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The Matrix Comics #1-2
The Matrix Comics
28 stories set in the world of the Matrix, with nearly 100 pages of never before published material, including four new to print stories. These stories began releasing in the lead up to the release of the original film, back in 1999, entirely online. Right from the beginning, they featured the work of comic book luminaries, including Neil Gaiman, Geof Darrow, Dave Gibbons, Bill Seinkiewicz, and many more. This volume is the first hardcover.
This book was never supposed to exist. When we started commissioning these stories set in the world of The Matrix, they were released exclusively online at TheMatrix[dot]com. Eventually, four years after our original online launch, we released two paperback collections. Still, we didn't publish everything. This updated and expanded 20th anniversary edition of The Matrix Comics presents twenty-eight stories, including four new to print, by a roster of talent who have collectively won every award given out for comics many times over -- creators who have consistently redefined what comics can be. - Spencer
Writers + artists in this edition:
The Wachowskis, Neil Gaiman, Geof Darrow, Dave Gibbons, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ted McKeever, Greg Ruth, Tim Sale, John Van Fleet, Peter Bagge, David Lapham, Paul Chadwick, Kilian Plunkett, Dave Dorman, Troy Nixey, Keron Grant, Vince Evans, Michael Oeming, Kaare Andrews, Tommy Lee Edwards, Dave McCaig, Jeromy Cox, Chris Chuckry, Ryder Windham, Jim Krueger, Poppy Z. Brite (aka Billy Martin), Spencer Lamm, Jonathan Luna, Michael Kaluta.
This book was never supposed to exist. When we started commissioning these stories set in the world of The Matrix, they were released exclusively online at TheMatrix[dot]com. Eventually, four years after our original online launch, we released two paperback collections. Still, we didn't publish everything. This updated and expanded 20th anniversary edition of The Matrix Comics presents twenty-eight stories, including four new to print, by a roster of talent who have collectively won every award given out for comics many times over -- creators who have consistently redefined what comics can be. - Spencer
Writers + artists in this edition:
The Wachowskis, Neil Gaiman, Geof Darrow, Dave Gibbons, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ted McKeever, Greg Ruth, Tim Sale, John Van Fleet, Peter Bagge, David Lapham, Paul Chadwick, Kilian Plunkett, Dave Dorman, Troy Nixey, Keron Grant, Vince Evans, Michael Oeming, Kaare Andrews, Tommy Lee Edwards, Dave McCaig, Jeromy Cox, Chris Chuckry, Ryder Windham, Jim Krueger, Poppy Z. Brite (aka Billy Martin), Spencer Lamm, Jonathan Luna, Michael Kaluta.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2019
25 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Lana Wachowski
33 books71 followersLana Wachowski (formerly Laurence "Larry" Wachowski), with her sister Lilly, are American film directors, screenwriters, comic writers and producers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 20, 2021
Could have been less violence, but otherwise a fine collection of comic stories. Would give this book 5 stars if every story was like "Goliath", "The Miller's tale", "Artistic freedom", "Hunters and collectors", "Farewell performance", "Déjà vu", "A path among stones", "Broadcast depth" or "Let it all fall down". Stories & art of Paul Chadwick, Greg Ruth and Bill Sienkiewicz are definitely the pearls of this volume.
March 21, 2020
This could have been a 300 page comic about people pooping in the Matrix and I still would’ve given it 5 stars. I’m a freak for anything Matrix.
May 8, 2022
A must for any matrix fans. Been a fan of the matrix since the first film (I even made a matrix comic in primary school, I was really cool) and I’m one of the rare ones who also thinks the two sequels were killer. This book brings together a load of comics that explore the concept of the matrix, rather than adding to the overall story of the matrix movies. Some are almost prequels to Neo, some are just snap shots of various people’s escapades in the matrix. It’s great having so much variety from comic to comic, in terms of artwork, style in which the story is told, and area of the matrix as a whole that they focus on. I picked it up cheap in a second hand book shop, it seems to be crazy expensive on eBay, but I would argue it’s worth a little investment, particularly for hard core matrix fans. Shout out to the one person who might read this review, my little Cricky.
August 31, 2021
"I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You're a plague and we are the cure."
A bit of a let down, really did'nt expand on the main story, almost danced around it, but there were 1 or 2 stories that were good. The art was very hit or miss, mostly miss....
A bit of a let down, really did'nt expand on the main story, almost danced around it, but there were 1 or 2 stories that were good. The art was very hit or miss, mostly miss....
October 21, 2021
What I wished for this book was to get more of the Matrix world. More characters and specially more ways to play within the rules of the set world
Some of the stories are great and just about what I wanted from them. However, there are too many stories that are simply boring or aimless. And over that, there are probably 5 or 6 stories that can be summarized in "I think this world isn't real, things are odd" (this is a generalization, of course, but it's the vibe that the stories gave me). This is a common theme explored in this universe, however, it's a bit like you see one, you see them all.
Here are my quick reviews for all stories (rated in 1 to 5 stars):
Bits and Pieces of Information ***
Not much more from what we saw in The Second Renaissance (The Animatrix).
Sweating the Small Stuff **
The first "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Didn't like the art style.
Sweating the Small Stuff ***
Again, "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." I started to get worried that it would be all this. Good style, weird character.
Goliath **
Ok, by now I was about to stop. It's again "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Kind of. And being Neil Gaiman, I had higher hopes.
Burning Hope **
It's ok, but again, we've seen "this" story been told in the matrix universe. In terms of art, it looked slightly too dark and confusing.
Butterfly *****
Very simple story, but how it looked sold it really hard. Just beautiful style, loved the parallel/mirrored panels.
A Sword of a Different Color *****
Nice and innovative. This is what I wanted of an extended world. Not my style, in terms of the characters, but ok.
Get It? **
It's a simple gag. Could be told in a single panel. Not my style and I'd dare to say that it didn't felt like it belong here.
There Are No Flowers in the Real World *****
Really good. Perfect addition to the world. Made me questions the rules and made me think about what else could happen inside these constraints. Liked the style, quite similar to Black hole.
The Miller's Tale ***
Ok story. It felt like an Animatrix story (as in, more documenting the history, than telling a story). I'm not that into going back to the characters of the original story, but this was fine. Visually it looked like a classic scifi book. I liked it.
Artistic Freedom ***
This one is the most Animatrix but for the wrong reasons (don't get me know, I like Animatrix, just believe Trans-media is a failure - too demanding on the viewer). Nevertheless, I liked the premise of the story (the primal nightmares) but there was not need for the just a tad "too cool" ending. It looked like Marvel's style, didn't felt quite right.
Hunters and Collectors ***
I wanted more of this story. I liked the characters, but the story was pointless, quasi frustrating. Great dystopian style, it felt like a spent world.
An Easy One **
This story had the setting for greatness but I got lost various times. Didn't know who was talking, about what, to whom. Shame. Liked the noir-cyber-punk style.
Farewell Performance ****
Even thought, in a way, this story was already told, I liked it here. It's a mix of how it looked but also the mix of worlds. It felt innocent. It didn't look like the Matrix. It was more The Prestige through an Art Nouveau lens.
Déjà Vu *****
This story added a 3rd layer to the whole thing, to me. As in, there's the Matrix and the Real World (in the movies), but there's also our world, seeing/reading this stories. And this story felt in our world. It's weird to explain but the story took steps that felt how we, in our world, would react to anything as weird as the Matrix was happening. Looked really good.
System Freeze ****
Something is added to the world of The Matrix here and I like it. Looked good.
The King of Never Return *
I couldn't understand where they were. Very confusing. Not my style.
An Asset to the System ***
An ok story. A slight hint of "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Didn't like how the characters looked, gave me vibes of old newspaper panels.
A Path Among Stones **
It gave me similar as in Deja Vu (aka "our world") but not as successful. I missed some development, it didn't deviate from "I think this world isn't real, things are odd" enough. The style also harmed it. I would say that in a more realistic style, the story would work better.
Run, Saga, Run ***
It looks amazing, love the style. Just wished the story would have gone somewhere new. The first two pages set a nice question "what if these characters felt like doing something else", but then what the story delivers is more of what we've seen before.
Wrong Number **
This story almost contradicts the rules of the matrix. It raised a question that I'm not sure I want answers. Didn't like how the characters looked. They gave me vibes of Cronenberg's body horror, but I'm not sure if that was intended.
Broadcast Depth **
Really simple story. Doesn't develop. Not my style, I was never into comics and graphic novels that have this collage style. They overwhelm me.
**Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days? **
Even more than in "Get it?" this is just a gag. Made me realize that I don't want Matrix's comedy. Not my style.
Saviors ***
We've seen this story, in a way. I did like the "bug", that raised questions that I want answers! The style looked video-gamey, it was fine.
I Kant **
I liked how it looks, very "cartoony". I don't like the character that it's focused on. Wait, I think this character would be interesting if approached differently, but it suffers from arrested development and becomes repetitive.
Day In... Day Out ****
Was a bit confused, but I liked the agents jumping around al the time. I could bet that this was from the same author as Run, Saga, Run. I even thought it was a sequel of that story.
Return of the Prodigal Son **
This was confusing. Couldn't even understand if these characters know of the Matrix or not. Ok style, reminded me of Max Payne.
Let It All Fall Down ****
I'm not sure if I fully understood what was the conclusion, but I wanted more. It looked amazing.
Some of the stories are great and just about what I wanted from them. However, there are too many stories that are simply boring or aimless. And over that, there are probably 5 or 6 stories that can be summarized in "I think this world isn't real, things are odd" (this is a generalization, of course, but it's the vibe that the stories gave me). This is a common theme explored in this universe, however, it's a bit like you see one, you see them all.
Here are my quick reviews for all stories (rated in 1 to 5 stars):
Bits and Pieces of Information ***
Not much more from what we saw in The Second Renaissance (The Animatrix).
Sweating the Small Stuff **
The first "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Didn't like the art style.
Sweating the Small Stuff ***
Again, "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." I started to get worried that it would be all this. Good style, weird character.
Goliath **
Ok, by now I was about to stop. It's again "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Kind of. And being Neil Gaiman, I had higher hopes.
Burning Hope **
It's ok, but again, we've seen "this" story been told in the matrix universe. In terms of art, it looked slightly too dark and confusing.
Butterfly *****
Very simple story, but how it looked sold it really hard. Just beautiful style, loved the parallel/mirrored panels.
A Sword of a Different Color *****
Nice and innovative. This is what I wanted of an extended world. Not my style, in terms of the characters, but ok.
Get It? **
It's a simple gag. Could be told in a single panel. Not my style and I'd dare to say that it didn't felt like it belong here.
There Are No Flowers in the Real World *****
Really good. Perfect addition to the world. Made me questions the rules and made me think about what else could happen inside these constraints. Liked the style, quite similar to Black hole.
The Miller's Tale ***
Ok story. It felt like an Animatrix story (as in, more documenting the history, than telling a story). I'm not that into going back to the characters of the original story, but this was fine. Visually it looked like a classic scifi book. I liked it.
Artistic Freedom ***
This one is the most Animatrix but for the wrong reasons (don't get me know, I like Animatrix, just believe Trans-media is a failure - too demanding on the viewer). Nevertheless, I liked the premise of the story (the primal nightmares) but there was not need for the just a tad "too cool" ending. It looked like Marvel's style, didn't felt quite right.
Hunters and Collectors ***
I wanted more of this story. I liked the characters, but the story was pointless, quasi frustrating. Great dystopian style, it felt like a spent world.
An Easy One **
This story had the setting for greatness but I got lost various times. Didn't know who was talking, about what, to whom. Shame. Liked the noir-cyber-punk style.
Farewell Performance ****
Even thought, in a way, this story was already told, I liked it here. It's a mix of how it looked but also the mix of worlds. It felt innocent. It didn't look like the Matrix. It was more The Prestige through an Art Nouveau lens.
Déjà Vu *****
This story added a 3rd layer to the whole thing, to me. As in, there's the Matrix and the Real World (in the movies), but there's also our world, seeing/reading this stories. And this story felt in our world. It's weird to explain but the story took steps that felt how we, in our world, would react to anything as weird as the Matrix was happening. Looked really good.
System Freeze ****
Something is added to the world of The Matrix here and I like it. Looked good.
The King of Never Return *
I couldn't understand where they were. Very confusing. Not my style.
An Asset to the System ***
An ok story. A slight hint of "I think this world isn't real, things are odd." Didn't like how the characters looked, gave me vibes of old newspaper panels.
A Path Among Stones **
It gave me similar as in Deja Vu (aka "our world") but not as successful. I missed some development, it didn't deviate from "I think this world isn't real, things are odd" enough. The style also harmed it. I would say that in a more realistic style, the story would work better.
Run, Saga, Run ***
It looks amazing, love the style. Just wished the story would have gone somewhere new. The first two pages set a nice question "what if these characters felt like doing something else", but then what the story delivers is more of what we've seen before.
Wrong Number **
This story almost contradicts the rules of the matrix. It raised a question that I'm not sure I want answers. Didn't like how the characters looked. They gave me vibes of Cronenberg's body horror, but I'm not sure if that was intended.
Broadcast Depth **
Really simple story. Doesn't develop. Not my style, I was never into comics and graphic novels that have this collage style. They overwhelm me.
**Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days? **
Even more than in "Get it?" this is just a gag. Made me realize that I don't want Matrix's comedy. Not my style.
Saviors ***
We've seen this story, in a way. I did like the "bug", that raised questions that I want answers! The style looked video-gamey, it was fine.
I Kant **
I liked how it looks, very "cartoony". I don't like the character that it's focused on. Wait, I think this character would be interesting if approached differently, but it suffers from arrested development and becomes repetitive.
Day In... Day Out ****
Was a bit confused, but I liked the agents jumping around al the time. I could bet that this was from the same author as Run, Saga, Run. I even thought it was a sequel of that story.
Return of the Prodigal Son **
This was confusing. Couldn't even understand if these characters know of the Matrix or not. Ok style, reminded me of Max Payne.
Let It All Fall Down ****
I'm not sure if I fully understood what was the conclusion, but I wanted more. It looked amazing.
May 26, 2020
Ursprünglich wurden diese Kurzgeschichten in Comicform auf der Matrix Homepage veröffentlicht. Dort habe ich einige vor vielen Jahren gelesen, aber auf Röhrenbildschirmen machte das damals nicht so wirklich Spaß. Leider existiert die Webseite auch schon eine Weile nicht mehr. Um so schöner, dass die Geschichten nun in Papierform überdauern werden.
Viele Kurzgeschichten, die in der Welt von Matrix spielen und die im Sinne der klassischen Definition kurze, in sich abgeschlossene Geschichten sind. Teilweise machen sie einen sehr nachdenklich und auch traurig, teils haben sie trotz der Kürze echte Knalleffekte.
Das Buch versammelt sehr viele verschiedenen Zeichenstile, so dass man sich einen Überblick über die Größen des Genres verschaffen kann.
Zu jedem Zeichner und Autor gibt es eine kurze Vita, die mir, die ich eher wenig Comics lese, nicht wirklich viel geholfen hat, weil da reihenweise Werke zitiert und gelobt werden, von denen ich noch nie etwas gehört habe und die ich wohl auch nie lesen werde.
Die Ausgabe ist auf Hochglanzpapier gedruckt und meist schwarz mit weißer Schrift. Man sieht auf den Seiten also jeden Fingerabdruck, was ich nicht so optimal finde.
Viele Kurzgeschichten, die in der Welt von Matrix spielen und die im Sinne der klassischen Definition kurze, in sich abgeschlossene Geschichten sind. Teilweise machen sie einen sehr nachdenklich und auch traurig, teils haben sie trotz der Kürze echte Knalleffekte.
Das Buch versammelt sehr viele verschiedenen Zeichenstile, so dass man sich einen Überblick über die Größen des Genres verschaffen kann.
Zu jedem Zeichner und Autor gibt es eine kurze Vita, die mir, die ich eher wenig Comics lese, nicht wirklich viel geholfen hat, weil da reihenweise Werke zitiert und gelobt werden, von denen ich noch nie etwas gehört habe und die ich wohl auch nie lesen werde.
Die Ausgabe ist auf Hochglanzpapier gedruckt und meist schwarz mit weißer Schrift. Man sieht auf den Seiten also jeden Fingerabdruck, was ich nicht so optimal finde.
June 5, 2021
It's alright. Well drawn, eclectic art styles, readable dialogue; one spelling mistake near the end.
There a complete lack of a human element, with nothing profound that resonates beyond the page. Machines are bad, the matrix has you, shooty shooty, choppy choppy, people die.
The Matrix was cool in the 90's, when insecurity was trending, and the millennium bug was going to wipe us all out. Nowadays we are married to technology and probably wouldn't have it any other way. Give people a choice between a matrix and a wasteland, I think they'd take the matrix every time (Not like Morpheus tells people what they're in for)
Chicken might not actually taste like chicken, but the chicken I know, tender cooked with soy, garlic, and honey, is bloody banging, and I'll take that every time.
There a complete lack of a human element, with nothing profound that resonates beyond the page. Machines are bad, the matrix has you, shooty shooty, choppy choppy, people die.
The Matrix was cool in the 90's, when insecurity was trending, and the millennium bug was going to wipe us all out. Nowadays we are married to technology and probably wouldn't have it any other way. Give people a choice between a matrix and a wasteland, I think they'd take the matrix every time (Not like Morpheus tells people what they're in for)
Chicken might not actually taste like chicken, but the chicken I know, tender cooked with soy, garlic, and honey, is bloody banging, and I'll take that every time.
July 20, 2023
I read through this in two nights on a binge. With many different artists using different mediums, it provides a ton of new perspectives and backstory to the cult classic.
Would you take a pill 💊 from a total stranger that essentially describes the effects of psychotropic drugs ?
What happens if their are glitches in the Matrix and you get caught in a never-ending loop ?
Are the machines monsterous for harvesting humans for energy, or are they actually the only solution to prevent us from destroying each other ?
This book will make you question your decision to want to "wake up" because your caught between two realities that if you had a choice you wouldn't be a part of either. The illusion is choice, we never had one.
Would you take a pill 💊 from a total stranger that essentially describes the effects of psychotropic drugs ?
What happens if their are glitches in the Matrix and you get caught in a never-ending loop ?
Are the machines monsterous for harvesting humans for energy, or are they actually the only solution to prevent us from destroying each other ?
This book will make you question your decision to want to "wake up" because your caught between two realities that if you had a choice you wouldn't be a part of either. The illusion is choice, we never had one.
September 27, 2021
Some gems in this one, the short story Goliath, as well as the first and the last two comics come to mind. However most of the comics aren't all that inspired in my opinion. Some have outstanding art design and presentation, but they just don't contribute enough to the lore or provide much context for the story as a whole.
If a dedicate Matrix fan, hungry to gobble up more content set in that universe, then this one is probably for you. For the rest, aside from a handful of comics and the story mentioned above, it's just ok. High production values though. The ink, the pages... but i especially liked the hard covers.
If a dedicate Matrix fan, hungry to gobble up more content set in that universe, then this one is probably for you. For the rest, aside from a handful of comics and the story mentioned above, it's just ok. High production values though. The ink, the pages... but i especially liked the hard covers.
February 12, 2023
A nicely presented oversized compendium with an updated introduction. The stories offer interesting explorations (Burning Hope) and grim twists (There Are No Flowers…) on the Matrix premise, continuations of the series story (Saviours), and stylish reminders of how much of the visual vocabulary of comics was used in The Matrix (Run Saga Run). The best is still Neil Gaiman’s prose contribution, Goliath. Go figure.
I bought this as an import from a collector for about £60, as it had been out of print for over a year. It was immediately reprinted at £30 before I had a chance to read it c’est last vie.
I bought this as an import from a collector for about £60, as it had been out of print for over a year. It was immediately reprinted at £30 before I had a chance to read it c’est last vie.
May 18, 2021
It's real cool to see the Matrix diffracted through the lens of so many different comic artists' styles and attitudes. The comics that were written based only on the screenplay are the best, the most boldly idiosyncratic, and they've equipped me with new ways of making sense of the movie. The comics written in the sequels' day mostly ape the look and tone of the movies, which is less interesting.
Interestingly, a LOT of these comics are curious about what happens to the bluepills while/after they're possessed by an agent. Probably the most common theme in the collection!
Interestingly, a LOT of these comics are curious about what happens to the bluepills while/after they're possessed by an agent. Probably the most common theme in the collection!
February 18, 2024
There are a few really great stories in this collection (the one by Neil Gaiman is my favorite) but a lot of it is kind of a slog to get through. There are a few repetitive themes that get repeated again and again. The artwork may be the best part; there is such a wide variety of styles. Overall, the Animatrix collection of animated shorts is very similar and slightly better than this collection, but again there are a few really nice standouts.
October 28, 2022
In 2007, I entered a Matrix phase. (I have periodical 'phases' in which I delve into a particular franchise or subject; e.g., where applicable, listening to related music, watching shows and films, reading books and comics, playing a game, browsing wiki[pedi]a, ...) It was long ago, but I have some notes and downloaded wallpapers, hence I could backtrack the general era of this particular "phase". I took to the internet and found the Matrix comics collection there, right at the official website. Couldn't find the collecting volumes back then, so I enjoyed the works online. (Are they still there? Let's see... Hmm, barely.) They were a bit hit-and-miss, especially in the area of My Taste Vs. Their Art. (I really can't stand television or visual art in b/w; we're in the technicolour age, so please, use the whole visible photon frequency spectrum! Nah, kidding -- I can respect the artists' tools, materials and/or esthetics choices; but I don't have to like the results.) As a whole, I really loved the multi-media concept -- the comics project having started before the first film was released, even! (And not to mention the AniMatrix DVD that I was able to buy with accompanying awesome soundtrack album.) And as it turned out, in the end, I liked the diversity in styles and even in media format -- there's 2 short stories (by Gaiman & Brite), and something ("Bits & Pieces") that could be categorised at exactly a lagrange point between comic and story. The stories -- as far as I remember -- didn't always blow me away, but they were diverse as well, and entertaining. Solid stuff, for such a digital world.
It seems that some comics in the actual, physical omnibus that I posted this review for (which, if collecting vol.1 + vol.2, boasts 28 works in total) (edit: yes), are titles that weren't posted on the website, way back. ("Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days?", "Saviors", and "I Kant".) So, I have read most (25 stories, it seems from the above-linked wikia), but not all of the material.
And I think I also missed the 'hidden QuickTime movie' in the old site, for the "Broadcast Depth" comic! I'd certainly have loved that; at the very least, due to the concept of incorporating yet another kind of medium.
I've been -- slowly -- re-reading "the Matrices", as I've dubbed these comics, in the background of multiple other reading projects. I started during my previous "Matrix" stint, and took it easy. One story every few days or weeks. That was a nice way of spending time in the Matrix.
My version, as I collected them, is split up in 3 parts. I finished all three, eventually, sometime prior to 22.10.06 (which is when I started reading "Heretics Of Dune").
In the time since I wrote my review (in 2020) of when I first read them (back in 2008), I found out a number of things. First, many (if not all) of the stories that were published in black & white, had afterwards been coloured and published in retail versions -- which were also split in (2? Or 3?) separate volumes.
Second, I think I never read the spoof story, "Get It?"; in any case, I didn't save it. Probably, because back then, it seemed too comedic for me. When I found it now, I thought it was a humorous take 'with a mean streak'.
Third, I found out where I could view the easter egg QuickTime animation, "The Calappidae" (uploaded by Xenophonics, whose name I like), which accompanied the comic "Broadcast Depth" on the original website.
Together with explanatory videos that were published about the various comics (including those that I hadn't collected/read yet -- as mentioned in my 2020 review) on another channel, which added yet another multi-media layer for me, this re-read made for a satisfying endeavour. Not all episodes are great. Some are certainly awesome. Some are thought-provoking. A few, even emotive. Most are, at the very least, interesting expansions of a great idea and/or an atmospheric setting. I think none even contain the main (film) characters -- let alone featuring them as main protagonists. Which I think is a plus: it provides for wider scope and more possibilities.
If someone offers you pills like these, be sure to take the red one. If you're a sucker for blue pills (that is: if you're not too enthusiastic about the Matrix in general), then... as a whole, it may not be for you. Still, some of the individual chapters may be of interest if you're a comics fan.
It seems that some comics in the actual, physical omnibus that I posted this review for (which, if collecting vol.1 + vol.2, boasts 28 works in total) (edit: yes), are titles that weren't posted on the website, way back. ("Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days?", "Saviors", and "I Kant".) So, I have read most (25 stories, it seems from the above-linked wikia), but not all of the material.
And I think I also missed the 'hidden QuickTime movie' in the old site, for the "Broadcast Depth" comic! I'd certainly have loved that; at the very least, due to the concept of incorporating yet another kind of medium.
2022 addendum:
I've been -- slowly -- re-reading "the Matrices", as I've dubbed these comics, in the background of multiple other reading projects. I started during my previous "Matrix" stint, and took it easy. One story every few days or weeks. That was a nice way of spending time in the Matrix.
My version, as I collected them, is split up in 3 parts. I finished all three, eventually, sometime prior to 22.10.06 (which is when I started reading "Heretics Of Dune").
In the time since I wrote my review (in 2020) of when I first read them (back in 2008), I found out a number of things. First, many (if not all) of the stories that were published in black & white, had afterwards been coloured and published in retail versions -- which were also split in (2? Or 3?) separate volumes.
Second, I think I never read the spoof story, "Get It?"; in any case, I didn't save it. Probably, because back then, it seemed too comedic for me. When I found it now, I thought it was a humorous take 'with a mean streak'.
Third, I found out where I could view the easter egg QuickTime animation, "The Calappidae" (uploaded by Xenophonics, whose name I like), which accompanied the comic "Broadcast Depth" on the original website.
Together with explanatory videos that were published about the various comics (including those that I hadn't collected/read yet -- as mentioned in my 2020 review) on another channel, which added yet another multi-media layer for me, this re-read made for a satisfying endeavour. Not all episodes are great. Some are certainly awesome. Some are thought-provoking. A few, even emotive. Most are, at the very least, interesting expansions of a great idea and/or an atmospheric setting. I think none even contain the main (film) characters -- let alone featuring them as main protagonists. Which I think is a plus: it provides for wider scope and more possibilities.
If someone offers you pills like these, be sure to take the red one. If you're a sucker for blue pills (that is: if you're not too enthusiastic about the Matrix in general), then... as a whole, it may not be for you. Still, some of the individual chapters may be of interest if you're a comics fan.
March 1, 2021
Moving, hilarious, and everything in between - a fantastic collection. Well worth a read even if you're interest in The Matrix is pretty shallow (I have only seen the first film once, several years ago, but loved it). Every contributor to this collection is insanely talented, and it was really cool to see such a variety of artistic interpretations of the same universe.
June 14, 2021
Great artwork, several of these graphic short stories are very nice. The script and story arc is for me less than expected. Recycling the same ideas and not very much added creative imaginative content. Missed opportunity for me as The Matrix offers a great world for backstory and side story work.
January 2, 2022
If you are a Matrix Fan, and can get your hands on the 20th anniversary. Do it. Other than that, it doesn't really have great story telling compared to the films. Or other comic books based on film/tv-series, like Serenity-Firefly.
March 20, 2022
pretty solid anthology of stories, more hits than misses, some things do stick with you and the first story is even expanded upon in the animatrix
solid book, but idk if i can recommend paying $60 for it unless you're a diehard matrix fan
solid book, but idk if i can recommend paying $60 for it unless you're a diehard matrix fan
August 2, 2023
I really took my time with these. Bought my copy of this sometime in 2021 lol.
The quality varies a lot. Most were meh, a lot had confusing panel layouts/structures but there are some really good ones with really evocative art and interesting writing.
The quality varies a lot. Most were meh, a lot had confusing panel layouts/structures but there are some really good ones with really evocative art and interesting writing.
February 6, 2024
As a Matrix I absolutely enjoyed it but I do wish the comics delved more into the world of the Matrix, don't take me wrong there is some good and interesting expansions on the world but they are rather small and some story's were quite forgetable and some bad artwork here and there.
February 8, 2025
I have always been a huge Matrix fan, so when I heard they were releasing this collection of graphic novels, I didn’t hesitate—I ordered it immediately. I absolutely loved the short stories, each told in a unique graphic style, which added depth and richness to the lore of The Matrix.
July 30, 2021
This book is basically a “who’s who” of the medium. It’s jaw dropping just how much talent is in this book.
November 18, 2021
Awesome, good artists involved in this publication
December 2, 2021
Je l'ai adoré ! C'est une édition magnifique avec 4 nouvelles histoires et annonçant the Matrix 4 (Resurrections). Toutes les histoires sont intéressantes et enrichissent le monde de Matrix !
December 28, 2021
A great collection of Matrix comics by some of the industry's finest creators.
August 29, 2022
Responde algunas preguntas interesantes de la trilogía, pero no la hace prescindible
June 6, 2023
Pretty fun to read
July 2, 2025
"Butterfly" and "Goliath" are standouts, but the other stories are forgettable, and not told at the skill level of the movies.
November 25, 2025
nov 2025 - saug - what a cool book. Wish they would take even one of these concepts and make a movie/spinoff/game/anything. We live in a time of constant recycling of old ip, why not this?!
December 31, 2021
The Matrix is one of my favourite films, and when I heard about the latest movie and started watching a YouTube channel called Matrix Explained, which does talk about this comic collection, I knew I had to get my hands on this. Luckily, I found a copy, and though it didn't quite live up to my expectations it was still an enjoyable read with some real gems inside.
For the ones I liked, there was Goliath (written by Neil Gaiman with art by Bill Sienkiewicz and Greg Ruth), The Miller's Tale (story and art by Paul Chadwick) and Broadcast Depth (story and art by Bill Sienkiewicz). I also liked the first story, Zion Archives (written by The Wachowskis with art by Geoff Darrow), A Life Less Empty (story and art by Ted McKeever) and A Sword of a Different Color (story and art by Troy Nixey). There were some funny additions, like Get It? and Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days? Both of these were by Peter Bagge.
The reason why this only got three stars is that I found some of the art not quite to my tastes, and some of the stories either too short or a bit aimless.
Overall, this was a nice addition to The Maxtrix universe, and one I'm glad I read. I'd recommend this to any die-hard fans of the movie franchise as there are some useful bits of lore in here which are worth reading to get a better understanding of some of the references in the films or The Animatrix.
For the ones I liked, there was Goliath (written by Neil Gaiman with art by Bill Sienkiewicz and Greg Ruth), The Miller's Tale (story and art by Paul Chadwick) and Broadcast Depth (story and art by Bill Sienkiewicz). I also liked the first story, Zion Archives (written by The Wachowskis with art by Geoff Darrow), A Life Less Empty (story and art by Ted McKeever) and A Sword of a Different Color (story and art by Troy Nixey). There were some funny additions, like Get It? and Who Says You Can't Get Good Help These Days? Both of these were by Peter Bagge.
The reason why this only got three stars is that I found some of the art not quite to my tastes, and some of the stories either too short or a bit aimless.
Overall, this was a nice addition to The Maxtrix universe, and one I'm glad I read. I'd recommend this to any die-hard fans of the movie franchise as there are some useful bits of lore in here which are worth reading to get a better understanding of some of the references in the films or The Animatrix.
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