Comic Book Review: Devolution, by Rick Remender

Title: Devolution

Authors: Rick Remender

Illustrators: Jonathan Wayshak

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Date of Publication: September 6, 2016

Number of Pages: 128

*I've received an ARC of the book via Netgalley. Thank you to the publisher.

Summary

Every living creature on Earth has been devolved - the evolutionary clock turned back, reverting all life to odd mutations and prehistoric incarnations. The cities of man are little more than bloody territories ruthlessly dominated by tribal Neanderthals ruling from the backs of mammoths, packs of saber-toothed tigers, and giant man-eating insects. Raja, one of the few remaining "Still Sapien" humans, heads to San Francisco to find the antidote for the world-changing DVO-8 viral agent. But to cross the wasteland, she'll have to convince the last pocket of humanity to join her quest... and survive the Nazi hillbillies that rule them through fear!

Review

Give me a good dystopian story and I'll be very very happy! That's why I was very excited to get to read Devolution. 

This comic book takes place in a world where scientists used the chemical DVO-8 to devolve humanity and stop the ongoing wars. Along with humanity though, all other creatures on earth were devolved, resulting in Mammoths, giant spiders, and giant mosquitoes among others.  

This is the world where we meet our protagonist, Raja. She is very determined to reach her father's lab that supposedly had the only revo serum that would re-evolve life on Earth. On her way, she meets a group of people that for some unexplained reason didn't devolve. This is where we meet Gil, who is the evilest villain you can imagine. So evil, in fact, that he seemed like a caricature. 

Devolution was definitely a dark and brutal comic book. Despite its strong premise though, it failed to deliver anything that would explain the story. For example, why were these people intact by DVO-8? In addition to this, I found Gil so unbearable, and I would have liked less focus on him. 

What I did enjoy though, was the final twist of the book. When Raja reaches the moon, she discovers a truth she's not ready to learn. If the comic had more moments like this, then I would have been more invested in the story.

In conclusion, Devolution has something fascinating going on. It's worth a try if you want to read a dark dystopian story. However, I wouldn't set my expectations high as you won't get all the answers you will have.