Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1

Writer: Mark Waid, Gene Luen Yang Artist: Riccardo Federici, Billy Tan Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: January 11, 2023 Cover Price: $5.99 Critic Reviews: 14 User Reviews: 50
7.9Critic Rating
8.5User Rating

CHANGE THE WORLD. Following the explosive (literally) events of Batman vs. Robin #4, the Lazarus Volcano has erupted, spewing dangerous and transformative chemicals into Earth's atmosphere! As these Lazarus clouds rain down upon the planet, people across the globe begin to develop strange new abilities, watch their already-extraordinary abilities change, and witness a whole host of chaos unlike anything the DCU has experienced before! It's up to Damian Wayne to put out the distress call for whoever can still hear it: come to the ruins of the Hall of Justice and help save the world! Poison Ivy, Power Girl, Cyborg, Batman, and more answer the c more

  • 9.6
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Jan 13, 2023

    That was a pedal to the metal fun ride. It felt like a classic, different mission teams heading off in different directions to save the day, but it had modern day sensibility and action. The fate of the world is at stake. Our heroes are effected by the storms. We have Eastern demons trying to control the world. Batman is possessed. And Supergirl was fantastic! Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Weird Science - Gabe Hernandez Jan 10, 2023

    Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 is the bee's knees in more ways than one. The crisis feels epic by every measure, the assemblage of heroes and how they're used makes sense, the stakes are world-ending, and the wow moments hit hard. Plus, the art is phenomenal. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    The Comicbook Dispatch - Dispatchdcu Jan 10, 2023

    Readers, this has all the makings of a spectacular story arriving at the perfect time of year when most comic stories seem stale and trivial. Waid drops Lazarus Planet on our laps and its $&@& good! So good in fact, that I think you need to head out immediately, ask your LCS for Batman vs. Robin, read up, and snag this issue. If you dont believe me, just look at the last two pages of the issue and I have no doubt youll be hooked. If you have any questions on the review or are ever interested in tackling a comic review of your own, feel free to email me directly at dispatchdcu@gmail.com. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless! Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    But Why Tho? - William Tucker Jan 10, 2023

    Lazarus Planet Alpha #1 is a beautiful and moody start to a crossover that stretches over the entire world. While some previous reading of the earlier series may be beneficial, the excitement and storytelling of this first issue are enough of a springboard for the rest of Lazarus Planet. But it is also a great escalation of an idea that was started long ago. Waid and his collaborators are bringing some cult favourite characters and putting them at the forefront of the whole series, creating allegiances we may never have seen before. Read Full Review

  • 8.7
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Jan 10, 2023

    Federici has a fantastic visual style and that creates some beautiful, dynamic imagery throughout the issue as well as great visual drama in the action. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Dark Knight News - Davydh Tidey Jan 12, 2023

    This is an event that's grand in scope, and it lands with an almighty bang, Lazarus Planet: Alpha is here, and nothing will be the same again. Don't miss this book! Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comic Watch - Theron Couch Jan 10, 2023

    Making a satisfying transition comicthat single issue that has to rip off the band-aid, turn the page from old to new, and end one story while simultaneously beginning anotheris tough. And ultimately thats what Lazarus Planet Alpha is trying to be. But as a result it has no real identity of its own. It tries to dispense with Batman vs Robin as fast as it can before rushing headlong toward the character transformations that look to be be Lazarus Planets bread and butter. Unfortunately, hurrying as it does between old and new, it fails to actually deliver anything interesting in between. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Get Your Comic On - Neil Vagg Jan 10, 2023

    An epic start to DC's latest event. Bolstered by Federici and Anderson's outstanding visuals, Mark Waid's scene setting one-shot is one hell of a tease for what is to come. Read Full Review

  • 7.8
    Graphic Policy - Brett Jan 11, 2023

    Lazarus Planet Alpha isn't bad at all, it's quite entertaining and delivers some solid "summer box office action. But, where it stumbles is its clear continuation of what has preceded it. The comic, despite being an "alpha doesn't feel so much as an easy entry for new readers as it does the next issue in an ongoing series. Still, it's easy to catch up on the major things you need to now, it's just hard to not feel like you're missing out on something. Still, the art is fantastic and worth checking out and depending on how much fun what's to come is, it might be worth seeing what lead up to this point. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Multiversity Comics - Quinn Tassin Jan 16, 2023

    A solid issue sufferers for having so much required background material Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Batman-News - Aaron Ray Jr. Jan 10, 2023

    Overall, Alpha reads like an audition for a line wide event that goesjust okay. Not quite earning my faith in the literal storm tracker map of promised spin-offs, but not scaring me away either. Nezha is essentially Robin's Trigon. I want to buy into the event, but “King Fire Bull” isn't intimidating, nor do I think Nezha was dealt with properly in the last series. Events have often begun to overstay their welcome with their spin-offs, tie-ins, Alphas, and Omegas. If Lazarus Planet has any hope of survival, they should keep up the quality artwork and focus on the stories that mean the most. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Jan 10, 2023

    Lazarus Planet: Alpha doesn't get off to the most thrilling start, but Waid has earned patience to see the story play out. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff Jan 11, 2023

    Big crossovers are always a mess. Waid is working with a really fun combination of different characters who dont currently have their own series: Power Girl, Supergirl, Cyborg, and so on. Waid is giving an audience some more of what theyre missing in a quick, little sampling of different elements. Its a nice gesture, but its too little time with any one character to feel like anything other than a rush. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum Jan 11, 2023

    The bottom line for Lazarus Planet: Alpha is that this is what it looks like when what might be an interesting idea isn't given the proper space to develop. Read Full Review

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