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Dark Ages
Dark Ages #1
This is what the Watcher has been watching for! A danger older than the Earth threatens everything. For once, the heroes who have saved the planet so many times are almost powerless in the face of it. X-Men and Avengers assemble. Spider-People and Fantastic Four come together. Heroes for Hire fight alongside Champions. None of it will be enough. The lights are about to go out. The world outside our window...is about to end. An all-new saga of the Marvel Universe as you’ve never seen it before from Tom Taylor and Iban Coello!
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Tom Taylor
1,283 books1,065 followersOnce a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.
He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.
He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 2, 2021
A excellent first issue.
The world is coming crashing down. Heroes work together to try and stop it. All goes bad, lots of people dying, and I'm being so vague so no spoilers but major heroes get murdered left and right leaving us with a hopeful and interesting ending.
Similar to DCeased but no zombies but plenty of death, Taylor always gives a intriguing story. I'm here for it.
The world is coming crashing down. Heroes work together to try and stop it. All goes bad, lots of people dying, and I'm being so vague so no spoilers but major heroes get murdered left and right leaving us with a hopeful and interesting ending.
Similar to DCeased but no zombies but plenty of death, Taylor always gives a intriguing story. I'm here for it.
September 7, 2021
4.25 stars. This was dope. A major threat from 10 billion years ago was defeated and hidden at the core of the newly forming Earth. Fast forward to now and that thing is coming awake. But it’s not that simple. The battle with this thing only set up the new status quo on earth and it’s not looking good. Can’t wait for the next issue.
September 2, 2021
Even though it was really short I really LOVED it and I got goosebumps while reading this! The story is so exciting and I can't wait to continue reading this!
October 1, 2021
Great first issue! I cannot wait for issue #2
February 25, 2025
The first issue of this, Marvels most recent alternate history storyline, sees Tom Taylor take the reigns of the whole M.U. much like he did during the Injustice saga over at DC - albeit on a much smaller scale as this series is only six issues long.
Unlike the 1602 or other limited series, this one is not set in a Dark Age, but it is one where the starting point is much like the main 616 universe but a calamity hits the planet right at the start of the issue which sees The Watcher appear in the Baxter Building and declare that the world is indeed ending. The heroes of course burn hell for leather as a cosmic machine-creature called The Unmaker trapped within the Earths core is awakening; a group of heroes manages to make it to the threat and at great cost and sacrifice, they stop the danger and save Earth, but the planet is now plunged into a technological dark age and conditions are created that prevent electricity and modern technology from ever being restarted.
This is an explosive first issue and 100% it succeeds in drawing you into the story and wanting to see what comes next, far better than many comics I've read from Marvel in some time. Taylor once again shows his prowess at handling huge amounts of characters across the many sub-franchises within Marvel and balancing the pace and events as the world is literally collapsing and disaster is ensuing on nearly every page at one point. I also got to see the work of Iban Coello for the first time here and I have to say that his layouts and rendering of the characters was excellent! I found no flaws that stood out on any page anywhere and not only was he faithfully able to bring the multitude of characters in the script to vivid life, he was able to do it in a way that fit - from his swinging Spider-Man, to the toothy Wolverine (Laura) growling and slashing to Dr. Strange magic-ing and more. It was all spot-on and there was a visible sense of dread and urgency and chaos in the environments he crafted. All of it was given greater depth by Rebers colours which were a nice balance of bright and shadow and explosive brilliance where needed.
Overall a fantastic start to the series.
Unlike the 1602 or other limited series, this one is not set in a Dark Age, but it is one where the starting point is much like the main 616 universe but a calamity hits the planet right at the start of the issue which sees The Watcher appear in the Baxter Building and declare that the world is indeed ending. The heroes of course burn hell for leather as a cosmic machine-creature called The Unmaker trapped within the Earths core is awakening; a group of heroes manages to make it to the threat and at great cost and sacrifice, they stop the danger and save Earth, but the planet is now plunged into a technological dark age and conditions are created that prevent electricity and modern technology from ever being restarted.
This is an explosive first issue and 100% it succeeds in drawing you into the story and wanting to see what comes next, far better than many comics I've read from Marvel in some time. Taylor once again shows his prowess at handling huge amounts of characters across the many sub-franchises within Marvel and balancing the pace and events as the world is literally collapsing and disaster is ensuing on nearly every page at one point. I also got to see the work of Iban Coello for the first time here and I have to say that his layouts and rendering of the characters was excellent! I found no flaws that stood out on any page anywhere and not only was he faithfully able to bring the multitude of characters in the script to vivid life, he was able to do it in a way that fit - from his swinging Spider-Man, to the toothy Wolverine (Laura) growling and slashing to Dr. Strange magic-ing and more. It was all spot-on and there was a visible sense of dread and urgency and chaos in the environments he crafted. All of it was given greater depth by Rebers colours which were a nice balance of bright and shadow and explosive brilliance where needed.
Overall a fantastic start to the series.
September 4, 2021
I’ll admit, it was the best Marvel book I’ve read in ages. But, still, meh. Everyone outside of Peter, MJ and May just didn’t ring true to me. There was no chemistry.
December 16, 2021
sağlam başlangıç
September 3, 2021
The very fact that Peter is married with a kid who crawls on the ceiling makes it a better story than any current one.
September 6, 2021
Great art. Mediocre story. You know it will have no broader implications for the Marvel universe, and things will simply be undone, so it’s hard to feel invested.
January 16, 2024
In some ways, I should probably just not read this. I don't like super expansive crossovers or team-ups.
But I'm curious to see what Tom Taylor does with this premise, which is kicked off mostly well. I just bristle a little bit at the imprecise characterization of a world "where no electricity could function".
Like, electricity is not technology. It's physics. The harnessing of electricity for electric-powered and electronic technology is different.
And here's the thing: I was drawn to this because it's Tom Taylor and because it could seemingly erase a big, recurring issue I have with Marvel.
I hate when Marvel is just bad (which is to say, poorly justified) sci-fi. I'm truly not even a huge "science guy"; I did not formally study a scientific discipline and I am not a scientist or anything like it in my professional life.
But even I am like "okay, this isn't how the world works at all" really often when it comes to Marvel nonsense. And I'm not saying that "hard sci-fi" (with extremely grounded technological speculation) is the only way.
One of my favorite things is pro wrestling, which is built on plausible, entertaining lies (isn't all fiction?).
Too often, Marvel's lies are just not plausible to even a minimally educated person. Dr. Strange and Scarlet Witch? Cool, no problem; magic is magic and the rules are whatever you decide they are. Iron Man and Ant Man? Erm… I tend to have issues (in my limited experience), not because of Marvel's collective imagination but because they ask me to stare at bad (and SPECIFIC) scientific extrapolation and buy it.
So, like I said: I welcomed the opportunity for Marvel to have a storyline in which a lot of their worst and most insulting lies (which often accompany poorly-imagined technological story elements) are impossible.
So I'll see where this goes, but when it starts on a note of not knowing the difference between electricity and the technological application of electrical principles… I'm worried.
But I'm curious to see what Tom Taylor does with this premise, which is kicked off mostly well. I just bristle a little bit at the imprecise characterization of a world "where no electricity could function".
Like, electricity is not technology. It's physics. The harnessing of electricity for electric-powered and electronic technology is different.
And here's the thing: I was drawn to this because it's Tom Taylor and because it could seemingly erase a big, recurring issue I have with Marvel.
I hate when Marvel is just bad (which is to say, poorly justified) sci-fi. I'm truly not even a huge "science guy"; I did not formally study a scientific discipline and I am not a scientist or anything like it in my professional life.
But even I am like "okay, this isn't how the world works at all" really often when it comes to Marvel nonsense. And I'm not saying that "hard sci-fi" (with extremely grounded technological speculation) is the only way.
One of my favorite things is pro wrestling, which is built on plausible, entertaining lies (isn't all fiction?).
Too often, Marvel's lies are just not plausible to even a minimally educated person. Dr. Strange and Scarlet Witch? Cool, no problem; magic is magic and the rules are whatever you decide they are. Iron Man and Ant Man? Erm… I tend to have issues (in my limited experience), not because of Marvel's collective imagination but because they ask me to stare at bad (and SPECIFIC) scientific extrapolation and buy it.
So, like I said: I welcomed the opportunity for Marvel to have a storyline in which a lot of their worst and most insulting lies (which often accompany poorly-imagined technological story elements) are impossible.
So I'll see where this goes, but when it starts on a note of not knowing the difference between electricity and the technological application of electrical principles… I'm worried.
September 6, 2021
Las historias apocalípticas o distópicas siempre cuentan con o interés o cuanto menos curiosidad. Teniendo en cuenta que Tom Taylor ya tiene buen curriculum con eso con la adaptación comiquera de Injustice y ese futuro corrupto con la dictadura de Superman, habrá que ver si emula o incluso supera ese trabajo en Marvel con esta Dark Ages. Este primer número de presentación supone una lectura tan adrenalítica como debería ser el fin del mundo tal como lo conocemos. Desconozco si lo del Unmaker quedará tan solo como la simple excusa argumental para sustentar este oscuro (sic.) futuro alternativo o volverá a cobrar relevancia más adelante (aunque haya sido una presentación apurada me ha convencido el concepto de este ser con claras reminiscencias a los amorales Celestiales). Además, Taylor logra regalarnos ese pequeño pedacito de día a día superheroico que se agradece, con la reunión de parejas de Luke Cage y Jessica Jones con Peter y MJ (y una hija trepaparedes que ya se convierte en motivo más que suficiente para seguir esta miniserie). Y logra mostrar los personajes y formaciones más relevantes del Marvel Cómics actual.
September 18, 2021
Back to the dark ages
Welcome to the dark ages…
I am a big Marvel but obviously of the MCU, but I am happy to start here.
Peter Parker is best suited for this sort of story. His narration really set the mood for what was to come. It starts off happily with the heroes living their lives with their friends and family when an ancient, or whatever is older than ancient, entity awakens and tears through the Earth’s core.
It was wild to see the squad sent in to stop it get annihilated except for Sue Storm. I don’t know what stands for traditional Marvel comic fair, but this was entertaining from beginning to end. Color me impressed because I want to see more of this universe and how the characters survive without…electricity.
That’s the whole point. Especially for character who have made technology their thing. Like Tony Stark, y’know?
Also May Day Parker is adorable and must be protected at all costs.
Welcome to the dark ages…
I am a big Marvel but obviously of the MCU, but I am happy to start here.
Peter Parker is best suited for this sort of story. His narration really set the mood for what was to come. It starts off happily with the heroes living their lives with their friends and family when an ancient, or whatever is older than ancient, entity awakens and tears through the Earth’s core.
It was wild to see the squad sent in to stop it get annihilated except for Sue Storm. I don’t know what stands for traditional Marvel comic fair, but this was entertaining from beginning to end. Color me impressed because I want to see more of this universe and how the characters survive without…electricity.
That’s the whole point. Especially for character who have made technology their thing. Like Tony Stark, y’know?
Also May Day Parker is adorable and must be protected at all costs.
February 1, 2024
This review is for the entire 6 issue mini series. This is an alternate timeline where the Earth loses electricity due to a constant EMP in the center of the Earth. The concept screams steam-punk, and there are a few artistic bods, but this isn't a Marvel stream punk universe. The core story is about Apocalypse trying to use an ancient machine to evolve and unmake the world. The remaining heroes attempt to stop him. The art here is excellent, especially if you enjoy a more cartoon-y or exaggerated style. Taylor is always at his best when he is straight to the point, and there's not a ton of fluff in these. While I still think that DC does better with their alternate reality books, this is a decent offering from Marvel. It's a fun, quick read, but ultimately not something that I will be revisiting frequently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2022
A dystopian: usually not crazy about them, and don't fully trust Tom Taylor with them after what he did to Jason Todd in DCeased - and he at least had the decency to break my heart in this first issue of Dark Ages instead of stringing me along and it not being quite as brutal as DCeased - but here we are.
Technology doesn't work on Earth, due to a last ditch effort of Dr. Strange; he saved what he could - but left a dystopia in his wake instead of letting earth simply be unmade. Still, many heroes still live and everyone is working together to build a new Earth, a new life - well, everyone still alive.
Heart breaking, and dystopia usually makes me too anxious to go on - but here I am, and I'm about to start the next issue.
Technology doesn't work on Earth, due to a last ditch effort of Dr. Strange; he saved what he could - but left a dystopia in his wake instead of letting earth simply be unmade. Still, many heroes still live and everyone is working together to build a new Earth, a new life - well, everyone still alive.
Heart breaking, and dystopia usually makes me too anxious to go on - but here I am, and I'm about to start the next issue.
November 12, 2021
This is an interesting premise for a Marvel universe. It seems that lately there is a surge of comic book stories of the end of the world, heros dying, zombies, or something catastrophic happening. I do enjoy those story arcs to a certain degree but it is starting to become a little played out. The Dark Ages suffered this thought in my mind at first. I was going into it with a pessimistic mind-set, almost expecting it to be just another apocalypse story and to just give up on it half way through. I was pleasantly surprised that I like the unique idea of no electronics at all. Overall I enjoyed this issue and I'm excited for the rest of the series.
September 10, 2021
This is the first Marvel comic I've read so I only know these characters from movies and cartoons otherwise. So, while I don't know all the characters it's still a very interesting start. Not sure if it's gonna be on the same level as DCeased but I'm willing to keep reading to find out.
Also, I'd absolutely read a non-apocalyptic story about Spider-Man and his daughter May; I imagine it would be both adorable and funny to read.
Also, I'd absolutely read a non-apocalyptic story about Spider-Man and his daughter May; I imagine it would be both adorable and funny to read.
December 6, 2021
Supe de este libro por TikTok, y me emociono mucho poderlo por fin conseguir.
La historia no da vueltas y va directo al grano, ¿que pasaría si ya no hubiera tecnología electrónica en la Tierra y posiblemente en otros mundos?
Me gusta mucho el rediseño de personajes y la creatividad para resolver nuevas amenazas.
Ya no puedo por leer la continuación
La historia no da vueltas y va directo al grano, ¿que pasaría si ya no hubiera tecnología electrónica en la Tierra y posiblemente en otros mundos?
Me gusta mucho el rediseño de personajes y la creatividad para resolver nuevas amenazas.
Ya no puedo por leer la continuación
January 21, 2022
A story for the Dark Ages
Tom Taylor brings you an old school story with new school characters packing an intense emotional punch on the question we've all wondered for years. Who would we become in a world without electricity? One of the most exciting stories in Marvel comics right now, Dark Ages #1. Don't miss out! Apocalypse is coming, AGAIN!
Tom Taylor brings you an old school story with new school characters packing an intense emotional punch on the question we've all wondered for years. Who would we become in a world without electricity? One of the most exciting stories in Marvel comics right now, Dark Ages #1. Don't miss out! Apocalypse is coming, AGAIN!
January 9, 2022
This was actually really good, I’m not too into stuff like this but it started out strong, and I didn’t know it was going to involve basically everyone and I liked that (I know not everyone, I’m still new to the marvel comics).
Can’t wait to see what the next issue brings.
Can’t wait to see what the next issue brings.
September 4, 2021
Tom Taylor delivers once again with some incredible artwork to go with it.
September 18, 2021
This was an epic kickoff issue. I’m so stoked to see where it goes from here!
September 26, 2021
Pretty neat concept and nice first issue, heroes in the modern world throw back in the dark ages after all technology dies.
September 29, 2021
First comic book ever read
This is my first comic book read! I really enjoyed the idea of dark ages and I’m really looking forward to next issue, I’m definitely hooked!
This is my first comic book read! I really enjoyed the idea of dark ages and I’m really looking forward to next issue, I’m definitely hooked!
October 15, 2021
F*ckin excellent. Dark elseworld Marvel U but the story knows when to not go THERE.
Just excellent all around. Excited to read every issue after this.
Just excellent all around. Excited to read every issue after this.
December 9, 2021
Good old-fashioned comic apocalyptic storytelling and it wastes zero time and I definitely trust this author looking forward to the rest...
March 16, 2025
Story 3
Art 4
Art 4
October 1, 2025
(3.5)
todos los tomos leídos
El final fue muy rápido, necesitaba más drama
todos los tomos leídos
El final fue muy rápido, necesitaba más drama
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews