Greg Rucka

Eric Trautmann

Aaron Duran

Neal Bailey

Six separate stories follow characters old and newfrom The New York Times bestselling series LAZARUS, shining light into the darkplaces of the world following the events of The Cull. Collects all six issues of the LAZARUS: +66miniseries.

Lazarus X+66

Sarah Escorsa

Ah, this series. It never fails to make me all warm and fuzzy inside. Fluffy bunnies, endearingly charming characters, heartwarming scenes, pastel-colored rainbows...Lazarus has it all!



Okay, so it also has a little blood, a tiny measure of violence, some backstabbing, a few assholes, a small number of cunning liars and ruthless bastards…It’s positively delightful, I tell you!

*gets all cuddly-snuggly inside*

So. This volume is a sort of standalone-that-doesn't-stand-so-alone in the series. It's set after vol. 5, the most gloriously delicious Cull, and features four different stories, each of them focusing on secondary characters in the Lazarus universe. Not only does this slightly very cool volume give a lot of insight on how the families that rule this world operate, it also⁠—and more importantly⁠—offers precious information on the serf class (which the main series lack). This adds a bloody shrimping lot of depth to the world, methinks.



♫ Revolution ♫

To be disgustingly honest, I was most miffed when I realized that my girlfriend Forever Carlyle wasn't going to show up in this instalment. But. I found me little self a new girlfriend. Her her name is Casey Solomon. And I 💕lurves💕 her.

 

Another thing I 💕lurves💕 in this volume is that one of the stories focuses on two characters we hadn't met before, Xolani and Alimah (the Nkosi and Meyers-Qasimi Lazari). What's so special about them, you ask? Ha. Xolani is of African descent and Alimah of Arabic descent. And having a little diversity in a graphic novel is bloody shrimping scrumptious, if you ask me. 



Yum.

Also, they kick ass most efficiently and stuff. 



Don't tell anyone but I think I'm about to kidnap adopt Alimah and lock her up in my High Security Harem invite her to visit my humble subaquatic abode. 

The one thing that disappointed me here is the art. Each issue has a different artist. None of them being Michael Lark. Which sucks big time, if you ask me. I mean, look at what they did to my boyfriend Joaquim Morray!

My Jojo before:



My Jojo after:



Err...I think NOT.

Also, there seems to be a Weird-Prominent Chin Thingie (WPCT™) going on in issue #3:



Oh you poor thing, does it hurt?



I know, I know, it was a stupid question. And of course you guys would know all about painful chins. I mean, just look at you and stuff.

Oh, oh, and look at what they did to my Casey in that issue!



(view spoiler)[
  
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Not sure I'll ever recover from that one *shudders*

Anyhoo and stuff, the art isn't that bad, it's just that it's a pretty big departure from the previous issues and some shrimps have a hard time adjusting and stuff. But I have to unwillingly admit that I actually like Alitha Martinez' work in the Xolani/Alimah issue. And I also have to unwillingly admit that Tristan Jones' work in issue #6 is deliciously creeptastic and adds a lot to the atmosphere of the story and stuff.



Ah, The Zmey, such a fun-loving guy.

➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): no, this volume is not one of those despicable fillers that authors use to keep readers quiet happy while they impatiently wait for the next issue in the series to be released. Packed with background information, X+66 is pretty essential read for fans of the series, as it gives a lot more substance to the Lazarus world. And makes it feel more real. Which it isn't. Thank fish for that.

Chronological Reading Order:
· Volume 1: Family ★★★★
· Volume 2: Lift ★★★
· Volume 3: Conclave ★★★★
· Volume 4: Poison ★★★★
· Volume 5: Cull ★★★★★
· Lazarus X+66 (side stories about supporting characters) ★★★★
· Fracture: Prelude 1 (issue #27, digital format only) ★★★★
· Fracture: Prelude 2 (issue #28, digital format only) ★★★★
· Volume 6: Fracture I ★★

· Sourcebook Collection Vol One ★★★★

Lazarus X+66

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