What do you think?
Rate this book
Tribes: The Dog Years
Over a hundred years after a viral apocalypse shortened the human lifespan to 21 years, the remnants of humanity survive in small tribes amidst the junkyard ruins of the techno-industrial age. One day everything changes for Sundog of the Sky Shadows. Is there new hope for longer life? Can the condition, the -plague,- be cured or reversed with the help of an -Immortal- from a city under the sea?
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2010
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 7, 2011
A nanotech virus has decimated the planet, capping the lifespan of humans at 21 years. 200 years later, children live in tribes and have created their own mythology to explain the world around them. In the Sky Shadow tribe, Rockjumper is about to become leader and he intends to take Fallingstar as his bride, but she has feelings for Sundog.
As the tension increases, Sundog discovers an ancient one, the elder Doctor Adams. Doctor Adams has come from his oceanic lab to inform the tribes about a cure – about a way they can live long enough to see their children’s children. Rockjumper, however, doesn’t believe his claims and orders his death. Will Sundog and Fallingstar side with their tribe, or will a chance at a better life lead them to reject their traditions?
Tribes: The Dog Years is the first volume in a new series from IDW Publishing. Written by Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta, with art by Inaki Miranda and color by Eva de la Cruz, Tribes reads like a cross between Mad Max and Lord of the Flies, but unlike most post-apocalyptic settings, the world is lush and populated, Unfortunately a lot of the population are feral children in the Headhunter tribe who provide most of the thrills in this entry. We also get glimpses of other tribes, including one which almost steampunk. Tribes is a good read and has incredible pacing.
If you saw any ads for Tribes, you may have seen it referred to as a widescreen comic which describes Tribes’s landscape-style layout. However, the extra width is only occasionally given over to full-page spreads. Mostly it’s packed with detailed panels, where you can study the Sky Shadow’s makeshift armor or count the pointed teeth in the mouths of approaching Headhunters. There are some great touches like the wreck of a plane which looks like the skeleton of some ancient beast or the frenetic fight scenes which almost feel animated.
While only the first entry, there’s enough here to satisfy readers and some great world-building which should appeal to post-apocalyptic fans interested in a variation on that reliable theme.
As the tension increases, Sundog discovers an ancient one, the elder Doctor Adams. Doctor Adams has come from his oceanic lab to inform the tribes about a cure – about a way they can live long enough to see their children’s children. Rockjumper, however, doesn’t believe his claims and orders his death. Will Sundog and Fallingstar side with their tribe, or will a chance at a better life lead them to reject their traditions?
Tribes: The Dog Years is the first volume in a new series from IDW Publishing. Written by Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta, with art by Inaki Miranda and color by Eva de la Cruz, Tribes reads like a cross between Mad Max and Lord of the Flies, but unlike most post-apocalyptic settings, the world is lush and populated, Unfortunately a lot of the population are feral children in the Headhunter tribe who provide most of the thrills in this entry. We also get glimpses of other tribes, including one which almost steampunk. Tribes is a good read and has incredible pacing.
If you saw any ads for Tribes, you may have seen it referred to as a widescreen comic which describes Tribes’s landscape-style layout. However, the extra width is only occasionally given over to full-page spreads. Mostly it’s packed with detailed panels, where you can study the Sky Shadow’s makeshift armor or count the pointed teeth in the mouths of approaching Headhunters. There are some great touches like the wreck of a plane which looks like the skeleton of some ancient beast or the frenetic fight scenes which almost feel animated.
While only the first entry, there’s enough here to satisfy readers and some great world-building which should appeal to post-apocalyptic fans interested in a variation on that reliable theme.
April 10, 2021
Tribes: The Dog Years is a post-apocalyptic romp set in the ruins of Seattle two hundred years after a “nano-virus” infected humanity which kills everyone soon after their 21st birthdays. I had reserved this comic from the library after stumbling upon its depiction of a ruined Seattle skyline but was ultimately disappointed by its rather uninspired, hackneyed plot and characters. In spite of a kernel of a thought provoking premise and some evocative post-apocalyptic landscape art, I can’t recommend its cliched, stereotype driven plot-hole filled storyline.
A few members of the low-tech Sky Shadow tribe, who live in harmony with the earth, toss ridiculous saw disk weapons and wear bikinis, become involved with an elderly “ancient” from a high-tech undersea settlement who wants to return science to the surface world and cure the nano-virus, along with a standard issue prophecy. As the centuries passed, these surviving settlements of adolescents have created elaborate tribal hunter-gatherer societies in what is left of the Pacific Northwest, but never really seem plausible. Their weirdly formal, stilted super awkward diction aside, our heroes speak English, but drop in gibberish made up words for common concepts, for that exotic "noble savage" feel; the new agey messages seem cobbled from a ‘90s kid’s movie with some incongruously gruesome violence. I am not sure if the writers are siding with the "science as savior" trope or with the "follow your heart, trust your destiny" version, the plot is so muddled. As if in so much of a hurry to get to the “epic” chosen ones save humanity story, such niceties as introductions of major characters are neglected in favor of fights with hoards of identical sharp-toothed 12 year old “headhunters'' who conveniently kill off all other tribe members. Finally, to make matters worse, it ends on a literal “to be continued,” and there seems, four years later, to be no signs of a sequel currently in the works. Sadly, I am not sure if I would feel the need to continue in any case.
A few members of the low-tech Sky Shadow tribe, who live in harmony with the earth, toss ridiculous saw disk weapons and wear bikinis, become involved with an elderly “ancient” from a high-tech undersea settlement who wants to return science to the surface world and cure the nano-virus, along with a standard issue prophecy. As the centuries passed, these surviving settlements of adolescents have created elaborate tribal hunter-gatherer societies in what is left of the Pacific Northwest, but never really seem plausible. Their weirdly formal, stilted super awkward diction aside, our heroes speak English, but drop in gibberish made up words for common concepts, for that exotic "noble savage" feel; the new agey messages seem cobbled from a ‘90s kid’s movie with some incongruously gruesome violence. I am not sure if the writers are siding with the "science as savior" trope or with the "follow your heart, trust your destiny" version, the plot is so muddled. As if in so much of a hurry to get to the “epic” chosen ones save humanity story, such niceties as introductions of major characters are neglected in favor of fights with hoards of identical sharp-toothed 12 year old “headhunters'' who conveniently kill off all other tribe members. Finally, to make matters worse, it ends on a literal “to be continued,” and there seems, four years later, to be no signs of a sequel currently in the works. Sadly, I am not sure if I would feel the need to continue in any case.
September 24, 2012
Loved this graphic novel so much. It's a post-apocalyptic Mad Max-esque world with only kid/teen survivors, in which the apocalypse was caused by a rampant engineered virus that limits your lifespan to 21. Gorgeous, adorable, and violent art. Great landscapes and coloring. Bummed that there is no sequel to this. An instant favorite, soon to be re-read by me.
July 9, 2016
The artwork was impressive however it was the storyline that really captured my attention. I really hope the author plans to continue the story since my only complain was to be left hanging and wanting more.
January 9, 2024
This had an interesting concept, but the art wasn't to my taste.
It's a post-apocalyptic story, after humans spread a virus that kills anyone over the age of 21, we follow a world that regressed greatly to become a world of tribes of children, and survival and killing is all they know. All of their beliefs are tested when they meet an old man who tells them the truth.
It's clear that there's supposed to be a second volume, but ever since 2010 there hasn't been a 2nd one, so I assum the series is dead?
It's a post-apocalyptic story, after humans spread a virus that kills anyone over the age of 21, we follow a world that regressed greatly to become a world of tribes of children, and survival and killing is all they know. All of their beliefs are tested when they meet an old man who tells them the truth.
It's clear that there's supposed to be a second volume, but ever since 2010 there hasn't been a 2nd one, so I assum the series is dead?
April 10, 2014
I saw this on a bookshelf in the library, intrigued by the artwork I picked it up and read it in two days. I loved it. Absolutely gorgeous artwork, really interesting world (granted I'm a sucker for post-apocalypse), and adorable characters. I say adorable even though some of them are killing machines, because they're young and uneducated heroes. Not like you see in most YA books. No these were kids in an anarchic world absent anyone over 21 years. I loved the tribal ways, their customs and beliefs, and how they react to different situations. Great book that I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 9, 2011
Basically this is a future dystopian graphic novel set nearly 250 years in the future. A virus was released and shortened the human life span to only 21 years, and killing billions (everyone over that age) in the process. Now scattered tribes fight to survive and Sundog of the Sky Shadows tribe comes across an "ancient" one day, of the thought to be long dead 'gods'. The ancient lets tells him there is a way to reverse the damage once done...but it may be at the cost of Sundog's tribe!
September 20, 2010
Personnages attachants et dessin fantastique! 200 pages de pur bonheur scifi post-apocalyptique. On voit souvent venir les rebondissements c'est pourquoi je ne mets pas 5 étoiles (scénario un peu simplet pour l'instant) mais ça n'enlève rien au charme de l'histoire. Frais et enchantant, on a hâte de lire la suite.
April 23, 2013
A fun and well imagined post-apocalyptic world where, for 250 years, a nano virus kills everyone when they turn 21. The style (plot maturity, blood level, humorous nods) are all very reminiscent of best of Heavy Metal magazine. I hope they pull off the sequel.
September 25, 2010
Very inventive story line, with truly stunning art to match.
November 3, 2010
dystopian web comic. Well drawn, written and colored. My only complaint is that the panel layout is hard to follow at time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews