Lazarus, Vol. 1: Family

Forever Carlyle is the Carlyle family’s Lazarus, a scientifically enhanced soldier whose raison d’être is to protect the family and preserve its interests, whether they be political, economic, or personal. The Carlyles, along with a handful of other families, control the world through a combination of ultra-high finance and mafia-style brutality, with Forever acting as both ambassador and enforcer. Meanwhile, her step siblings resent her place in the family and treat her as little more than a tool in their schemes for power. Rucka, who’s written street-level crime sagas (Stump-town) and high-flying superheroics (Wonder Woman), settles into a satisfying and flexible niche of believability, weaving a complex story of intrigue and action in a science fiction setting that may not be fiction for long. Artists Lark and Arcas’s muted and subtle visuals ground the story as well, while handling its swift and violent fight scenes and plotted interludes with consistent skill. (Oct.)