Embracing The Apocalypse: A Post Apocalyptic Reading List

 The apocalypse. Whether it be for movies, books and even comics it's an oversaturated market. Which is a damn shame because it's an interesting topic of study, given the very real future an apocalypse might bring. Sometimes its flesh-eating zombies, other times it's a cataclysmic event that's never fully explained. There are almost endless possibilities for the end of the world as we know it. From a frozen wasteland to a city overrun by manic superheroes, here are six comics that manage to rise above a stale genre.

Animosity -  Marguerite Benett & Mike Marts

I consider Marguerite Bennett the girl gang writer of comics. She's most famous for her loud and proud works for DC and Marvel, including A-Force, Batwoman, and DC Bombshells. Outside of her work with the big two Bennett tends to go a lot darker with her creator-owned series, often times showcasing the darker sides of humanity. Personally, I think these stories are where she thrives as a writer. Animosity is a prime example. When animals suddenly gain human consciousness and begin thirsting for revenge, chaos ensues. In a world, where humans are no longer the alpha predator, Animosity handles the complex struggle of dealing with this newly realized threat. The story follows Jesse and her fiercely loyal dog Sandor, as the two take the trip across the country in search of Jesse's brother. There are two sides to every story and Bennett handles that beautifully, showcasing the animals newfound awareness, and what they do with that power, as well as humanity trying to adjust to this new world.

[Comixology] [Amazon] 

Apocalyptigirl - Andrew MaClean

Apocalyptigirl is one of the more lighthearted and whimsical stories for the genre. Written an illustrated by Andrew MacClean, this standalone graphic novel from Darkhorse is one of my personal favorites. Apocalyptigirl tells the story of a young woman, and her cat  Jellybean as they wander through the abandoned ruins of our futuristic planet in search  of a way to return "home." It's beautiful, simplistic and delightfully poetic, weaving old world mythology with that of a millennial calamity. MaClean has crafted a story that feels like a wonderful blend of Adventure Time, The Last of Us and a Miyazaki film. It's unique style both in the art and in the way the story is presented, sets itself apart from a lot of other comics, let alone the dystopian genre. It's brightly colored and uniquely stylized, something that isn't often seen among the colorless and often times dreary apocalypse. Even if you're not a fan of this kind of setting, I still can't recommend Apocalyptigirl enough. It's one of those few books that I recommend to both comic and non comic readers alike. And at a price point of only $9.99, it's impossible to pass up on such a beautiful book.

[Comixology] [Amazon]

 

Frostbite - Joshua Williamson & Jason Shawn Alexander

Frostbite is definitely the most unique book on this list, in terms of setting. There are very few stories that have done the frozen wasteland apocalypse take, but Frostbite from Vertigo comics manages to do it well. Frostbite has taken ahold of this world, a  now dangerous and infectious, widespread disease that may be more dangerous than the icy badlands that now shape our world. The story is simple, an outbreak has taken over the world, and it's an escort mission for our protagonist and the only person who has the cure. Yeah, the story isn't anything we aren't familiar with, but the setting and the creativity behind how humanity has adapted is what makes it different. Williamson and Alexander have crafted this exotic wasteland amidst the new ice age, and that combined with some unexpected turns in the story keeps the narrative fresh and exciting. Frostbite features not only one, but two female lead characters, one of which being a WOC. While I'm used to seeing at least one badass woman fight her way through the apocalypse, we're spoiled with another equally badass survivalist in this one. There's also some underlying queerness here which I'm totally digging. I featured Frostbite as one of my favorite books in 2016 and have been painfully waiting for it to make it's return ever since.

[Comixology] [Amazon]

 
Leaving Megalopolis - Gail Simone & Jim Calafiore

Ya'll know I love Gail and Jim. Their work together on Secret Six is one of my favorite all-time comics, it's dark and edgy and a book that really makes you think. Leaving Megalopolis is no stranger to any of these themes. This original graphic novel started over on Kickstarter, before being published by Darkhorse. Megalopolis is in ruins, quarantined from the rest of the rest of world as the cape crusaders have turned against the very people they swore to protect. It's a hellish game of cat and mouse as a small group of survivors attempt to escape a city that crumbles around them. Pulling from standard superhero tropes, the Speedster, the Superman these are characters we're all too familiar with and yet Simone and Calafiore manage to create a unique cast all their own. This is the "Justice League" at their very worst. It's a new take on the superhero story with a post world disaster setting. Gail Simone unleashes pure evil, with twists and turns that will make you finish this in one sitting. This is one of those reads, you'll immediately want to devour again upon finishing. Once you're done with Leaving Megalopolis, make sure you check out the six-issue sequel Surviving Megalopolis. While I'll admit it's not as good as it's predecessor, you'll definitely want to check this one out for the expansion of the Megalopolis universe and its horrifying cast of characters.

[Comixology] [Amazon]

We Stand On Guard - Brian K Vaughn & Steve Skroce

We Stand On Guard, was a title I heard people talking about for years, had only ever heard good things about, but had never had checked out myself. I changed that a couple of months ago, and my god this book made me change everything I thought about comics. Then again I shouldn't expect anything less from Brian K Vaughn considering his work on Saga. Although set 100 years in the future We Stand on Guard feels all too real when a ragtag band of Canadians turn freedom fighters against the resource hungry United States. Given some of the current politics in play, We Stand on Guard feels very close to home. This one is dark, brutal and not for the faint of heart. It's a story as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. I'll admit it can be a rough read given some of the material presented but it's so good and will immediately leave you wanting more. Most people would showcase Vaughn's Y The Last Man on a list like this, and while I'll admit its definitely worth your read, We Stand On Guard is the one for me. This is another one of those finish in one sitting books, I promise you.

 [Comixology] [Amazon]

And if you like We Stand On Guard be sure to check out Calexit from Matteo Pizzolo & Amancay Nahuelpan! [Comixology] *

 The Wilds - Vita Ayala & Emily Pearson

I feel a like I'm adding The Wilds onto this list a little preemptively considering we're only one issue in at this point, but the world and story within it is so unique that I can't help but showcase it. Vita Ayala and Emily Pearson, create a beautiful and haunting wasteland, as an organic virus transforms most of humanity into mysteriously stunning creatures. It's a new take on the zombie narrative, with the "blooming" dead being very reminiscent of the parasitic fungi monsters in the Last of Us. The first issue alone is enough to get you hooked, introducing the world of the Wild's while setting the tone and pace for what I'm sure is going to be an amazing story. While the plot focuses on a single compound runner, ironically by the name of Daisy, there's a larger world that's waiting to be revealed to us just among the first issue. The writing is solid, and the pages are just beautiful. Between the linework and the colors, this is just a book you want to look at. Did I mention that The Wild's is hella queer? Because that's always a good selling point right. This may be just the beginning for The Wilds but I have no doubt it's going to be on my best of 2018 list this year.

[Comixology]*

*Because this is an ongoing title right now there's no link for Amazon. Check out your local comic shop! 

Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay [Give Credit Where Credit is Due]

In 2005 Gail Simone, alongside Dale Eagleshawn and Wade Von Grawbadger launched the series Villains United, which a year later would spawn the ongoing series Secret Six. With a team of several artists including, Jim Califaore and Nicola Scott, Gail Simone would go on to reinvent the classic 1968 team of the same name, creating edgy, yet fun stories full of heart that would span across more than 40 issues. I can't stress enough how amazing of a book Secret Six is, but that's not what this is about. While I'll implore for now that you check out the series, I'll save the multitude of reasons why for another post.

 Flash forward to the year 2018. If you had told me that an animated Suicide Squad movie, would have been adapted, featuring a prominant story from the pages of Secret Six, I would have been delighted but doubtful. Yet here we are.

Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay features the rotating squad on yet another mission for Amanda Waller. This time it's personal. Even worse yet she's after something everyone is "dying" to get there hands on. (Yes I made a pun and yes you can deal with it) The fabled "Get Out Of Hell Free Card." It's exactly how it sounds. A one time use magic trick that allows the user, to bypass any hell they might wind up in, and go straight to heaven. If that's what you believe of course.

And of course Amanda Waller wants it, and she'll expend an entire Suicide Squad to get it.

If you've read Secret Six you'll find this plotline almost all too familiar. That's because it was a prominant storyline in the aforementioned series, spanning across issues 1-7. While it might not be a perfect recreation of the "Unhinged" arc, with the Secret Six not even being mentioned, and most of the members missing aside from Scandal Savage, Deadshot and Knockout, the influence is still there. This is the story created by Gail Simone, and I was over the freaking moon that it was being showcasted in an animated film.

I wanted to love this movie. I did love this movie. Personally I think it's one of the best animated films since the last Suicide Squad animated movie, Assault on Arkham. There were so many smaller characters featured that I've been dying to see on screen, including Brick, Silver Banshee, Knockout and Scandal Savage just to name a few. It even features the first lesbian couple in a DC Animated property, and one of my favorite pairings nonetheless.

Aside from some awkward writing here and there, which is a given in movies like these, a terrible outfit for Harley Quinn, and a few plot details, again something I can overlook, Suicide Squad Hell to Pay was a fairly decent movie.

 But one glaring issue, pretty much ruins any enjoyment I had for the film.  The credits, or rather lack thereof.

We see the credits of John Bryne and John Ostrander for Amanda Waller. Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for the creation of Harley Quinn, Dennis O'Neil for Bronze Tiger, so on and so forth. We even see the credits of Grant Morrison for Professor Pyg, a character who had only three minutes of screentime and minimal dialogue. And yall know how I feel about Grant Morrison. [If you don't feel free to ask me later].

Gail Simone's name is not even mentioned once.

Gail Simone who is the direct inspiration for this film's plot. Gail Simone, who created Scandal Savage, a character while who'd like to have seen more camera time, got enough of a due to at least earn the credit.

Nothing.

I've been disappointed by a lot of things DC Comics and Warner Brothers has done over the past few years, but this one by far hurts the most. As a woman I'm sadded not to see Gail get the credit she deserves, As someone who's dream it is to write comics, and potentially even some of these characters one day, I'm terrified. I'm honestly surprised with this release of the movie, there hasn't been more of a blow back or an uproar.

If Grant Morrison can get credit for a character onscreen less than five minutes, than Gail Simone deserves credit for an entire plot and storyline.

There is NO excuse for this. None. These are your people DC. Give these creators credit where credit is due. But it's not just DC anymore. Superhero films, wether live action or animated are becoming more popular. They're an important part of our current culture. We need to see more comic creators getting credit. Without them, you wouldn't have a movie.

Now I'm not saying you shouldn't watch Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay, it's a damn good film. But if you enjoy the film, consider purchasing the stories that inspired it. Read Secret Six. I'll leave links below for the digital and physical version of the book.

Purchase Secret Six on Amazon and Comixology.