The apocalypse comic created almost 20 years ago, which should’ve been on the screen a decade ago, is finally here.
Today is a day of celebration for nerds around the world. The reason: Y the Last Man. Y the Last Man was a comic book (or graphic novel for you intellectuals out there) which ran from 2002 to 2008 by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. In a nutshell, the story is a twist on your standard apocalypse epic that’s surprisingly unique considering the amount of apocalypse movies, shows and books out there today. The twist being that the apocalyptic event only killed males with the exception of Yorick Brown, the “Last Man” noted in its title, and his pet monkey.
Since its creation, countless other end-of-the-world tv shows and movies have flooded streaming services, networks and movie theaters. All the while, us Y the Last Man fans have been waiting patiently as these other far less creative alternatives (for the most part) have been rising and falling in popularity. A comedy called “The Last Man on Earth” was even released in 2015, which gave most of us heart pains once we learned it had nothing to do with our beloved story.
Our expectation that something would be done with the comic was also not imagined. New Line Cinema, the sister company to Vertigo, publishers of Y the Last Man, brought on a screenwriter and director for a movie adaption staring Shia LeBeouf that was set to release in 2008. Perhaps not casting Shia LeBeouf was a blessing in disguise, but New Line Cinema holding the rights to Y the Last Man hostage for 6 more years was most certainly not.
In 2014, creators Vaughan and Guerra finally got the rights back to their work, only 4 years after The Walking Dead, a comic released a year after Y, had hit it big on AMC. Since then, it’s been a painful wait, but that wait is over TODAY. The FX original series, “Y the Last Man” hit the HULU streaming service on September 13, and no, I have not watched it yet. A story, now almost 20 years old, and so important to me as a creator myself, needs my full attention so I’m waiting for the kids to go to sleep. (UPDATE: I watched … and so far, sooooo good!)
So, this post is essentially a PSA for all of you who saw the trailer and thought “not another apocalypse show”. My message to you is that, if FX pulls this one off, Y the Last Man is definitely NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER APOCALYPSE SHOW! It is an insightful look at gender, race, government and human behavior that is so much deeper than zombies and so poignant for the times we live in today. Don’t get me wrong, I love zombies, but that’s not what this is. So … give it a chance. – Dennis Marrero
PURCHASE THE BOOK, Y: The Last Man, FROM YOUR LOCAL COMIC SHOP!!!
Y: The Last Man – FX on Hulu Trailer
Add a Comment
- Bubbling Up Podcast – Nerding Out on the Classics: SAGA, Volume 1 – w/ Special Guest: ME! - April 4, 2022
- The Ghost of Uncle Joe’s Returns to Jersey City (a.k.a. Best Halloween Party Ever) - October 20, 2021
- LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Brooklyn Steel – 2021 Dates - October 20, 2021
