The Dying and the Dead (spoilers....maybe)

The dying and the dead is a new title by Jonathan Hickman and Ryan Bodenheim published by Image comics. I'm traveling this week so I didn't make it by the LCS to pick up my pull file. This title wasn't on it yet. While out of town I swung by a comic shop and picked this up among a few other things. I went back to the hotel and read it that night. This is a hefty read. Anyways with out giving to much away here's the gist so far. I'm typing this on my phone so this will be genrral description. Trust me the comic is better than what I'm going to describe. Basically this starts in the late 60s. A seemingly evil group has gotten a hold of an artifact. Another secret group who seem to be older than time and good maybe want it back. The "good" guys recruit a retired army colonel to get it back in exchange they will cure his wife of cancer. You'll have to read to see if he takes fhe deal. I liked this issue. It starts off pretty intense. Then moves to more of a talking head issue. However we get a lot of mystery throughout this. Also as with most of Hickman's work this world feels established with its history intact. We just happen to drop in at this particular moment in history. The art is nice and clean. The color is different but works for the story. I don't need another book to follow but will probably keep up with this one way or the other.

I finally got it read, Jason!

Here are my possibly SPOILER-riffic thoughts:

I was a little confused at first whether the couple at the beginning were supposed to have gone through a long marriage before it ended, or whether they were on their wedding night. Was anybody able to figure it out? They looked the same age as when they got married, but I think by the words I was under the impression that they were at a different wedding earlier in the evening by the time the guys came in and attacked.
Thematically, this reminds me a lot of East of West. I did hear on an interview with Jonathan Hickman yesterday that they aren't connected at all, though.
I like how long this issue was. It was kind of cool that, for the first issue, we were given this much to chew on. It definitely makes you want to see what happens next.

Replies

Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod) January 31, 2015 at 4:38pm

Sounds good. I've liked all of Hickman's creator-owned stuff, so I was planning to try this out eventually. Plenty of time before the first collection!
Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man January 31, 2015 at 5:30pm

I will read this one very soon and get back with you, Jason. It's in my stack.
Jason Marconnet (Pint sized mod) January 31, 2015 at 5:38pm

Mark. I'd recommend picking up issue one. It's a dense read and has no ads except for two for image comics in the back.
Captain Comics January 31, 2015 at 11:27pm

I plan to read it as well. Also God Is Dead, another Hickman self-owned thing. I've even got the first trade! Just not enough hours in the day ...
Randy Jackson February 1, 2015 at 12:13am

I've seen some scans from God Is Dead. You may want to wait on this one. The writer succeeding Hickman seems to have a much better handle on things.

Captain Comics said:

I plan to read it as well. Also God Is Dead, another Hickman self-owned thing. I've even got the first trade! Just not enough hours in the day ...
Captain Comics February 1, 2015 at 12:18am

Ulp!
Randy Jackson February 1, 2015 at 12:28am

Yup. Hickman's run is a lot of gore and lot of death that really doesn't mean much of anything.

Captain Comics said:

Ulp!
Jason Marconnet (Pint sized mod) February 4, 2015 at 2:31pm

Anybody else checked this series out yet?
Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man February 4, 2015 at 9:28pm

Not yet. I don't really get much time to read during the workweek. Now on Friday's I coach team practice, so that takes another day away. I will do my best to get caught up soon!
Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man February 8, 2015 at 7:55am
I finally got it read, Jason!

Here are my possibly SPOILER-riffic thoughts:
- I was a little confused at first whether the couple at the beginning were supposed to have gone through a long marriage before it ended, or whether they were on their wedding night. Was anybody able to figure it out? They looked the same age as when they got married, but I think by the words I was under the impression that they were at a different wedding earlier in the evening by the time the guys came in and attacked.
- Thematically, this reminds me a lot of East of West. I did hear on an interview with Jonathan Hickman yesterday that they aren't connected at all, though.
- I like how long this issue was. It was kind of cool that, for the first issue, we were given this much to chew on. It definitely makes you want to see what happens next.

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