Descender #1
| Writer | Jeff Lemire |
| Artist | Dustin Nguyen |
| Cover Price | $2.99 |
One young robot's struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. A rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey that pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling space opera from the creators of Trillium, Sweet Tooth, and Little Gotham.
CRITIC REVIEWS
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10
Comicosity - Matt Santori
Feb 02, 2015A remarkably subtle beginning to what is clearly going to be Image Comics next great space epic, Descender #1 has everything you need to get hooked political intrigue, social unrest, planet-level danger, and, most importantly, a boy with his dog. If youve been a fan of Lemire and Nguyens work, you wont need any convincing of Descenders greatness. And if you havent had the pleasure yet, theres no better place to start. Read Full Review
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10
All-Comic - Alex Mansfield
Feb 04, 2015If this first issue is any indication, Descenderis going to be one of those books. You know, the kind we talk about in joyous praise for years to come normally reserved for the likes of Saga or Y: The Last Man or, more appropriately, Trillium. Lemire and Nguyen have something special on their hands, a book with world-building on a scale that tickles every facet of our imagination. We'll see where we go from here, but for now Descenderis a dream of a book. One you will never want to wake up from. Read Full Review
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10
Rhymes With Geek - Chris Lear
Mar 03, 2015Descender #1 could have been twice as expensive and still feel like you got it for half its worth.Only a silly person would not drop $2.99 on an extra-sized, debut issue as expansive and personal as this. Read Full Review
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10
Unleash The Fanboy - John McCubbin
Mar 03, 2015Descender #1 delivers the king of plot that all opening issues should aspire to, as though it gives great depth to this new world, it does so in a way that neither feels dull or overbearing. It also has a mixture of fun, and imposing elements, with the mysterious overtones leaving this fanboy eager for more. Read Full Review
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10
Kabooooom - Matt Morrison
Mar 03, 2015In fact, the whole of Descender #1 is damn good. Sci-fi enthusiasts will find it entertaining, as will fans of Lemire and Nguyen's previous work. But by all rights this comic should be picked up by anyone and everyone who enjoys good comics. Read Full Review
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10
The Kliq Nation - Timdogg
Mar 03, 2015Descender is high-concept with cosmic exploration and discovery. Tim-21 is the last of his kind (that we know of). It should be fun to follow his adventure of how this came to be, along with what happened to his family and what the deal is with the Harvesters. Read Full Review
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10
Comic Vine - Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero
Mar 04, 2015Get ready to read your new favorite comic. It's a great feeling getting your hands on a fantastic new series. We've seen many takes on all the different genres but Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's take in the sci-fi arena is a glorious and gorgeous trip. Right from the beginning you get a sense of how large in scope this series and its world can be. We are introduced to some likable characters that make us eager for more. It's always difficult to add a brand new series to your (likely) overflowing pull list. Adding DESCENDER to your pull list will be something you won't regret. Read Full Review
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10
GWW - Enrique Rea
Mar 04, 2015In one issue, you have the work of two masters that are fully engaged in bringing this epic space opera to life. It's full of wonder, danger, unease, and intrigue. Start collecting Descender now. It will be the talk of the industry right down to award season. This is one story to be cherished and enjoyed and it's just beginning. Easily the pick of the week. Read Full Review
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10
Comic Crusaders - Alan
Mar 05, 2015BUY THIS BOOK. The story gets off to a strong start and I guarantee after finishing the story you'll go back to revisit some of the wonderfully painted panels. Read Full Review
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10
Comic Booked - Magen Cubed
Mar 05, 2015Mysterious, poignant, and visually compelling, Descender #1 is an artful and well-crafted comic. Lemires powerful script expertly balances world building with character introduction, threading useful exposition into conversational dialogue while still keeping the scope tight and personal. Nguyens artwork is nothing short of gorgeous, using thoughtful panel composition and wide empty space to dwarf the protagonists in an all-encompassing loneliness. The wide-eyed Tim is an immediately endearing protagonist, with his open features and sleep-mussed hair, shadowed by his dog Bandit in a clear allusion to young adventurer genre popularized by Jonny Quest and Tintin. If youre looking for an intelligent and ambitious sci-fi title with a strong emotional hook, look no further than Descender. Read Full Review
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10
Pop Culture Uncovered - Brett I
Mar 05, 2015Even though this first issue is setting the scene for the series, I was loving each page. If the art stays at this level throughout, this has the potential to be top 5 books for me. I give a lot of high ratings, but Im discovering gems every week, and this is looking to be one of the best. Read Full Review
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9.6
The Latest Pull - Marcus Orchard
Mar 02, 2015This is one of the most awe-inspiring debuts in quite some time. It's full of imagination and innocence. It's rare to see a comic book with so much heart, and it's unsurprising to see that it is Lemire once again writing such a powerful book. Dustin Nguyen is at his best, making this one of the most gorgeous issues I've ever seen. The characters are absolutely believable, and the story is full of powerful themes that beg to be explored further. This is a must read title, and I can't wait to see where Lemire and Nguyen take us next. Read Full Review
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9.6
Word Of The Nerd - Kenia Santos
Mar 09, 2015All things considered, Jeff Lemire hascertainly broughtupinteresting thoughts about our inner child, about the way we see the world's technological advances, about humanity, and about what makes us human. Read Full Review
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9.6
The Fandom Post - Christopher Bennett
Mar 17, 2015In summary:In closing, both Lemire and Image deliver another promising series. One that I can whole-heartedly recommend you get in on the ground floor of, sci-fi buff or not. Read Full Review
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9.0
Multiversity Comics - David Harper
Feb 03, 2015Lemire and Nguyen prove themselves to be a potentially great partnership after just one issue, and in this debut, they deliver a gorgeous and unique issue that leaves an indelible impression. "Descender" #1 looks to the stars to give readers the world, but it is the ability of the storytellers behind it to take us into the hearts of its leads that truly sets this book apart. That and one hell of a creator-owned debut by Nguyen, who looks like he's on the verge of taking his art to another level by taking it in a different direction. You won't want to miss this comic, folks. Read Full Review
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9.0
ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett
Feb 03, 2015Descender #1 is a stunning debut. Lemire and Nguyen are holding up a mirror to post-9/11 politics and encouraging us to consider our world not only through the lens of science fiction, but through the eyes of a child. It is a beautiful introduction that promises a thoughtful exploration of how we respond to tragedy and adversity without ever losing sight of the hope and wonder of existence. Read Full Review
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9.0
IGN - Jeff Lake
Feb 04, 2015Descender #1 marks an excellent debut from two equally excellent creators, their world at once dangerous and enthralling. Lemire's strong script makes TIM-21 someone to root for, with Nguyen's art giving the book a visual presence that's beautiful in execution and scope. More, please. Read Full Review
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9.0
Newsarama - Pierce Lydon
Feb 10, 2015Descender is an stunning debut. It's obvious why Hollywood jumped on this train early. Lemire and Nguyen are building their world at a rapid pace without leaving their characters behind. They've created enough questions to entice readers to read the next issue but haven't forced too many concepts that the main narrative gets lost. Science fiction is experiencing a new renaissance in recent years and Descender looks to be finest addition from the comics medium since the debut of Saga. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comic Book Therapy - Kevin Finnigan
Mar 03, 2015A well built universe plus an interesting protagonist creates one amazing comic Read Full Review
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9.0
Newsarama - Richard Gray
Mar 03, 2015From the vantage point of the end of this first issue, we have every reason to be excited about the subsequent chapter in this series. That there's already a cinematic quality to this book is probably indicative of why it has been optioned for a film, but it well and truly stands on its own legs. Taking familiar elements from genre stories and beyond, the combination of Lemire's character-driven narrative and Nguyen's coolly optimistic art makes this something truly unique. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comics: The Gathering - Kalem Lalonde
Mar 03, 2015Descender #1 begins Lemire’s next indie-title fantastically. This is a comic created by a man with great imagination and a keen sense of the human spirit. Lemire has set-up an adventure through space that will surely captivate all readers who love the genre. And if Lemire’s writing isn’t enough, you’ll also have Dustin Nguyen’s incredible pencils to make the journey even greater. This story has mountains of potential and I don’t doubt that Lemire will live up to that potential in the future. Read Full Review
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9.0
Capeless Crusader - Nathan Brown
Mar 03, 2015Lemire and Nguyen are a match made in heaven, already making the world of Descender captivating and mesmerizing. Lemire makes TIM-21 a character that everyone can cheer on and fear for in this dangerous universe, while Nguyens art gives the book the extra flourish that it needs. Read Full Review
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9.0
AIPT - Jordan Richards
Mar 04, 2015Descender #1 is a fantastic start to a new series. It shows a lot of promise for the future with a great setup to what could be an epic, thrilling, and emotional sci-fi tale. It has an intriguing universe already and combined with great writing and awe-inspiring artwork, this is a comic you owe it to yourself to try. Even if it is not your thing, it's worth at least a look. Read Full Review
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9.0
Doom Rocket - Molly Jane Kremer
Mar 05, 2015Not relying on bombastics, the quiet nature of this comic makes it stand out from the many science fiction books now on the stands. This is a series that looks to be an intelligent and introspective addition to Image's already-excellent roster. Read Full Review
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9.0
Geeks Unleashed - Stephen Hardman
Mar 06, 2015I loved this opening issue to Descender and it really feels like the start of something special, the same kind of feeling I got when reading Saga for the first time. Read Full Review
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9.0
Outright Geekery - Akadavid
Mar 07, 2015Descender is off to a good start with a good story and solid art. Having read some of Lemire's books before, I'm willing to continue reading the series to see if there's a bigger payoff. Nguyen's artwork is wonderfully done and creates a sense that this is going to be a story on an grand scale. Hopefully, this creative team will deliver something truly epic. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comic Spectrum - Bob Bretall
Mar 14, 2015If you're a fan of sci-fi with a more human element, I'd recommend you give Descender a try. If you're a fan of art that strays outside of "super-hero normal" then you're in for even more of a treat. For my comics dollar, this book was firing on all cylinders and I'm eagerly awaiting more of this story. It looks and feels different from every other book I'm reading, which currently stands somewhere around 130 titles per month, and that's a good thing. The one thing I love when it comes to my comics is 'different'. If you like 'different' then you may love this series debut as much as I did. Now it's time to wait Read Full Review
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9.0
ComicBuzz - JAdam
Jul 09, 2015You'll want to order this stellar series. You can pick up the trade on September 24, which will contain the first 6 issues, or your local comic book shop will most likely be able to order various printings of the individual issues. Read Full Review
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8.8
Geek Sushi - Kyle Rowsey
Mar 03, 2015Jeff Lemire playfully introduces Tim the android child and his pup-bot Bandit with a backdrop of death, and even despite the mounds of bodies left behind on Dirishu-6 the tone somehow doesn't shift to grim. Dustin Nguyen's brushed artwork is always a refreshing thing to view because it's so different from what is normally seen in comics, and it works seamlessly with the mood that Lemire has created for us in Descender. Just a small aside, Sony Pictures has already grabbed the movie rights for Descender. Read Full Review
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8.8
Major Spoilers - George Chimples
Mar 09, 2015A pretty, pretty book with a solid story. Read Full Review
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8.4
Weekly Comic Book Review - Noah Sharma
Mar 07, 2015While you can be sure that they've consciously cultivated the perception, Image Comics is very much the HBO of the comic industry. There's the same freedom, the same consistent quality, the same hint of snobbery from fans. And, like HBO, while not every series they put out is an immediate hit, the company is defined by its blockbuster successes, the stories that feel like an event. In this regard, Saga and Game of Thrones are probably the best examples of what I mean. Regardless of which analogues you chose, when a series breaks into that hallowed number you can usually tell right away and it is always cause for celebration. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Book Resources - Matt Little
Feb 03, 2015There's a lot of imagination in this book and this is a creative team that has proven across the medium that they know what makes a good story great. Nguyen's page layouts have always been fluid and dynamic and Lemire is returning to themes that he knows well and can use to create striking, heart-wrenching narratives that are both fantastical and relatable. This is a book that feels like it knows where it is going; there's a confidence in the storytelling that is important in a series where the concept is this large. There are larger mysteries presented, then dialed back to view the world through a more relatable personal lens, before it opens back up to the world at large. There's a lot of potential in "Descender" and, if the market allows them the time to tell the story, it could be another home run for Image Comics. Read Full Review
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8.0
BGCP - Marco Piva-Dittrich
Mar 03, 2015An interesting start to this series Read Full Review
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8.0
Bloody Disgusting - Torin Chambers
Mar 04, 2015Lemire and Nguyen have crafted an story that oozes style and originality. With a plot on the grandest of scales and refreshingly unexpected visuals Descender is sure to excite anyone who reads it. Read Full Review
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8.0
The Lost Lighthouse - thelostlighthouse
Mar 05, 2015Jeff Lemire tends to write interesting sci-fi, and here is no exception. It reminded me a lot of the Mass Effect universe, mixed with The Day After Tomorrow. If you like sci-fi, be sure to check this one out. Pick it up at your LCS or digitally. Read Full Review
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8.0
ComicList - Brandon Borzelli
Mar 07, 2015Descender is a comic book that throws a lot at a reader in the first issue. It's not often you find a first issue that establishes a baseline then completely changes it, establishing a new baseline in the same issue. The comic book is beautiful to look at and if the story can continue to engage and surprise then this will be a big hit. So far, so good. This is worth giving a look. I recommend it. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comics Bulletin - Matthew McGrath
Mar 10, 2015The pacing of the story is a bit off. Theres a reveal that comes too soon, in my opinion in the first issue, which makes the splash page fall flat. Dustin Nguyens (Wildcats, Streets of Gotham) illusions are rough pencils with watercolor-style highlights (Lemires All-New Hawkeye #1 also used watercolors to great effect.) The style here makes the panels come alive. People look soft and warm. The metal looks cold and hard. The readers focus is drawn immediately to the color. The story is not original enough to demand waiting for it monthly, but picking it up as a trade paperback would be worth it. Read Full Review
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8.0
Infinite Comix - Jonathan Bryant
Mar 14, 2015Despite some clumsy storytelling, Descender #1 is a promising start fueled by the loveable characterization of its small robotic lead and Nguyen's bold and breathtaking artwork. Read Full Review
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8.0
Unleash The Fanboy - Claudia Chavarin
Sep 10, 2015Overall this comic book was immaculate in everything from the storyline to the artistry. The colors used seemed very soft, for lack of a better word, and seemed to stick to certain color schemes that fit in altogether. This comic book did not disappoint and I can't wait to get my hands on the second one. Read Full Review
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7.0
Eye On Comics - Don MacPherson
Mar 15, 2015People have been raving about Descender for weeks now, even well in advance of its release. Both Lemire and Nguyen are great talents in the industry, and it definitely merits a look. But while I enjoyed the craft on display here, it didn't strike me as the breakthrough book others perceive it to be. It's a good comic, don't get me wrong, but I don't see it as being a great one. The reasons are clear to me. Firstly, Descender is all about plot. The premise is a solid one, using paranoia and hatred of robots as an analogy for real racism and prejudice. But there's little here that's actually rooted in the characters. There's a story, but I don't see the souls yet needed to really get me invested in the characters. Secondly, the sci-fi premise, while executed competently and clearly, feels a little familiar. It may be me, but again, it felt I was walking down a well-worn path as I thumbed through these pages. Read Full Review
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7.0
Florida Geek Scene - Peter Schmeiser
Mar 18, 2015Artistically, Dustin Nguyens pencils and watercolors give the book a unique feel and atmosphere. While Im more of a fan of hyper-realized detail, I can see the artistic decision here was a wise choice and truly gives Descender a place to live and breath in its own pocket universe. There are enough questions and illustrative intrigue to keep me curious to see what happens in issue 2. Read Full Review
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6.5
Overmental - Andrew Tran
Mar 04, 2015Altogether, there's really not enough to inscribe this issue into a comic-shopper's memory, especially with such a glut of series' taking place in intergalactic settings, with giant robot attacks, with discriminated parties on the run, etc. etc., but who knows? The next issue could very well flesh out the ideas of the first in a more original manner. But the first does not. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS
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10
Beautiful
+ Like • Comment -
9.5
I've been a huge fan of Limier ever since I was exposed to his Vertigo series 'Sweet Tooth'. His work on 'Underwater Welder' and 'Essex County' are near masterpieces and majority of his superhero writing is on par with the quality we've seen from Jeff thus far. As for Descender #1, this is right up there with some of this best work in his meticulously crafted story telling portfolio. Add the wonder art from Dustin Nguyen and we've got a new must-have indy book from these treasured creators. If you haven't picked up the first issue yet, do yourself the favor and pick it up now before the first printing sells out.
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9.0
Very promising beginning. Liked it a lot.
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9.0
Dustin Nguyen's watercolours are reason enough to check this out. They fit so well and lend the same feeling I get when I look at concept art for classic sci-fi films. The universe is very interesting, I'm not sure where the story is going to go but I'm hooked for the first arc at least.
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8.5
I enjoyed. Good combo. The art is kind of a take it or leave but works well with the story. Not a completely unique story but still enjoyable.
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8.5
I'm a big fan of Lemire (especially Sweet Tooth) and was pleased to see this new series in my pull box. And I was especially pleased at how much I enjoyed the story after reading it. As long as things don't get too complicated (which happens sometimes with sci-fi comics) this series will be well worth the ride.
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7.5
I'm surprised at how many reviewers are willing to just whip out a ten rating for anything good yet nothing new or unique. Is it Jeff Lemire's name on it that excites these guys? This issue is fine but it's not like I cant wait for the next issue. A lot of the elements feel fairly familiar and not as exciting as you might hope based upon the review scores, but it's still relatively well written issue. I'm not into the pastel water color art either. Nguyens often breezy light touch leaves me wishing for something with more edge and solidity for a science fiction story.
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7.5
Esse inÃcio foi muito battlestar galactica mds.
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7.0
Disappointing. Expected better story. Too much exposition. Too fast ramp up. Don't care about the main characters. Art was fine but story not.
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6.5
First, let me admit that intergalactic sci-fi usually isn't my favorite genre (but I don't necessarily hate it either). The art is pretty unique -- quite stylized water color and pretty cold. It's not my favorite style so far, but it is good and I can see myself warming up to it. The story seems like it will be very epic in scale, but there's A LOT to take in in this first issue; almost too much in my opinion (the glossary at the end helps a bit... though, I wish I knew it was there when I started reading). It's a bit harder to focus on the plot and characters when I'm also being introduced to so many new (made up) locations, governments, races, technology, etc. I might have preferred a slower introduction to this vast and imaginative s more
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6.0
Excellent art. Story not so much.
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5.0
Expected better based on reviews. I feel this is rated highly just because it's being adapted.
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