OK. I've been talking up this series for six months now, and if you still haven't tried it, this week is the time. Not only is this the first issue of a new story arc, DC is breaking their usual trade publication schedule to actually get the trade of the first story arc out on the same week as a jumping-on point for the next arc. So you can catch up with everything Y all in one swoop. And you'll want to, because the opening of the second arc is just as involving and intriguing as the rest of the book have been. Leaving aside some great characterization between Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr. Mann that starts to solidify the central cast, there's more exploration of the dangerous Amazons, more interesting ideas about the fate of a world without men and another great cliffhanger. If you're not reading this book, you're missing one of the top five best things to happen in comics in 2002.
One of the most intriguing things about Y: The Last Man #1 was the chilling text piece that illustrated the changes the world had undergone with the death of most of the men. Vaughan continues to show off bits and pieces of these changes in each issue, and it always makes for interesting backdrop material. The notion of trains making a big comeback as a transport with most of the planes crashed, the question of what happened to the men who were off-planet at the time of the holocaust and the use of motorcycles as a mode of transport are all addressed in this issue.
While the big ideas are certainly fun to read about, though, what is making the book a really strong read for me is the characterization. The bickering relationship between 355 and Yorick is a whole lot of fun, and the addition of Mann, whose politics and personality clashes with both as well, makes for some entertaining conversation in this issue. While the conversations are entertaining in and of themselves, though, they also serve to fill in important background on Mann and to remind readers that the amulet that (might have) caused this whole thing is still out there as well.
On top of characterization, a strong plot and big ideas, Y: The Last Man has the artwork of Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan Jr. Guerra's ability to depict a post-apocalyptic world that didn't fall to bombs or warfare is a big part of what makes the book believable. While there are the occasional crashed plane or broken part of the world in the background, mostly the buildings and vehicles and everything else look just as they had, only they're empty and desolate. It's spookier, and far more effective, that way. In addition, Guerra deserves a lot of credit for her ability to create distinctive faces for her characters, such that they can be told apart without having to rely on the cheats of clothing or uniforms. I think a big part of the connection I feel with these characters is the realism that they have in their appearances.
While I've been a fan of Vaughan's in the past, I've never been as impressed with his work as I have with Y: The Last Man. This is truly one of the best comics out there in my opinion, and I anxiously await each issue. Not only am I interested to see where the conflicts that have been introduced will go, I know that there are plenty more characters and stories waiting in the wings.
