Review – Lazarus Volume 3: Conclave TP (Image Comics)

Posted on March 18, 2015 in Image Reviews

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Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Michael Lark
Release Date: 18th March, 2015

Lazarus. What can I say? I absolutely love this series. It was my standout favourite of last year and I have been waiting patiently for this epic third volume to be released. I have not been disappointed. This is why I read comics. This shit is golden.

Volume 3 opens with Jonah Carlyle, having betrayed his own family, seeking asylum with the family Hock. Thinking he will be welcomed with open arms he soon finds himself a prisoner of Jakob Hock. Unfortunately for Jonah, Dr Hock wants the answers to a long and youthful life and Jonah is the key. Well, bits of him anyway. A conclave is called and all the families, including Lazari, gather to discuss the political situation between Jakob Hock, his prisoner Jonah and Malcolm Carlyle.

In this volume Forever, the Lazarus for the Carlyle family, really starts to come into her own. We are introduced to other Lazari and Forever strikes up a friendship with Sonja Bittner, the Lazarus for the Bittner family. This friendship is more than tested when they are ordered to fight each other on behalf of Hock and Carlyle. This battle is beautifully played out through Lark’s art.

Forever experiences a lot of first’s in this issue. She wears a dress for the first time (really?), experiences her first kiss and disobeys a direct order from her father. Lazari have been trained to obey and believe that family, above all things, are more important. But what if you are not actually part of that family at all? Do you still obey or do you start to question? In this volume, Forever chooses not to obey and goes against a direct order from her father. The beginnings of a Lazarus revolt perhaps? I do hope so. In addition to the Forever storyline we have the political storm brewing between the families. The families are firmly split between those who follow Jakob Hock and those who follow Malcolm Carlyle. The delicate dance of formality between them at the conclave is an absolute joy to experience.

Rucka’s writing and Lark’s artwork in glorious harmony together. It looks amazing and the writing just keeps on improving. The story has really picked up pace and anyone who isn’t sure about this series will surely have their minds changed after this blisteringly awesome volume. I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

Rating: A firm 5/5.

The writer of this piece was: Cat McGlinn
Cat Tweets from @LibraryCat10.