Stephanie Kay
Feb 2, 2008, 01:13 am
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0108/YLM_Cv60.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0108/YLM_Cv60t.jpg" alt="Y The Last Man #60" hspace=10 align=left></a> Reviewer: Stephanie Kay, children_of_paradise@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you Y The Last Man.
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Penciller: Pia Guerra
Inker: Jose Marzan Jr.
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Massimo Carnevale
Assis. Editor: Casey Seijas
Editor: Will Dennis
Published by: Vertigo / DC Comics (www.dc-comics.com)
Remember back in the Safeword arc, when 711 left Yorick with her wise little Y doctrine.
"Endings have to be earned."
There are many quotes from Y The Last Man that are fitting in summing up the development and ending of this title. But for me, that one is the most haunting, and has probably lingered at the back of my mind the most. What is a fulfilled life, what is fate, what makes one simply carry on. And what makes an ending.
Y The Last Man is likely to be remembered as one of the very best comics of the last twenty years. I say that with genuine conviction - I felt it was a joy from start to finish. The quirky, dystopian element was able to frame a highly unique and diverse story addressing a hundred different social, cultural, psychological, mystical and scientific themes. And of course it will be dubbed one of the comics to feature intelligent gender and sexuality content - with its massive cast of assorted and fascinating women. But most of all, Y The Last Man succeeded for me because of its stellar characterisation: this comic, its length and ending would not have worked without that. The progressing, complex relationship-network between the central trio Yorick, 355 and Dr. Allison Mann remained the true heart of this work, as well as their position in the wider scheme of things.
Anyhow I’ve grown immensely attached to these characters, become immersed in their individual stories, and have eagerly anticipated reading the out-come. I care what happens. And I know I’m not alone in that - Y The Last Man has gained a hugely devoted and loving fan-base. In fact I know the last issue had moments which brought a tear to many an eye, male and female readers alike. That is undoubtedly due to Pia Guerra though for absolutely hitting the ball out of the park with this issue.
So because it conjures up all sorts of immediate emotions, how can I possibly ‘review’ this issue. Well I’m not going to directly partly because I also believe this ending should not be spoiled - for those who’ve not yet read the issue, and also for those who’ve not even yet begun reading Y The Last Man.
I mean, I can say that I myself found it a profoundly emotional read, a wonderfully ambitious epilogue - and I’m sort of glad that I didn’t write about it straight away. Because I felt I actually needed time to mull on my thoughts, to make them coherent, to actually try and understand the issue in relation to the previous 59. Or at least what my interpretation of it was. What is pleasant is there is as much depth in this issue as you are willing to find. So for me personally, it’s potentially limitless as I’m an overly analytical hack anyway. There is something alternative to take from it on re-reads, and there no doubt will be when this reader goes through the whole series again.
I do feel this final issue will mean something different to each reader though. What you take from the ending will depend on your past and current perception, as much as it does on Vaughan and Guerra. If not more so.
#60 is special itself because it makes Y The Last Man face its title in every regard - it can no longer be concerned with the ideas of ‘death’ and ‘life’ seperately. Or leaving it somewhat open-ended. This is where we see everything played out. And that decision by Vaughan is an incredibly daring one because it’s out of anyone’s comfort zone. This issue could have fallen totally flat, and although I certainly do not share this view, I know there will be those who will argue this issue was a massive contrast to the majority of the series. And those who will dislike the element of speculation and imagination needed here on the part of the reader about ‘knowing’ what occurred between the end of #59 and #60.
Instead #60 provides moments which attempt to encompass all the context, the future and the pain of Yorick’s story. So in that sense the structure of issue #60 is perfect because it goes right for the throat. It will garner a reaction out of you. And it seems for the most part that people appreciated it, because that way it was a true swan-song on so many levels.
The ending of Y The Last Man was always bound to have an obvious literary pathos especially when readers latch onto ‘happy ever after’ and ‘tragedy’. But what made this ending work for me is that it was honest - life comes with both ‘happiness’ and ‘sadness’ regardless. We are defined by our experiences, successes and problems, and then what matters is the strength which can be taken from them. To develop a new ‘maturity’ or even just to rely on some basic perseverance to cope. And it’s up to you reader to decide if those in issue #60 found that, or any self-fulfilling prophecy. That individual meaning.
Fulfilling? Empty? Tragic? Hopeful? Well to me, it was all of them. Oh how I will miss you Y.
“No, first comes boyhood. You get to play with soldiers, and spacemen, cowboys and ninjas, pirates and robots. But before you know it, all that comes to an end. And then, Remo Williams, is when the adventure begins.”
Thank you Y The Last Man.
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Penciller: Pia Guerra
Inker: Jose Marzan Jr.
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Clem Robins
Cover Artist: Massimo Carnevale
Assis. Editor: Casey Seijas
Editor: Will Dennis
Published by: Vertigo / DC Comics (www.dc-comics.com)
Remember back in the Safeword arc, when 711 left Yorick with her wise little Y doctrine.
"Endings have to be earned."
There are many quotes from Y The Last Man that are fitting in summing up the development and ending of this title. But for me, that one is the most haunting, and has probably lingered at the back of my mind the most. What is a fulfilled life, what is fate, what makes one simply carry on. And what makes an ending.
Y The Last Man is likely to be remembered as one of the very best comics of the last twenty years. I say that with genuine conviction - I felt it was a joy from start to finish. The quirky, dystopian element was able to frame a highly unique and diverse story addressing a hundred different social, cultural, psychological, mystical and scientific themes. And of course it will be dubbed one of the comics to feature intelligent gender and sexuality content - with its massive cast of assorted and fascinating women. But most of all, Y The Last Man succeeded for me because of its stellar characterisation: this comic, its length and ending would not have worked without that. The progressing, complex relationship-network between the central trio Yorick, 355 and Dr. Allison Mann remained the true heart of this work, as well as their position in the wider scheme of things.
Anyhow I’ve grown immensely attached to these characters, become immersed in their individual stories, and have eagerly anticipated reading the out-come. I care what happens. And I know I’m not alone in that - Y The Last Man has gained a hugely devoted and loving fan-base. In fact I know the last issue had moments which brought a tear to many an eye, male and female readers alike. That is undoubtedly due to Pia Guerra though for absolutely hitting the ball out of the park with this issue.
So because it conjures up all sorts of immediate emotions, how can I possibly ‘review’ this issue. Well I’m not going to directly partly because I also believe this ending should not be spoiled - for those who’ve not yet read the issue, and also for those who’ve not even yet begun reading Y The Last Man.
I mean, I can say that I myself found it a profoundly emotional read, a wonderfully ambitious epilogue - and I’m sort of glad that I didn’t write about it straight away. Because I felt I actually needed time to mull on my thoughts, to make them coherent, to actually try and understand the issue in relation to the previous 59. Or at least what my interpretation of it was. What is pleasant is there is as much depth in this issue as you are willing to find. So for me personally, it’s potentially limitless as I’m an overly analytical hack anyway. There is something alternative to take from it on re-reads, and there no doubt will be when this reader goes through the whole series again.
I do feel this final issue will mean something different to each reader though. What you take from the ending will depend on your past and current perception, as much as it does on Vaughan and Guerra. If not more so.
#60 is special itself because it makes Y The Last Man face its title in every regard - it can no longer be concerned with the ideas of ‘death’ and ‘life’ seperately. Or leaving it somewhat open-ended. This is where we see everything played out. And that decision by Vaughan is an incredibly daring one because it’s out of anyone’s comfort zone. This issue could have fallen totally flat, and although I certainly do not share this view, I know there will be those who will argue this issue was a massive contrast to the majority of the series. And those who will dislike the element of speculation and imagination needed here on the part of the reader about ‘knowing’ what occurred between the end of #59 and #60.
Instead #60 provides moments which attempt to encompass all the context, the future and the pain of Yorick’s story. So in that sense the structure of issue #60 is perfect because it goes right for the throat. It will garner a reaction out of you. And it seems for the most part that people appreciated it, because that way it was a true swan-song on so many levels.
The ending of Y The Last Man was always bound to have an obvious literary pathos especially when readers latch onto ‘happy ever after’ and ‘tragedy’. But what made this ending work for me is that it was honest - life comes with both ‘happiness’ and ‘sadness’ regardless. We are defined by our experiences, successes and problems, and then what matters is the strength which can be taken from them. To develop a new ‘maturity’ or even just to rely on some basic perseverance to cope. And it’s up to you reader to decide if those in issue #60 found that, or any self-fulfilling prophecy. That individual meaning.
Fulfilling? Empty? Tragic? Hopeful? Well to me, it was all of them. Oh how I will miss you Y.
“No, first comes boyhood. You get to play with soldiers, and spacemen, cowboys and ninjas, pirates and robots. But before you know it, all that comes to an end. And then, Remo Williams, is when the adventure begins.”