After years of eager anticipation, the small screen adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan's venerated comic book series, Y: The Last Man, is finally set to premiere on FX/Hulu on September 13, 2021. But now the question becomes, of the 60 comic book issues published between 2002 and 2008, how many of the storylines and character arcs will be incorporated into the 10-episode first season?
While only time will tell, fervent and casual fans of Y: The Last Man would be wise to do a little prereading before the series officially releases in a couple of weeks. Here's where to start.
10 Unmanned (Issue #1)
No matter well versed a person is in the backstories of Yorick Brown and his companions, everyone would benefit from going back and to Issue #1 to see exactly how the characters are introduced on the page and how it aligns with how they're first presented on the upcoming TV show.
The first issue of Y: The Last Man takes readers to Brooklyn to meet Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer), his pet capuchin monkey, Ampersand, mother, Jennifer (Diane Lane), sister, Hero (Olivia Thirlby), and righthand woman, Agent 355 (Ashley Romans), all of whom will play central roles on the TV show. More than introducing the characters, though, the opening issue contextualizes the widespread global plague that has left Yorick as a lone survivor, and on which the entire plot functions.
9 Cycles - Issue #6
Consisting of a five-part story beginning in Issue 6, Cycles is a great way to learn more about Yorick's complex sister, Hero Brown. The action follows Yorick, 355, and Dr. Mann to rural Ohio after they hop a train out of town, where they are suddenly targeted by "Daughters of the Amazon," a shadowy organization that threatens to annihilate the town if they cannot kill the "last man."
The story takes a wild turn when Hero is revealed to be part of Daughters of the Amazon, but her strong moral compass makes her betray her alliance and protect Yorick at all costs. And how Hero does this is worth a read.
8 Hero's Journey - Issue #26
After reading Cycles, continue to find out more about Hero Brown in a detailed backstory presented in Hero's Journey. The issue expounds to paint an even greater portrait of Hero's background as one of the strongest female DC characters, how she responded on the first day the plague hit, how she joined the Daughters of the Amazon, and how she was able to follow Yorick to the hot suite.
Hero's Journey will not only make Cycles much more understandable, but it also gives Hero her own central story arc that allows readers to fully grasp the moral conundrum she faces throughout the series, while also providing a rich history of her relationship with Yorick.
7 Boy Loses Girl - Issue #36
In Issue #1, Yorick phones his long-distance girlfriend, Beth Deville (Juliana Canfield), in Australia. However, it isn't until Issue #36, Boy Loses Girl, that readers get the heartbreaking story of how Beth met and fell in love with Yorick and how her daily life was prior to the plague.
Considering how Beth will play a vital role in the upcoming TV adaptation based on the comic, learning all about the ways in which her romance with Yorick began, evolved, and informed the way she interacts with him in the present will go a long way toward getting to the heart of the character.
6 The Hour Of Death - Issue #40
In a compelling female-centric driven story, The Hour of Death entails an entertaining road trip between Hero and Beth. But not Yorick's girlfriend, Beth -- the Beth from California that he had sex with during Tongues of Flame. Things get awkward when Beth admits she is eight months pregnant with Yorick's baby.
Once Hero gives Beth a letter from Yorick, the two hit the road for Kansas and forge an odd friendship. While Yorick remains out of the picture, seeing the story from outside his vantage point is a good way to objectively learn about his character while identifying with the others. Moreover, how Yorick deals with Beth's pregnancy is worth discovering.
5 Buttons - Issue #41
As the Hulu series' second-lead, it would behoove all readers to peruse Buttons, the de facto origins story of Yorick's badass bodyguard, Agent 355. The 41st issue offers a standalone story that not only gives great context to 355's character but also reveals the mysterious origin of the shadowy Culper Ring. It's a great comic to read if you love female superheroes.
It turns out that 355's cryptic Culper Ring dates back all the way to the American Revolution, giving historical context to the story and the ramifications that are still felt today. It's an absolute must-read for 355 fans.
4 1,000 Typewriters - Issue #42
One of the most compelling story motifs of Y: The Last Man is Yorick's dogged attempt to rescue his missing comic book sidekick, Ampersand. In 1,000 Typewriters, tears will be shed over the heartening origin story of Ampersand, how met Yorick, and where he currently resides as a kidnapped captive in Japan.
As the heart and soul of the comic series, it's easy to see why Ampersand's backstory is so emotionally resonant. Loyal to a fault and eminently endangered, Ampersand's vulnerabilities could not be more endearing, and Yorick's protection of him is even more important than his own survival. The core of their bond is found in 1,000 Typewriters.
3 Kimono Dragons - Issue #43
Immediately after learning all about the history of Ampersand, find out what happens to the cute capuchin when Yorick searches for him in Japan in the following issue, Kimono Dragons. Readers will further discover how integral to the fate of humanity Ampersand is, in addition to several action-packed Yakuza events that take place.
Aside from the uplifting reunion of Yorick and Ampersand, which will hearten readers to no end, it's the riveting kidnapping of Allison's mother at the end of the story that makes for a well-rounded, bittersweet dramatic arc.
2 Whys And Wherefores - Issue #55
Yorick's romantic world comes crashing down faster than the human population in Whys and Wherefores, in which he travels to Paris with 355 to find Beth. Their enthralling love affair is dashed when California Beth and her daughter, Beth Jr. (father: Yorick) arrive with Hero.
Hero and all three Beths are captured, prompting Yorick and 355 to engage in their most perilous mission yet. In a climactic, action-packed finale, Yorick faces one of the biggest losses of his life. Beware, this issue may require a box of tissues.
1 Alas - Issue #60
If for no other reason to see how faithful the Hulu TV series will be to the comics, the final issue of Y: The Last Man is worth (re)visiting for both serious fans and the uninitiated alike. In a contemplative retrospective, Yorick reminisces on his past missions while locked away in a French psychiatric facility. When he's visited by a clone of himself, things get interesting.
Without spoiling the particulars, the final issue is a good way to get one final glimpse into the psyche of Yorick, whose fanciful hallucinations come with an unexpected dose of tear-jerking pathos and an affirmation of life. It's pure, poetic, and profound as can be.
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