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20XX #1-6
20XX, Vol. 1
From JONATHAN LUNA (ALEX + ADA, GIRLS, THE SWORD) and LAUREN KEELY in her writing debut comes a sci-fi thriller set in a not-so-distant future-a world of norms and syms, divided by fear. Syms, a small percentage of the population with telekinetic abilities, form gangs to survive. But division only breeds more division, and as their relationship grows amid the often dramatic, sometimes violent, and always complex social landscape of sym gang rivalries, Mer and Nuon experience this firsthand.
Collects 20XX #1-6
Collects 20XX #1-6
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2020
3 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Luna
182 books189 followersJONATHAN LUNA co-created and illustrated THE SWORD, GIRLS, and ULTRA (all Image Comics) with his brother, Joshua Luna. He co-created and illustrated ALEX + ADA with Sarah Vaughn. He wrote and illustrated STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS (Image Comics). His work also includes the art for SPIDER-WOMAN: ORIGIN (Marvel Comics), written by Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed.
Jonathan was born in California and spent most of his childhood overseas, living on military bases in Iceland and Italy. He returned to the United States in his late teens.
Writing and drawing comics since he was a child, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art.
He currently resides in Northern Virginia.
Jonathan was born in California and spent most of his childhood overseas, living on military bases in Iceland and Italy. He returned to the United States in his late teens.
Writing and drawing comics since he was a child, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Sequential Art.
He currently resides in Northern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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June 19, 2022A deliberately unspecified near-future year, haunted by a pandemic, where facemasks are both ubiquitous and politicised? And the series started last year? Exciting. Prescient. I like it. Except that after that little detail, it starts to fall apart. The oceans have risen, but the setting is also stacked with such default SF impedimenta as proper cybernetics and flying cars. And whereas Sarah Pinsker's A Song For A New Day wowed me by getting detail after detail of the hateful 'new normal' correct ahead of time, 20XX has that first detail of plague and alienation right, and then calls most everything else wrong, instead leaving most of life unchanged. So despite this being a disease with a survival rate of 1%, instead of the other way around, office work and commuting still seem to be the norm, which now seems crazy. Sometimes, as with the social scenes in bars, the disconnect is positively heartbreaking.
Oh, and this plague gives the survivors superpowers. Which inevitably leave them hated and feared by the norms. And from there we're into the usual piffle, another X-Men by way of Romeo & Juliet retread, in which the first pass dialogue sees most of the characters talking either like refugees from a direct-to-streaming action film, or in reheated therapy-speak. "And try not to dwell on what we might have done. That kind of thinking can lead you down a dangerous path – one where you'll do anything for a sense of control. Often the end result is worse – and more out of control – than where you began." That all in one, hardly atypical speech balloon.
It's not all bad. Luna's art is still clean and expressive, less prone to stiffness and unconvincing perspective than it used to be – and he draws an excellent cat. There's some nice Sherlock-style stuff with characters receiving emails during scenes, except 20XX adds an extra note of realism by having some of them be totally irrelevant, like a 30% off sale at HandbagDepot. Also, the survivors' powers each give them control over different but specific and limited stuff, ranging from the obvious (wood, metal), to the protagonist's useful, gruesome speciality (soft tissues), to...synthetic fibres? Which we don't see in use in the story, but I'm almost tempted to persevere with the series just in hope of seeing someone trying to be a fearsome posthuman armed only with nylonkinesis.
(Edelweiss ARC)
Oh, and this plague gives the survivors superpowers. Which inevitably leave them hated and feared by the norms. And from there we're into the usual piffle, another X-Men by way of Romeo & Juliet retread, in which the first pass dialogue sees most of the characters talking either like refugees from a direct-to-streaming action film, or in reheated therapy-speak. "And try not to dwell on what we might have done. That kind of thinking can lead you down a dangerous path – one where you'll do anything for a sense of control. Often the end result is worse – and more out of control – than where you began." That all in one, hardly atypical speech balloon.
It's not all bad. Luna's art is still clean and expressive, less prone to stiffness and unconvincing perspective than it used to be – and he draws an excellent cat. There's some nice Sherlock-style stuff with characters receiving emails during scenes, except 20XX adds an extra note of realism by having some of them be totally irrelevant, like a 30% off sale at HandbagDepot. Also, the survivors' powers each give them control over different but specific and limited stuff, ranging from the obvious (wood, metal), to the protagonist's useful, gruesome speciality (soft tissues), to...synthetic fibres? Which we don't see in use in the story, but I'm almost tempted to persevere with the series just in hope of seeing someone trying to be a fearsome posthuman armed only with nylonkinesis.
(Edelweiss ARC)
October 4, 2020
Cool concept that just went way off course. Not even sure what was going on in the end. Way too much dialogue - needed more showing than telling.
December 3, 2020
A West Side type story with an LGBT and sci-fi spin. There was a texture over the grayscale art that was distracting for me and I lost track of some of the numerous secondary characters. Otherwise, an engaging story.
December 17, 2020
Since the Luna Brothers stopped working together, I've found myself less and less interested in their work. They seem to pair with unambitious writers whose ideas never quite click. So I crossed my fingers, and picked this one, written by first time comic creator, Lauren Keely.
While I agree with some of the reviews that it doesn't *quite* live up to its premise, and the clean cut, greyscale art seems an odd choice for a book that deals with telekenetic gang violence, I did love all of the characters, and found myself wanting more of the story.
The setup is a world where a massive epidemic hits and the disease has a 99% kill rate, with the rare survivors getting some sort of telekentic powers. Ok. Our protagonist then stumbles into a Gang Incident (not a war, there isn't a war during this volume) that results in her accidentally using her power for the first time.
I enjoyed that the gang portion of the book was focused on keeping peace, with the violent members being excommunicated from their respective gangs. I'm hoping it will lead to some even more irregular plot points (for a sci-fi gang book) in future volumes.
If you can handle the static grayscale art (it isn't bad by any stretch, but the style isn't for everyone) then you should pick this up. It's got lgbta characters, a lot of dialogue, and interesting turns in the plot. I reccomend it for people who like sci-fi comics but are kind of tired of the same old same old sci-fi comics.
While I agree with some of the reviews that it doesn't *quite* live up to its premise, and the clean cut, greyscale art seems an odd choice for a book that deals with telekenetic gang violence, I did love all of the characters, and found myself wanting more of the story.
The setup is a world where a massive epidemic hits and the disease has a 99% kill rate, with the rare survivors getting some sort of telekentic powers. Ok. Our protagonist then stumbles into a Gang Incident (not a war, there isn't a war during this volume) that results in her accidentally using her power for the first time.
I enjoyed that the gang portion of the book was focused on keeping peace, with the violent members being excommunicated from their respective gangs. I'm hoping it will lead to some even more irregular plot points (for a sci-fi gang book) in future volumes.
If you can handle the static grayscale art (it isn't bad by any stretch, but the style isn't for everyone) then you should pick this up. It's got lgbta characters, a lot of dialogue, and interesting turns in the plot. I reccomend it for people who like sci-fi comics but are kind of tired of the same old same old sci-fi comics.
May 6, 2021
I wasn't expecting to like the black and white as much as I did, but honestly my brain did a lot of filling in the color for me after awhile. The art style is surprisingly sophisticated for how rough it is visually. I enjoyed the emotional and relational aspect between all of the characters, and Mer was especially well established as a unique individual.
May 21, 2021
Ever been on a first date and you realize about halfway in that you don't even like the person you're on the date with. I don't mean hate them, but rather that they're just annoying. You don't even really want to be vague social media buddies much less romantic partners that are allowed to invade each other's personal space. The worst part is that you feel pressured to finish the date enough though the relationship has already failed. That's what it felt like reading this book. Nothing to really hate, but it was annoying to finish because I felt pressured to do so. I think mostly so I could complain about it in this review.
The reason I choose the dating analogy was because this book has a lot of post-teen social drama. Every character in this book is at that awkward age where they can legally have sex but still can't be compelled to behave like an adult most of the time. I found myself skimming the unreasonably large text bubbles that were mostly people venting their unearned emotions. Whenever someone is discussing plot or literally taking an exposition dump, their voice is far more concise. But when they're unpacking their emotional baggage, they'll hold the plot hostage for several pages until they're finished.
It's just bad writing all around. Bloated dialogue aside, there's almost no intelligent world-building or engaging characters. The pacing is downright horrible and several issues end with the exact same cliffhanger of the 'villain' looking at someone and making a statement that doesn't impact the story as much as the comic seems to think it does. It just doesn't effectively utilize anything. And I mean anything. Even naked boobs.
The art was obviously meant to be in color. There's a difference in how artists draw if the art is going to be colored in later compared to knowing it's going to stay black and white. The art in 'The Walking Dead' works because it was always meant to be in B&W. Sure, it looks fine colored in but remains in its best effect if it stays without color. The art, at least to me, looks as if they planned to add color but backed out after the fact. Either it was a money or bad artistic decision. Doesn't really matter. I doubt I would have enjoyed the art even if it was in color.
If it isn't obvious by now, I didn't care much for this book. I'm not disappointed because that implies this book showed promise. It did not. It wasted some of my life, but, to be fair, it is my life to waste. My only regret is that I just didn't get up and leave without even paying the bill.
The reason I choose the dating analogy was because this book has a lot of post-teen social drama. Every character in this book is at that awkward age where they can legally have sex but still can't be compelled to behave like an adult most of the time. I found myself skimming the unreasonably large text bubbles that were mostly people venting their unearned emotions. Whenever someone is discussing plot or literally taking an exposition dump, their voice is far more concise. But when they're unpacking their emotional baggage, they'll hold the plot hostage for several pages until they're finished.
It's just bad writing all around. Bloated dialogue aside, there's almost no intelligent world-building or engaging characters. The pacing is downright horrible and several issues end with the exact same cliffhanger of the 'villain' looking at someone and making a statement that doesn't impact the story as much as the comic seems to think it does. It just doesn't effectively utilize anything. And I mean anything. Even naked boobs.
The art was obviously meant to be in color. There's a difference in how artists draw if the art is going to be colored in later compared to knowing it's going to stay black and white. The art in 'The Walking Dead' works because it was always meant to be in B&W. Sure, it looks fine colored in but remains in its best effect if it stays without color. The art, at least to me, looks as if they planned to add color but backed out after the fact. Either it was a money or bad artistic decision. Doesn't really matter. I doubt I would have enjoyed the art even if it was in color.
If it isn't obvious by now, I didn't care much for this book. I'm not disappointed because that implies this book showed promise. It did not. It wasted some of my life, but, to be fair, it is my life to waste. My only regret is that I just didn't get up and leave without even paying the bill.
October 15, 2022
I don't mind the black and white artwork or its repetitive poses. In fact, I enjoy how expressive it is. The dialogue is natural, it flows so well. But it's damn long. On the one hand you have the extra pages and on the other you have the long texts. They make sense, but you need to dedicate more time for them, which can make this series seem longer than normal. It's worth seeing the various characters display their intimate feelings as well as their courage, dedication and loyalty.
The world is in a pandemic with the deadly Bethel virus. Only 1% of infected survive, so it's easy to imagine the despair in Meria Bree Moore's mind when she develops the first simptoms. Thankfully, she is one of the lucky ones called syms. She survives the disease and can soon expect to develop Selective Telekinesis and Sensing. She loses her job and friends because of her sym status. She is also avoided by the 'norms' and her inexperience and hesitance around other syms doesn't earn her a lot of new friends. She searches for the only sym she knows, her cousin Lucas Wright. Like other syms, he joined the East Side gang. Now he has betrayed them in favor of the West Siders and is on the run. This is when Meria finally stumbles into him and unconsciously uses her power on one of his pursuers, to deadly effect.
The world is in a pandemic with the deadly Bethel virus. Only 1% of infected survive, so it's easy to imagine the despair in Meria Bree Moore's mind when she develops the first simptoms. Thankfully, she is one of the lucky ones called syms. She survives the disease and can soon expect to develop Selective Telekinesis and Sensing. She loses her job and friends because of her sym status. She is also avoided by the 'norms' and her inexperience and hesitance around other syms doesn't earn her a lot of new friends. She searches for the only sym she knows, her cousin Lucas Wright. Like other syms, he joined the East Side gang. Now he has betrayed them in favor of the West Siders and is on the run. This is when Meria finally stumbles into him and unconsciously uses her power on one of his pursuers, to deadly effect.
October 5, 2020
This might be the kind of book that you keep reading just because it constantly feels like it's on the verge of delivering something thrilling or, at least, interesting, but never quite does. In the end, it's not too bad, but also never too good. The whole worldbuilding is ok, with an intriguing disease that can cause some original superpowers. But the extent of such a situation isn't explored beyond the gang guerrilla that, quite frankly, is quite tasteless. The protagonist is fine as well, although I didn't even feel any particular interest in her. She's a little bit lame, takes stupid decisions and is absurdly attached to a cousin that she knows nothing about. Some of the secondary characters might be interesting, but their plots are all buried by the gang war, and they don't seem to have any particular agenda. The relationships between them lack any passion or depth. Everything is just fine.
The art is a little bit more attractive. Lots of interesting details hidden in what seems to be a minimalistic page, and a well developed visual style for the dystopic world. But it's not enough. In the end, there is way too much text for such a simple plot. It's like the intentions are good, but no one in this team really bothered to deliver something special.
The art is a little bit more attractive. Lots of interesting details hidden in what seems to be a minimalistic page, and a well developed visual style for the dystopic world. But it's not enough. In the end, there is way too much text for such a simple plot. It's like the intentions are good, but no one in this team really bothered to deliver something special.
October 2, 2020
Once more with this month's batch of graphic novels I find a fine idea dealt with poorly. Here we have a society where everyone wears nappies on their face to protect them for an airborne virus. A virus that manages to kill 99% of people, and leaves the survivors a symbiote with the invader, and with psychic abilities. Our heroine could be a great way in to that, what with her new-found abilities, and her potential new girlfriend, and her new love of the sort of Robot Wars-by-telekinesis that acts as a sport, but no – we get gangs biffing each other up about drugs, and an errant cousin. Yawn. I suppose I have to make it clear I'd have disliked that side of things even without the coronasniffle parallels, but with so much of this being 2020 and not just 20XX, it does perhaps feel an even greater missed opportunity. The sparse, clear design of the art also seems to go against the crime aspects of the book, and feels counter-intuitively quiet in comparison with all the machinations of the gangs.
January 29, 2021
You know how I feel about books about people with powers, and if you don't here's a reminder. I love them most of the time! Especially when there's something relatable to our own world it. And that's why I loved this book. Super relatable even now in the midst of a lockdown, the future world that Mer lives in is not only filled with some really interesting tech, but one with a virus that kills most of the people that catch it. If you can live through it, however, you're really a changed person, quite literally. You have powers, but you're also completely segregated from the people without. But you're immune from catching it again.
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
February 17, 2021
This starts like a COVID-era take on mutants. Survivors of a deadly virus develop unknown mutant powers and are forced to the edges of society.
Part of this feels like it was written in the 90s but staged in an 80s post-apocalypse – we've got a gang war between the East side and West side mutants, people have bizarre powers, and no one is looking for a cure.
This was a pretty random discovery for me – I'd enjoyed Jonathan Luna's Girls last year and had just added him to the invisible list I keep of creators to follow up on. Luna's work is good, but there's an indy vibe that keeps me engaged, an unsettled feeling that the stories are being told by people who are making things up as they go along.
Part of this feels like it was written in the 90s but staged in an 80s post-apocalypse – we've got a gang war between the East side and West side mutants, people have bizarre powers, and no one is looking for a cure.
This was a pretty random discovery for me – I'd enjoyed Jonathan Luna's Girls last year and had just added him to the invisible list I keep of creators to follow up on. Luna's work is good, but there's an indy vibe that keeps me engaged, an unsettled feeling that the stories are being told by people who are making things up as they go along.
October 27, 2020
Good and relevant comic series about a virus and its after-effects.
This series (Volume 1 - more to follow) deals with a virus which either kills or gives powers to those who survive. It deals with this isolated and alienated part of society, divided into gangs. Mer has ot learn how to adapt to this new world and this leads to bloodshed and death. Ending on a bit of a cliff-hanger, it's a good series although the artwork, although clear and monochrome, doesn't deal with facial expressions at all (deliberately?). I enjoyed it and will probably read more when it comes out. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This series (Volume 1 - more to follow) deals with a virus which either kills or gives powers to those who survive. It deals with this isolated and alienated part of society, divided into gangs. Mer has ot learn how to adapt to this new world and this leads to bloodshed and death. Ending on a bit of a cliff-hanger, it's a good series although the artwork, although clear and monochrome, doesn't deal with facial expressions at all (deliberately?). I enjoyed it and will probably read more when it comes out. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
This graphic novel was published in early December 2019 but eerily predicted the coronavirus pandemic protocol such as wearing a mask, etc.
In the case of 20XX, the Bethel virus either kills you or gives you telekinetic powers. Those that survive the virus and develop these powers are shunned by society and mainly join gangs for survival.
The core of 20XX is the tension between the Eastside and Westside gangs and the classic trope of rival gang members falling for each other.
There's an interesting concept here and I hope that it's explored in future issues.
In the case of 20XX, the Bethel virus either kills you or gives you telekinetic powers. Those that survive the virus and develop these powers are shunned by society and mainly join gangs for survival.
The core of 20XX is the tension between the Eastside and Westside gangs and the classic trope of rival gang members falling for each other.
There's an interesting concept here and I hope that it's explored in future issues.
May 22, 2022
2.75 stars. This had so much potential. I've been listening to the Horns and Wings podcast (dissects Saga issue by issue) and their discussions of what makes a comic easy to read definitely influenced the way I viewed this one. The sheer amount of text they squeezed into each speech bubble was overwhelming, the characters weren't quite developed enough, and I was never given a reason to care about the conflict. I really liked the pandemic set up, the setting, and our MC, but the pieces just didn't fit together quite right
April 28, 2021
Well, one would surely miss the magic that was created when the brothers worked together..
The magic of Girls / Ultra / Sword was shaken a little with Alex+Ada, a little more in Eternal Empire and further more in this series..
The concepts are still great.. but the execution isn't.. and most of them ends before they actually start...
At 6 issues and with great concept this is a quick and light read...
The magic of Girls / Ultra / Sword was shaken a little with Alex+Ada, a little more in Eternal Empire and further more in this series..
The concepts are still great.. but the execution isn't.. and most of them ends before they actually start...
At 6 issues and with great concept this is a quick and light read...
December 7, 2023
Was a decent read, and a lot happened in such a short book. I do like it, but I found the art and character poses very stiff and a LOT of dialogue on a page. Went by quick, but I feel like it could have been expanded on more.
December 24, 2024
This had everything that I love in a comic (superpowered individuals, political messaging, romance) and this was definitely better than I was expecting it to be. My only woe is that I wish that the artwork was in color purely because it would’ve really brought a lot of big scenes to life.
April 11, 2025
3.5 stars
Jonathan Luna's art is excellent, but I didn't quite buy into the world building here - it's obvious that it was written around the COVID pandemic, however it is refreshing that it's set in Anchorage, Alaska; somewhere I don't think that I've seen shown in other graphic narratives.
Jonathan Luna's art is excellent, but I didn't quite buy into the world building here - it's obvious that it was written around the COVID pandemic, however it is refreshing that it's set in Anchorage, Alaska; somewhere I don't think that I've seen shown in other graphic narratives.
December 3, 2020
Review written for potential professional publication for Diamond Bookshelf.
January 9, 2021
2.5 stars
Loved the first issue but after that it was just ok. I was a bit more interested in learning more about what was happening in the world as a whole than just the main character.
Loved the first issue but after that it was just ok. I was a bit more interested in learning more about what was happening in the world as a whole than just the main character.
January 18, 2021
DNF at about 50%
A pretty awesome concept, but nothing actually happens, I don't like the art at all, and there is way too much talking that doesn't add anything to the story.
A pretty awesome concept, but nothing actually happens, I don't like the art at all, and there is way too much talking that doesn't add anything to the story.
July 21, 2021
I really enjoyed the gang drama of this story. I hope to see more 20XX!
August 19, 2021
Interesting world. Slow burn of a story that gets better as it goes on.
September 19, 2021
Cool concept: JUST SHOW DON'T TELL
1st issue was a solid 4/5 but it went downhill from there.
1st issue was a solid 4/5 but it went downhill from there.
October 28, 2021
Nothing worse than paring an untested writer with one of the industries worst artists.
September 11, 2023
Interesting concept, but WAY too much unnecessary dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews