A Sense of Doubt blog post #4108 - Lazarus Fallen - comic book reviews

A Sense of Doubt blog post #4108 - Lazarus Fallen - comic book reviews

DAY 626 since Dad died. His birthday is 6/26, so a significant number.

I have been reading Lazarus by Rucka and Lark since it started in 2013 when I was still living in Michigan.

I loved Rucka's work and followed closely with his career even before moving to the greater Portland area where he and so many other comic creators live.

So, I was excited when Lazarus: Fallen started in 2025 after a three year hiatus since issue seven of Lazarus: Risen.

Supposedly, this is the final series about "Forever Carlyle," which may hint at a continuation without the character of Forever.

Though six issues are out now, I am only going to focus on the first in the series and hope to return to discuss the rest in another post some time in the future.

Maybe the next issue (seven) is coming out soon? I could not find a definitive answer on the Internet. Looks like it fad been solicited for March 2026, which didn't happen. now, maybe, May 2026, which is now.

Reminder: Often these links have to be copied and pasted not clicked:

https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/lazarus-(2013)/fallen-1

Impressively, the critics reviews of this comic (8.6/10) are much closer to the user reviews (8.2) than usual. Surely, this rating similarity speaks to the high regard for this comic and its creative team.

Oddly, only two critics reviewed Lazarus Fallen issue one with one giving it an 8.7 and the other an 8.6/10.

The 8.7 -- https://nerdinitiative.com/2025/05/29/lazarus-fallen-1-the-high-cost-of-freedom/ -- has nothing but praise for the team and this issue, so I fail to understand why it scored an 8.7/10.

The other is much the same. https://www.superpoweredfancast.com/lazarus-fallen-1-review/

The site was so saturated with ads that I couldn't read the content and had to copy-paste it just to read it.

Both reviews are copied below followed by my take.

“I had strings, But now I’m free, There are no strings on me” – Leigh Harline.

In a neo-feudalist world, one family wields tremendous power. The Carlyle Family has staked a claim in a hostile landscape. There are one of a few families who control everything. They don’t see people for who they are. You are either a Serf or Waste. To ensure their rule, families have a Lazarus in their ranks. Having a living weapon has won them many things. None have been more legendary than Forever Carlyle.

In 2013, Greg Rucka and Michael Lark started Forever Carlyle started a violent and complex journey. During the saga, she has made some discoveries. Infinity, her younger sister and heir apparent, has given a huge assist. Twelve years later, the path has now opened a new direction for her to walk. It also has given readers a very heavy question: What happens when an unkillable warrior is truly free of control?

The Final Order Cut-Off for issue #1 is Monday, June 2nd, 2025. Nerd Initiative got an advance look at LAZARUS: FALLEN #1 by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark, Santiago Arcas and Ariana Maher.

Here is my *SPOILER FREE* review of the first chapter of the final saga.

LET’S TALK STORY!

Right from the jump, Rucka establishes the tense covert feel fans expect. A raid on a Hock preservation center gets more intense as each panel hits. The dialogue reflects the sinking feeling the squad is developing on their mission. Knowing who they are in pursuit of feels like a losing cause. The mission presses forward. It can’t be stressed enough the dire and intense aura Rucka has crafted here. It is the embodiment of espionage. The result sets a strong pace as the chapter moves forward. With this world, there is no gray area. It is survive or fall at all costs.

This sense carries forth when the spotlight is cast on a familiar face. Rucka holds nothing back in showing the depths this figure is willing to go for what they want. Readers can easily pick up on the deceit pouring out of every word said. There is no shortage of drama on these panels. Where it leads is sure to shake things up. Longtime fans of the series will have much to rave about. This is especially true in the closing pages. If there wasn’t enough drama thrown into this explosive issue, the last panel stops the show on a dime.

HOW ABOUT ART AND LETTERING!

Lark and Arcas build up the suspense slowly with the raid. Each raid member is walking very tensely. It conveys the dangerous mission they’re on. Using wider panels captures a more clearer picture of the trek through the building. The center has its fair share of surprises. Readers watch as the unit’s path puts them in line with some surprise guests. It gives the moment some calm before the air gets thick with a deep stand-off. There’s no shortage of win with this sequence. It caps off with a loud statement as the story takes another turn.

Once the devious figure appears, the art reflects the change in mood. The pages relay a more firm and direct sense. There is no sugarcoating the reactions on display. Readers can’t help but being ensnared in these panels. It results in a few more twists before a final changed gear. Lark and company give the final location a more calming sense. If ever slightly, readers get a steady walk into the close. The closing panel will have readers buzzing as parts are in motion for a combustible last ride.

OVERALL GRADE: 8.7/10

The final story of Forever Carlyle begins with an unswerving shot of drama and intensity. Rucka crafts the ever-changing landscape with superb writing. Lark, Arcas and Maher delve into the lengths all parties will go to win with their art. “Fallen” is poised to fire on all cylinders and this final run is one fans simply won’t want to miss.

Let me know your thoughts on the Lazarus series in the comments below. Thanks to Image Comics.omics for the advance look & thank YOU for reading! 

Lazarus Fallen #1

Image Comics

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Michael Lark

Colors by Santiago Arcas

Letters by Ariana Maher

The Rundown: The patriarch of the Carlyle family is determined to retrieve his Lazarus and continue his program.

A Carlyle team infiltrates Hock family territory on the hunt for Forever Carlyle and her sister. Unfortunately, they are too late and the head of the facility decides to send an explosive message to the Carlyle family. At the Carlyle family home, Jo deals with her father’s insistence on locating where in the world Forever might be hiding. Desperate for answers, he brings in a familiar face to lead the Lazarus project and work with Jo to sustain the future of the family.

Years after Forever was declared rogue, two young women show up in Armitage territory and attempt to become part of the resistance movement known as The Free. Skeptical of their skills, the women are vouched for by a familiar face.

The Story: Rucka crafts a great continuation of this story and the world of it. There’s great intrigue throughout the story and I love the world building of the series. The issue does a great job of serving both fans of the series and new readers jumping onto this first issue with a story filled with action, thrills and a mystery that I was to explore.

The Art: Lark delivers stunning art throughout the issue. I love the visuals and the character designs. Every page and panel is filled with amazing details.

 MY TAKE

10/10

I don't see any reason to down grade this issue and not give it full marks. Sure, I am an easy grader, but seriously.

Forever and her sister (Eight) have escaped the Carlyle family and are looking for Freedom Fighters to help take the family down.

The story launches mid-action as "Miss (Sonia) Bittner" the Bittner family Lazarus sent to retrieve Forever from Hock, who had removed the tracking and other tech from the two sisters.

Bittner turns the tables on Sonia and blows up himself and his complex once Dr.  Carlyle and the Lazarus trainer (I forgot her name).

This is followed by the machinations of the Carlyle family, chiefly the patriarch Malcolm, to get his Lazarus back but their attempts to find her (and her sister) have come up empty.

A text box tells us Forever went rogue 293 days ago.

Cut to Paris where another text box tells it's now 859 days since Forever left the Carlyle family as Forever and her sister make contact THE FREE and, surprisingly, the presumed dead Jonah Carlyle.

One great thing about Rucka/Lark is that they do not explain much. The reader is dropped into the story and needs to remember what happened previously and all the inter-relationships or have all the back issues handy.

They even decided to share the French in dialogue with translations in the back for verisimilitude. Brilliant!

Issues two through six have all been fantastic.

Love this comic and cannot wait for more!!


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2605.17 - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM =  3872 days ago & DAD =  626 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.