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Primordial
Primordial (2021) - #1
Mind-bending sci-fi collides with Cold War thriller in this six-issue miniseries by the bestselling and Eisner-winning creative team behind GIDEON FALLS! In 1957, the USSR launched the dog, Laika, into Earth's orbit. Two years later, the USA responded with two monkeys, Able and Baker. These animals never returned. But, unbeknownst to everyone, they did not die in orbit…they were taken. And now they are coming home.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2021
2 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,399 books3,868 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 20, 2021
4.25 stars. This was really good. Great concept and execution. This revolves around a shuttle launch in the late 50s with two monkeys on board. The story was that the shuttle failed once in orbit and the primates died. The U.S. then cancelled all space missions. There was a doctor sent in to the launch facility much later. He thought he was there to get the space program back up and running. To his dismay, he was only sent there to see if any of the equipment was salvageable. But what he ends up discovering was the crazy part. I had witnessed Sorrentino’s art in Lemire’s portion of Old Man Logan. I really like what the artist does with the use of the layouts. There were some really creative uses of the layouts in this book as well. Definitely looking forward to the next issue.
November 17, 2021
2.75
Oh no ... realizing quickly from the style that this is the same artist that did Gideon Falls. 😑 (I was not a fan.)
Hopefully this won't be as unnecessarily confusing and jumbled as that series was.
Oh no ... realizing quickly from the style that this is the same artist that did Gideon Falls. 😑 (I was not a fan.)
Hopefully this won't be as unnecessarily confusing and jumbled as that series was.
September 15, 2021
**Primordial is a strong 3.5/5 — let’s address that first and foremost.**
Houston — we have a problem. Everything you’ve ever been told about the Space Race is been a lie. It turns out that the Soviets and the Americans didn’t abandon their cosmic endeavours so much as they were chased away from them — screaming. What’s even more troubling is that the reports surrounding the demise of earth’s first animal cosmonauts, Laika, Abel, and Baker, appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Now, after decades spent navigating the icy-cold perils of space, these furry-faced heroes are finally coming home.
Anyone who is even remotely familiar with Jeff Lemire’s writing knows that he’s a grower, not a shower. Jeff is a master of the slow-burn narrative and incredibly adept at drawing his audience in as he peels back each layer of the proverbial onion. However, what’s undoubtedly his greatest strength as a writer can also come off as intimidating or even alienating to the uninitiated. Perhaps more than any other writer (save for Jonathan Hickman) patience is a necessary asset in order to get the most out of Jeff’s work. Primordial is most certainly not the kind of book that will have you itching to turn the page; it’s not written with the kind of frantic pace that makes readers unable to put it down. But by no means is it a dull read; far from it. Primordial is a story that should be studied — the same way that a great detective approaches any good mystery. It needs to be dissected, carefully examined, and reinterpreted as you go along. It might seem like a lot to ask, but like I mentioned earlier: anyone who’s even remotely familiar with Jeff Lemire understands that investing your time in his talent, creative process, and artistic capability always pays dividends.
There’s really only one way to describe Andrea Sorrentino’s artwork and that is to say that it’s unsettling — the kind of work that makes all the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stand straight at attention. When it comes to building the suspense and creating a true sense of fear and urgency in the reader, few do it better. It almost feels as if you’re looking out at the world from the opposite side of a black mirror. Sorrentino’s world is as enticing as it is disturbing and downright creepy as hell.
Houston — we have a problem. Everything you’ve ever been told about the Space Race is been a lie. It turns out that the Soviets and the Americans didn’t abandon their cosmic endeavours so much as they were chased away from them — screaming. What’s even more troubling is that the reports surrounding the demise of earth’s first animal cosmonauts, Laika, Abel, and Baker, appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Now, after decades spent navigating the icy-cold perils of space, these furry-faced heroes are finally coming home.
Anyone who is even remotely familiar with Jeff Lemire’s writing knows that he’s a grower, not a shower. Jeff is a master of the slow-burn narrative and incredibly adept at drawing his audience in as he peels back each layer of the proverbial onion. However, what’s undoubtedly his greatest strength as a writer can also come off as intimidating or even alienating to the uninitiated. Perhaps more than any other writer (save for Jonathan Hickman) patience is a necessary asset in order to get the most out of Jeff’s work. Primordial is most certainly not the kind of book that will have you itching to turn the page; it’s not written with the kind of frantic pace that makes readers unable to put it down. But by no means is it a dull read; far from it. Primordial is a story that should be studied — the same way that a great detective approaches any good mystery. It needs to be dissected, carefully examined, and reinterpreted as you go along. It might seem like a lot to ask, but like I mentioned earlier: anyone who’s even remotely familiar with Jeff Lemire understands that investing your time in his talent, creative process, and artistic capability always pays dividends.
There’s really only one way to describe Andrea Sorrentino’s artwork and that is to say that it’s unsettling — the kind of work that makes all the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stand straight at attention. When it comes to building the suspense and creating a true sense of fear and urgency in the reader, few do it better. It almost feels as if you’re looking out at the world from the opposite side of a black mirror. Sorrentino’s world is as enticing as it is disturbing and downright creepy as hell.
June 6, 2022
The arrangement of panels alone is stunning enough to earn stars, but as ever, I'm a sucker for Jeff Lemire's writing.
September 15, 2021
3.5-4 stars. Felt like a bit of a slow start but the double page spreads are incredible and really pull you in. Definitely some Department of Truth vibes, in a good way!
September 23, 2021
This looks like it will be fun!
Read
February 9, 2022Lemire uvijek čitljiv
October 15, 2021
Really solid first issue, looking forward to this.
September 21, 2021
Seemed very over the top and dramatic at times but it was still a solid first issue. Artwork was so-so.
May 1, 2023
Rather than peeling layers from an onion, it feels like Lemire wants to slowly peel dollars from my bill fold. This is an interesting story about an alternate USA vs Soviet space race universe. But Lemire is way unnecessarily slow in delivering his story. He could cut the book down 40% and easily tell exactly the same story.
July 31, 2023
Jeff Lemire always sets me up for success! Another very compelling opening to a new series. I love the secret space elements. This is an alternate timeline where things went different with the first animals that were sent to space. But what did happen to them in this version? It looks like I'll have to get my hands on the trade paperback, because I am very curious.
September 29, 2021
The Human space program
ENDED just after it
began when all
the animal test subjects
died horribly in space.
Only they didn't
they became
weird and freaky.
We don't really know
what the hell
is going on.
But a global conspiracy
is desperate to keep it a secret.
ENDED just after it
began when all
the animal test subjects
died horribly in space.
Only they didn't
they became
weird and freaky.
We don't really know
what the hell
is going on.
But a global conspiracy
is desperate to keep it a secret.
November 20, 2021
Some interesting artistic choices and a promising (if obvious sci-fi) hook overcome it being *yet another 60s space race story*, to the point where I'm looking forward to reading #2. With Lemire, you know it's more than it appears, so I'm optimistic :)
September 17, 2021
Not an explosive or mind blowing issue but it's a great setup and introduction that has me interested in seeing where things are going.
September 19, 2021
Some references to race issues, because the writers of our time can’t seem to think otherwise. But a great first issue otherwise.
September 28, 2021
It’s a good concept. The art it’s not the best but it works with the story. I would totally recommend if you like conspiracy theories.
August 2, 2022
3.5 stars
Art work was killer
Story was weird
Not sure what went on there.
Worth a read though
Art work was killer
Story was weird
Not sure what went on there.
Worth a read though
October 27, 2022
fantastic , was just sad that it was so short
Read
September 11, 2023Reserving rating until I have read more of the series. That I am going to read more means I am enjoying it well enough, though.
February 12, 2025
ooh yeah I like this one. Historical sci-fi, very well written and presented.
September 21, 2021
One of my favourites of the year so far as far as stories go I will be continuing until the end with this one.
April 14, 2024
The boys are back in town!
From the creators of Gideon Falls, which is one of my all-time favorite comic books, comes Primordial. The elevator pitch is in a universe where the space race has failed for both the United States and the then-Soviet Union, a scientist finds out some strange information about why it was shut down by both countries
Say what you will about GF’s ending, but just like GF’s beginning, Primordial is pretty damn good. Check it out
From the creators of Gideon Falls, which is one of my all-time favorite comic books, comes Primordial. The elevator pitch is in a universe where the space race has failed for both the United States and the then-Soviet Union, a scientist finds out some strange information about why it was shut down by both countries
Say what you will about GF’s ending, but just like GF’s beginning, Primordial is pretty damn good. Check it out
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews