Digital Gonzo 146. Y: The Last Man
This episode we take a look at my favourite non-superhero -related graphic novel series of all time. This was released under DC’s Vertigo label and is suitably adult in theme. It ran for 60 issues from 2002 to 2008 and can be found in ten volumes in graphic novel form.
The premise is simple, the execution is complex and the characters are fascinating and multi-layered. In the middle of the afternoon (US time) every male on the planet dies suddenly and messily and the remaining females have to cope with the loss and fallout of this horrific event, dubbed by some as a “Gendercide”. One young and somewhat foolish escape artist named Yorick Brown and his helper monkey Ampersand are, for some reasons the only male survivors.
The story takes Yorick all around the world, bodyguarded by the secretive, capable Agent 355 and the brilliant geneticist, Doctor Alison Mann. It’s a road movie, a buddy picture and an exploration of global socio-politics, scrupulously researched and rivaling World War Z. Because the most interesting aspects of a world populated only by women is that the gender imbalance before the event has never been more apparent. Witness a world of virtually no commercial air pilots, submarine crews or Republican members of congress. How every woman reacts to this is the core of the rich character diversity.
Book 1: Unmanned is inexpensive and riveting. We spoil no more than this first volume on this show in the hope that many of you will pick up and read.
Joining me are Sharon Shaw and Matt Ramsey of Do Try This at Home, Jerome McIntosh of Gonzo planet, Joshua Garrity of Cane and Rinse and Leah Haydu of Some Other Castle.
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September 9, 2013
Excellent Podcast! You’ve convinced me to read this(I’m literally just about to shut off the comp and drive to barnes and noble).
I do have one comment I must make though. I don’t remember who said it, but someone said the morning after pill was a termination, this is not true. The morning after pill simply stops the egg from being fertilized, not to be confused with ACTUAL abortion drugs. If the egg has already been fertilized, the morning after pill will do nothing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_after_pill#Types_of_ECPs
The sperm can take Some time getting to the egg.
“The fastest sperm can get to a fallopian tube is about 30 minutes, meaning that the quickest conception could occur following sex is in the half-hour range [source: WebMD]. This means that, following sex, the egg could be fertilized before you’ve gotten up to get a drink of water.
Conception can occur as many as five days after sex or possibly longer, as strong, healthy sperm can survive for about that many days (and perhaps even longer) in the supportive environment of the fallopian tubes as they wait for an egg to be released, if one isn’t already present”
Source:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/conception/how-long-after-sex-does-conception-occur.htm
September 19, 2013
Based solely on the recommendation of this podcast, I’ve just bought the entire series–in one shot, without flipping through any of the books. Just the sounds of Digital Gonzo ringing in my brain, insisting I would love it.
That’s the kind of trust you guys have earned from me. And I wanted you to know that.
(Related anecdote: I had actually gone to the book store looking to try the Sinestro Corps War, but remembering Sharon’s sigh of dislike from the Green Lantern podcast actually made me put it back on the shelf. That’s when I looked over and saw they had all of Y sitting there.)
September 27, 2013
Just wanted to thank you guys, much like Nathaniel Rivers above me, I procured several of the ‘y the last man’ comics after listening to this podcast, they arrived last night and I didn’t get to bed until 3am. Truly brilliant material that I never would have found had it not been for this review/recommendation.
I’m in uni studying to be a secondary school teacher, and rest assured this will be required reading if I ever get put in charge of an English class.. or maths class… or history… or ESOL…