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Absolute Y: The Last Man #2
Absolute Y: The Last Man Vol. 2
THE LAST MAN, winner of three Eisner Awards and one of the most critically acclaimed, best-selling comic book series of the last decade, is that rare example of a page-turner that is at once humorous, socially relevant and endlessly surprising.
Written by Brian K. Vaughan (LOST, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, EX MACHINA) and with art by Pia Guerra, this is the saga of Yorick Brown--the only human survivor of a planet-wide plague that instantly kills every mammal possessing a Y chromosome. Accompanied by a mysterious government agent, a brilliant young geneticist and his pet monkey, Ampersand, Yorick travels the world in search of his lost love and the answer to why he's the last man on Earth.
In these stories, a Russian Soyuz capsule is coming down from the International Space Station carrying three one woman and two men. Could this be the end of Yorick's tenure as last living male? And then, as the Last Man on Earth and his companions continue to head west, the story takes a detour into the psychological. In the care of a fellow Culper Ring member, Yorick Brown is forced to confront his tremendous feelings of survivor guilt that lead him to constantly put his life in danger.
Collects THE LAST MAN #21-40.
Written by Brian K. Vaughan (LOST, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, EX MACHINA) and with art by Pia Guerra, this is the saga of Yorick Brown--the only human survivor of a planet-wide plague that instantly kills every mammal possessing a Y chromosome. Accompanied by a mysterious government agent, a brilliant young geneticist and his pet monkey, Ampersand, Yorick travels the world in search of his lost love and the answer to why he's the last man on Earth.
In these stories, a Russian Soyuz capsule is coming down from the International Space Station carrying three one woman and two men. Could this be the end of Yorick's tenure as last living male? And then, as the Last Man on Earth and his companions continue to head west, the story takes a detour into the psychological. In the care of a fellow Culper Ring member, Yorick Brown is forced to confront his tremendous feelings of survivor guilt that lead him to constantly put his life in danger.
Collects THE LAST MAN #21-40.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,059 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 30, 2019
The period wherein the book sort of treads water before the ending was always a bit tough for me. Yorick, 355 and Doctor Mann encounter something pirates and the Aussie navy and sort of try to figure out who they are to each other while they search for Ampersand.
Some of it is a lot more meaningful this time around because I know how it ends. Still, some of it still confuses me as to the purpose of the events. Like, why start 355/Dr. Mann only to end it 3 seconds later? I get that it was partly due to Yorick’s poor response to finding out about it but, it made 355 seem a bit flighty. It was hard for me to imagine her doing such a thing without some grand event to make her seek out that kind of comfort.
I liked Beth 2.0 and it was interesting seeing her encounter Hero. I loved that Yorick intended for them to bond.
Again, one of the most moving things about this series is how Yorick and Hero, in different ways, both experienced a lack of agency in previous sexual encounters that left them seeking out/running away from others that tried to get close to them. It was a really interesting way to discuss the different gendered ways society has taught us to view sex and assault.
On to the last one!
Some of it is a lot more meaningful this time around because I know how it ends. Still, some of it still confuses me as to the purpose of the events. Like, why start 355/Dr. Mann only to end it 3 seconds later? I get that it was partly due to Yorick’s poor response to finding out about it but, it made 355 seem a bit flighty. It was hard for me to imagine her doing such a thing without some grand event to make her seek out that kind of comfort.
I liked Beth 2.0 and it was interesting seeing her encounter Hero. I loved that Yorick intended for them to bond.
Again, one of the most moving things about this series is how Yorick and Hero, in different ways, both experienced a lack of agency in previous sexual encounters that left them seeking out/running away from others that tried to get close to them. It was a really interesting way to discuss the different gendered ways society has taught us to view sex and assault.
On to the last one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
This was an amazing continuation and evolution of the story! I really love where all of our main characters are going and how much they've grown. I think Agent 355 may be my favorite character. Finding out the truth of Yorick and Amp's survival was hilarious and the revelation of Beth #2's fate at the end of this book was great. Can't wait til I can get my hands on the last volume.
April 4, 2020
Τέλο και του δεύτερου τομου.
Μπαίνω στον τρίτο και (δυστυχώς) τελευταίο.
Δε μου χει μείνει νύχι από την αγωνία αδερφέ Γιόρικ!
Καλή τύχη.
Μπαίνω στον τρίτο και (δυστυχώς) τελευταίο.
Δε μου χει μείνει νύχι από την αγωνία αδερφέ Γιόρικ!
Καλή τύχη.
February 28, 2018
There are elements of Y: The Last Man where I need to learn to give the writers the benefit of the doubt, and others in which they don't really seem to deserve it. Chekov's Guns all eventually go off, or rather many of them have done so far; when characters behave in a certain way, conceal something, experience something, there's usually a reason and we will usually get to find it out. And when I say that what I mean is that when Yorick is being a dick, there's usually a reason and even if it's not a good one, it's still a reason.
When this volume starts we're given a sense of the time passing in the series: it's been more than a year and a half since the plague or virus or something that killed all of the men; Yorick, 355, and Dr Mann tried to travel through Utah but it was on fire, so that covers much of the time. But the first road-trip segment is nearly over and it's time for plot as they reach San Francisco. This is good; I care about the mystery and the red herrings and the reveals that lead to more mysteries. Also good is how the characters develop; how the journey affects Yorick and 355 and Dr Mann, both in ways that are flagged and ways that are not. It's particularly obvious with Yorick, especially after then end of volume one.
There are still problems. There's transphobic and antifeminist language throughout; there's also a persistent idea that radical feminism is the result of sexual abuse, which reads badly in 2018 (and probably did so in 2004, to be honest). Then there's the problem that's lampshaded, but not dealt with, stated by Captain Kilina of The Whale (p. 340):
This story has some great women, and this volume includes issues that focus on Hero and Beth (albeit, still Yorick focused). But as Kilina points out, anything that the surviving women of Earth have built for themselves is distorted by the presence of the last man: he means that there's hope for human survival, thus everything rotates around him. It's a problem that doesn't really have a solution; this story is Yorick's. But it hints at the lost potential of the stories about the survivors who don't know that he exists.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Dr Mann's glasses.
Despite some problems this volume continues to develop the story in ways that are interesting, exciting, and (I think) well worth reading. There might have been other interesting stories to tell in this setting, and Yorick might be a bit of a dick most of the time, but the one that they have decided to tell is good.
When this volume starts we're given a sense of the time passing in the series: it's been more than a year and a half since the plague or virus or something that killed all of the men; Yorick, 355, and Dr Mann tried to travel through Utah but it was on fire, so that covers much of the time. But the first road-trip segment is nearly over and it's time for plot as they reach San Francisco. This is good; I care about the mystery and the red herrings and the reveals that lead to more mysteries. Also good is how the characters develop; how the journey affects Yorick and 355 and Dr Mann, both in ways that are flagged and ways that are not. It's particularly obvious with Yorick, especially after then end of volume one.
There are still problems. There's transphobic and antifeminist language throughout; there's also a persistent idea that radical feminism is the result of sexual abuse, which reads badly in 2018 (and probably did so in 2004, to be honest). Then there's the problem that's lampshaded, but not dealt with, stated by Captain Kilina of The Whale (p. 340):
"It figures. An Entire planet of women, and the one guy gets to be the lead."
This story has some great women, and this volume includes issues that focus on Hero and Beth (albeit, still Yorick focused). But as Kilina points out, anything that the surviving women of Earth have built for themselves is distorted by the presence of the last man: he means that there's hope for human survival, thus everything rotates around him. It's a problem that doesn't really have a solution; this story is Yorick's. But it hints at the lost potential of the stories about the survivors who don't know that he exists.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Dr Mann's glasses.
Despite some problems this volume continues to develop the story in ways that are interesting, exciting, and (I think) well worth reading. There might have been other interesting stories to tell in this setting, and Yorick might be a bit of a dick most of the time, but the one that they have decided to tell is good.
September 25, 2018
El inicio de la trama (una supuesta plaga que mata todos los individuos del planeta portadores del cromosoma Y -machos- excepto un joven y su mascota, un mono capuchino), sirve de disparador para hablar del sexismo, feminismo, las relaciones... y cuanto tema sociológico y antropológico se venga a la mente.
Inteligente, bien escrita, graciosa, con arte sencillo pero explosivo, con ritmo cinematográfico. El resultado es una GRAN novela gráfica. Con las posibilidades que permite el formato del comic de un presupuesto ilimitado, termina siendo una suerte de road trip dando la vuelta al mundo, en un viaje mesiánico pero también de autodescubrimiento.
Uno se enamora tanto de estos personajes tan profundos, que parece mentira que sólo nos acompañaron durante 60 números; parecen demasiado pocos. Hay un despliegue y un crecimiento de los mismos que algunas series de televisión no logran ni en 6 o 7 temporadas.
Sin caer en spoilers, puedo decir que el final es agridulce. No dejará conformes a todos. Aun no sé si me doy por satisfecho, pero tal vez ese sea justamente un punto fuerte. El autor, como el dios que maneja los hilos de su historia, nos cuenta cómo las cosas son, y no cómo quisiéramos que fueran. Y es que, si bien la premisa es la de la ciencia ficción, el resultado es un drama tan emocionante como real. Y el final es injusto, como muchas veces la vida también lo es.
Inteligente, bien escrita, graciosa, con arte sencillo pero explosivo, con ritmo cinematográfico. El resultado es una GRAN novela gráfica. Con las posibilidades que permite el formato del comic de un presupuesto ilimitado, termina siendo una suerte de road trip dando la vuelta al mundo, en un viaje mesiánico pero también de autodescubrimiento.
Uno se enamora tanto de estos personajes tan profundos, que parece mentira que sólo nos acompañaron durante 60 números; parecen demasiado pocos. Hay un despliegue y un crecimiento de los mismos que algunas series de televisión no logran ni en 6 o 7 temporadas.
Sin caer en spoilers, puedo decir que el final es agridulce. No dejará conformes a todos. Aun no sé si me doy por satisfecho, pero tal vez ese sea justamente un punto fuerte. El autor, como el dios que maneja los hilos de su historia, nos cuenta cómo las cosas son, y no cómo quisiéramos que fueran. Y es que, si bien la premisa es la de la ciencia ficción, el resultado es un drama tan emocionante como real. Y el final es injusto, como muchas veces la vida también lo es.
September 8, 2024
I was really excited to continue this book, but this 2nd volume just fell flat for me. The story arc is a rinse and repeat loop at this point. Regretting buying the Absolute Editions now, should have gone with the trades because I’m just not impressed. Hopefully Volume 3 will be a redeeming conclusion.
May 28, 2017
Great read big ass book heavy too
November 25, 2020
Another great volume in the Last Man Story.
July 10, 2023
Certainly! Here's a revised version that captures the style and tone you requested:
The second installment of this Absolute series maintains its grip as a captivating page-turner, much like its predecessor.
With an exploration of thought-provoking themes, this story stimulates reflection on society and our roles within it while also tickling your funny bone with some witty conversations between the characters. Though some of the dialogue and plot points may elicit some eye-rolling, the story and its characters possess a certain quality and charm that has me hooked and eager for more.
Pia's art continues to be a shining beacon, expertly rendering both the characters and the post-apocalyptic world they inhabit. The artistry is truly outstanding, delivering a feast for the eyes.
Overall, if you're in the market for a narrative that is amusing, stimulating, and shrouded in mystery, then this series is a must-read.
The second installment of this Absolute series maintains its grip as a captivating page-turner, much like its predecessor.
With an exploration of thought-provoking themes, this story stimulates reflection on society and our roles within it while also tickling your funny bone with some witty conversations between the characters. Though some of the dialogue and plot points may elicit some eye-rolling, the story and its characters possess a certain quality and charm that has me hooked and eager for more.
Pia's art continues to be a shining beacon, expertly rendering both the characters and the post-apocalyptic world they inhabit. The artistry is truly outstanding, delivering a feast for the eyes.
Overall, if you're in the market for a narrative that is amusing, stimulating, and shrouded in mystery, then this series is a must-read.
November 13, 2018
It figures. An entire planet of women, and the one guy gets to be the lead
My thoughts for Volume 02 in this series are really quite similar to Volume 01. The plot is still interesting and this Volume was easy to fly through. I didn’t realize how much time had passed in this series already and it kind of threw me for a loop when they mentioned it, it wasn’t really a negative it just sort of surprised me. Much like Volume 01, I still found a lot of the females to be written poorly and there was a lot of anti feminist language throughout both volumes and it even has a bit of what could be taken as transphobia—it’s subtle but its definitely there. This series definitely plays into stereotypes and it really gets on my nerves. Overall, I’m not really convinced that this graphic novel series is the best fit for me.
My thoughts for Volume 02 in this series are really quite similar to Volume 01. The plot is still interesting and this Volume was easy to fly through. I didn’t realize how much time had passed in this series already and it kind of threw me for a loop when they mentioned it, it wasn’t really a negative it just sort of surprised me. Much like Volume 01, I still found a lot of the females to be written poorly and there was a lot of anti feminist language throughout both volumes and it even has a bit of what could be taken as transphobia—it’s subtle but its definitely there. This series definitely plays into stereotypes and it really gets on my nerves. Overall, I’m not really convinced that this graphic novel series is the best fit for me.
April 25, 2020
4.5 stars.
The bond between Yorick and 355 is just amazing and gets better and better, the story and dialogue is still funny and engaging and the artwork really grew on me . Fantastic (re)read
The bond between Yorick and 355 is just amazing and gets better and better, the story and dialogue is still funny and engaging and the artwork really grew on me . Fantastic (re)read
March 31, 2017
With this second collected volume Y remains engaging while the characters are given a good chance to breathe though overall these issues lack the cleverness and originality of the early episodes.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews