Image Comics; $3.99 

Since its first issue, Ghost Machine's Rook: Exodus has delivered a steady flow of science fiction that has been infused with a heavy doses of post-apocalyptic situations and most recently horror.   Written by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Jason Fabok, colored by Brad Anderson, and lettered by Rob Leigh, it launched in April 2024 and tells the story of the failing planet, Exodus, and a group of people who want to either escape it or save it. 

In a dystopic future, Earth has become increasingly uninhabitable, and at least some of the population has moved off-world to new planets, including Exodus, which was terraformed by the Better-World Corporation. This world was engineered to be a paradise, one in which allowed selected humans called Wardens to interact – and almost control – various animals on the planet through technologically advanced helmets. 

The Wardens include Dire Wolf, Swine, Ursaw, Bloodhound, Stag, Matterhorn, Arachnid, and most notably, Rook. Originally a farmer from Earth, he left tragedy and his former life behind for a chance to start over. His helmet connects him with the birds of Exodus, particularly the scavengers. 

Exodus, though, is dying. The planet's World-Engine – the system that maintains the terraformed new world's human-friendly ecosystem – has failed. The wealthy have left. The Better-World Corporation has promised to return for the others, including the Wardens, but there's no sign that this will actually ever happen.  

In the first story arc, which ran from Rook: Exodus #1 through the sixth issue, creators Johns and Fabok did an outstanding job of introducing the series concepts. They had previously collaborated on Batman: Three Jokers, and while it is very highly regarded, it didn't prepare me for the rollercoaster ride of this series. 

They spell out Warden system, the peril in which the planet and the characters find themselves, and the overwhelming odds against Rook, who must not only deal with that situation, but also fight with Ursaw, the Bear Warden, who seeks control of the dying planet. The combination of Johns' dialogue and Fabok's art combined with Anderson's colors and Leigh's letters is comic book magic. Perhaps the most amazing part of it is that while it's a story with a planet-sized backdrop and equally large consequences, the creators never lose track of the immediate, more personal moments. It's a great balancing act. 

The first arc is available in a trade paperback collection (published in April 2025) for those who want to catch up quickly. There's also a beautiful, oversized hardcover (June 2026) of the arc as well.  

The second story, which began in Rook: Exodus #7, has seen a shift in the attempts by Rook and the other Wardens' efforts to survive when they conclude it might be possible to repair and save the World-Engine. It's also really upped the dosage of the horror element with the introduction of Arachnid and his army of spiders.  

Rook: Exodus #11 is the penultimate one in the second arc and it's really hard to overstate the frightening elements in it. Rook, Dire Wolf, and the others have had to fight tremendous battles to get this far, and now they're surrounded by the creepiest creatures and settings the creative team has given us to date. It's a great issue, one that sets that stage for December's conclusion. 

If I have one complaint, it's that it takes so long between issues. Given the quality of the production and the final package, it's absolutely at least 153% worth the wait, but with comics this good one just wants more… right now. And that, when so many comics are really not that great, is actually a pretty sweet thing.  

– J.C. Vaughn