Begin Reading Graphic Novels with Y: The Last Man
Y: the Last Man is a series of graphic novels by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia
Guerra, and Jose Marzan. It is the story of an average Joe named Yorick Brown. Yorick is an escape artist with a pet monkey he’s training, Ampersand. Nothing special about Yorick so far … until the Apocalypse arrives in the form of a plague that kills all men and other Y-chromosomed creatures on the planet, with the notable exception of Yorick and his monkey.
It isn’t long before Yorick gets swept up in a story worthy of an action-adventure film, as various groups compete for the last man on earth. Certainly some might be seeking sensual pleasure, but others want to use him to repopulate the earth or to discover what it was that killed all men – and some want to kill Yorick to ensure that there are no more men in the world, ever.
Among Yorick’s companions are Agent 355, an undercover government agent, and Dr. Mann, a brilliant scientist intent on figuring out what helped Yorick survive “the plague.” They attempt a journey from the East Coast to Dr. Mann’s lab in San Francisco. For the reader, getting there is half the fun, as they discover what has happened to women now that there are no men. Some efficiently run small towns, while others have joined a militant feminist cult called the “Amazons.” Israel, the only nation with mandatory military service for women, has suddenly become a power.
Along with the story of Yorick and his compatriots, we are given bits and pieces of the fates of other women in Yorick’s life, including his mother, a powerful elected official; his sister, Hero, a former EMT; and his fiancee, Beth, who was in the Australian Outback when the plague took hold.
The most enthralling part of the Y: the Last Man series, besides the intertwined storylines, is speculating on what would happen in the event that all men were killed. From a humorious musing on the death of all rock stars to far more serious issues – a stewardess must land a plane when the pilots, both male, die in-flight.
The characterization in the series is nothing shy of brilliant – the dialogue shows multifaceted people reacting in realistic ways to an unprecedented event. Yorick, in particular, is well-drawn, as he bridles at the unwanted burden of being the last man on earth – from the last target to the last hope.
The art is easy on the eyes – not particularly stylized, and enjoyable for first time readers. The dialogue is snappy and concise, with plenty of allusions to keep the reader entertained.
Those who haven’t yet read a graphic novel will soon find themselves hooked on the twists, turns, and surprises of “Y: the Last Man.” If you like TV series such as “Lost” or “The X-Files,” you’re bound to enjoy this book.
There are five volumes to the series, with the most recent having been published just this month. The volumes are compilations of half-a-dozen or so issues of the comic; if you prefer to buy each issue individually, head to your local comic book store and ask if they carry the series. The bonus is that you won’t have to wait the six months to a year in between bound volumes of the series.
