Lazarus Order #1 Review

Writer: Sloane M. Siegel
Artist: Juan Doe
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Editor: Ryan Carroll
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: August 19^th, 2026

Previously in Lazarus Order, in a medieval world where illness can lead to horrific and monstrous transformation, the Lazarus Order is mankind’s final bastion, preventing uncontrollable chaos.

Lazarus Order #1 starts off with a pair of plague doctors named Damian and Edward meeting up on the street. After a quick exchange where Damian gives Edward the business for not wearing his mask, even though it’s the rules, the two head towards their objective. A woman has called for them because her husband was attacked by rats the night before. Damian enters the house and encounters the husband, who has transformed into a large, mutated rat/man hybrid. Damian and the beast duke it out for a while before Edward has to step in and use his magical powers to incapacitate the monster, but it eventually slips away. The doctors speak with the wife and give her their promise that they’ll help her husband. In the sewers, the newly transformed ratman encounters the source of his recent change. While others elsewhere also begin to hear a call.

I always appreciate it when a new title starts off with something exciting, rather than trying to cram down a bunch of backstory, and Lazarus Order #1 does that. In fact, most of this comic is one prolonged action sequence that starts with the husband fighting rats and ends with Damian and Edward fighting him. While I do appreciate the quick pace the plot has, it doesn’t quite find the right balance between its action sequences and actually establishing an ongoing story. If anything, this issue feels more like an extended trailer for what’s coming, especially in the back half where suddenly a bunch of story beats happen but aren’t explored substantially enough to achieve cliffhanger status. I did like the banter between Edward and Damian; it was punchy and did quite a bit to establish their personalities and give a hint of insight into what they do. It’s just a shame that this efficient storytelling doesn’t persist, and what we’re left with is a decent action sequence and a bunch of hints at possible story hooks.

The art in Lazarus Order #1 is an interesting case and is a good example of why comics need synergy between the writing and visuals to be truly successful. It’s good; I liked how colorful it is, and the action sequences are dynamic while conveying a strong sense of motion throughout. There’s also some clever use of color as shading, rather than black or gray, that makes for some striking panels. Where things get kind of weird is that there’s a softness to a lot of the characters that gives everything a sort of whimsical and cozy tone, which in a vacuum would be quite pleasant, but in a story about plague and horrific transformations, I couldn’t help but notice how out of place it felt. In a few ways, it even goes so far as to diminish the peril that the story is trying to convince you is there.

Lazarus Order #1 comes in heavy with the action and the fighting, which is handled well and is exciting, but it doesn’t balance things out with a story that’s at all engaging or intriguing. There are some teases at bigger things going on in the background, but they aren’t sticky enough to latch in and make me eager to see what comes next. Visually it’s strong, with good fighting sequences and a strong sense of color. But it doesn’t match the story tonally and just feels out of place at times. This comic doesn’t go out of its way to be bad at all, but it’s ultimately bland and doesn’t have enough going for it. 2.5 out of 5 stars.