IXth Generation Vol. 1

IXth Generation #1-4

by Matt Hawkins, Stjepan Šejić (Illustrator)

In the future there is no more natural death, no needs unfilled and everything you could ever want is yours...as long as you're one of the chosen ones to live in this new Utopia and you're willing to subjugate yourself to these new self-proclaimed gods with “IX”s emblazoned on them. Do the ends truly justify the means? Is a utopia built on genocide worth the price? Aphrodite, Velocity, Hades and the other Nines establish fiefdoms in this new world and attempt to rule. Their internal clashes have escalated, but they are forced to put that aside as they face off against the relentless hordes of the Darkness. The sins of the past have come to claim those who would pretend to be Gods.

Collects IXth GENERATION #1-4 & IXth GENERATION: HIDDEN FILES #1

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Comic Book, Sequential Art

160 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[47Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is more sketchy and less sexy than on the Aphrodite IX series, but still expressive. I assume they were aiming for a more human look. As cool as the nine IXs are, only a few of them get actual personalities. Seems a bit of a waste. They start as a team, but they soon begin forming alliances against one another.

After taking over the world, the nine IXs each take control over an area of the planet and the initial utopia is soon corrupted by war between the IXs. Aphrodite is in an area that is isolated from the rest, but she steps in to try to stop their violence. She is mocked by them, so she and Hephaestus try to share her concerns with Velocity on her lunar base. They find Velocity missing and the base gets attacked by the Darkness. She decides to follow the Coin of Solomon that leads them to a room where artifacts like the Witchblade and Bloodsword are kept. They escape, but she is later contacted by the Darkness for a meeting where she chooses to go alone. The Darkness claims to be her last hope and reveals that Aphrodite is her mother's clone and was supposed to be the vessel for her consciousness. Meanwhile we find that Hades worked with the Darkness to corrupt the other IXs programming, except her own and Aphrodite's, the only two who never needed resurrections, and Ares who is immune. Her reward is the Wheel of Shadows. She sends one of her clones to a IX gathering where Aphrodite proposes a 6-month cease fire. The clone detonates herself, killing everyone but Aphrodite who encases herself in the Witchblade. Hades attacks all the other IXs capitals to draw attention from the clones who infiltrate the resurrection chambers and are detonated.

[Laura ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have no idea if it is because I have never read the other comics that are affiliated with this story' but I thought the story was a bit chaotic and hard to follow in some parts.

I did like Aphrodite's character, and want to read more about her. Don't really care much about the other nine.

As always, I love Sejic art' and here again, he absolutely delivers with his art. This was actually the main reason why I started this comic, because he was the artist and I really love his art.

[David Raz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as part of the Humble Comics Bundle: Sex & Science by Top Cow, somewhere late 2017 and from some reason I forgot about it till now (April 2022). I did a quick read of the rebirth series just to get re-aquiainted, and I'm happy I did. At least the Aphrodite IX series seem like a must.
As for this one, it has an interesting story with possibilities, but from some reason I get less hooked than with the Aphrodite IX series. Perhaps this is because out of the IXs we don't really get to see most and perhaps the graphics are not as impressive anymore? I also don't much appreciate the connections to all those artifacts I feel I should know but I don't. 2.5 or 3 stars out of five.

[Trike · Rating 2 out of 5]

We join this story already in progress, and I have no idea who these people are. The book does a nice job of catching the reader up on previous installments, but by its abbreviated nature the “previously on...” summation doesn’t capture the depth of the characters or the sweep of the tale. This is like tuning in to the fourth season of a TV series or the fourth book of a novel series.: you missed a lot of stuff.

On top of that, the book draws from other Top Cow properties, such as Witchblade, Volume 1: Witch Hunt and The Darkness: Origins Vol. 1, which feels like it comes out of nowhere. So not really a standalone story.

Other than that it’s okay, I guess. The art is fine. The typical Matt Hawkins explainer in the afterword is interesting, so there’s that.

[Paul Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our cyborg gods recreated encounter the Darkness but treachery is also involved

Following on from the new Aphrodite IX, the pantheon of cyborg gods encounter the Darkness and discover the Witchblade, the Bloodsword etc.. Treachery among the nine ensues and there are many flashbacks to confuse matters further or clarify – whiciewver works for you. (I can't be doing with loads of flashbacks – just do a chapter or two in the past instead of every couple of pages!)

More from Matt Hawkins and Stjepan Sejic with unfortunately some white print on green or black background making it hard to read in the digital edition.

[Berger M.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this completely blind seems to be the way to go. With vague ideas of other lore surrounding this series, I found myself intrigued more than puzzled.

+++what a wonderfully interesting concept
+++character designs
+lots of terms but easily identifiable, kudos to the Hawkins for brevity
+no wasting time
+/-didn’t know this was tied to witchblade/darkness, lore
++some fantastic imagery
+++Hephaestus and timing
++kept me guessing
++reasons for Aphrodite’s rule and choosing
+++Bad Person’s plan
+++don’t see that ending coming

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I 100% picked this up because Stjepan Sejic is my favorite artist. So five stars for the art. Bravo.

The cast of characters though... nine cybernetic gods plus everyone else was way too many characters to follow or get invested with. It wasn't my first Darkness or Witchblade comic so I could follow that bit just fine, but with all the references to other volumes maybe this wasn't the best jumping on point.

All in all, I was mesmerized by the art and entertained by the story, so four stars.

[Johan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still kinda like it ... a bit, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the different characters, their feuds and alliances, the timeline, ... Who is this again? Which alliance is she part of? Is this flash-back decades or centuries before or after the previous flash-back? I am not even sure what the main storyline is anymore.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back part of the graphic novel where it describes the science behind the story is the part I like, good story, I like the witchblade storylines, should have more action when the story develop more.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused and yet intrigued. Will read the second volume. Gorgeous artwork that has me wanting to reread Sunstone rather than continue this storyline. A bit reminiscent of the Wicked and the Divine meets Altered Carbon...?

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 star

[Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first comic I've read by this publisher and I found it to be a fun and exciting introduction to a new universe