Overview:
Lazarus Planet is a DC Comics event from 2023 that kicks off with the eruption of a Lazarus Volcano, releasing magical chaos across the world. The event brings together iconic heroes, like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, with lesser-known characters like Monkey Prince, City Boy, and Enchantress, all racing to contain the fallout and protect the world from the mystical forces unleashed.
The storyline is written by notable creators like Mark Waid and Gene Luen Yang, with art from Riccardo Federici and Billy Tan. Lazarus Planet is generally appreciated for its bold premise and the involvement of a wide range of iconic and lesser-known characters. However, critical reception was mixed, with praise for the dynamic artwork and character interactions but some criticism for the uneven pacing.
Villains, both familiar and new, take advantage of the magical chaos, creating fresh challenges for the heroes. The event places a heavy emphasis on magic, forcing characters to navigate unfamiliar terrain, with powers and abilities altered by the arc’s central catastrophe.
While Lazarus Planet may not be a universal hit, it adds a unique layer to DC’s larger narrative, especially for readers interested in the more mystical elements of its universe.
Background Reading:
- TBD
Related Guides
Best Way To Read:
Main Collection
Not yet collected
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 | Prelude | |
| Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #2 | Prelude | |
| Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #3 | Prelude | |
| Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4 | Prelude | |
| Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #5 | Prelude | |
| Batman vs. Robin #1 | Prelude | |
| Batman vs. Robin #2 | Prelude | |
| Batman vs. Robin #3 | Prelude | |
| Batman vs. Robin #4 | Prelude | |
| Monkey Prince #10 | Prelude | |
| Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Omega #1 | Main Story | |
| Monkey Prince #11 | Main Story | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #1 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Wonder Woman #797 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #2 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Wonder Woman #798 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #4 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| Batman vs. Robin #5 | Aftermath | |
| Monkey Prince #12 | Aftermath |
Publications Impact
Along with Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Lazarus Planet was the kickoff event for Dawn of DC relaunch.
References:
Feature Image from Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 cover art by Alejandro Sanchez and David Marquez
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