y: 30- why yorick survived. spoilerisation

[tony2074]

spoilerisation

























because there were antibodies in ampersands crap!!!!!!!!

[mckracken]

What???

So he was the only male on the planet who was near a monkey turd when (and for extended time before) it happened?

And wasnt the cleansing of males a magical/mythological event anyway?
Has to be there is no way a natural virus is gonna act like a clockwork on the entire planet at once.

[Brock]

What???

So he was the only male on the planet who was near a monkey turd when (and for extended time before) it happened?

And wasnt the cleansing of males a magical/mythological event anyway?
Has to be there is no way a natural virus is gonna act like a clockwork on the entire planet at once.

Odds are there should be a few surviving male zoo keepers and vets out there somewhere. Although its quite likely that news of this would take a while to spread.

[mckracken]

Uhhh. The comic is called Y the last man....

[Vector]

I took a look back at #1 and sure enough Amp threw crap at Yorick. :p

[Ilash]

Read it again, it's pretty clear that it was only Ampersand who had the right anti-bodies, not any old monkey.

All in all though, yet another brilliant issue that was well worth the wait. Best series running IMHO.

[Forsaken_One]

Yeah, it looks like it's supposed to just be Amperstand. Which is why the ninja lady's after that monkey.

But yeah, it still doesn't explain why every male on earth (sans Yorrick and Amperstand) suddenly died at once. Plagues just don't work like that.

Edit: And didn't every male creature die, not just male humans? I'm kinda suprised that after a year or so there isn't more enviornmental damage. I mean plants can grow since I think most aren't male/female pairs but there won't be any new livestock ever. And most of the short lived animals, bugs and whatnot, are dead too. It was mentioned in the comic I believe but we haven't seen any examples of problems arising from renewable food sources suddenly becoming non-renewable.

[Jack]

Yeah, it looks like it's supposed to just be Amperstand. Which is why the ninja lady's after that monkey.

But yeah, it still doesn't explain why every male on earth (sans Yorrick and Amperstand) suddenly died at once. Plagues just don't work like that.

Edit: And didn't every male creature die, not just male humans? I'm kinda suprised that after a year or so there isn't more enviornmental damage. I mean plants can grow since I think most aren't male/female pairs but there won't be any new livestock ever. And most of the short lived animals, bugs and whatnot, are dead too. It was mentioned in the comic I believe but we haven't seen any examples of problems arising from renewable food sources suddenly becoming non-renewable.
The plague only affected male mammals with Y chromosomes (including fetuses and sperm).

I liked this. We know why Yorick survived but still not why Ampersand was immune. The fact that the ninja lady and her Dr. M knew about Ampersand long before she did suggests that there is something more behind Ampersand than sheer genetic chance.

[mckracken]

Either that, or Vaughan is pulling filler ideas out of his behind along the way. ;)

[milk114]

I was afraid it was going to be a "magic" ring Yorick was gonna give his girlfriend that he's been wearing around his neck that protected him.

So what the hell does @ have to do with the pendant that 355 took?

Hopefully with all the men gone the women will develop more environmentally stable diets (vegetables!) and not rely on large land animals.

[mckracken]

Also: How did the monkey antibodes got into his system? Do they even function in a totally foreign enviroment?

[Spiff]

I'm thankful that it wasn't magic.

Phew.

One mystery down, about a hundred left to go.

[ratzo]

So what the hell does @ have to do with the pendant that 355 took?

I think you mean "&". ;)

Magic has not been conclusively proven yet and I sincerely doubt it will be. Now that would be a rip-off, IMO.

[methanolcereal]

I doubt that the moneky crap isn't the only reason why Yorick and Ampersand are alive. There's gotta be more to it. Vaughan wouldn't solve the biggest mystery of the series half way through.

[KAy]

I don't think that it's THAT easy, guys. There are several leads, and scientific explanation is about as (in)correct as the magical/mystical one right now.

Not that it matters -- I guess Vaughan is probably striving for a more metaphoric, thought-provoking approach, not some third-rate crappy-ass detective story.

[Brock]

Uhhh. The comic is called Y the last man....

There's already a male infant. And Its possible more surving males will turn up near the end of the story as well.

[mckracken]

There is? I wouldnt know, I grew bored with it after the second arc or something around that.

Kinda sucks for the premise of the book, though. I mean if even the title of the book doesnt hold up...

[tony2074]

best thing ever. vaughn is the next biiiiiiiiiiiiig thing in comics. he's better that even bendis...

im sure (my issue eludes me) that it had somethig to do with some crap in Y's gas mask or something...im not saying im right im oing it off memory.

[stealthwise]

There is? I wouldnt know, I grew bored with it after the second arc or something around that.

Kinda sucks for the premise of the book, though. I mean if even the title of the book doesnt hold up...

Considering that the child isn't a "man" yet, if you want to get technical, instead of actually reading the book to critique it.

Read it. Read. read read read.

:)

[mckracken]

But he will become a man. Unless of course hes killed or the story will end premature. Both seems unlikely to me though.

And I know enough for a few general comments, without reading it.

Frankly, after the mild disappointment that was Ex Machina, Ill probably wont read a Vaughan in a long time, if ever.

[Lurker]

Good for you.

[Grant]

I'm thankful that it wasn't magic.

Maybe it's magic poo.

[Patient Boy]

Bear in mind that it's still a theory at this point. Vaughan could still have pulled a fast one on the readers with this "revelation". Still a fan of Y, still glad BKV didn't resort to the "magic" angle (...yet?) to explain Yorick's survival.

[Spiff]

Maybe it's magic poo.

Well if he reveals it to be magic at issue 50 or whatever, at least I'd be angry for fewer issues, as opposed to him doing it at 30.

So uh...yeah, still a good read :)

[Vector]

There has to be another male at some point. He's still the only man on earth who survived.

I'm glad it wasn't magic too.

[stealthwise]

But he will become a man. Unless of course hes killed or the story will end premature. Both seems unlikely to me though.

And I know enough for a few general comments, without reading it.

Frankly, after the mild disappointment that was Ex Machina, Ill probably wont read a Vaughan in a long time, if ever.


Y is only going til issue 60, so yeah... no man there, unless he's prematurely aged in the future like Cable, or in a tube, like Superboy.

I just reread the first arc of Ex Machina, damn that book rules.

[OMNiman]

I love Y: The Last Man i love Ex Machina hell lets be honest i love BKV.

So glad it wasnt magic. Where is it said that it will only go to issue 60?

[methanolcereal]

I love Y: The Last Man i love Ex Machina hell lets be honest i love BKV.

So glad it wasnt magic. Where is it said that it will only go to issue 60?
BKV has said many a times that Y is only going to be about 60 issues and Ex Machina 50. They are both limited series with a distinct ending.

[Forsaken_One]

BKV has said many a times that Y is only going to be about 60 issues and Ex Machina 50. They are both limited series with a distinct ending.
Which is a good thing.

[Sean Walsh]

Considering that the child isn't a "man" yet, if you want to get technical, instead of actually reading the book to critique it.

Some could/would argue that Yorick isn't a real man....... ;) :p

Not me, though. This is a great book.

[founder81]

Personally, I think the best reason for Yorick to have survived is:

just because

To me that is perfect. No explanations, no defintate facts, no magic or anti-bodies, just because

[jelly [blank] of doom]

Some could/would argue that Yorick isn't a real man....... ;) :p

Not me, though. This is a great book.

Actually.. I think this might be why Yorick lives. Let me explain. I was reading some case studies for my psych class and came across one that had to do with sexes/genotypes/etcetc.. There have been people born that are physically "male" or "female." But they're genotypes are the opposite sex. Thus forth making the male genetically a female and vice versa.

So yeah.. Yorick might be a chick, but that doesn't explain why Ampersand is still alive. I need a taco now.

[Andy S.]

WHAT??

Y's going to end at 60 issues?

That sucks, I love this book! I mean, if the writer's afriad of running out of ideas, can't he put the book in the capable hands of someone else?

Why does it HAVE to end at 60? :(

[stealthwise]

WHAT??

Y's going to end at 60 issues?

That sucks, I love this book! I mean, if the writer's afriad of running out of ideas, can't he put the book in the capable hands of someone else?

Why does it HAVE to end at 60? :(

It's like Lord of the Rings or Sandman, he's got an ending for this story in mind. Don't worry man, I'm sure it'll be worth it.

[Andy S.]

He's gonna die. He's gonna die and its gonna suck, then there won't be anymore Y:TLM to look forward to ever again, and there will be imitators upon imitators that won't be as good.....

<--bangs head on desk in agony.

[stealthwise]

Uh, what? Why do you think that he's going to die?

Death is one avenue to take, and not just for Yorick, but for Dr. Mann, 355, Beth, Hero, even Ampersand, but I'm not sure if it means that it necessarily will happen at this point.

[Spiff]

I'd prefer that the story has a definite end with a, hopefully, satisfying conclusion, than run it into the ground with an endless stream of red herrings and new mysteries that deviate from the point of the series.

How often do we see people clamoring for The Simpsons to end?

[Andy S.]

Uh, what? Why do you think that he's going to die?
.

I don't know. Yorick is an awesome character, (and so are the others) and I could easily imagine the writer killing him off to achieve some chatharsis moment to cap off his epic. This seems to happen alot to fav characters of mine in stories...

*I REALLY hope i'm wrong about this.*

Maybe 355 or his girlfriend will die, and that would really suck too.

Whatever, until then i'll be on the edge of my seat every month awaiting the next chapter!

[Chris Thomas]

Personally, I think the best reason for Yorick to have survived is:

just because

To me that is perfect. No explanations, no defintate facts, no magic or anti-bodies, just because


I agree with this statement. besides magic or alien invasion (i.e. technology we can't comprehend) there is no decent explanation for what happened


the current virus explanation just sucks---for 2 reasons.

1. how could yorrick possible get enough antibodies from the monkey? there would have to be massive ingestion ASSUMING the antibodies would actually work. i.e. they would be mucosal antibodies (not in the blood stream) so the virus would be stopped prior to entering his body.

2. how could the virus kill every y-chromosome man/beast/potential at the same time? that just doesn't make sense. the virus would have to work so incredibly fast and be disseminated at such an incredibly fast pace and expose EVERYONE at the same time. this is just ridiculous. unless magic or some sort of super-technology is at play.

assuming that the antibodies are mucosal and supertechnology/magic is involved, 2 plot points then should crop up:

1. yorrick still needs the monkey to live. the antibodies that the monkey gives him will eventually break down and he willl be vulnerable. so getting the monkey is key to yorrick living.

2. there is still another 'cabal' or person or alien group/individual lurking in the wings. maybe connected to the 'ninja' or maybe the 'ninja' works for someone who knows the secret (i.e. a collaborator.)

[Isaac Lawrence]

I'd prefer that the story has a definite end with a, hopefully, satisfying conclusion, than run it into the ground with an endless stream of red herrings and new mysteries that deviate from the point of the series.Agreed.

And I had wondered how long this was going to run. Now I know -- and so I guess I'm coming in at the halfway point.

You know, it's funny, it was my non-comic book reading girlfriend who got me to finally pick this up. (I know I remember thinking how cool the cover of issue #1 was when it first came out, but that was about it.) Anyway, it was last week when she came home with the first three trades- after one of her friends had told her about it, and was asking me had I heard about it and whatever. I was like 'Yeah, it's about blah-blah-blah." And this and that.

Anyway, short story short: I had quit comics (again) back in November last year, but I picked up the trades and read them because ol' girl seemed to like them, and... huh, this is some good sh*t. Now I see what all the talk was about.

And... anyway, that's all I got. It was a cool issue. Glad to be back.

[kramden]

im always on the web reading about comics, checking out all the sites. how did i miss BKV saying these series were ending at issuev 50 and 60. when /where did he say this? i do like sreirs with definate endings though ala preacher/sandman...im not a big fan of this monkey virus reason,but i have faith in this writer so im not worried that he will blow this great series with a bad ending/cause of events......yet...i also dont believe that any of the major characters will die.we are not going to go through 60 issues just so the heros get killed.not in this series anyway so i wouldent worry about it. the heros are going to ride off into the sunset

[Forsaken_One]

I woudln't be certain of the ending myself. We basically know that Ex Machina, BKV's other DC project, is going to end in tragedy. It's stated in the first issue. We know that it's not going to be an overly happy ending with the world being a better place, especially since it's based on the real world, where endings are rare, happy ones moreso. Even the first season of Runaways wasn't really a happy ending. It wasn't exactly a tragedy either, but it wasn't happy. So, based on those at least, I wouldn't bet the farm on Y having a happy "mosy into the sunset" ending.

Especially considering every male creature on Earth is dead save Yorrick and Amperstand. At this point the whole ecosystem has a specific shut off date, as has been pointed out in the series. Just the loss of pollinating insects like honey bees has a huge impact on an ecosystem; to loose all the bugs, from bees to carion eaters and maybe even soil-renewing bugs like worms (I think they're hemaphrodites so who knows if they died or not. Probably), would seem to me to be nearly insurmountable. It'll take a bit of a miracle for this to be a completely happy ending for humanity.