Author Topic: Synthesizer Patel in Y: The Last Man: Dinner for One Edition / UPDATE: EATEN (Read 3736 times)

Howard Alan Treesong · « **on:** February 02, 2008, 12:34:41 AM »

Y: The Last Man #60 came out this week, completing the series.

I'm going to read the whole thing in a single sitting and liveblog it here.

SPOILERS ABOUND

NO, SERIOUSLY, I AM GOING TO SPOIL THE ENTIRE FUCKING THING

5.5 hours later, Patel emerges triumphant!!!!! VAUGHN IS MY BITCH

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:37:29 AM »

1-5 Introductory Arc

Pretty good setup. The first few issues are pretty much just setting the stage, and there's way too many possibilities (cloning? Yorick's proposal? Amulet of Helene? Israeli tensions?) being set up to "explain" the Y-chromosome extinction. Yorick's GF is way too hot in those short shorts--I'd go to Australia for a piece of that, too! The pace of these are almost too fast--you get the Amazons, the new government, etc. all in a rush. Yorick is also waaaay too eager to expose his manly Adam's apple to the leftover womens.

Continuing ons!

Eric P · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:37:38 AM »

the whole thing in one sitting?

it's rather quite the wordy book in places

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:39:52 AM »

How long would this take? I'm interested in reading this.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:52:58 AM »

6-10 Cycles

Yorick goes to the idyllic town of Mayberry paradise, but it's all run by CRIMINAL WOMENS who were let out after the plague killed off their jailers

sadly there is peace and harmony and very little panty-clad catfighting

Yorick's brother Hero is still a putz

next up, SPACE MEN RETURN TO EARTH

Mandark · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:56:41 AM »

I borrowed the first TPB of Runaways by the same writer. Thought it was ehhhhhhhh. This good enough that I should convince a friend to buy it?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2008, 12:57:29 AM »

I dunno, I liked Runaways (vol 1) at least. Y the Last Man always seemed a bit overrated to me, a bit too Whedon-esque poppy, but hey! it's done and free now

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:13:19 AM »

11-15 One Small Step

This is a totally fun arc, when the two men and one female trapped on the Soyuz Space Station try to find a way back to Earth. It's cool to see the idea that whatever happened was "local" to just, uh, Earth, and opens up the possibility for other males to have survived the catastrophe. Also, spacemen are cool. And the Russian who comes to the US to try to help them is also totally hot.

However, we are 15 issues in and Yorick, the supposed "last man on Earth," hasn't even banged ANY females yet. This is totally unacceptable.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:21:22 AM »

16-17 Tragedy and Comedy

A short meta arc about a troupe of actresses who put on plays in exchange for food. They write a play about the last man on Earth. Lol!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:35:48 AM »

18-20 Safeword

Really good arc, does a good job of justifying Yorick's previously rash behavior, also has lots of titties and S&M. Finally starts to ground Yorick's attitudes a bit more in the reality of this post-male world.

I think we're about to enter NEW TERRITORY for my reading, go go Y the Last Man

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:37:21 AM »

man, I hope Yorick converts this hot lesbian Asian scientist

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:49:50 AM »

21-23 Widow's Pass

Another fucking boring womens' militia zzzzz

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:53:51 AM »

HORRAY 25 issues in and Yorick finally bones somebody

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2008, 01:59:24 AM »

24-25, more boring roving bands of Amazons. stupid dumb militias, always shooting each other. at least we know Beth is still alive in the Outback!

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:10:40 AM »

What did you have for dinner?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:22:18 AM »

I had half a turkey burger with gouda at work and then a frozen pizza at home tonight

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:24:44 AM »

26 Hero's Journey
Sets up the craziness of Yorick's sister's brain. She may be out of the Amazons but she's not out of the woods yet!

27-31 Ring of Truth
Possible explanation for why Yorick survived--that it was some compound in his monkey Ampersand's poo. I sure don't buy it, too many unknowns. I do wonder who the "Dr. M" the ninja chick keeps talking to is. Maybe Allison Mann's father? She mentioned that her father was also doing cloning in Japan, and we know that her real name is Matsushita or something. "Pine" something, I forget exactly. But how would her father have survived in Japan?

Also poor Beth, alone in the Australian outback. *sniff* I bet she's totally rug munching her fellow students by this point (approx. 2 years post-disaster)

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:24:57 AM »

That sounds pretty sad. :'(

You should have ordered a prime-rib to go.

TVC15 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:28:38 AM »

Up to 31 already? There are what? 60 issues?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:30:42 AM »

eh, I have pretty big dinner plans for tomorrow and Sunday already. I didn't mind slumming it.

yeah, 60 issues. I'm halfway home!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:35:52 AM »

AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST ON PANEL LESBIAN MAKEOUT IN ISSUE 32

haha, this arc is called "Girl on Girl"

BONER

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:53:02 AM »

32-35 Girl on Girl

This arc is about a pirate ship full of Australian lesbians. This is a trope I would like to see explored more in media. Especially vivid blu-Ray media. Kind of "fillery" in between the hot lesbian makeouts, but I guess you have to fill the time on the Pacific ocean somehow. Next stop: JAPAN!

OMG I just realized Japan is going to be full of NOTHING BUT JAPANESE GIRLS! It's like heaven! Or those movies I downloaded!

abrader · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:54:31 AM »

i have no idea what this is about - but i like the thread.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2008, 02:59:00 AM »

36 Dreamtime

Beth is kidnapped by Abos in the outback and has crazy vision quest dreams that tell her Yorick is still alive!!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:03:16 AM »

I did not need to see Yorick's cock in issue 37

No I did not.

Ichirou · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:06:25 AM »

Have you read issue 60 yet, or are you holding off on it till you get to the end?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #26 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:08:02 AM »

I'M READING THEM IN ORDER OKAY

I never read past like #25 before

Ichirou · « **Reply #27 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:12:55 AM »

Oh, so you don't know what happens to Beth in the end.

To spoil, or not to spoil...

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #28 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:14:20 AM »

37-39 Paper Dolls

Ah, me. We spent 2/3 of the series getting our heroes to Australia and it turns out that Beth has gone and fled the country thanks to her Aborigine vision. Stupid, stupid Beth.

Also, I think we're going on like, three years? since all the men died, and the world is still somehow around. This seems horribly unrealistic to me.

Also, I got to see Yorick's cock.

In conclusion, a dissatisfying arc.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #29 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:15:07 AM »

come on, man! I'm trying to dinner for one an entire 60 issue comic book series. you gotta respect that!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #30 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:16:48 AM »

issue 40

omg plot twist! one of the womens Yorick shacked up with like 20 issues ago is 8 months preggers!

just cause you're the only man left on earth doesn't mean you can get away with not using prophylactics, Yorick you dog you!

Ichirou · « **Reply #31 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:18:32 AM »

lol the cover has spermz

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #32 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:21:37 AM »

2/3 done!

oh god, I'm...I'm going to make a pot of coffee

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #33 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:31:31 AM »

issue 41 is a boring flashback episode showing how 355 got so tough. borrring

issue 42 has Ampersand peeing in a girl's face as well as Japanese titties

unfortunately the artist seems to think that a Japanese port looks like something out of Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado circa 1887

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #34 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:32:50 AM »

hahaha omg in order to hide in Japan Yorick dresses up like a Visual Kei artist. I gotta rip this.

EDIT:

Also, seriously, look at that background. I find it hard to believe that a modern Japanese port city is gonna be rural single-story bullshit with people with funny hats. SORRY ARTIST.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #35 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:39:17 AM »

hmm, once they move into downtown Tokyo it looks good at least. and the signage is correct--the "please dispose of waste and cans properly" and "yodobashi camera" signs are entirely right

EDIT: "Tokyo is like the fever dream of a gay Kryptonian."

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #36 on:** February 02, 2008, 03:59:09 AM »

43-46 Kimono Dragons
This arc is set in Tokyo and is about a washed-up Canadian pop-star named Epiphany who has taken control of the Yakuza through her lucrative sexbot industry. AWESOME.

Also, we're 3/4 through the series, and this Israeli-Arab thread has never really worked out for us. Why the fuck is Israel being such dicks on the world stage?!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #37 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:25:31 AM »

47 and 48 are standalone

oops, we have a really dumb pseudoscientific theory showing up in the final stretch

morphic resonance resulting in shared genetic memory between all members of a species? whaaaaaat

Ichirou · « **Reply #38 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:33:37 AM »

12 issues to go!!!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #39 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:42:06 AM »

man, for a geneticist, Allison Mann has a nice ass!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #40 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:49:43 AM »

49-52 Motherland
A few scientifically spotty twists. Another explanation for the Y-chromosome extinction is presented; I'm not sure if this one is supposed to be more believable because we're closer to the end, but honestly, I'd prefer "it was magic!" bullshit to "it was morphogenetic synchronicity!" bullshit. I refuse to believe that all the men in the world died instantaneously just because the first female clone was born. That, is dumb.

Also, it's been like 20 issues since our last hot lesbian makeout.

Ichirou · « **Reply #41 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:55:35 AM »

Only a few issues left till...zomg

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #42 on:** February 02, 2008, 04:57:18 AM »

53 The Obituarist

Good standalone issue about our favorite supermodel-turned-mortician back from like, issue 3. Actually did a good job of establishing the new governmental and societal status quo several years after Y-mageddon.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #43 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:05:55 AM »

54 Tragicomic

A pretty slight standalone about those play-makers from back in the series, now progressed to feminist action movie making now that electricity is coming back. Has a Man in the High Castle-esque sub-section that's a comic about the last woman on Earth and her pet horse, but the main story is pretty darn pointless, especially for this late in the series.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #44 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:21:40 AM »

issue 56 ends at an interesting point. I kind of thought this would happen even later in the series!

also, 355 has made me far more open to the idea of dating a black woman. she and her cornrows are so sweet!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #45 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:25:03 AM »

WE HAVE BUSH

REPEAT, IN ISSUE 57 WE HAVE BUSH

EACH HAIR LOVINGLY HAND-SKETCHED BY AN ARTIST FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #46 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:39:36 AM »

issue 58 oh no

where is this going
alas poor yorick

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #47 on:** February 02, 2008, 05:44:30 AM »

ONE MORE ISSUE

EDIT: Nice cover!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #48 on:** February 02, 2008, 06:05:18 AM »

pretty decent conclusion. the last few issues are pretty action packed, but even more emotionally packed--a lot of swings back and forth on those particular triangles before the series comes to an end.

interesting to see the way the character relationships all resolved out at the end--it's very sensible but not necessarily predictable

I at least feel like the series did a good job of steering itself in this direction, rather than suddenly swerving at the last minute, so that's good

and there were still had way too many subplots that never quite resolved, though--and no satisfactory explanation for what caused Y-mageddon. that it happened is enough, I suppose, as the comic explicitly addresses, but it's dumb to spend so much of the series chasing The Reason Why only to be told at the end "well, it's complicated, and we may never know why!"

worth reading for free

worth DINNERING FOR ONE

Patel Eternum

peace out

Ichirou · « **Reply #49 on:** February 02, 2008, 07:16:31 AM »

The reason for Y-mageddon isn't really important, it just serves to set up the situation. Classic MacGuffin.

Eric P · « **Reply #50 on:** March 02, 2008, 05:00:13 PM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 02, 2008, 04:25:31 AM

morphic resonance resulting in shared genetic memory between all members of a species? whaaaaaat

that part was interesting i remember reading about it in issues of whole earth in the early 90s

the monkey thing blew my mind. i wonder if there was ever a follow up to the observation of it just sits there like a bizarre anecdote for behavioral scientists to ponder

Eric P · « **Reply #51 on:** March 02, 2008, 05:02:17 PM »

also the bit at the end with what happens to yorick kind of rang...off to me

why keep him around like that if they're just going to lock him in a room?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #52 on:** March 02, 2008, 05:19:18 PM »

yeah, the last issue and next to last issue seemed kind of forced to me. the whole RPG-level "people can survive anything but then die in an instant when it's Important to the Story" was a bit unfortunate. And it wasn't clear why they were keeping him around, or in that room.

Eric P · « **Reply #53 on:** March 02, 2008, 05:25:53 PM »

aside from that it was quite good but there was a lot of "meta" examination within the story, esp with the fish and bicycle issues

bluemax · « **Reply #54 on:** March 03, 2008, 02:44:16 AM »

I read through Y the Last men last month. Awesome series and I'm glad I waited to read it in one shot. The sort of twist with his GF near the end was pretty heart wrenching and crazy.

The writer said that something about the cause wasn't necessarily the big reveal given by the scientist. And that the answer might have been somewhere else in the story.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #55 on:** March 03, 2008, 03:02:46 AM »

yeah, unfortunately I haven't seen any other dissection of What Caused It

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #56 on:** March 03, 2008, 03:05:20 AM »

Patel, next time you have dinner in the thread title, I want to see some good chow.

Eric P · « **Reply #57 on:** March 03, 2008, 08:24:58 AM »

Quote from: bluemax on March 03, 2008, 02:44:16 AM

I read through Y the Last men last month. Awesome series and I'm glad I waited to read it in one shot. The sort of twist with his GF near the end was pretty heart wrenching and crazy.

the groundwork was there in the first issue.

if you read her dialog on the phone, she's trying to tell him

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #58 on:** September 26, 2008, 09:24:43 AM »

I finally got around to finishing this, after reading it on and off since issue 1 first came out.

God that ending! WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK AAARGH

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Author Topic: Synthesizer Patel in Y: The Last Man: Dinner for One Edition / UPDATE: EATEN (Read 3736 times)