Third big story arc for Y: The Last Man, and if you still haven't jumped on, well, there's still time. Despite building on what's gone before, Vaughan does a great job of making this issue accessible to new readers as well. References to what happened in the previous storylines are made clear even if a reader doesn't know exactly what happened in those storylines, and there's definitely a feeling that our three lead characters have set out on another leg of their long journey. It just so happens that their journey intersects with another, which ought to take them on an interesting detour and could alter the premise of the book a little bit, and in the midst of all this serious "fate of the world" stuff Vaughan works in some humorous exchanges and character moments.
Y: The Last Man is an appropriate name, and not just because of the Y chromosome or that "Y" stands for Yorick, but because "Why?" is one of the big questions in the series. Why did all the men die out? Why is the mysterious benefactor helping Alter? Why are both 355 and Dr. Mann hiding things from Yorick and each other, and perhaps even themselves? Each issue raises questions, usually at least one in the form of a cliffhanger ending, and each issue moves us closer to the answers, while still leaving plenty of questions to keep readers hooked. I have to admit that it's not just the fate of the astronauts that has me interested in this story, although I do wonder how that will all shake out, it's the story behind the last page of this issue that interests me the most. I had guessed at the identity of the person on Alter's radio before, but couldn't work out the why of it, and I still can't, and I look forward to learning that.
Part of what makes Y: The Last Man different from the dreary, post-apocalyptic story it could have been is Vaughan's characters and sense of humor. The exchange between a bearded Yorick and a bearded prostitute is a lot of fun, and seeing 355 speak bad Russian provided a few chuckles as well. Really, though, everybody gets character moments, whether it's the believable worry and camaraderie of the astronauts in space, the understandable frustration and anger of Alter or the slowly building bond between Yorick, 355 and Mann. Vaughan has a flair for dialogue as well, including a particularly cute reference to Preacher, which is also a nod to one of this series' ancestors, in terms of structure and possibility.
While Vaughan gets the lions' share of credit for Y: The Last Man, I don't think that the work of Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan Jr. should be overlooked. Guerra has to tackle any number of different settings and all the complex details of a modern world. In this issue, she's called upon not only to handle numerous different characters, but an impressive rock face, a believable train and mountainside track, a fight on top of a train car, a space station and more. Her artwork brings the story to life, and I'm particularly impressed that she is able to give the characters certain qualities in their appearance, such as Alter's harsh military demeanor or the softening of 355's mission face into one that is more of a friendly one to Yorick.
After eleven issues, I know what to expect from Y: The Last Man in broad strokes, but this creative team continues to deliver a read that is unpredictable and fun every month. It's no surprise that the book has been optioned for a film (I would have preferred a TV series, but there you go) and it's no surprise that the word of mouth continues to grow.
