I may be new to the Descender universe, but Ascender # 1makes me want to stay, read the old series, and come back when issue number two comes out. Read Full Review

Little to say about this new saga, Lemire and Nguyen are professionals of high-caliber, both are a very, very powerful creative team, both creatives have a lot of freedom to expresstheir ideas and you can see it in every brushstrokes of Nguyen who easily transport us from a cold and dark environment to a warm one, there is emotion in that and it is something that few artists dominate to perfection, great start to a long-awaited sequel that surely will not disappoint us. Read Full Review

Ascender #1 is a book full of possibilities. It drops readers into a familiar place thats completely different and guides them along expertly without ever seeming like its guiding them. Lemire perfectly combines exposition with storytelling and lays out a trail of tantalizing clues to whats going on. Nguyens art is terrific as always, fitting this new, more magic based universe perfectly. Theres a lot to like in this first issue, and it does exactly what its supposed to- reintroduce readers to a new, old world and get them interested in what came before and what comes next. Read Full Review

I do enjoy the story by Lemire very much. It's the artwork, however, that makes this series sing. The watercolored illustrations by Nguyen are something to behold. They make the series for me. It's some of the best imagery we have in comics presently and he really makes this series a book that is its own thing. Bravo to him and his work here. Read Full Review

A familiar creative team has delivered a solid series that stands out from the rest of the pack. Read Full Review

Ascender is a must-read for fans of Descenderas well as those in search of their next great Sci-fi/Fantasy read. Read Full Review

Lemire and Nguyen have made a promise with this first issue - a promise of great things to come. I highly recommend it, to both old and new readers. Read Full Review

Jeff Lemire gives us a new story but manages to pay homages to Descender, again, without making it overwhelming to new readers. It taunts you to read its predecessor, but doesn't make you feel left in the dust for not having to yet. I don't know how long that will last though, so you should probably do that sooner rather than later. I already like Mila and this new villain of Mother seems like she is going to be exceptionally detestable. I can't wait. Read Full Review

A great start in its own right! Read Full Review

This is a flip to what has come before and the magic vs. technology set up is obvious. To see where it goes and how much it hearkens back to the first series will be interesting but if this first issue is any indication, it's a continuation that'll stand on its own bringing enjoyment to new readers and excitement for those who have been there since the beginning. Read Full Review

As Descender was to hard sci-fi, Ascender is to high fantasy, although traces of the past story remain. Most importantly, though, this realignment seems to have instilled writer Jeff Lemire and artust Dustin Nguyen with a new sense of creative freedom, and Im excited to see what they do with it. Read Full Review

After concluding such an excellent sci-fi adventure like Descender, Jeff Lemire & Dustin Ngyuen reunite to begin a sequel ripe with the same charm and beauty of its predecessor, while still feeling entirely unique. I can't wait to see what new tales they weave with more Ascender! Read Full Review

There's a lot to like here and just like Descender, it's going to take its time to reveal itself. And hopefully, I'll be just as exciting as Descender was over the course of its run. Lemire's script is intriguing but it's the artwork that excites me the most here as Dustin Nguyen is taking this to a whole other level from Descender in all the right ways Read Full Review

A fantastic sci-fi/fantasy thriller stemming from the acclaimed DESCENDER series. Read Full Review

Ascender #1 is a great book. While knowledge of Descender will give you some background to the story. However, its not necessary to enjoy this book. I enjoyed how the book itself was structured, as the expository panels have little to no writing. This let the art and the imagination of the reader do the work to bring it to life. If youre looking for a new series to pick up, or are a fan of Descender, this book is a great pick up! Read Full Review

The series' only flaw, as with Descender, is that it is so slow-paced. Granting that this is an introductory issue, there isn't much here besides exposition. This is what ultimately led to my dropping this series as a monthly purchase and waiting for the trades, as I personally found Descender to be more enjoyable as a graphic novel than a periodical. Still, for those who are patient, this promises to be a phenomenal follow-up. Read Full Review

"Ascender" takes off with a new chapter that is enticing to both old and new readers. Read Full Review

While it doesn't distinguish itself from a lot of sci-fi/fantasy work out there right now, Ascender still reads incredibly well. The mish-mash of ideas, writing style, and art style, really shouldn't come together as well as it does, and it propels the book along in entertaining fashion. Not just for fans of previous series Descender, a surprisingly accessible read that welcomes new fans with open arms. Read Full Review

It's nearly impossible to miss the heavy Star Wars feeling Ascender #1 has and while hero journeys are universal, Ascender is too reliant on stereotypes and tropes, resulting in a too cliche debut. Read Full Review