Title Origins #1
Publisher Boom
Words Clay McLeod Chapman
Art Jakub Rebelka
Colors Patricio Delpeche
Published November 4, 2020
Publisher’s Summary “A thousand years after humans are killed off by artificial intelligence, one man is brought back to life — David Adams, who created the technology that destroyed his people. Now with the help of the android Chloe who revived him, David will try to restore humanity — and stop the AI overlords he created. David embarks on the greatest battle of his life, seeking redemption while also discovering if humanity can — or should — have any kind of future. A new sci-fi epic for fans of Little Bird and Descender from acclaimed writer Clay McLeod Chapman (Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety) and illustrator Jakub Rebelka (Judas), based on a concept by Arash Amel (A Private War), Joseph Oxford (Me + Her), and Lee Toland Krieger (The Age of Adaline).”
Review
Origins presents a dramatic post-apocalyptic vision of New York City where all structures have been wildly overgrown by nature. The future of humanity has been born to this nightmare as hidden in the Museum of Natural History, a boy grows from infancy to meet his destiny. If something called the Network doesn’t kill him first.
With a deeply grim version of the end of civilization Clay McLeod Chapman begins Origins. The scant hope of a future only gets darker and more foreboding from there. The full extent of the reasons behind the devastation are not made clear, but the few inhabitants are fearful of being discovered. Hints at the true nature of the boy David are few and far between, but as he grows to manhood, he insists of fulfilling his destiny and learning his true origins. This slow build of Chapman’s is excruciating and marvelous at the same time.
The skills of Jakub Rebelka and Patricio Delpeche are combined to exhibit a near idyllic landscape in the ruins of the city. The vision is ruined yet beautiful city so obviously fraught with danger.
The Bottom Line
Origins is more than a typical post-apocalypse survival battle. The grim resilience of the hero is compelling and not at all assured of success. A very promising start.
