Balak, Michaël Sanlaville, and Bastien Vivès’ Lastman continues its return at Skybound as the second volume of the promised complete, remastered series has been announced – in both print and digital – for March 2023.
The fighting fantasy world of Lastman draws heavily on the influence of manga and has proved a success in Europe, winning an Angoulême series prize in 2016 and spawning spin-off titles in videogames and TV, and – of course – comics. The original series ran for 12 books in France that were published from 2013 to 2019 but was sadly left unfinished and out of print for English language audiences. First Second Books translated half of the series in 2015 and 2016 under the title ‘Last Man‘, with volume 6 being the last one to make it into English.
Volume 1 (containing books 1 and 2 of the series) will release November 9, 2022 (book stores on November 15). Volume 2 (containing books 3 and 4) will release March 15, 2023 (March 21, 2023 for bookstores).
The new Skybound editions of Lastman are omnibuses containing two volumes of the original run with the March 15, 2023 second volume covering books 3 and 4, alongside the original colour opening pages not available previously and additional backmatter material – plus a new ‘remastered’ translation. The first book, expected in November, will also include a new forward by Skybound chief Robert Kirkman himself.
Back in February, when Skybound initially announced the rerelease of the series, Robert Kirkman said:
“Lastman is a revelation of immense creativity, thrilling as a fan and humbling as a creator. Balak, Sanlaville, and Vivès have combined to create an evolving story, each volume advancing the story in an entertaining and engaging way, while also being completely different than the volume before. It’s a masterclass in tone, originality, and world-building. It’s a series I’m absolutely obsessed with…you need this book in your life. You just do.”
Amanda LaFranco, Editor at Skybound said about volume two,
“Picking up right where the last book left off, Lastman Book Two kickstarts the adventure by taking us into entirely unknown territory!
“Introducing all-new characters and all-new places, you really begin to get a sense of Lastman‘s unique fantasy world in Book Two, and just how special this series really is. It is imagination turned up to eleven! Whatever you thought you were expecting, you’re not prepared for where things go from here.”
Synopsis for volume 2,
“Against all odds, Adrian Velba has won the Valley of Kings’ tournament…but has been betrayed by his partner, Richard Aldana! Now the hunt is on, as Adrian and his mother Marianne must travel through the Rift into unknown lands to find Richard…and will soon discover that nothing is as they expected. “
