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I've read so much here and elsewhere about how brilliant this series is, and from the two books I've read, I'm afraid I can't agree. The concept (plague instantaneously kills all Y-chromosome mammals -- except a guy named Yorick and his pet capuchin monkey -- around the globe without warning) has tremendous promise. However, the execution in the two books I read (this one and Vol. 13) was pedestrian. Characterization, plot, and art were all two-dimensional. (By contrast, Judge Parker has more nuance in the latter category.)

By way of example, here's a bit of dialogue (all characters have the same or similar wise-cracking persona) from pp. 74-75 of this graphic novel [panels cut back and forth among disputants, mostly mid-shot seen from the POV of someone relatively tall]:

"Who the hell are you?"

"...I'm the President of the United States. And I say drop the goddamn weapons." ...

"Secretary Valentine, we... we thought you were dead."

"Don't listen to them, Margaret! The Democrats just shot Bill Woodring's wife!"

"After you murdered an innocent secret service agent!"

"You don't understand, we... we didn't have a choice. They've seized control of the White House." ...

"Madam President, Congress has only been doing exactly what the Founding Fathers intended."

"The Founding Fathers are dead! All of the men are dead! Their Constitution doesn't apply anymore!"

[C-U PRESIDENT'S FACE listening:] "It's time for something new."

In this universe, the ladies appear inclined to shoot first and ask questions later. Anarchy, violence, and hysteria reign. Each scene is a mini-melodrama. This is not an Alan Moore book (contrast "From Hell," which was about Jack the Ripper, and had both less page-to-page violence and substantially more nuance).

That said, this first book of the series really exists solely to accomplish 3 tasks: introduce the premise, the principal characters, and establish the quest-like framework for the story (here's this wicked world, now try getting cross-country). The first two are accomplished with the first 34 pages (the initiating comic in this compilation). The last waits on the penultimate page of the graphic novel.

There are a few artistic grace notes here, such as the birds-eye view of an urban Y-intersection on the last page after the leads have determined that they will have to hike from Boston to California (no, no city yet named), but for the most part, sophisticated readers seeking other than lightly-buttered popcorn will be disappointed. It should be interesting to see how the film version of this book stacks up against "Children of Men." I'm sure buzz will be high when it gets released, but personally, I'd wait on raves before plunking down my ten bucks.