REVIEW: Selecting off in ‘Lazarus #22′

Lazarus #22 starts off by answering some nagging questions left behind in the last pivotal issue: the existence of clones, the awakening of the patriarch, and the meaning of the word “cull”—the title of the new story arc itself. Creators Greg Rucka and Michael Lark are in their artistic elements of delivering a good launching point that may or otherwise prove significant to the upcoming chapters of the CULL storyline. Rucka’s love for the twist-and-turn plotline is evident in the first page that would later reveal surprisingly in the last page if the readers pay close attention to his fine-tuned script. Hint, this opening reads like a Deadpool movie. Furthermore, we witness how the youngest Carylle acts like a changed person who must prove the capabilities of a strong, decisive and excellent, if not Machiavellian, leader. Again, if you know your Game of Thrones references here, the similarities, if not parallelisms, are striking! As always, Rucka’s femme fatales are no pushover either. If one observes closely, male counterparts have a pretty rough time to counter the females’ verbal and physical assaults/deliveries. The only thing I worry on this current Lazarus series is the timetable of the issue’s release because of Rucka’s another commitment to the Wonder Woman: Rebirth series (he must do it on the monthly basis, unlike in Image and/or other independent publications).

On the other hand, Michael Lark’s art is a little bit mixture of rough illustrations to fine drawings, depending on the scenarios.  His takes on the wounded Lazarus are definitely grisly to view, while the other characters in less bloody scenes are detailed and even minimalists, particularly the faces in close perspectives. I like how Lark draws the happy faces of two “Lazari” since he rarely does those visual moments even during his Daredevil run with Ed Brubaker in the early to mid-2000s. His sequential paneling remains the same, without being too overwhelmed of dialogues while the mounting tensions between the youngest Carylle and the trainer, and later on, the patriarch’s first words since two story arcs ago.

Lazarus #22 sends off another story of the ongoing futuristic saga of geopolitical dominance of alpha families. As the title implies, “Cull” is something to think upon since the suspense of “who-will-be-the-next-one” scenario is as thrilling as watching some excellent suspense thrillers in television series and/or movies. Indeed, Rucka mentions of the obligatory reading of the previous issue that was the Lazarus: Sourcebook to prepare readers what’s in store for the future Lazarus issues. In my case, I wonder what happens when two clones meet one another….