Lazarus Planet (2023) #1: We Once Were Gods

Lazarus Planet (2023) #2

by Francis Manapul, Dan Watters, Phillip Kennedy Johnson

As the Lazarus rain beats down upon planet Earth, human beings are only a fraction of those affected by this transformative upheaval-enter: We Once Were Gods. This series of vignettes explores Lazarus Planet’s effects across the many extraordinary locations and creatures in the DC Universe, and like their human counterparts, these beings are in for some big changes. Can Themyscira survive the resurrection of every invading army that ever graced its shores? Will Martian Manhunter survive a psychic link to a Doomsday nest? What happens when the monsters from the Trench gain the ability to breathe air? And look out, Shazam Family…the Rock of Eternity is about to get rocked.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2023

About the author

Francis Manapul is a comic book artist living in Toronto, Canada currently working for DC comics. His list of credits include the forthcoming Adventure Comics, and Superman Batman. In the past he's worked on titles like Legion of Super-Heroes, Iron and the Maiden, Necromancer, Sept Guerrieres, Tomb Raider, Darkness, G.I Joe and of course Witchblade.

Photo by Luigi Novi.

Reviews

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3½⭐
Some of the best one-shot stories so far, for me.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less disappointing than the Krypton one but still disappointingly scattered. I didn't realise I was looking at a series built on short stories. I really just want a continuous storyline!

This one fared better than the last with me simply because Wonder Woman takes a role in this one. I do love her, and I'll be curious to see how this series works its way into her singles.

For the most part, though, this series has been all hype with very little substance. Disappointed is an understatement.

[Ronald · Rating 1 out of 5]

How bad was it?!!!!
Another comic so bad I had to comment on a single issue one shot.
Not one good story in the bunch. None of the short stories seem related to the actual Lazarus Planet event. Seriously, these were all bad (sorry to say) give these writers something better to write about.

[Murphy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre, but the high-water mark for this (non-)event, I think. At what point can we just move on from all this garbage and have good comics again, DC?

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again 4 mini stories acting as prelude to something to come. It was overall better than the supeman ones. Still disapointed A LOT that we get an Alpha issue and then a bunch of prelude mini stories instead of a real event but I will put that aside for this review.
Not sure what the Aquaman story is setting up, I don't remind a new Aquaman story being announced, but 2023 is still long.
I liked the Wonder Woman story, dead coming back is the most relevant effect of a Lazarus rain. I will continue to read that new arc through the mini séries and ties-in.
May also take the opportunity to jump in Shazam's next series thouhg I had skipped the last few ones.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’m finally starting to understand what is going on here. DC is trying to recreate the meta-gene bomb from Invasion in the 90’s to give a bunch of people powers and drive new stories. It didn’t really work then but hopefully this time it will create some interesting things.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal issue

Mary you rock!
Kalid you are amazing!
Billy you should have studied more!
Phenomenal artwork and so is the writing.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

By far the strongest of these specials so far.
Manupal, Watters and PKJ all deliver, although the Josie Campbell Shazam strip is awful which pulls down the star rating.

[Carly]

nothing wrong with it, i just realized i literally dont care about this story line. 😬

[Ciro Cicogna · Rating 1 out of 5]

In mezzo ad una sequenza di anche buone tavole vi sono perpetrati una moltitudine di dialoghi futili che buttano semi su cui scrivere chissà quali operette con cui fregare soldi a ragazzini. Imbarazzante che la DC sia al massimo una robetta del genere, anche perché meglio di così non riescono più ad essere da anni