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Xenozoic Tales #1-7
Xenozoic Tales, Volume 1: After The End
Collecting award winning cartoonish Mark Schultz's decade-long run of Xenozoic Tales in its entirety, this is the first volume of a two-volume set.
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2003
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About the author
Mark Schultz
377 books46 followersMark Schultz is an American writer and illustrator of books and comics. His most widely recognized work is the creator-owned comic book series Xenozoic Tales, which describes a post-apocalyptic world where dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures coexist with humans. In 1993, Xenozoic Tales was adapted into an animated series titled Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and a video game of the same name. Schultz's other notable works include various Aliens comic book mini-series published by Dark Horse and a four-year run on the DC Comics series Superman: The Man of Steel. In 2004, Schultz took over the scripting duties of the Prince Valiant comic strip.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 25, 2019
8,5 I don't review all graphic novels I read, because that would clutter up my lists, but just to represent the fact that I read them and take them seriously, I try and review some of them. And this one is a very good one. I had heard of these comics before, but never got around to read them. Maybe because I thought the subject matter would not lead to great stories? But my love of all things dinosoar and prehistoric meant I could not resist picking up this collection when I found it at a comic book store. And I was pleasantly surprised. This is a pulpy comic book, that must be clear from the cover. Square jawed heroes (though the hero has a spiritual side), and beautiful heroines (though certainly no damsel in distress, she's a scientist), a postapocalyptic world and dinosaurs. I liked the sense of adventure in these stories, and I was surprised at the diversity of them and the thematic heft. There were some great SF-stories here, ranging from someone taking up a plane to fly with pteranodons, to a race of underground dinosauroids. There is great commentary about the societal ills that lead to disaster (the way we despoiled nature), and the battle it is to keep from falling in the same traps. I liked the art style, with great page lay outs. Also great to see sea scorpions featuring in one story - and a mammoth in another. Lots of fun and I will search for the second collection soon.
March 29, 2017
Un gran bel classico a fumetti pieno di trovate originali e fantasiose, dal tratto accurato, cinematico e fotorealistico, con una coppia di protagonisti figli degli anni 80: il fumetto di Mark Schultz ha ispirato una serie animata ed un indimenticabile coin-op arcade beat'em-up a scorrimento orizzontale al quale io ed i miei amici offrimmo in sacrificio interi pomeriggi e le nostre paghette settimanali.
E jack "Cadillac" Tenrec é un perfetto mix tra Jack Burton, Mad Max e Mr Crocodile Dundee.
Quando la nona arte fa per bene il suo dovere: far impazzire il lettore e fargliene desiderare di piú.
March 11, 2023
This is a fun little pulp series. Very EC comics in format, but more in line with adventure serials. Schultz has come up with a fun concept and world of character but has thankfully steered away from the "cheesecake" tropes of the genre.
August 4, 2012
It occurred to me today that I never got around to reviewing this and its companion, "The New World." Which is ridiculous, because they are two of the most revered books in my collection. Not only two of the best reads -- that is, two of the books I enjoy most as a fan of comics -- but also as reference and inspiration when doing my own work. Kids, Schultz is a modern master and the only sadness is that this series didn't go on longer, or even see its way to completion.
But despite the fact that I love knowing I can pick up new books like clockwork each week from my comics shop, there is more to be said for my respect of quality over quantity. And this 14-issue series is quality in spades, moreover quality in areas of comics that to this day don't get the respect they deserve. An understanding of the worthiness of genre storytelling. A mastery of tight, cohesive plotting and photorealistic artwork. A reminder that a good story can be defined as such simply by being told well, and does not need to rely on discussions of moral gravitas or acrobatic experiments in structure and form to be great works of comic art -- or great works of literature in general, or of art as a whole.
But despite the fact that I love knowing I can pick up new books like clockwork each week from my comics shop, there is more to be said for my respect of quality over quantity. And this 14-issue series is quality in spades, moreover quality in areas of comics that to this day don't get the respect they deserve. An understanding of the worthiness of genre storytelling. A mastery of tight, cohesive plotting and photorealistic artwork. A reminder that a good story can be defined as such simply by being told well, and does not need to rely on discussions of moral gravitas or acrobatic experiments in structure and form to be great works of comic art -- or great works of literature in general, or of art as a whole.
April 13, 2024
After the Cataclysm, the Earth has reawakened and the dinosaurs walk the world again. But man still has some artifacts of old civilization - ruined cities, firearms, and mechanical marvels that power the cities and can move him around this new world. But there are still dangers around every corner, and you need a man like Jack Tenrec to keep you safe.
Quite the phenomenon in the late 1980's and early 1990s, this book reprints issues one through six and includes the very first Xenozoic story from Death Rattle #8. The first issues featured two stories each and served to really set up this world. In fact, this entire volume is Schultz world-building and establishing his characters. The world is a different place and much technology has been lost in the 500 years since the Cataclysm. Some people retain the ability to work with machines, but others have degenerated to a hunter/gatherer state. While people still huddle in cities, the interior of the land is very wild and dangerous and hides many unique secrets.
While there are still scientists hoping to bring mankind back to a greater form of civilization, there are also criminals and politicians that only look out for themselves. The more things change, the more they stay the same! The complexities of this new world only offer more issues and more conflict.
Jack Tenrec is a mechanic and a de facto leader in the tribe of the City by the Sea. While he chooses not to be an official member of the government, others look up to him and respect him for his ideals. He warns that people should live in concert with the world, not try to change it for their benefit, but those in power don't often listen until it's too late. Jack's affinity for machines has him living and working in a garage seperated from the rest of the city, where he works on his archaic vehicles and converts them to guano power from whatever those ancients used. Cleaner energy for sure!
Jack is introduced to Hannah Dundee, an ambassador and something of a scientist from the distant land of Wasson. She seeks to initiate trade and knowledge exchange between the tribes. She insatiably curious and headstrong. Just like any woman should be in the post-Cataclysmic world.
There's a lot of commentary in the undertones of the book, and some that's not exactly undertones as well. This book forms a cautionary tale about ecological and political disaster that we can still take to heart almost 35 years later. And all of it is draped in a lot of pulp action and gorgeous line art.
Schultz is in the same category of the Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer), Al Williamson (Flash Gordon), and Milton Cannif (Terry and the Pirates). His art style is gorgeous with detailed lines and a style that borders on the cheesecake. You won't find any ugly women in this series! He takes special care in rendering the animals and dinosaurs as well, and his backgrounds are full of detail and shadow that just draws you into this world. From complex machinery that has a real Jack Kirby feel to the expanses of the Xenozoic world, each panel is a joy to explore. This book is worth your time even if you don't want to read the story. Just page through it and absorb the artwork.
Filled with monsters, machines, and mysteries, Xenozoic Tales is certainly worth a read. Escape the current world for an afternoon and disappear into Mark Schultz's creation. You won't regret it.
Quite the phenomenon in the late 1980's and early 1990s, this book reprints issues one through six and includes the very first Xenozoic story from Death Rattle #8. The first issues featured two stories each and served to really set up this world. In fact, this entire volume is Schultz world-building and establishing his characters. The world is a different place and much technology has been lost in the 500 years since the Cataclysm. Some people retain the ability to work with machines, but others have degenerated to a hunter/gatherer state. While people still huddle in cities, the interior of the land is very wild and dangerous and hides many unique secrets.
While there are still scientists hoping to bring mankind back to a greater form of civilization, there are also criminals and politicians that only look out for themselves. The more things change, the more they stay the same! The complexities of this new world only offer more issues and more conflict.
Jack Tenrec is a mechanic and a de facto leader in the tribe of the City by the Sea. While he chooses not to be an official member of the government, others look up to him and respect him for his ideals. He warns that people should live in concert with the world, not try to change it for their benefit, but those in power don't often listen until it's too late. Jack's affinity for machines has him living and working in a garage seperated from the rest of the city, where he works on his archaic vehicles and converts them to guano power from whatever those ancients used. Cleaner energy for sure!
Jack is introduced to Hannah Dundee, an ambassador and something of a scientist from the distant land of Wasson. She seeks to initiate trade and knowledge exchange between the tribes. She insatiably curious and headstrong. Just like any woman should be in the post-Cataclysmic world.
There's a lot of commentary in the undertones of the book, and some that's not exactly undertones as well. This book forms a cautionary tale about ecological and political disaster that we can still take to heart almost 35 years later. And all of it is draped in a lot of pulp action and gorgeous line art.
Schultz is in the same category of the Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer), Al Williamson (Flash Gordon), and Milton Cannif (Terry and the Pirates). His art style is gorgeous with detailed lines and a style that borders on the cheesecake. You won't find any ugly women in this series! He takes special care in rendering the animals and dinosaurs as well, and his backgrounds are full of detail and shadow that just draws you into this world. From complex machinery that has a real Jack Kirby feel to the expanses of the Xenozoic world, each panel is a joy to explore. This book is worth your time even if you don't want to read the story. Just page through it and absorb the artwork.
Filled with monsters, machines, and mysteries, Xenozoic Tales is certainly worth a read. Escape the current world for an afternoon and disappear into Mark Schultz's creation. You won't regret it.
April 18, 2023
Top-tier pulpiness.
Post-apocalyptical game warden Jack Tenrec drives his collection of perfectly restored Cadillacs through the jungles of New York dealing with dinosaurs and poachers of dinosaurs. Jack is accompanied by saucy dame, Hannah Dundee, Jack's non-specifically ethnic sidekick named Mustapha Cairo, and a domesticated pet allosaurus, Hermes.
It has classic cars, dinosaurs, guns, and saucy dames. It's basically perfect.
Post-apocalyptical game warden Jack Tenrec drives his collection of perfectly restored Cadillacs through the jungles of New York dealing with dinosaurs and poachers of dinosaurs. Jack is accompanied by saucy dame, Hannah Dundee, Jack's non-specifically ethnic sidekick named Mustapha Cairo, and a domesticated pet allosaurus, Hermes.
It has classic cars, dinosaurs, guns, and saucy dames. It's basically perfect.
October 6, 2018
Good book, short, punchy stories that actually thread together. My main quibble was the art which was a little TOO basic at times: Tabloid style art (as opposed to line drawings, black & white when color could've been used to differentiate characters, too many characters too similar, and a paucity of female characters throughout with the exception of the heroine.
March 13, 2023
Increible concatenacion de aventuras entre dinosaurios y otros animales, humanos incluidos. No siempre mantiene un nivel de 5 estrellas pero en 360 pags si que la mayoria de las historias son top con un dibujo de quitar el hipo, unas composiciones sorprendentes y unas aventuras que nunca sabes como acabaran. Que mas quieres pedir, tienes chica guapa y dinosaurios! Disfruta
January 25, 2024
Capolavoro?
Intanto le idee che Schultz mette in questa serie sono notevoli.
Ci sono diversi piani di lettura per ogni singola storia, e la sequenza di eventi che coinvolgono Tenrec e Dundee e si snodano per tutto l'albo sono interessanti, accattivanti e per un biologo come me, molto coinvolgenti.
C'è molta filosofia ed etica di vita e di lavoro in questa serie.
Sì, per ora capolavoro.
Intanto le idee che Schultz mette in questa serie sono notevoli.
Ci sono diversi piani di lettura per ogni singola storia, e la sequenza di eventi che coinvolgono Tenrec e Dundee e si snodano per tutto l'albo sono interessanti, accattivanti e per un biologo come me, molto coinvolgenti.
C'è molta filosofia ed etica di vita e di lavoro in questa serie.
Sì, per ora capolavoro.
May 19, 2025
Quince entregas impecables, bien escritas y mejor dibujadas a caballo entre "El Mundo Perdido" de Arthur Conan Doyle y las sagas de Edgar Rice Burroughs. Una propuesta pulp heredera además del filón explotado por Hal Foster, Frazetta et.al que, sin embargo, supera cualquier macrosaga anual cuya vigencia caduca a los seis meses. El filón aventurero, clásico perenne.
December 12, 2018
It's quite the interesting world we're seeing in this Xenozoic era..
We're learning in all small stories, instead of the usual big one, which makes it definitely easier to read..
Pretty decent artwork as well..
All in all a fun read
We're learning in all small stories, instead of the usual big one, which makes it definitely easier to read..
Pretty decent artwork as well..
All in all a fun read
January 18, 2010
The first Xenozoic collection from Dark Horse reprints material from the older collections Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and Dinosaur Shaman, previously published by Kitchen Sink Press. Some of the detail of Schultz's art is lost in the smaller sized edition but the collection does omit the filler work by other artists that padded out the older editions and added nothing to the quality.
October 2, 2012
This is the first volume of the series, and it shows the early Wally Wood influenced artwork of Mark Schultz. As amazing as the art is in this volume, the second volume moves into a more Frazetta influenced style. Mark Schultz is clearly the most underrated artist in the field. Both of these volumes are a must have for aspiring artists.
October 11, 2009
The art is fantastic. The stories are fun. It's worth a read, especially if you like dinosaurs.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews