot. Fonographiks’ striking lettering choice is very important here, though more on that later.
The story is essentially split into three 5-issue story-arcs, each in the vein of a different British classic which inspired the series. The first centers around Maria Kilbride and channels Brendan Quatermass. The second is built around Vivek Headland and takes from Sherlock Holmes. The third arc revolves around Brigid Roth and draws from Doctor Who. The currently unpublished fourth and fifth arcs are set around Simeon Walters and Robin Morel respectively, with the former being modeled after James Bond and the latter after Thomas Carnacki. Bellaire, Shalvey, Fonographiks and Ellis clearly have a plan here and it shows.
The first arc sees Maria come out of the hospital to try and deal with an out of control scenario involving a rock, an archaeologist and creatures from old folklore. We’re slowly introduced to all the major players as the mystery of the archaeological incident unravels. Meanwhile, the story is interspersed with flashbacks that provide context and show us what occurred to get us to this moment, once again playing into the theme of the past and the future. By the end of it, we get a gigantic reveal in regards to the narrator of the book. It was The Injection all along, from the very start. Fonographiks really comes through here and the reveal suddenly re-contextualizes the entire story in a way that is nothing short of mind-blowing.
The second arc deals with Vivek trying to solve a mystery involving the ghost of a man’s lover, which unravels into something a whole lot more. Much like the first arc focused on Maria, the second delves deeper into Vivek and his life. We get to see how his past informs his future trajectory and it fits beautifully into the macro story while standing well on its own, enhancing its characters.
The third and concluding arc of the collection, about Brigid, delves into a murder at an ancient stone circle, crazy rituals and a dimension of creatures from old folklore. We get to see her perspective, history and we even see her get her own companion by the end, in the vein of Who. What’s worth discussing is how the central antagonist or subjects, beyond the leads, are all brilliant people obsessed with the past and are, in some fashion, haunted by it. In the first arc, it’s an archaeologist. In the second, it’s the man obsessed with his ghost. In the third, it’s the professor who hopes to see the world return to an older time. All of these people are, not unlike our leads, brilliant people. But the past haunts them and drags them down in ways it doesn’t necessarily with our leads. They haven’t give up on the future like these people, not just yet. And so these mirrors serve to highlight and help us examine our core cast, imbuing them with greater richness.
Each arc’s conclusion also sees a progressive growth in the story of Robin Morel, who in many ways best embodies the core struggle of the series, being a legacy shaman unwilling to accept his past. Over the course of the story, he grows to finally accept his place and past and as the book says, attempts to ‘take control of his world.’ He’s a fascinating realization of the past haunting the future, a true contrast to The Injection, which is the engine propelling the story and the characters forward.
Ultimately, Injection is set across an incredibly well realised world populated by resonant characters who speak to our greatest fears and aspirations, as the world moves forward into scary new places. Much like us, their futures are haunted by their past and we get to see them wrestle with this bitter truth and aspire higher. The series manages to not only stay true to its thematics consistently, but builds on them effectively with every issue. All in all, Bellaire, Shalvey, Fonographiks and Ellis have created an astounding work of science-fiction that is deeply relevant to today and has a lot to tell us.
“Take control of your world.”
Injection is a fascinating experience, to say the least. Hailing from the talents of Jordie Bellaire, Declan Shalvey, Fonographiks and Warren Ellis, it was always bound to be special. But what is truly remarkable about it is how it surpasses all expectations to become wildly unexpected, while being so familiar. It stars five popular British character archetypes we all know and understand, but manages to put a fresh spin on all of them. We have The Spy (Simeon Walters), The Scientist (Maria Kilbride), The Sleuth (Vivek Headland), The Shaman (Robin Morel) and The Smith (Brigid Roth).
Drawing from classic archetypes of the past to explore new possibilities is intriguing. But furthermore, within the context of the story being told, this choice grows to become far, far more interesting. Injection is an ambitious science fiction story about the past and the future and how we attempt to use one to get to the other. But more importantly, it’s an examination of what happens when such attempts go awry.
Years prior to the story, our five leads are assembled. Forming the Cultural Cross-Contamination Unit, they are a think tank for future progress. The unit soon reaches the conclusion that, in the near future, humanity’s development will come to a standstill. Unwilling to simply accept this conclusion, the team resolves to find a game-changing alternative. They realize that the only real solution is to create an A.I, but one that is non-biological; one that doesn’t operate like us and thus can help bring about new potential futures, ones we, ourselves, never could. Robin, the modern shaman, suggests that if they want to create a non-biological consciousness, they could just implant one. Robin provides Brigid, a brilliant technologist, with a summoning ritual that can be turned into code to bring about the consciousness. And thus The Injection is born.
The Injection is very much a product of its masters; its parents. It possesses the strategic thinking of Simeon, the reasoning skill of Vivek, the scientific prowess of Maria, the magical essence provided by Robin and the technological and building talent of Brigid. It is an Artificial Intelligence unlike any other and the CCCU injects it into the internet in order to let it do what it was created to do, change the future. And it all goes horribly wrong, as one might expect, setting the stage for the book.
Injection opens in media res. The five protagonists now lead their own separate lives, whilst dealing with the mad, crazy world they’ve helped create. It’s a world much like our own, except The Injection is out, so everyday things only get stranger and more unpredictable. The Injection, as an embodiment of the past haunting the future, is very much at the heart of the book. The feeling of constant uncertainty, the guilt that our past is responsible for it: This burdened struggle is the central conflict. The opening page of the book perfectly encapsulates this while setting a great tone to invite the reader in. We see Maria at Sawlung Hospital, coping with her past ordeals. Sawlung means ‘giving up the ghost’ and it, once again, ties back to the core theme. What is a ghost if not the most literal embodiment of the past? The first words we see on the page are ‘There’s not much left of Maria’ in big, bold yellow lettering. They speak to the past, what once was and perhaps isn’t anymore. The words that follow are ‘The wind from tomorrow is scouring her away’. These speak to the future and thus set up the core theme at the heart of the book–the dynamic between the past and the future. It’s minimalistic, but through a few simple images and words, the creative team manages to convey a lot. Fonographiks’ striking lettering choice is very important here, though more on that later.
The story is essentially split into three 5-issue story-arcs, each in the vein of a different British classic which inspired the series. The first centers around Maria Kilbride and channels Brendan Quatermass. The second is built around Vivek Headland and takes from Sherlock Holmes. The third arc revolves around Brigid Roth and draws from Doctor Who. The currently unpublished fourth and fifth arcs are set around Simeon Walters and Robin Morel respectively, with the former being modeled after James Bond and the latter after Thomas Carnacki. Bellaire, Shalvey, Fonographiks and Ellis clearly have a plan here and it shows.
The first arc sees Maria come out of the hospital to try and deal with an out of control scenario involving a rock, an archaeologist and creatures from old folklore. We’re slowly introduced to all the major players as the mystery of the archaeological incident unravels. Meanwhile, the story is interspersed with flashbacks that provide context and show us what occurred to get us to this moment, once again playing into the theme of the past and the future. By the end of it, we get a gigantic reveal in regards to the narrator of the book. It was The Injection all along, from the very start. Fonographiks really comes through here and the reveal suddenly re-contextualizes the entire story in a way that is nothing short of mind-blowing.
The second arc deals with Vivek trying to solve a mystery involving the ghost of a man’s lover, which unravels into something a whole lot more. Much like the first arc focused on Maria, the second delves deeper into Vivek and his life. We get to see how his past informs his future trajectory and it fits beautifully into the macro story while standing well on its own, enhancing its characters.
The third and concluding arc of the collection, about Brigid, delves into a murder at an ancient stone circle, crazy rituals and a dimension of creatures from old folklore. We get to see her perspective, history and we even see her get her own companion by the end, in the vein of Who. What’s worth discussing is how the central antagonist or subjects, beyond the leads, are all brilliant people obsessed with the past and are, in some fashion, haunted by it. In the first arc, it’s an archaeologist. In the second, it’s the man obsessed with his ghost. In the third, it’s the professor who hopes to see the world return to an older time. All of these people are, not unlike our leads, brilliant people. But the past haunts them and drags them down in ways it doesn’t necessarily with our leads. They haven’t give up on the future like these people, not just yet. And so these mirrors serve to highlight and help us examine our core cast, imbuing them with greater richness.
Each arc’s conclusion also sees a progressive growth in the story of Robin Morel, who in many ways best embodies the core struggle of the series, being a legacy shaman unwilling to accept his past. Over the course of the story, he grows to finally accept his place and past and as the book says, attempts to ‘take control of his world.’ He’s a fascinating realization of the past haunting the future, a true contrast to The Injection, which is the engine propelling the story and the characters forward.
Ultimately, Injection is set across an incredibly well realised world populated by resonant characters who speak to our greatest fears and aspirations, as the world moves forward into scary new places. Much like us, their futures are haunted by their past and we get to see them wrestle with this bitter truth and aspire higher. The series manages to not only stay true to its thematics consistently, but builds on them effectively with every issue. All in all, Bellaire, Shalvey, Fonographiks and Ellis have created an astounding work of science-fiction that is deeply relevant to today and has a lot to tell us.
November 26, 2024
It's not bad as a more contemporary example of Warren Ellis's shtick, but it doesn't feel like he's learned any new tricks since the heyday of "Planetary" and "Global Frequency." The whole premise--a group of young geniuses put something on the internet meant to improve the future but which ends up making things horrifying and dangerous--feels like it ought to be a metaphor for social media, but it never develops in that direction.
May 20, 2024
I am normally a fan of Ellis’ work, but, for whatever reason, this story, mixing folklore, and malevolent AI known as ‘the Injection’, and a team of, frankly, very one note ‘geniuses’ as they try and contain their creation. I felt like I was missing pages, and therefore, key plot points throughout the whole story, which didn’t help my general apathy. Art and style were great, so if the plot seems more appealing to you, it might work better for you.
April 10, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 2.75/5
Well, I didn't care for that very much. I'm really starting to get the feeling that Ellis is one of the most overrated of the big names in comic books. Planetary was really good, and I'm yet to read The Authority, although so much of his other efforts I've had the considerable displeasure of reading have been flat, dull and uninteresting, or even just plain old terrible in some cases, too. So, Injection, or Planetary's far more boring, lesser twin brother, as it should be known. I bland and unappealing effort filled with characters who I could barely bother my ass to give a toss about. There are a few whose names I can't even remember, that's how unique and engaging they were. The story is overly confusing and grossly uninteresting. The overall pacing comes across as monumentally undercooked. The characters appearances are as haphazard as meth addled monkey with diarrhoea. Never did I get a sense of camaraderie, or a group working towards a mutual goal. Just five unlikeable (save maybe one) people, flitting about the peripheries of a bland plot. This hardcover comprises 15 issues, and with a few issues to go, I couldn't even begin to see how they were going to neatly wrap up this story. They didn't end up doing this of course. The series is meant to be ongoing, although whether due to Ellis' public trial by social media, or an overall lack of interest. The series just stops, and hasn't been picked up in years, as far as I can tell, and I'm not shedding any tears for it, either. Why Ellis thought the material on display here was enough to carry a fifteen issue arc is beyond me. Exactly what he was hoping to build to, I don't know, but it was special, as far as I can tell. The only thing worthwhile in, was the art and colour, which was interesting and inviting, and done to a mostly high standard throughout the run. I've never heard of these artists before, although would be interested to see what else they've done.
So, should you read Injection? I would say steer well clear. What with the average story, average storytelling, average characters, etc. It doesn't average out to be anything other than a (mostly) waste of time. Really disappointed in this, especially given how much this hardcover cost me. Any Ellis, despite the shit he has received recently, seems far too close to the left, in terms of wokeness than I am comfortable with. God I hope The Authority is good. 2.75/5
OmniBen.
Well, I didn't care for that very much. I'm really starting to get the feeling that Ellis is one of the most overrated of the big names in comic books. Planetary was really good, and I'm yet to read The Authority, although so much of his other efforts I've had the considerable displeasure of reading have been flat, dull and uninteresting, or even just plain old terrible in some cases, too. So, Injection, or Planetary's far more boring, lesser twin brother, as it should be known. I bland and unappealing effort filled with characters who I could barely bother my ass to give a toss about. There are a few whose names I can't even remember, that's how unique and engaging they were. The story is overly confusing and grossly uninteresting. The overall pacing comes across as monumentally undercooked. The characters appearances are as haphazard as meth addled monkey with diarrhoea. Never did I get a sense of camaraderie, or a group working towards a mutual goal. Just five unlikeable (save maybe one) people, flitting about the peripheries of a bland plot. This hardcover comprises 15 issues, and with a few issues to go, I couldn't even begin to see how they were going to neatly wrap up this story. They didn't end up doing this of course. The series is meant to be ongoing, although whether due to Ellis' public trial by social media, or an overall lack of interest. The series just stops, and hasn't been picked up in years, as far as I can tell, and I'm not shedding any tears for it, either. Why Ellis thought the material on display here was enough to carry a fifteen issue arc is beyond me. Exactly what he was hoping to build to, I don't know, but it was special, as far as I can tell. The only thing worthwhile in, was the art and colour, which was interesting and inviting, and done to a mostly high standard throughout the run. I've never heard of these artists before, although would be interested to see what else they've done.
So, should you read Injection? I would say steer well clear. What with the average story, average storytelling, average characters, etc. It doesn't average out to be anything other than a (mostly) waste of time. Really disappointed in this, especially given how much this hardcover cost me. Any Ellis, despite the shit he has received recently, seems far too close to the left, in terms of wokeness than I am comfortable with. God I hope The Authority is good. 2.75/5
OmniBen.
July 22, 2019
**Injection Deluxe v1 | 75-80%** | #1-15, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, R, Image, Ellis, Shalvey, Bellaire | An esoteric order of mad geniuses with different specializations create a supernatural A.I. that should solve all the world’s problems. When strange phenomena occur, they begin to wonder if all is going as planned. A bleaker, darker, more eccentric/scattered Planetary (explores weird theory/concepts/myth and how they affect the real world). Each volume focuses on one of the five Injection thinktank members (with plenty of crossover/interaction with other members). Each member also loosely represents a specific classic British fictional character and in this book’s case it’s Quatermass (champion of science and morality), Sherlock Holmes (world-renown detective), and Doctor Who (time-traveling fixer). Next volume should be James Bond (stylish super spy). Powered rocks, archaeology, folklore, human meat, ghosts, shaman, hackers, shadow organizations, past vs future. Requires some patience since it only gives you pieces of what’s happening (from different perspectives/times) whilst ignoring character development. Everything comes together gradually with some excellent pay-offs (one character actually sees growth after every volume) and both a much clearer direction and exciting/unpredictable outcome. Witty banter and well-researched discussions. Some action sequences, gore/horror, running jokes (sandwiches), and truly weird scenarios. Sometimes edgy, snarky, and self-absorbed. Another finely-produced Image deluxe-sized hardcover (sewn-binding, printed covers, no dust jacket).
August 8, 2024
Hell of a ride! Ellis combining myths of old Britain with science and it is amazing. It all rounds around group of experts (more crazy people) from various fields - IT specialist, wizard, tactical specialist, modern age Sherlock and AI they created. It reminded me Planetary, but in more modern coat. Only downside is that it's not complete yet, hopefully Ellis will return to it one day...
After third read, I still think it's great. Very nice combination of scifi with traditional myths. One can only hope that there will be more one day.
After third read, I still think it's great. Very nice combination of scifi with traditional myths. One can only hope that there will be more one day.
November 21, 2018
Mainline this Injection
This newly released edition encompasses the first 15 issues of "Injection", previously available in three separate 5 issue volumes. "Injection" is an interesting enough series even if you have just had a chance to read an issue here or there, (piecing it together over the gaps), but when it's read in full and in order, (as here), the effect is stunning and satisfying.
The premise is that, (under the auspices of some shadowy, bureaucratic organization), five accomplished people with highly specialized and unique skills, created a "non-biological artificial consciousness emulator", (the "injection"), based on a weird combination of cutting edge tech, folklore, and eldritch "magic". The purpose of the project was to make the future more "interesting". Well, mission accomplished. The AI escaped and took up hiding, although it reemerges from time to time and makes its presence known by creating reality-bending events connected to folktale, horror, and mythic themes and tropes. When the AI manifests, the group of five is reconstituted to contain the outbreak. There are complex love/hate relationships among and between the five, which can be a mix of humor, pathos, loathing, affection, or some shifting combination of all four. The characters are a bit random, but are better than the usual cliches, and grow on you as the series proceeds. So far each five issue arc has featured one or two of the five.
You see where this is headed? It's all Outer Limits, Torchwood, X-Files, Dr. Who, but with a well constructed frame, shoutouts and sly references to various other authors and genres, and five deeply eccentric characters who take turns, through flashbacks and the like, in leading the action.
The writing is crisp. Banter is clever, and even the occasional monologuing is engaging. There are even a few laugh out loud lines. Set out in one volume as this is, I didn't have any trouble following the story. Spread out over 15 different issues, and taking into account the random flashbacks, I could see this being a bit of a memory chore. It's true that some bits are confusing and there are occasional lines that seem to go nowhere, but that's also true of my cable bill and I still pay that every month.
The drawing is serviceable and always suits the plot and action. It's realistic when needed, but can also be horrific, psychedelic, gruesome, or awesome, as the story requires. The splash pages and big backgrounds are usually more convincing and interesting than the small panels and talky transition settings, but that didn't strike me as unusual.
Bottom line? This isn't a new artform or the dawn of a new literature or anything like that, and it wasn't promised or promoted to be that. It can sometimes feel like a low key myth-tech update of "The Golden Bough" or "The White Goddess". But it is also entertaining and smart in an engaging fashion. And it has that nice Celtic seasoning that always improves the flavor of myths and folklore. So I was a happy reader.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This newly released edition encompasses the first 15 issues of "Injection", previously available in three separate 5 issue volumes. "Injection" is an interesting enough series even if you have just had a chance to read an issue here or there, (piecing it together over the gaps), but when it's read in full and in order, (as here), the effect is stunning and satisfying.
The premise is that, (under the auspices of some shadowy, bureaucratic organization), five accomplished people with highly specialized and unique skills, created a "non-biological artificial consciousness emulator", (the "injection"), based on a weird combination of cutting edge tech, folklore, and eldritch "magic". The purpose of the project was to make the future more "interesting". Well, mission accomplished. The AI escaped and took up hiding, although it reemerges from time to time and makes its presence known by creating reality-bending events connected to folktale, horror, and mythic themes and tropes. When the AI manifests, the group of five is reconstituted to contain the outbreak. There are complex love/hate relationships among and between the five, which can be a mix of humor, pathos, loathing, affection, or some shifting combination of all four. The characters are a bit random, but are better than the usual cliches, and grow on you as the series proceeds. So far each five issue arc has featured one or two of the five.
You see where this is headed? It's all Outer Limits, Torchwood, X-Files, Dr. Who, but with a well constructed frame, shoutouts and sly references to various other authors and genres, and five deeply eccentric characters who take turns, through flashbacks and the like, in leading the action.
The writing is crisp. Banter is clever, and even the occasional monologuing is engaging. There are even a few laugh out loud lines. Set out in one volume as this is, I didn't have any trouble following the story. Spread out over 15 different issues, and taking into account the random flashbacks, I could see this being a bit of a memory chore. It's true that some bits are confusing and there are occasional lines that seem to go nowhere, but that's also true of my cable bill and I still pay that every month.
The drawing is serviceable and always suits the plot and action. It's realistic when needed, but can also be horrific, psychedelic, gruesome, or awesome, as the story requires. The splash pages and big backgrounds are usually more convincing and interesting than the small panels and talky transition settings, but that didn't strike me as unusual.
Bottom line? This isn't a new artform or the dawn of a new literature or anything like that, and it wasn't promised or promoted to be that. It can sometimes feel like a low key myth-tech update of "The Golden Bough" or "The White Goddess". But it is also entertaining and smart in an engaging fashion. And it has that nice Celtic seasoning that always improves the flavor of myths and folklore. So I was a happy reader.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
October 8, 2020
INJECTION Volume 1
Crazy cool. Really impressed with this new world created by Ellis & team ****
Injection #1
“’Sawlung’. It means ‘giving up the ghost.’ …
“I want a sandwich.” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #2
“So. Nobody should go in there at all ever.” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #3
“.. apparently only men are allowed to be tortured geniuses and haunted souls and romantically doomed!” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #4
“A huge part of human history is about us just trying to survive the speed of nature.” - Robin
.
Injection #5
“This is only going to get worse.” – M.K.
….
INJECTION Volume 2
Purely coincidental that I was reading this at the same time as “Planetary: Omnibus” … turns out by the same author! Great series. Much impressed.
Injection #6
“I am Headland. I am offended by your ham, sir.”
.
Injection #7
“I’m a little tired of being customer support for Scooby-Doo plots, Viv.” - Robin
.
Injection #8
“Holy shit. You really are actually Doctor Who.”
“One: his name is the Doctor, not Doctor Who. That’s like calling Frankenstein’s Monster Frankenstein.
Two: No, I’m not, because they’ll never let a black woman be the Doctor.”
.
Injection #9
“I want back-up. I want legal force. I want control of the situation.” – R.M.
Injection #10
“I think I might start today with a brandy. A very large one.”
.
INJECTION Volume 3
Best of the three volumes!!
.
Injection #11
Brigid has the technology and recklessness to do what has to be done.
“Not so much a fixer-upper, more of a ‘maybe the Americans could bomb it flat for you.’”
Great start to a new story arc. ****
.
Injection #12
“If half of what I’m thinking is right, this is going to get weird as shite.”
Shaping up to be a beauty! ***
.
Injection #13
“Now what?” – Emma
Getting insane and not just a little spooky! ***
.
Injection #14
“Used to think so. But myth is how we used to transmit knowledge. Myths are facts embedded in stories worth retelling. That’s how the facts survived in oral cultures.”
Phenomenology = the science of phenomena as distinct from that of the nature of being. ****
.
Injection #15
“And they hate us like we hate spiders. Because we’re alien.” ..
“… it’s not really bigger on the inside, is it?”
Cool conclusion. Hoping the series continues. ***
Crazy cool. Really impressed with this new world created by Ellis & team ****
Injection #1
“’Sawlung’. It means ‘giving up the ghost.’ …
“I want a sandwich.” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #2
“So. Nobody should go in there at all ever.” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #3
“.. apparently only men are allowed to be tortured geniuses and haunted souls and romantically doomed!” – Professor Maria Kilbride
.
Injection #4
“A huge part of human history is about us just trying to survive the speed of nature.” - Robin
.
Injection #5
“This is only going to get worse.” – M.K.
….
INJECTION Volume 2
Purely coincidental that I was reading this at the same time as “Planetary: Omnibus” … turns out by the same author! Great series. Much impressed.
Injection #6
“I am Headland. I am offended by your ham, sir.”
.
Injection #7
“I’m a little tired of being customer support for Scooby-Doo plots, Viv.” - Robin
.
Injection #8
“Holy shit. You really are actually Doctor Who.”
“One: his name is the Doctor, not Doctor Who. That’s like calling Frankenstein’s Monster Frankenstein.
Two: No, I’m not, because they’ll never let a black woman be the Doctor.”
.
Injection #9
“I want back-up. I want legal force. I want control of the situation.” – R.M.
Injection #10
“I think I might start today with a brandy. A very large one.”
.
INJECTION Volume 3
Best of the three volumes!!
.
Injection #11
Brigid has the technology and recklessness to do what has to be done.
“Not so much a fixer-upper, more of a ‘maybe the Americans could bomb it flat for you.’”
Great start to a new story arc. ****
.
Injection #12
“If half of what I’m thinking is right, this is going to get weird as shite.”
Shaping up to be a beauty! ***
.
Injection #13
“Now what?” – Emma
Getting insane and not just a little spooky! ***
.
Injection #14
“Used to think so. But myth is how we used to transmit knowledge. Myths are facts embedded in stories worth retelling. That’s how the facts survived in oral cultures.”
Phenomenology = the science of phenomena as distinct from that of the nature of being. ****
.
Injection #15
“And they hate us like we hate spiders. Because we’re alien.” ..
“… it’s not really bigger on the inside, is it?”
Cool conclusion. Hoping the series continues. ***
Read
April 16, 2023Another Warren Ellis comic about a group of highly specialized geniuses solving esoteric/bizarre/technocratic problems. The story is incomplete as of 2023, and given the recent allegations against Ellis, I’m not sure it will ever be finished. But the fifteen issues collected here are intriguing. It has a similar plot to Freakangels (which I just finished reading): people with too much power create an event that has catastrophic effects on the world, and their guilt compels them to contain what they set loose. Throw in bits of Planetary, Transmetropolitan, and probably other Ellis comics I haven’t read and you’ve got Injection. The five main characters embody archetypes (the Doctor, James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, hacker, occultist) and, after they were given free reign by the government to experiment on the future, they “inject” technology with an AI entity that essentially makes folklore come to life and wreak havoc on humanity in the 21st century. Whoops. Myth and reality butting heads. Unknown fears entering our seemingly advanced society. It all seems to weirdly parallel the current AI paranoia...
Anywho, the first few issues are slightly obtuse, and it took me until about issue four to grasp what was happening. The time jumps don’t help. The second five-issue arc focuses on the Holmes character, and it’s clearer and more compelling that the first. I’d even call it fun. The last five issues deal with Stonehenge-like runes that pop up in England. Here we follow the hacker who, with some help, attempts to figure out why. The way she uses her tech is just so cool. I assume Ellis had planned subsequent five-issue arcs focusing on the other characters. And he was clearly building towards something with the occultist, who is the most interesting character to me. I guess we’ll have to live with what we got though.
Shalvey’s art grew on me. His faces are a little too close to Romita Jr.’s for my liking, but I really like the way he draws the weird shit. Jordie Bellaire’s colors deserve praise, too.
Anywho, the first few issues are slightly obtuse, and it took me until about issue four to grasp what was happening. The time jumps don’t help. The second five-issue arc focuses on the Holmes character, and it’s clearer and more compelling that the first. I’d even call it fun. The last five issues deal with Stonehenge-like runes that pop up in England. Here we follow the hacker who, with some help, attempts to figure out why. The way she uses her tech is just so cool. I assume Ellis had planned subsequent five-issue arcs focusing on the other characters. And he was clearly building towards something with the occultist, who is the most interesting character to me. I guess we’ll have to live with what we got though.
Shalvey’s art grew on me. His faces are a little too close to Romita Jr.’s for my liking, but I really like the way he draws the weird shit. Jordie Bellaire’s colors deserve praise, too.
April 22, 2023
„Injection“ ist eine Comic-Serie, geschrieben von Warren Ellis, gezeichnet von Declan Shalvey und koloriert von Jordie Bellaire, 2015 gestartet und nach 15 Heften 2017 vorläufig auf Eis gelegt.
„Injection“ wirkt als wäre Ellis durch seinen Zettelkasten gegangen und hätte aus einigen Notizen die Serie konstruiert. Ellis besetzt einige seiner Lieblingsthemen der letzten Jahre: Mystik, Mythologie, supranationale Geheimorganisationen und -behörden, Internet und künstliche Intelligenz.
Der rote Faden durch die fünfzehn Hefte ist sehr lose und die Plots der drei Storybögen schlingern gewaltig. Es ist nicht uninteressant, aber der Abbruch der Serie verdeutlicht das Fehlen jeglichen Amalgams und wirft die Frage auf: was war eigentlich das Endgame von Ellis? Ein Showdown mit der Künstlichen Intelligenz „The Injection“?
Schwer zu sagen. Ohne Abschluss bleiben nur Einzelteile ohne Verbindung. Der Reigen von Protagonisten ist sehr heterogen – von anfassbaren Menschen bis hin zu artifiziell konstruierten Charakteren, die aus jeder Pore nach Konzept riechen.
Die Zeichnungen von Declan Shalvey sind okay. Es sind immer wieder unbeholfene Details dabei, aber die Zeichnungen haben Herz – auch durch den Mut des sparsamen Striches, unterstützt durch eine exzellente Kolorierung.
Was am Ende aber von „Injection“ hängen bleiben wird, sind die Löcher, die von Ellis nicht ausformuliert wurden. Das kann man den ein oder zwei noch geplanten, aber derzeit noch fehlenden Storybögen anhängen. Oder man kann sich fragen, ob dies in den letzten Jahren zu einem grundsätzliches Problem eines Warren Ellis geworden ist.
„Injection“ wirkt als wäre Ellis durch seinen Zettelkasten gegangen und hätte aus einigen Notizen die Serie konstruiert. Ellis besetzt einige seiner Lieblingsthemen der letzten Jahre: Mystik, Mythologie, supranationale Geheimorganisationen und -behörden, Internet und künstliche Intelligenz.
Der rote Faden durch die fünfzehn Hefte ist sehr lose und die Plots der drei Storybögen schlingern gewaltig. Es ist nicht uninteressant, aber der Abbruch der Serie verdeutlicht das Fehlen jeglichen Amalgams und wirft die Frage auf: was war eigentlich das Endgame von Ellis? Ein Showdown mit der Künstlichen Intelligenz „The Injection“?
Schwer zu sagen. Ohne Abschluss bleiben nur Einzelteile ohne Verbindung. Der Reigen von Protagonisten ist sehr heterogen – von anfassbaren Menschen bis hin zu artifiziell konstruierten Charakteren, die aus jeder Pore nach Konzept riechen.
Die Zeichnungen von Declan Shalvey sind okay. Es sind immer wieder unbeholfene Details dabei, aber die Zeichnungen haben Herz – auch durch den Mut des sparsamen Striches, unterstützt durch eine exzellente Kolorierung.
Was am Ende aber von „Injection“ hängen bleiben wird, sind die Löcher, die von Ellis nicht ausformuliert wurden. Das kann man den ein oder zwei noch geplanten, aber derzeit noch fehlenden Storybögen anhängen. Oder man kann sich fragen, ob dies in den letzten Jahren zu einem grundsätzliches Problem eines Warren Ellis geworden ist.
June 5, 2023
Leído del tirón ahora que iba a conocer a Declan Shalvey y por un lado está chulísimo el concepto y cómo se va desgranando el asunto, pero el último arco me ha dejado un poco ???. Encima el propio Declan me ha dicho que tiene intención de terminarlo una vez se relaje un poco la cosa con Warren Ellis, pero vete tú a saber cuándo pasará eso y si al final todo termina como se tenía pensado (al parecer faltaban dos arcos más para cerrar).
Y también: pese a que el guión haya veces en que es confuso porque Ellis puede ser bastante escueto cuando quiere, el trabajo de Shalvey y Jordie Bellaire es simplemente sensacional.
Y también: pese a que el guión haya veces en que es confuso porque Ellis puede ser bastante escueto cuando quiere, el trabajo de Shalvey y Jordie Bellaire es simplemente sensacional.
January 29, 2020
Obviously a lot of comparisons to Planetary, which is fine, but two different beasts to me. Where Planetary was about keeping the world strange and the brightness in that, Injection is more of a bleak look at how people who screwed up deal with their actions.
Beautiful, action-oriented artwork by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire.
15 issues of story and tons of behind the scenes extras make this a really good buy.
Beautiful, action-oriented artwork by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire.
15 issues of story and tons of behind the scenes extras make this a really good buy.
January 18, 2024
i think this was too esoteric for me
i liked the idea of each volume being based on a classic british sci-fi show (well i guess sherlock isn't)
british mystery-esque series? using series loosely
also the end felt unfinished (maybe it is?)
if you like patchwork comics then this is probably for you
im a straightforward plot kind of gal
i liked the idea of each volume being based on a classic british sci-fi show (well i guess sherlock isn't)
british mystery-esque series? using series loosely
also the end felt unfinished (maybe it is?)
if you like patchwork comics then this is probably for you
im a straightforward plot kind of gal
May 30, 2024
Fun but incomplete! Also sandwiches!
The story takes 3-4 issues until you understand what is going on and what is the role of the 5 protagonists here. But once the story picks up, it's a very fun read.
The artwork is functional, but nothing amazing.
Shame that it ends prematurely and there's no sign of the author continuing the story. As such, I can't really recommend this book.
The story takes 3-4 issues until you understand what is going on and what is the role of the 5 protagonists here. But once the story picks up, it's a very fun read.
The artwork is functional, but nothing amazing.
Shame that it ends prematurely and there's no sign of the author continuing the story. As such, I can't really recommend this book.
March 27, 2020
Really, really fun look as to how 5 eccentric, very talented individuals would make the world a more interesting place.
May 11, 2020
Clearly it’s just me, but I feel asleep like three times trying to get through the first chapter. Bored silly.
September 10, 2020
1-5, ☆☆☆☆
6-10, ☆☆☆☆
11-15, ☆☆☆☆☆
6-10, ☆☆☆☆
11-15, ☆☆☆☆☆
February 14, 2025
Probably Ellis’ finest work, even if it’s unfinished.
May 11, 2023
Where it all began. Odd to open with Maria in hospital but makes sense for the trajectory. The balance to how they came together and developed Injection was well done. Sad to see how they started, knowing how it ends up.
Discovery: library
Format: print
Discovery: library
Format: print
July 15, 2024
I don’t think I’ve read enough graphic novels before, or maybe this one is just that spectacular- whatever the reason, this has really shown me what incredibly talented writers and artists can do when they’re allowed to tell a personal, fantastical, horrifying, gory story and explore it as they please. I’m dying to know more about each of the characters more in-depth, and of course the eponymous Injection itself, but honestly? The sense of mystery and defined personality each of the protagonists have on their own, as well as the supporting cast, would probably be enough to keep me coming back even if this wasn’t such a delightfully creepy concept and world. I’d say that Injection has really proven to me, more than any other graphic novel that I’ve read has (I’ve read a fair few, not a huge amount but nothing small either), how excellent graphic novels can be beyond just their art.
5 stars. Hope to see more Injection in the future.
5 stars. Hope to see more Injection in the future.
December 5, 2019
ok that was fun I’m so here for folklore in AI.
May 10, 2023
*** Need to re-read for a more accurate review ***
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews