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Eight Billion Genies #1-8
Eight Billion Genies Deluxe Edition
If you had one wish... what would you wish for? What if everyone else on the planet had one wish too? That's Eight Billion Genies . Eight seconds after magical genies grant every person on earth one wish, the world is transformed forever...and that’s just the beginning!
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charles Soule ( Light of the Jedi, Undiscovered Country ) and superstar artist Ryan Browne ( Curse Words, God Hates Astronauts ) comes the most thought-provoking, hilarious, terrifying and emotional ride of the year.
Collects the eight issue series.
Soon to be a major motion picture from Amazon Studios!
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charles Soule ( Light of the Jedi, Undiscovered Country ) and superstar artist Ryan Browne ( Curse Words, God Hates Astronauts ) comes the most thought-provoking, hilarious, terrifying and emotional ride of the year.
Collects the eight issue series.
Soon to be a major motion picture from Amazon Studios!
280 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2023
70 people are currently reading
1424 people want to read
About the author
Charles Soule
1,522 books1,692 followersCharles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
April 18, 2023
This seems to be the best selling Image book of the past year.
One day everyone gets a genie that will grant you a single wish. We get to see what happens over the next 8 minutes, 8 days, 8 weeks, etc. until the final chapter which shows 800 years! Some of the chapters are fun, I think it starts off strong.
Seeing people make really awful wishes and being regretful, seeing people getting killed and lives being destroyed by evil wishes etc. That's all a lot of fun.
But the final few chapters... I don't know. I stopped caring too much after people wished for superpowers and one of the issues was basically just a superhero comic. I didn't quite buy into it all.
Worth checking out but I wasn't a huge fan of where Soule took the premise and Ryan Browne's artwork, although certainly a professional level, isn't really my cup of tea.
One day everyone gets a genie that will grant you a single wish. We get to see what happens over the next 8 minutes, 8 days, 8 weeks, etc. until the final chapter which shows 800 years! Some of the chapters are fun, I think it starts off strong.
Seeing people make really awful wishes and being regretful, seeing people getting killed and lives being destroyed by evil wishes etc. That's all a lot of fun.
But the final few chapters... I don't know. I stopped caring too much after people wished for superpowers and one of the issues was basically just a superhero comic. I didn't quite buy into it all.
Worth checking out but I wasn't a huge fan of where Soule took the premise and Ryan Browne's artwork, although certainly a professional level, isn't really my cup of tea.
June 29, 2023
8.0/10
The idea is great and it allows the duo of Soule and Browne to go crazy and have fun. The good thing is they don't stop there. We actually get to see a good story with character development. Even the end and the explanation about the whole thing are satisfying enough.
Definitely a worthy read.
The idea is great and it allows the duo of Soule and Browne to go crazy and have fun. The good thing is they don't stop there. We actually get to see a good story with character development. Even the end and the explanation about the whole thing are satisfying enough.
Definitely a worthy read.
September 9, 2024
Every time I dislike a book that everyone else seems to love, I feel out of place—like an alien. But I can’t help it.
This book was a major letdown. The premise is fantastic: What would happen if everyone on Earth had a wish granted? It's an intriguing concept, and you can imagine all the fascinating directions it could take.
However, the execution fell flat for me. Right from the start, I felt a disconnect between the playful, almost whimsical art style and the more serious tone of the narrative. I couldn't figure out whether it was meant to be a thoughtful, provocative story or just something lighthearted and goofy. Even now, after finishing it, I'm still unsure. In my view, it leaned much more toward goofy, which didn’t work for me—maybe I was hoping for a more serious approach.
The writing didn’t help either. The story felt like it dragged on, and I got the sense that the authors were stretching it out to sell more issues—something that, unfortunately, seems common in American comics. There were entire sections of dialogue and plot that felt irrelevant, contributing little to the overall story.
As the narrative wore on, it became dull—especially toward the end, which seemed unnecessarily drawn out. While the first few issues were interesting, the pacing slowed significantly, making the latter half a chore to get through.
In the end, it was a big disappointment. What started with an exciting concept fizzled out into something far less engaging than I had hoped.
This book was a major letdown. The premise is fantastic: What would happen if everyone on Earth had a wish granted? It's an intriguing concept, and you can imagine all the fascinating directions it could take.
However, the execution fell flat for me. Right from the start, I felt a disconnect between the playful, almost whimsical art style and the more serious tone of the narrative. I couldn't figure out whether it was meant to be a thoughtful, provocative story or just something lighthearted and goofy. Even now, after finishing it, I'm still unsure. In my view, it leaned much more toward goofy, which didn’t work for me—maybe I was hoping for a more serious approach.
The writing didn’t help either. The story felt like it dragged on, and I got the sense that the authors were stretching it out to sell more issues—something that, unfortunately, seems common in American comics. There were entire sections of dialogue and plot that felt irrelevant, contributing little to the overall story.
As the narrative wore on, it became dull—especially toward the end, which seemed unnecessarily drawn out. While the first few issues were interesting, the pacing slowed significantly, making the latter half a chore to get through.
In the end, it was a big disappointment. What started with an exciting concept fizzled out into something far less engaging than I had hoped.
November 12, 2023
3.5/5
I loved the premise and mostly enjoyed the execution.
Every individual on Earth gets a genie capable of fulfilling a single wish. A fraction of the 8 billion people make instant wishes, while others choose to hold onto their genies for years. Predictably, the wishes trigger wild consequences, which lead to a rapid decline in the global population.
Not surprisingly - some people make constructive wishes, some make insane and regrettable ones, and some choose to destroy everything around them.
The narrative spans years, decades, and finally, centuries so that readers explore the aftermath of the world constantly changed by wishes. The initial chapters drew me in with their pacing and ideas, but I soon started to lose interest. Not entirely, mind, but as the story switched into a mix of superheroes, family drama, utopia/dystopia, I wasn't as invested any longer.
Anyway, the artwork is good, and the writing maintains a solid quality throughout. Worth checking out, but slightly overhyped IMO.
I loved the premise and mostly enjoyed the execution.
Every individual on Earth gets a genie capable of fulfilling a single wish. A fraction of the 8 billion people make instant wishes, while others choose to hold onto their genies for years. Predictably, the wishes trigger wild consequences, which lead to a rapid decline in the global population.
Not surprisingly - some people make constructive wishes, some make insane and regrettable ones, and some choose to destroy everything around them.
The narrative spans years, decades, and finally, centuries so that readers explore the aftermath of the world constantly changed by wishes. The initial chapters drew me in with their pacing and ideas, but I soon started to lose interest. Not entirely, mind, but as the story switched into a mix of superheroes, family drama, utopia/dystopia, I wasn't as invested any longer.
Anyway, the artwork is good, and the writing maintains a solid quality throughout. Worth checking out, but slightly overhyped IMO.
August 16, 2023
Soule does not shy away from exploring Big Ideas with his work, and the collaboration with Browne once again works to a tee for me.
Sorry, kids- alternative cover notwithstanding there were no Wizord cameos to be found here.
Sorry, kids- alternative cover notwithstanding there were no Wizord cameos to be found here.
January 14, 2025
[ESP/ENG]
Un día cualquiera, sin nada de especial, nace el niño 8 mil millones, y justo en ese momento y salidos de la nada, aparece un genio para cada uno que le concederá un deseo único, cualquier cosa que quieran.
Lo que podría ser una cosa buena, sabiendo cómo es el ser humano, acaba convirtiéndose en puro caos, ya que muchos de esos deseos son...poco prácticos para la humanidad, para muestra un botón:
Obviamente no solo va a ser locura y destrucción, la historia es más profunda que eso. Empezamos en un bar llamado The lampwick, donde un grupo de gente muy variopinta (un trío musical, un padre y su hijo, un matrimonio chino, el barman) hace frente a los primeros momentos de esta situación. El camarero pide un deseo muy particular, lo que va a generar una buena parte del cómic en esta ubicación.
Pero poco a poco se va desarrollando la situación, en la que la fase de locura da lugar a otra de, aparentemente, bienintencionados que buscan arreglar el mundo. A partir de este momento los protagonistas que teníamos juntos se irán cada uno por su lado y seguiremos viendo el desarrollo. El mensaje de esta obra me parece muy bonito, y el final es realmente emotivo. También habrá varios giros, que funcionan bastante bien.
Siendo un cómic, hay que valorar también el arte, y aunque a veces es un poco sucio, el trabajo de Ryan Browne es muy bueno. Los genios tienen muchos guiños, empezando porque cada uno se parece físicamente a su humano, además de varias cosillas que se les ve hacer de fondo siempre. Además todo lo que tiene que ver con ellos (su forma física, un tipo de ropa que lleva algún personaje más adelante) está dibujado con un fondo como si fuesen hechos con materia del universo (me explico como el culo, véase la portada o la primera imagen para apreciar esto) y es un efecto realmente chulo.
No va a ser la obra que cambie la vida de nadie, creo, pero sin duda merece la pena ser leída.
🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞
One day, without anything special, the 8 billionth child is born, and right at that moment and out of nowhere, a genie appears for each one who will grant them a unique wish, anything they want.
What could be a good thing, knowing how human beings are, ends up becoming pure chaos, since many of those desires are... impractical for humanity, as an example:
Obviously It's not just going to be madness and destruction, the story is deeper than that. We start in a bar called The Lampwick, where a very diverse group of people (a musical trio, a father and his son, a Chinese couple, the bartender) face the first moments of this situation. The bartender makes a very particular wish, which will make that a good part of the comic happens in this location.
But little by little the situation develops, the phase of madness gives way to another of apparently well-intentioned people who seek to fix the world. From this moment on, the protagonists we had together will each go their own way and we will continue to see the development. The message of this comic seems very nice to me, and the ending is really emotional. There will also be several twists, which work quite well.
Being a comic, you have to value the art too, and although it's a bit dirty at times, Ryan Browne's work is very good. The genies have many references, starting with the fact that each one physically resembles their human, in addition to various little things that they are always seen doing in the background. Also, everything that has to do with them (their physical form, a type of clothing that some character wears later on) is drawn with a background as if they were made of matter from the universe (I explain myself like shit, see the cover or the first image to appreciate this) and it's a really cool effect.
It's not going to be the work that changes anyone's life, I think, but it's definitely worth reading.
Un día cualquiera, sin nada de especial, nace el niño 8 mil millones, y justo en ese momento y salidos de la nada, aparece un genio para cada uno que le concederá un deseo único, cualquier cosa que quieran.
Lo que podría ser una cosa buena, sabiendo cómo es el ser humano, acaba convirtiéndose en puro caos, ya que muchos de esos deseos son...poco prácticos para la humanidad, para muestra un botón:
Obviamente no solo va a ser locura y destrucción, la historia es más profunda que eso. Empezamos en un bar llamado The lampwick, donde un grupo de gente muy variopinta (un trío musical, un padre y su hijo, un matrimonio chino, el barman) hace frente a los primeros momentos de esta situación. El camarero pide un deseo muy particular, lo que va a generar una buena parte del cómic en esta ubicación.
Pero poco a poco se va desarrollando la situación, en la que la fase de locura da lugar a otra de, aparentemente, bienintencionados que buscan arreglar el mundo. A partir de este momento los protagonistas que teníamos juntos se irán cada uno por su lado y seguiremos viendo el desarrollo. El mensaje de esta obra me parece muy bonito, y el final es realmente emotivo. También habrá varios giros, que funcionan bastante bien.
Siendo un cómic, hay que valorar también el arte, y aunque a veces es un poco sucio, el trabajo de Ryan Browne es muy bueno. Los genios tienen muchos guiños, empezando porque cada uno se parece físicamente a su humano, además de varias cosillas que se les ve hacer de fondo siempre. Además todo lo que tiene que ver con ellos (su forma física, un tipo de ropa que lleva algún personaje más adelante) está dibujado con un fondo como si fuesen hechos con materia del universo (me explico como el culo, véase la portada o la primera imagen para apreciar esto) y es un efecto realmente chulo.
No va a ser la obra que cambie la vida de nadie, creo, pero sin duda merece la pena ser leída.
🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞🌌🧞
One day, without anything special, the 8 billionth child is born, and right at that moment and out of nowhere, a genie appears for each one who will grant them a unique wish, anything they want.
What could be a good thing, knowing how human beings are, ends up becoming pure chaos, since many of those desires are... impractical for humanity, as an example:
Obviously It's not just going to be madness and destruction, the story is deeper than that. We start in a bar called The Lampwick, where a very diverse group of people (a musical trio, a father and his son, a Chinese couple, the bartender) face the first moments of this situation. The bartender makes a very particular wish, which will make that a good part of the comic happens in this location.
But little by little the situation develops, the phase of madness gives way to another of apparently well-intentioned people who seek to fix the world. From this moment on, the protagonists we had together will each go their own way and we will continue to see the development. The message of this comic seems very nice to me, and the ending is really emotional. There will also be several twists, which work quite well.
Being a comic, you have to value the art too, and although it's a bit dirty at times, Ryan Browne's work is very good. The genies have many references, starting with the fact that each one physically resembles their human, in addition to various little things that they are always seen doing in the background. Also, everything that has to do with them (their physical form, a type of clothing that some character wears later on) is drawn with a background as if they were made of matter from the universe (I explain myself like shit, see the cover or the first image to appreciate this) and it's a really cool effect.
It's not going to be the work that changes anyone's life, I think, but it's definitely worth reading.
December 27, 2023
A fantastic story!
I love the whole premise of this - everyone on the planet suddenly has a genie that will grant them one wish.
It's fascinating to consider the implications, and the wildness of some of the wishes leaves room for some fantastic artwork.
The core group of characters were really fun to follow as we get to know them more, and learning their desires and wishes lead to some great character development.
The way the eight issues are set out is really clever, and it was exciting to read the escalation of everything all at once. I don't think I could have handled this in single issues.
The artwork is not my normal fare but I think the level of fantasy in it appealed to me so I had a lot of fun with it.
This is a great story that reveals some interesting questions about humanity. Highly recommend.
*Side note: This is my official 500th read for the year 2023! Woohoo! :D
I love the whole premise of this - everyone on the planet suddenly has a genie that will grant them one wish.
It's fascinating to consider the implications, and the wildness of some of the wishes leaves room for some fantastic artwork.
The core group of characters were really fun to follow as we get to know them more, and learning their desires and wishes lead to some great character development.
The way the eight issues are set out is really clever, and it was exciting to read the escalation of everything all at once. I don't think I could have handled this in single issues.
The artwork is not my normal fare but I think the level of fantasy in it appealed to me so I had a lot of fun with it.
This is a great story that reveals some interesting questions about humanity. Highly recommend.
*Side note: This is my official 500th read for the year 2023! Woohoo! :D
September 15, 2023
I always tell people that the most creative and original storytelling is being done in comic books. It seems like the most innovative ideas are being explored in this medium. Eight Billion Genies is the latest thing I've read that reminded me of that. Starting on the fateful day when 8 billion cute tiny genies pop out of nowhere and latch themselves to each living person on Earth, granting each person one single wish, it then proceeds to tell the story of the craziness that transpires after that.
It's the type of captivating tale that I love to read, one that uses a speculative high concept to comment on human nature, morality, and society's destructive tendencies. The ideas here are always interesting and I love the direction the story takes.
But, I can't help but wish that the story was fleshed out more to really maximize its potential. I can imagine how powerful this would really be if it were a longer series, and we had time to really live in this world, witness the characters change, really sit with the consequences of decisions, and see these ideas evolve. The effect with such a short book is that it feels a bit rushed at times, like we're just jumping from idea to idea, skipping all the juicy bits, and ultimately feels like an awesome bullet-pointed outline.
But the art here is beautiful and it's still a pretty enjoyable read. I can only hope that someone takes the idea and really runs with it!
It's the type of captivating tale that I love to read, one that uses a speculative high concept to comment on human nature, morality, and society's destructive tendencies. The ideas here are always interesting and I love the direction the story takes.
But, I can't help but wish that the story was fleshed out more to really maximize its potential. I can imagine how powerful this would really be if it were a longer series, and we had time to really live in this world, witness the characters change, really sit with the consequences of decisions, and see these ideas evolve. The effect with such a short book is that it feels a bit rushed at times, like we're just jumping from idea to idea, skipping all the juicy bits, and ultimately feels like an awesome bullet-pointed outline.
But the art here is beautiful and it's still a pretty enjoyable read. I can only hope that someone takes the idea and really runs with it!
May 26, 2025
ایدهی این کمیک خیلی جالب بود، روزی که جمعیت انسانها دقیقا هشت میلیارد نفر میشه هر انسان یک جن میگیره که اون جن یک آرزو رو برآورده میکنه و... بقیهش قابل حدسه. به نظرم داستان خوبی داره که به ایدهش میاد. شاید یکی از خلاقانهترین آخرالزمانهاییه که تا حالا دیدم و اینکه خودشونو سانسور نکرده بودن، نشون میدادن چطور خشونت و طمع همه چیز رو نابود میکنه واقعا جالبه. کلا این داستان خیلی خوب کانسپتِ "آخرالزمان بعد از آخرالزمان" رو داره نشون میده، یک بار یه نفر آرزو میکنه زمین تبدیل به بستنی بشه و خیلیا میمیرن، یکی ماه رو نزدیکتر میاره و چند صد میلیون نفر رو میکشه و...
ولی در کل یک عیب کوچیک داشت که به نظرم کامل گردنِ ناشره. نشر ایمیج همیشه سریهای کمیکش رو توی مضربِ عدد چهار تموم میکنه و ظاهرا این قانونشونه. یعنی "هشت میلیون جن" یا باید چهار شمارهای میبود، که براش خیلی کمه، یا هشتتایی که متاسفانه میشه دید براش یکم زیاده. داستان به طور واضحی فیلر داره و مشخصه که هدف داستانی ندارن، فقط اونجان تا نویسنده و طراحها طبق قراردادشون رفتار کنن. این یکم خرابش میکرد.
ولی در کل یک عیب کوچیک داشت که به نظرم کامل گردنِ ناشره. نشر ایمیج همیشه سریهای کمیکش رو توی مضربِ عدد چهار تموم میکنه و ظاهرا این قانونشونه. یعنی "هشت میلیون جن" یا باید چهار شمارهای میبود، که براش خیلی کمه، یا هشتتایی که متاسفانه میشه دید براش یکم زیاده. داستان به طور واضحی فیلر داره و مشخصه که هدف داستانی ندارن، فقط اونجان تا نویسنده و طراحها طبق قراردادشون رفتار کنن. این یکم خرابش میکرد.
August 9, 2023
Eight Billion Genies collects issues 1-8 of the Image Comics series written by Charles Soule and art by Ryan Browne.
When the Earth’s population hits the eight billion mark, every person is given their own personal genie with one wish. The story focuses on a bar in Detroit when the genies appear. The bartender quickly wishes that no outside wishes can harm the bar or anyone within. After the new reality sets in, the patrons will decide on how they will use their one wish.
If you have read Browne’s God Hates Astronauts or Soule & Browne’s Curse Words, you will be familiar with the two’s trademark humor and style. Eight Billion Genies is no exception with a ton of humor (especially hidden in Browne’s artwork). The book also contains a lot of heart throughout, especially in the last few issues.
I was able to grab one of exclusive preview issues that was released a couple months before the official Image release and absolutely loved it so I have been eagerly awaiting the collected edition. Image did a great job of producing a beautiful book that really shows off Browne’s eccentric and colorful art. Can’t wait to see what the duo does next!
When the Earth’s population hits the eight billion mark, every person is given their own personal genie with one wish. The story focuses on a bar in Detroit when the genies appear. The bartender quickly wishes that no outside wishes can harm the bar or anyone within. After the new reality sets in, the patrons will decide on how they will use their one wish.
If you have read Browne’s God Hates Astronauts or Soule & Browne’s Curse Words, you will be familiar with the two’s trademark humor and style. Eight Billion Genies is no exception with a ton of humor (especially hidden in Browne’s artwork). The book also contains a lot of heart throughout, especially in the last few issues.
I was able to grab one of exclusive preview issues that was released a couple months before the official Image release and absolutely loved it so I have been eagerly awaiting the collected edition. Image did a great job of producing a beautiful book that really shows off Browne’s eccentric and colorful art. Can’t wait to see what the duo does next!
April 29, 2025
What a ride this was! The premise to this is very simple. Everyone on earth gets a genie with one wish, what happens next? Not only is it really cool to see what happens to the world and how the characters make their way through it but also I really like the ideas explored in here too. Overall it was a really interesting and enjoyable read and was so good I can’t believe I didn’t check this out sooner!
March 10, 2025
I’m on a run of comics this weekend. Loved the concept of this story: each person on Earth gets a genie and a single wish. What follows is absolute madness.
Surprisingly, there’s a beautiful thread of humanity that’s woven through this tapestry. The characters that do stick around are given the space to evolve and reconnect as the story progresses.
Fun stuff!
Surprisingly, there’s a beautiful thread of humanity that’s woven through this tapestry. The characters that do stick around are given the space to evolve and reconnect as the story progresses.
Fun stuff!
August 6, 2023
We all love to fantasize about being rich or having superpowers or everyone loving us, but I bet most of us haven't thought this whole thing through. We gotta remember that we're not alone in the world - no man is an island - and that on the whole, none of us is likely to stand out too much in any way. If you or me get something cool, then chances are so does everybody else.
This comic starts on a really high note as it well gets across the apocalyptic chaos that the core premise immediately causes. In only a few minutes everything goes into hell in a handbasket. Spaceships and giants, castles, vampires, video games, superheroes and supervillains duking it out in the skies, and that's just for starters. But thanks to a quick-witted barkeep, we've got a safe island and get to learn about a bunch of people stuck in the eye of the storm, relate to their troubles, hope they'll get through it fine, and in general bind the hilariously insane premise to human terms that we can understand. It's fantastic and well-grounded all in one: both extremes are well done and I'm all for it.
But it can't keep it up. Those extremes kind of start to mix together. The people that ground us into the world... get all away from us. The fantasy gets out of hand, and then that too drifts and leaves.
See, it has this gimmick where each issue switches to a bigger time unit: minutes, hours, days, weeks... I never felt like it fit too well with the premise, to begin with, and it started to break things as we got into decades towards the end. We only see little glimpses of what the protagonists are going through now, just enough to make us wonder and raise some questions, without ever answering those questions. Whole lifetimes pass with barely a mention of what the hell happened. Cryptic background reference are all very well - the comic nearer at the start is full of them and they're great - but it's not at all good when it concerns the viewpoint characters, the ones whose stories we're ostensibly following.
Honestly, I guess it's still a positive note that this is a story I really wanted to go down well, and that I was honestly disappointed to see it flounder so. It grabbed me so well at the start and held the grip for the first three-quarters, maybe even a little more, and only slipped towards the end. It was a pretty bad slip but it didn't ruin everything. I hope there'll be more: it made for a fairly good foundation for further takes and explanations.
This comic starts on a really high note as it well gets across the apocalyptic chaos that the core premise immediately causes. In only a few minutes everything goes into hell in a handbasket. Spaceships and giants, castles, vampires, video games, superheroes and supervillains duking it out in the skies, and that's just for starters. But thanks to a quick-witted barkeep, we've got a safe island and get to learn about a bunch of people stuck in the eye of the storm, relate to their troubles, hope they'll get through it fine, and in general bind the hilariously insane premise to human terms that we can understand. It's fantastic and well-grounded all in one: both extremes are well done and I'm all for it.
But it can't keep it up. Those extremes kind of start to mix together. The people that ground us into the world... get all away from us. The fantasy gets out of hand, and then that too drifts and leaves.
See, it has this gimmick where each issue switches to a bigger time unit: minutes, hours, days, weeks... I never felt like it fit too well with the premise, to begin with, and it started to break things as we got into decades towards the end. We only see little glimpses of what the protagonists are going through now, just enough to make us wonder and raise some questions, without ever answering those questions. Whole lifetimes pass with barely a mention of what the hell happened. Cryptic background reference are all very well - the comic nearer at the start is full of them and they're great - but it's not at all good when it concerns the viewpoint characters, the ones whose stories we're ostensibly following.
Honestly, I guess it's still a positive note that this is a story I really wanted to go down well, and that I was honestly disappointed to see it flounder so. It grabbed me so well at the start and held the grip for the first three-quarters, maybe even a little more, and only slipped towards the end. It was a pretty bad slip but it didn't ruin everything. I hope there'll be more: it made for a fairly good foundation for further takes and explanations.
April 14, 2023
One of the best comics I’ve read over the last few months. Beautiful look at selfishness, selflessness, desire, power, love, hate, and all things human through eight issues.
October 29, 2024
This was a really fascinating little thought experiment. It was colorful and bombastic and I apparently was so absorbed in it that I didn't check a single notification for the ~2hrs it took to read.
The bad:
That's not to say it was a perfect book. There were some uncomfortable stances it took without notice or question (a fetus gets their own genie, thereby implying that personhood starts at least as early as the first trimester; most of the characters are white and male and cishet, especially when looking through the backstory of an immortal who can choose to present/be any gender or ethnicity-- and the story is clearly filtered through this lens from start to finish).
On the one hand it would have been better if the author could confront these inherent biases, on the other hand I don't think they're necessarily the right person to do that and would have probably been to the detriment of the story.
There's also some morality and ethics and philosophy that's inherently baked into the story that I don't really gel with (the wish at the end -which I think is meant to be profound- is akin to an example I often use when talking about the progression of brain development and where most 3-5 year olds are stuck).
The good:
But I do think the story had a surprising amount of heart and developed the relationships of the characters to the point that they feel real to me.
Much of the art was either beautiful to look at, or so insane and "a lot of things going on" that it makes you want to stare at it and analyze it for longer.
I'm not really sure there was ever a wish that caught me off-guard as something that I wouldn't think of myself or expect to see from others, but the initial wish (and speed with which it's uttered) was quite clever and interesting and well-suited to the character.
Overall:
If you think that the premise is appealing and the art is in a style you like, I don't think you'll regret reading this one.
The bad:
That's not to say it was a perfect book. There were some uncomfortable stances it took without notice or question (a fetus gets their own genie, thereby implying that personhood starts at least as early as the first trimester; most of the characters are white and male and cishet, especially when looking through the backstory of an immortal who can choose to present/be any gender or ethnicity-- and the story is clearly filtered through this lens from start to finish).
On the one hand it would have been better if the author could confront these inherent biases, on the other hand I don't think they're necessarily the right person to do that and would have probably been to the detriment of the story.
There's also some morality and ethics and philosophy that's inherently baked into the story that I don't really gel with (the wish at the end -which I think is meant to be profound- is akin to an example I often use when talking about the progression of brain development and where most 3-5 year olds are stuck).
The good:
But I do think the story had a surprising amount of heart and developed the relationships of the characters to the point that they feel real to me.
Much of the art was either beautiful to look at, or so insane and "a lot of things going on" that it makes you want to stare at it and analyze it for longer.
I'm not really sure there was ever a wish that caught me off-guard as something that I wouldn't think of myself or expect to see from others, but the initial wish (and speed with which it's uttered) was quite clever and interesting and well-suited to the character.
Overall:
If you think that the premise is appealing and the art is in a style you like, I don't think you'll regret reading this one.
December 26, 2023
Great premise with great execution! There's so much to love and appreciate. Do not miss the alt cover art at the end, which is pretty epic.
December 3, 2024
I actually loved this. A real original story with some nice deep emotional moments. Also its weird as fuck.
September 27, 2023
Really fun book.
It's basic idea that 8 Billion people get ONE wish is great. And watching the effects of so many pick is wonderful. As you can guess, the entire world pretty much goes to shit pretty quickly. And the first few issues take place in a bar, that is safe from these wishes, because the first wish to be said was to protect it, making the area interesting. About half way we shift focus to the entire world and things speed up, years fly by, and we get lifetimes of wishes and what happened.
Overall great stuff, some dark moments on a otherwise mostly upbeat book. I really liked the twist and turns and the ending made me want another one. Not sure if we'll get it but I'd be very opened to it. A 4 out of 5.
It's basic idea that 8 Billion people get ONE wish is great. And watching the effects of so many pick is wonderful. As you can guess, the entire world pretty much goes to shit pretty quickly. And the first few issues take place in a bar, that is safe from these wishes, because the first wish to be said was to protect it, making the area interesting. About half way we shift focus to the entire world and things speed up, years fly by, and we get lifetimes of wishes and what happened.
Overall great stuff, some dark moments on a otherwise mostly upbeat book. I really liked the twist and turns and the ending made me want another one. Not sure if we'll get it but I'd be very opened to it. A 4 out of 5.
March 1, 2025
I really liked the first half of this series. The timeline gets kind of wacky so it is a little jarring, but I can't deny the originality and set-up to do a complete series in 8 issues is never a bad idea. This could have been stretched out a little more to give some of the other timeliness some breathing room.
Regardless I love the team and am all over their next project Lucky Devils atm
Regardless I love the team and am all over their next project Lucky Devils atm
January 14, 2025
A “what-if” concept that asks really big questions about humanity, and uses all kinds of humour to posit answers. Wholly impossible, totally unbelievable, but sometimes a direct hit on the human condition.
4.5/5
4.5/5
July 20, 2023
Если вы можете (или хотите) прочитать только один комикс за год, то это тот комикс
August 12, 2024
Once the world hits the eight billion mark in population, all at once from newborns to the elderly, everyone is granted a genie and one wish. In the midst of chaos, eight people who found themselves in a dive bar in Michigan when G-Day hit, cope with a new world.
The bar owner immediately uses his wish to protect those within the bar, wisely saving them from the mayhem outside. Also saved are three bandmates, a father and son duo, and a couple expecting a baby. While the woman bandmate quickly wastes her wish, the others hold off for awhile, and later make informed decisions that will help them in the days to come. Not surprisingly, some wishes of the public outside are frivolous or cruel in nature, changing the world for the worse.
The chapters move forward chronologically- the first eight seconds, eight hours, eight days, eight years then finally eight centuries. A secret is revealed about the bar owner, but the other survivors can’t hole up forever, so they start to venture outside as the population plummets worldwide as many wishes result in mass destruction. We see the best of humanity and the worst, as this “cosmic safety valve” periodically occurs and the genies winnow down people’s dreams to more manageable levels. And finally, it is love that saves the day.
I loved the genies, who were all given a purple and blue cosmic star body, but each had little differentiating details. They all seemed to mean well, it was the humans that made the bad decisions they had to abide by. The opening splash pages for each chapter showed how Earth was faring, with a decrease in the human and genie populations noted. Fun was had in illustrating the various ways the wishes were granted, showcasing the motley group of humans left and often the stupidity of their desires. The variants at the end of the book along with storytelling notes was a treat, and I spent some time looking back at the first chapter for details and Easter eggs I had missed on my first read-through.
I found the premise of the story fascinating and want to give a hand to creators Charles Soule and Ryan Browne. I am glad I purchased it for my library’s collection, as it came suggested to me by the comic gurus at my favorite local comic book store. They never steer me wrong!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2024/08/1...
The bar owner immediately uses his wish to protect those within the bar, wisely saving them from the mayhem outside. Also saved are three bandmates, a father and son duo, and a couple expecting a baby. While the woman bandmate quickly wastes her wish, the others hold off for awhile, and later make informed decisions that will help them in the days to come. Not surprisingly, some wishes of the public outside are frivolous or cruel in nature, changing the world for the worse.
The chapters move forward chronologically- the first eight seconds, eight hours, eight days, eight years then finally eight centuries. A secret is revealed about the bar owner, but the other survivors can’t hole up forever, so they start to venture outside as the population plummets worldwide as many wishes result in mass destruction. We see the best of humanity and the worst, as this “cosmic safety valve” periodically occurs and the genies winnow down people’s dreams to more manageable levels. And finally, it is love that saves the day.
I loved the genies, who were all given a purple and blue cosmic star body, but each had little differentiating details. They all seemed to mean well, it was the humans that made the bad decisions they had to abide by. The opening splash pages for each chapter showed how Earth was faring, with a decrease in the human and genie populations noted. Fun was had in illustrating the various ways the wishes were granted, showcasing the motley group of humans left and often the stupidity of their desires. The variants at the end of the book along with storytelling notes was a treat, and I spent some time looking back at the first chapter for details and Easter eggs I had missed on my first read-through.
I found the premise of the story fascinating and want to give a hand to creators Charles Soule and Ryan Browne. I am glad I purchased it for my library’s collection, as it came suggested to me by the comic gurus at my favorite local comic book store. They never steer me wrong!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2024/08/1...
November 8, 2024
Короткий комикс на пару часов, с шикарным артом, интересным заделом, посредственным сюжетом и провальной концовкой. Идея простая и гениальная: однажды у каждого человека на земле появляется личный джинн, который может выполнить любое их желание (но только одно). Как можно представить, происходит моментальный коллапс экономики и прочие веселые штуки. Вокруг летают супергерои, а суперзлодеи пытаются уничтожить все живое. Мы следим за судьбой группы людей, которые оказались в одном баре в момент возникновения джиннов. Дальше мы наблюдаем историю на разных отрезках: первые 8 секунд, первые 8 минут, первые 8 дней и т.д.
Задел классный, но из-за стиля рассказа со скачками во времени (мы буквально видим пару эпизодов из жизни этих нескольких людей), сюжет оказывается максимально примитивным, героев развить не получается, а основная драма проходит мимо. Есть "большой умный вопрос" (каково единственное "правильное" желание), но ответ на него банален донельзя.
Мне показалось, что авторам пришла в голову идея для арта, а потом на нее натянули кое-как сюжет. Ну в целом, учитывая краткость комикса, вполне можно почитать чисто ради картинок.
Задел классный, но из-за стиля рассказа со скачками во времени (мы буквально видим пару эпизодов из жизни этих нескольких людей), сюжет оказывается максимально примитивным, героев развить не получается, а основная драма проходит мимо. Есть "большой умный вопрос" (каково единственное "правильное" желание), но ответ на него банален донельзя.
Мне показалось, что авторам пришла в голову идея для арта, а потом на нее натянули кое-как сюжет. Ну в целом, учитывая краткость комикса, вполне можно почитать чисто ради картинок.
October 11, 2023
Every once in a while, a story comes along that is so amazing and cool and unique, I recommend it to everyone. THIS is one of those stories.
The basic premise is that one moment everyone on Earth, all eight billion souls, get a genie at the same time. They can have one wish. As you can probably assume, chaos reigns quickly, but this story shows a lot of heart.
I don't want to spoil anything else. Just read it.
Very strong recommended. Trust me.
The basic premise is that one moment everyone on Earth, all eight billion souls, get a genie at the same time. They can have one wish. As you can probably assume, chaos reigns quickly, but this story shows a lot of heart.
I don't want to spoil anything else. Just read it.
Very strong recommended. Trust me.
December 13, 2023
Really enjoyed this! The bulk of the story is so-so but I love the beginning and, especially, the ending.
March 7, 2025
Earth reaches a critical mass, and 8bn genies appear on the scene to grant each and every individual 1 wish. The premise raises obvious contemplation surrounding what to wish for and how that might be granted, and the creators also do some deeper exploration of the topic regarding autonomy, free will, social responsibility, etc.
Once the wishes get rolling, the world spirals into chaos and a variety of dystopic scenarios play out.
In spite of the cynical view of humanity and resulting nihilistic dystopia, this was loads of fun to read. I liked how the creators handled individual wishes pushing against others' wishes, kept the chaos in check, and employed an exponential timeline that steered the story towards a quick yet satisfying conclusion. As well, the artwork fits the story nicely-the genies are a particular pleasure to follow, bringing lightness to what could have been a dark, dark story.
“.. do you just make it safe for yourself, or do you try to impose your will on the entire world?”
Once the wishes get rolling, the world spirals into chaos and a variety of dystopic scenarios play out.
“These are the bad times. The chaos times. When the selfish and the stupid and the terrified rule the day, before better sense prevails and some kind of new normal sets in. This won't be the most dangerous time, but it'll be the most unpredictably dangerous.”
In spite of the cynical view of humanity and resulting nihilistic dystopia, this was loads of fun to read. I liked how the creators handled individual wishes pushing against others' wishes, kept the chaos in check, and employed an exponential timeline that steered the story towards a quick yet satisfying conclusion. As well, the artwork fits the story nicely-the genies are a particular pleasure to follow, bringing lightness to what could have been a dark, dark story.
July 1, 2024
[What the....this is set in the little Detroit suburb I grew up in, that no one has ever heard of. My parents still live there. Local landmarks and geography are peppered throughout. Easter egg just for me!]
---------------------------------
BOOM. Every person on the planet gets their own personal single-wish genie all at the same time. What happens next? How would this play out?
It's a simple premise that begs to be explored. These are not monkeypaw wishes; while they do necessarily interpret intent, the genies operate in good faith. They're also bottomless sources of real-time factual information as long as one puts off wishing, so spending one's wish has a tremendous cost.
The first wish wished is that a guy's bar be a safe haven from external wishes. Which is smart because the next wish ("I wish Brian loves me!") is immediately canceled out, and the next million wishes--giants, killer robots, superpowers galore--cause widespread mayhem and mass death. Tokyo is besieged by several Godzillas. New Zealand explodes with multiple Mount Dooms.
So what should one wish for? There are tactical and strategic considerations. Beyond simple survival, there are social and political possibilities. And that's all short of the truly visionary options...
Soule put a ton of thought into how this scenario would play out. In 8BGL, It's a terribly plausible chain of events.
Ryan Browne crushes the illustration, adding layers to the story with panel designs, hidden treats, splash pages, and countdowns that track the remaining human and genie populations...which speak volumes about the state of the world.
Doesn't finish on the ecstatic, brilliant high that it begins on, and the "perfect wish" turns out to be too saccharine for my taste. But it's a solid, thoughtful ending.
---------------------------------
BOOM. Every person on the planet gets their own personal single-wish genie all at the same time. What happens next? How would this play out?
It's a simple premise that begs to be explored. These are not monkeypaw wishes; while they do necessarily interpret intent, the genies operate in good faith. They're also bottomless sources of real-time factual information as long as one puts off wishing, so spending one's wish has a tremendous cost.
The first wish wished is that a guy's bar be a safe haven from external wishes. Which is smart because the next wish ("I wish Brian loves me!") is immediately canceled out, and the next million wishes--giants, killer robots, superpowers galore--cause widespread mayhem and mass death. Tokyo is besieged by several Godzillas. New Zealand explodes with multiple Mount Dooms.
So what should one wish for? There are tactical and strategic considerations. Beyond simple survival, there are social and political possibilities. And that's all short of the truly visionary options...
Soule put a ton of thought into how this scenario would play out. In 8BGL, It's a terribly plausible chain of events.
Ryan Browne crushes the illustration, adding layers to the story with panel designs, hidden treats, splash pages, and countdowns that track the remaining human and genie populations...which speak volumes about the state of the world.
Doesn't finish on the ecstatic, brilliant high that it begins on, and the "perfect wish" turns out to be too saccharine for my taste. But it's a solid, thoughtful ending.
June 7, 2024
(4,4 of 5 for an excellent story in a witty setting)
As the art style hints this to be more action, sarcastic and lightweight, sometimes it hits the serious topics very well.
Even though the topic is big and worldwide, it focuses much more on its core and a few groups of characters. And that works well, the story is perfectly unveiled through 8 issues. I enjoyed it and it makes me push Curse Words up on my reading list.
The art itself is fine, I prefer it to be more neat and less wild, but it works nicely here.
And I love how Soule easter-eggs his other works there. That's always a nice touch.
As the art style hints this to be more action, sarcastic and lightweight, sometimes it hits the serious topics very well.
Even though the topic is big and worldwide, it focuses much more on its core and a few groups of characters. And that works well, the story is perfectly unveiled through 8 issues. I enjoyed it and it makes me push Curse Words up on my reading list.
The art itself is fine, I prefer it to be more neat and less wild, but it works nicely here.
And I love how Soule easter-eggs his other works there. That's always a nice touch.
August 13, 2023
Brilliant concept for a book, interesting execution. I had a lot of questions how you make a plot out of the idea, considering I expected everything to go up in flames immediately cuz that's how I see humanity, but then where would the story be? I commend the creative duo for taking this over the course it did, just when I thought it would be stuck, it pressed on. The ending is peculiar, some will like it others won't. But a wish is a powerful thing, and it shouldn't be wasted.
August 12, 2023
amazing series
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