Following their Eisner Award-winning run on Gotham Central for DC Comics, writer Greg Rucka and artist Michael Lark expressed interest in partnering on a creator-owned project with Image Comics. The project, which they described as “The Godfather meets Children of Men,” went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Do you know what series this is?   

Lazarus, a dystopian science fiction series, centers around the coming of age story of Forever Carlyle. The series takes place in a bleak future, where the world is separated into 16 large areas, each run by one family. Each family divides their region into three tiers: family, serfs (labors), and waste (everyone else). In order to protect themselves from the other families, each region has also named a warrior to protect them in combat – known as a Lazarus. Forever is the Lazarus for the Carlyle family, who serves the family patriarch, Malcolm Carlyle.

The Carlyle family has gained their fortune and power through developments in genetic technology. Among other advancements, the Carlyle’s altered their genetics to grow old without the consequences of age. Their modified seeds also provide food for most of the world. Along with Forever questioning her identity, major themes of the series includes the meaning of family and the debate of nature versus nurture. Despite its often slower pace, critics have continually praised the series for its worldbuilding and use of political themes. 

In addition to five trade paperbacks and two hardcovers, Rucka and Lark have recently announced plans to kicks off a new story arc in a new prestige format with Lazarus: Risen #1. This 64-page comic will hit shelves on March 2019. Outside of comics, Lazarus is also being optioned as a potential series with Amazon Studios and will also serve as a campaign setting for Green Ronin Publishing’s roleplaying game, Modern AGE. 

Whether in the pages of Image Comics or on the small screen, one thing is certain – Forever’s story is far from over.