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Gears of War Graphic Novels #1-2
Gears of War Omnibus Vol. 1
Defeat the Horde! The comics saga of the best-selling video game series begins here. Discover what happens in the wake of the original game! Bridging the gap between Gears of War 1 and 2, follow the brutal adventures of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in the battle against the Locusts! Find out what happened after the Lightmass Bombing and how the Locusts will react to this devastating weapon. Collects issues #1-13 of the DC Comics series.
320 pages, ebook
Published December 4, 2018
52 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Ortega
94 books14 followersJoshua Ortega is an author and journalist best known for his novel Frequencies, as well as his comic book and graphic novel work on entertainment properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, Batman, Star Trek, The Escapist, and The Necromancer.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 13, 2019
Vote: ☆☆☆1/2
My knowledge of the Gears of War videogame franchise was close to zero, but when I've found this omnibus volume yesterday in a local bookshop here and seen inside it Liam Sharp/Simon Bisley's artworks, I quickly lost a battle against myself to not buy it.
I got exactly what I was expecting for: a terrible not much original storyline, but art was excellent and if you are in the mood of reading an high testosterone/macho/ military sci-fi comic-book, this read was just not bad at all.
Such a shame Bisley drawn just issue #7 one-shot, but I really enjoyed the ride and it left me craving for more.
January 17, 2022
In this collection you see what happens in the wake of the original game! Bridging the gap between Gears of War 1 and 2, as you follow the brutal adventures of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in the battle against the Locusts!
This was a fantastic collection of stories, and i really enjoyed my time with the stories, the new characters and the art! All really captivated me, but the issue is there was something missing, something that i can't explain. Think of mine or your own hand as a barrier, and your fist is this book, now try punching your hand, the barrier aka the fingers stop and catch your first. And that's the issue with this collection, it has that momentum but not enough force to break your finger barrier to reach that higher rating, it's simply good, the characters are good, the lore it adds is good, the only thing great about this collection is the art, and sadly for me that wasn't enough to bridge that barrier. But if your a fan of the gears series then yes i can definitely still recommend this omnibus as it's a fun good ride in the gears universe.
3.5/5 Stars GoodReads ⭐⭐⭐💫
88/100 GingerPoints 🔥
This was a fantastic collection of stories, and i really enjoyed my time with the stories, the new characters and the art! All really captivated me, but the issue is there was something missing, something that i can't explain. Think of mine or your own hand as a barrier, and your fist is this book, now try punching your hand, the barrier aka the fingers stop and catch your first. And that's the issue with this collection, it has that momentum but not enough force to break your finger barrier to reach that higher rating, it's simply good, the characters are good, the lore it adds is good, the only thing great about this collection is the art, and sadly for me that wasn't enough to bridge that barrier. But if your a fan of the gears series then yes i can definitely still recommend this omnibus as it's a fun good ride in the gears universe.
3.5/5 Stars GoodReads ⭐⭐⭐💫
88/100 GingerPoints 🔥
September 4, 2021
I play this game with my friends online sometimes so I thought hey maybe the comic will be kinda fun. Pretty revolting especially in the last few issues. The "r" word used, like pretty blatant misogyny, just really really bad. Not for me. No thanks.
October 24, 2019
Omnibu indeed. Lost track of how many titles, pretty big book. Lots of good ole sci-fi military action. Not a gamer myself, but I do like the story and the action. Bleak times for sure. Fight or die!
January 11, 2022
This is a comic based on the stories set in the world of Gears of War 1 and 2 video games. The stories here are set between the episodes of the first and second games. It is to provide a back story for the games. The Gears of War games first appeared on the scene in 2006 and has been extremely popular, leading to a franchise and also a series of games. I have not played the games despite owning a few of them. I am fine with game-related media as I do play a fair number of games.
The stories in the collection are rather lacklustre. They are "investigate the signal and fight the creatures" sort of stories, very much by the numbers, with a poorly told narrative, the panels are rather uninspiring. The stories feature Marcus Fenix, the protagonist of the games but he is usually lurking in the background.
In between, there are two stories about individual soldiers, in a sense an interlude.
Most of the artwork is competently drawn but extremely unimaginative laid out, that is with the exception of a single chapter which is drawn by Simon Bisley, that chapter is well-drawn and imaginatively rendered.
The stories in the collection are rather lacklustre. They are "investigate the signal and fight the creatures" sort of stories, very much by the numbers, with a poorly told narrative, the panels are rather uninspiring. The stories feature Marcus Fenix, the protagonist of the games but he is usually lurking in the background.
In between, there are two stories about individual soldiers, in a sense an interlude.
Most of the artwork is competently drawn but extremely unimaginative laid out, that is with the exception of a single chapter which is drawn by Simon Bisley, that chapter is well-drawn and imaginatively rendered.
December 18, 2019
Really enjoyed these comics, expanding on the Fears universe and adding context and backstory for each of the characters. It was particularly interesting to read the Barren series as it doesn't shy away from showing the COG in a not so glowing light. I look forward to reading omnibus 2.
July 18, 2021
Wow. I actually felt for this. If Hollywood can adapt this omnibus into a movie, just how it is, don't gender or race swap anyone, don't change anyone's sexuality or internal motivations, then, we finally can have a very good video game movie.
5 stars.
5 stars.
March 13, 2021
Volume 1 of the Gears of War comic series is...fine. Taking place between the end of Gears of War 1 and the beginning of Gears of War 2, it feels like part of the world of the games, even if it doesn't add much in terms of story and world-building.
There are four stories in this omnibus, which collects issues 1-13 of the DC/Wildstorm comic series.
The first arc, Hollow, is the typical videogame-y premise of the Gears squad heading into a ruined city, finding survivors, and fighting locust enemies. It's told from the perspective of Jace, one of the squad members who appears starting in Gears of War 2 but isn't a main focus of the games, and insight into his background is one of the only draws of this relatively generic arc.
The second arc, Barren, expands on the world much more effectively by focusing on the messed-up breeding programs that humanity uses to keep the race alive in the midst of all the wars going on. Unfortunately, there's a lot of focus on highlighting scantily-clad women in the art and not enough time spent on grappling with what having programs like this says about society or if it's causing any moral conflicts within the Gears.
In between the two arcs, we get two one-off issues: The Quickening and Harper's Story. Each focuses on giving some backstory and additional context to characters from Gears of War 2: Tai Kaliso and Jonathan Harper, respectively. They're heavy on art and low on plot, but they each do a good job telling their stories in the broad strokes allowed by their single-issue format.
Overall, the art in Gears of War Volume 1 is solid. While for some other media properties the over-reliance on blacks and gritty detail might be a turn-off, it fits the muddy brown look that the first two Gears of War games became somewhat famous for. Characters look and sound like their in-game counterparts, and everything seems like it fits within that world.
While there's nothing spectacular about the 13 issues contained in Gears of War Volume 1, they hit all the notes of the amped-up, testosterone-fuled bro-fest that is the early Gears of War series and even slightly enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of Gears of War and Gears of War 2. While it doesn't soar to the heights of some of the Gears of War tie-in novels, this comic is a reasonable pick-up for fans of the series looking for more lore.
There are four stories in this omnibus, which collects issues 1-13 of the DC/Wildstorm comic series.
The first arc, Hollow, is the typical videogame-y premise of the Gears squad heading into a ruined city, finding survivors, and fighting locust enemies. It's told from the perspective of Jace, one of the squad members who appears starting in Gears of War 2 but isn't a main focus of the games, and insight into his background is one of the only draws of this relatively generic arc.
The second arc, Barren, expands on the world much more effectively by focusing on the messed-up breeding programs that humanity uses to keep the race alive in the midst of all the wars going on. Unfortunately, there's a lot of focus on highlighting scantily-clad women in the art and not enough time spent on grappling with what having programs like this says about society or if it's causing any moral conflicts within the Gears.
In between the two arcs, we get two one-off issues: The Quickening and Harper's Story. Each focuses on giving some backstory and additional context to characters from Gears of War 2: Tai Kaliso and Jonathan Harper, respectively. They're heavy on art and low on plot, but they each do a good job telling their stories in the broad strokes allowed by their single-issue format.
Overall, the art in Gears of War Volume 1 is solid. While for some other media properties the over-reliance on blacks and gritty detail might be a turn-off, it fits the muddy brown look that the first two Gears of War games became somewhat famous for. Characters look and sound like their in-game counterparts, and everything seems like it fits within that world.
While there's nothing spectacular about the 13 issues contained in Gears of War Volume 1, they hit all the notes of the amped-up, testosterone-fuled bro-fest that is the early Gears of War series and even slightly enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of Gears of War and Gears of War 2. While it doesn't soar to the heights of some of the Gears of War tie-in novels, this comic is a reasonable pick-up for fans of the series looking for more lore.
July 3, 2024
For those who cannot play Gears of War 2 and 3 due to them not being available on other platforms other than Xbox, the books and the comic books offer a necessary and welcome compensation (although we are still waiting for Microsoft to announce a PC remaster one day). In any case, this omnibus is a great way to delve deeper into Gears of War lore and spend more time with our favorite characters while getting to know others.
The first part of the omnibus takes us after the events of Gears of War 1 and the light mass bomb. Marcus and his squad look for survivors as they discover that something is sinking cities. We also get the origin story of Tai and learn more about the fate of prisoners made by locusts. Finally, we discover another terrible aspect of the war where the COG are forced to create breeding farms in order to perpetuate the human race and make soldiers to fight the Locusts. All in all, this offers great insight into the dark world of Gears of War and allows us to explore more of its mysteries.
The first part of the omnibus takes us after the events of Gears of War 1 and the light mass bomb. Marcus and his squad look for survivors as they discover that something is sinking cities. We also get the origin story of Tai and learn more about the fate of prisoners made by locusts. Finally, we discover another terrible aspect of the war where the COG are forced to create breeding farms in order to perpetuate the human race and make soldiers to fight the Locusts. All in all, this offers great insight into the dark world of Gears of War and allows us to explore more of its mysteries.
Read
December 29, 2019For fans of The Gear's of War Saga this is truly a masterpiece!
The illustrations were incredibly easy to visualize as well as impeccably detailed! I was really impressed with the flawless nature of the stories and the style of narrating. It really does bridge the gap between Gear's One & 2. It also highlights some of the initiatives taken by THE COG to ensure prosperity and survival which was fascinating. I thought the backdrop on some of the additional character's was really interesting. I look forward to downloading the second volume in the near future!
The illustrations were incredibly easy to visualize as well as impeccably detailed! I was really impressed with the flawless nature of the stories and the style of narrating. It really does bridge the gap between Gear's One & 2. It also highlights some of the initiatives taken by THE COG to ensure prosperity and survival which was fascinating. I thought the backdrop on some of the additional character's was really interesting. I look forward to downloading the second volume in the near future!
February 16, 2022
This Gears story was okay, not too great, not that bad. It contains a few different stories from fights between the Gears and Locust Horde between Gears of War 1 and 2. A few of the stories have good intentions (savings kids, helping the Stranded, bonding time between Gears), but it all feels like the same story told over and again. The Gears are out in the field doing recon or searching for survivors then the Locust Horde shows up. It's a good story for Gears of War fans, but beyond that, I'm not sure if it would be interesting to the reader.
February 21, 2021
Unfortunately a mediocre read, with mini-stores that play out exactly like segments from the video have series - the squad goes somewhere on a mission, a bunch of Locust show up to fight, Delta wins, they go home (sometimes with a new minor character in tow). Not all that exciting, really.
However, the six-part "Barren" miniseries is not too shabby. It's worth a read for fans of the Gears universe.
However, the six-part "Barren" miniseries is not too shabby. It's worth a read for fans of the Gears universe.
December 25, 2018
Gears fan
This is a great compilation of comic books filling the gaps in between games with more lore and details making a richer gears of war universe.
This is a great compilation of comic books filling the gaps in between games with more lore and details making a richer gears of war universe.
April 24, 2019
Amazing!
Big fan of the game series and this was equally just as good! Wonderful read through and through! Recommend to all Gears fans.
Big fan of the game series and this was equally just as good! Wonderful read through and through! Recommend to all Gears fans.
February 27, 2020
love the whole Gears Universe and I have read these before but thought I'd give the omnibus a go.
Well worth it.
Well worth it.
June 2, 2020
Wow a must for gears fans
Insider look between gears 1-3 very harsh in depth stories I was pleasantly surprised and finished it in 1 sitting
Insider look between gears 1-3 very harsh in depth stories I was pleasantly surprised and finished it in 1 sitting
March 22, 2021
Awesome love gears of war
Love gears of war was amazing would recommend it to any gears of war fan who has played the gsmes
Love gears of war was amazing would recommend it to any gears of war fan who has played the gsmes
March 29, 2021
Biased, as I love the video games, but expanding the universe and reading through this taught me a few things I didn't know. On to the next!
August 25, 2025
Me encantó, tiene bastante contenido y es entretenido, las imágenes son brutales...
February 10, 2022
Interesting
It fills in a good gap of what happens in between games if you like comics you will like this
It fills in a good gap of what happens in between games if you like comics you will like this
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews