The future is dystopian but distinct from the dozens (hundreds?) of other dystopian futures Ive seen in other stories. The characters and setting are compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed this issue and look forward to my next visit to the world Rucka and Lark have crafted for our entertainment. This is highly recommended, get a copy before it sells out! Read Full Review

Masked in science fiction, but inspired by the devastatingly increasing amount of lack in the world, Rucka and Lark have begun an important story. With haunting images and a compelling narrative - I am certain that Lazarus will take its place among the ranks of the comic elite and lay waste to the rest. Read Full Review

Rucka hits it out of the park here with Forever. She is tough as nails and even though her freedom of choice is nonexistent, she is intelligent, strong and full of heart. Whatever her flaws it's obvious they are only temporary. Michael Lark's art is a perfect fit for this story. His details and line work convey all the brutality and darkness of this dystopian future and the grit of what Forever must endure and what she gives in return. Lazarus is action-packed, tough as nails and gritty with just right touch of emotion making Forever Carlyle one of the best female characters to come along in quite sometime and Lazarus is a hit in the making. Read Full Review

There you have it. Wealth and power, family and morality, feudalism and a girl who can get up from a gunshot (or three). Rucka states in the back-up essay at the end of the first issue (seriously, dont skip it, it explains quite a bit and Warren Ellis is in it) that he and Lark have a multi-year plan in place for Lazarus, and I am telling you that you will regret missing the first arc. This is fine world-building, and you cant skip over the foundations if you ever hope to keep up. Read Full Review

The word forever suggests stability, strength, and predictability. Forever is a constant. In Lazarus issue #1, Rucka shows how many levels he's working on. Take a look at the main character's name. Forever Carlyle couldn't be more aptly — or ironically — named. Read Full Review

Rucka promises that Lazarus is a finite story that will take several years to tell. Based upon the strength of this first issue though, however long Lazarus lasts, (and as long as Rucka and Lark remain its creators) it won't last nearly long enough. Read Full Review

A great first issue. This is both Greg Rucka and Michael Lark at the top of their games. Read Full Review

As I just mentioned, I'm hooked after just one issue. That's the bottom line. I love everything aboutLazarus #1. From the art to the story, it's all great! I think this is the start of an epic comic book series! Read Full Review

I don't want to give too much away -- Lazarus is shaping up to be one of those books worth experiencing cold -- but we will say that Rucka and Lark are fearless in their handling of the bigger issues at work. My only quibble is that the narrative can be a bit befuddling at times, but overall, Rucka and Lark have started us on a journey that'll ask the hard questions about what it means to be human while forcing us to take a long, hard look at the world we live in. Read Full Review

"Lazarus" #1 opens with Forever's rebirth; readers don't get to see more than her silhouette until she is resurrected in blood and fury, as if to show the break between her past and present self. With her, we start anew, exploring her world through a set of contradictions, watching as she's pulled between her duty to her Family and her conscience. "Lazarus" is an absolutely riveting, complex and stunning new series. Read Full Review

I've been a fan of Rucka's since the Queen & Country days, and it's great to see him get back on another property of his own device. Lazarus #1 is a model of clean, clear, engaging storytelling, about a frighteningly plausible tomorrow and the woman who no longer wants to be part of the problem. I can't wait to see where it goes next. Read Full Review

Rucka's unflinching writing style has been greatly missed since the end of his run on Punisher and the industry is in a better place when Michael Lark is drawing a monthly book. It will be a pleasure watch the brutal visually poetry as Lazarus unfolds. Read Full Review

Michael Lark's art style helps convey the darkness of this dystopian future tale, with fantastic line work and attention to detail. Santi Arcas colour pallet through the issue helps Lark's art pop even more. Read Full Review

It's difficult to make dystopian science fiction stories fresh these days, but “Lazarus” pulls it off beautifully, showing more depth in its first issue than many stories in the genre do by the time they're done. In the post-Occupy resurgance of Haves versus Have Nots literature, Rucka avoids sticking to labels, addressing a complex topic with significantly more maturity than many of his peers. The issue is a visual treat, with Lark and Arcas working in perfect harmony, which is particularly impressive considering, as far as I can tell, that they have never worked together. At $2.99, and with some impressive back-matter to enjoy, there is no reason to leave a copy of “Lazarus” #1 on your shop's shelf this week. Read Full Review

If there is one comic you have to read this week, let it be this one. You won't hate it. Chances are you'll love it. A fantastic, fantastic comic-book by true professionals, this one. Read Full Review

The artwork for the comic is also very good like the rest of the story. It really helps the tone and mood for the some of the scenes, like the action scene at the beginning with the coloring and shading. All the characters look different from each and have some great facial expressions, which helps with understanding their moods and their mindset. The only slight I have with the art is that the coloring occasionally makes the world a bit dull looking, especially when Forever is meeting with her doctor. 9.0 All of the writing is very well done.The artwork brings the characters and the tone to life.All the concepts are introduced at a reasonable pace.Some of the ideas and characters are not original.Only a very vague direction for the comic currently. Read Full Review

With finely-tuned pencils, dreary colors, and a compelling script, Lazarus #1 makes a strong debut. Aside from the high-caliber quality of the book's creative team, you have to also appreciate the price tag of 3 bucks. This serves as another reason why you should be checking out Image Comics' titles"the publisher's support of creator-owned comics has been stellar. Pick up Lazurus #1 this week. After all, we didn't list it as #1 on our Top 10 Most Anticipated Comic Book Titles of 2013 for nothing. Read Full Review

The story could also be handicapped by the current entertainment environment that is surrounding readers and viewers with comics, movies and TV Shows about zombie-filled, broken futures. Another comic is now on the pile of man-made disastrous futures. Whatever the case may be, this is a solid book, but it lacks a hook that prompts me to continue reading it. Read Full Review

As for Greg Rucka, coming off of a fantastic run over at Marvel with The Punisher, it's hard to think of another series that he's done that has started off this well. Not in a negative way, it's just that he really seems to be giving it all, and he's really developed this concept and all these little ideas into a really interesting story that we haven't really seen before. It's worth noting that this series has been planned out for the foreseeable future, but there is a definitive ending to it so expect a whole lot more from these two as they flesh out this crazy ass world. This is Greg Rucka and Michael Lark letting loose. All bets are off and they're coming out swinging. This series has started out with a helluva bang a helluvabloody bang that grabs you by the face and commands that you read on. Pick this up. Read Full Review

Ever since I read “Gotham Central,” I'm excited for the creative team-up of Rucka and Lark. I can't wait to see what they see do with the “Lazarus” series. Read Full Review

Lazarus is a really solid first issue, but there are the seeds here of something that could end up being really great. If nothing else, Rucka has a much firmer and subtler grasp on the subjects that he's critiquing than pretty much anyone else currently working with this subgenre. Read Full Review

Lazarus is the kind of book that mixes political issues, social issues, science fiction and criminal intrigue into one pot. It's a great start to the series and Rucka's letter at the end helps to provide the background behind the book, which only enhances the whole experience. This is worth checking out. Read Full Review

What makes this such a compelling story, though, isn't the economic and political relevance of the backdrop, as thought-provoking as it is; it's the oddly named heroine, Forever Carlyle. She's a killing machine who can't be killed herself, awash in an ethical dilemma. She's struggling with her emerging conscience, and culturally and socially ingrained obligations to her family and its interests. On the surface, it might seem like she'd practically be an alien character, given her superhuman status and mission in life, but really, Forever is a thoroughly relatable character. Read Full Review

This brand new series is something to really look out for, with an interesting premise and some strong characters. While it suffers from some first issue problems, this looks like it will be a new creator owned series that will be on everyone's radar very soon. Read Full Review

Last year Image floored us with a bevy of impressive comics debuts hitting in quick succession: Fatale, The Manhattan Projects, Saga. This year, Lazarus seems to be leading the way for another round of exciting debuts coming this month, with Satellite Sam from Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin dropping this week and Sheltered from Ed Brisson and Johnnie Christmas due the week after. And the Image Expo revealed that theres a whole bunch of other exciting launches on the horizon. If the rest of these upcoming titles are anywhere near as good as this exciting debut of Lazarus, Image is set for another vintage year. With two highly regarded creators operating on top form and bringing out the best in each other, its safe to say that while this issue was a pleasant surprise, the next one will be carrying some lofty expectations. Read Full Review

Lazarus is some absolutely brilliant science fiction on the part of Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. We're only starting to understand the world that Forever lives in, but it looks to be an incredibly fascinating one. It's hard to not want to know more about what's going on, and like any good science fiction, it looks like Lazarus will have some interesting things to say about our own present-day society. I'm definitely ready for more, and next month's issue can't come soon enough. Read Full Review

I don't want to give to much away, but if you like weird futuristic sci-fi stuff this is definitely a book worth checking out, and what better place to jump on than issue #1. Read Full Review

New lines have been drawn in the sand, those of financial standing. Forever is the defender of her family, but she has a lot on her mind, not counting the bullets she just took to the head. This book is an intense look at family, prosperity, and Waste. Read Full Review

Overall, the first issue is good, but not great. This might be a first arc that's better to read as a trade than individual issues. Read Full Review

This is ultimately the hurdle that Lazarus has to overcome, presenting a series of overly familiar situations without sufficient reasons to care about the fairly standard characters found within. The opening hook is an interesting, albeit violent, one and sets the tone for this first issue. There are enough concepts here for Rucka to run with throughout this ongoing, which is why a second look is justified next month, yet this first issue does little to distinguish itself from the plethora of similar books on the market. Read Full Review

Bumps aside, Lazarus #1 is a promising first issue. Read Full Review