...that is, if you don't own any of the paperback volumes.
But that should so without saying. This is a great series, so if you haven't had the chance to read any of the paperbacks yet, then you might as well get this one.

Of course, this edition is only deluxe in the sense that it is simply the first two volumes packed together (there are a few pages of character sketches, but that's all), and the total of getting the two volumes separately may be a few dollars cheaper, but it remains that twenty-two bucks is a great value for a hardcover these days. It may be a personal thing, but paying for a few dollars more for a hardcover, as opposed to the usual ten to twenty (!!) dollar difference between formats, is a good deal.

As for the matter of the actual story, it presents an interesting and a provoking take on the classic male fantasy of being the only man on earth. Of course, the world Vaughan envisions is certainly no fantasy, but one where the turn of events feels is documented in a disturbingly realistic fashion.

Characterization is certainly a strength, as personalities are clearly outlined with nothing more than a few sentences. As in the writer's other series, Ex Machina, the lines come fast and snappy, and generally are argued over pervasive issues that can't be easily solved with a kick and a punch. Vaughan could even be accused of going overboard in this aspect; he likes nothing more than to heap on piles of dialogue that, while engrossing and nearly break the speech bubbles with pop culture allusions, may feel a bit overbearing sometimes.

However, Pia Guerra's artwork serves as an effective balance, and as a result Y: The Last Man feels very much the work of one mind, rather than a clash of the writer vs artist. Each supports the other's strengths effectively - Given Vaughan's heavy use of double meaning and sarcasm, Guerra's simple facial movements and postures allows us to fully understand the context of the words, and we enjoy it all the more so. The action and paneling is straightfoward; this is not to say that it all looks plain, it instead makes the sci-fi aspects all the more realistic, which, in turn, makes the story all the more thrilling.

And Vaughan, in turn, gives Guerra plenty of scenarios and characters and set pieces to work with - especially the introduction, where, as the weaker sex makes its bloody exit, we are raced from locale to locale and horrified reaction to horrified realization. It is truly a memorable start to a series, and establishes the doomy gloomy mood that lurks behind the sometimes jovial, sometimes whimsical mask that the series dons and sheds at precise moments.

Overall, if you're looking for a great way to kill a lazy afternoon, and perhaps ask yourself a few tough questions in the process, pick up this book. It's a hardcover, yes, but at a good price for one, and hey, chances are you're going to get deeply involved in this series anyway. ;P

Infamous (or inFamous, or INFAMOUS, whatever you call it, it's the same thing) is a fun little game, that made my thumbs happy the past few weeks. The controls are great; the character is finely tuned and responsive, almost to a fault (e.g. if he falls alongside a building, he naturally "attracts" himself to hanging onto a ledge, which could be annoying sometimes). The controls are similar to FPS games in some ways, namely the aiming system, but it's different overall and it is quick and easy to catch onto the controls. The simple act of firing a lightning bolt, or jumping and landing on some pipe, feels great, and the physics certainly doesn't disappoint, as even though the character has plenty of ways of getting around, there is never a moment where it feels unnatural...even when you land a 100 ft fall.

There are also some rpg elements in there as well, namely the experience system in which you can purchase upgrades and new powers. Since you're always going to be encountering enemies every few minutes are so, you never really feel an acute need to gain xp, usually when upgrades are made available, they can be purchased right there. If not, all it takes are a couple fights and maybe a side mission or two, as your xp racks up fast. Building on that, there are some "stunts" you can use which can add to your xp totals, half of which you will most likely come by accidentally, while the other half can be a frustration to do. You also don't receive your complete set of powers until a few missions before the last, and considering that the enemies rack up in difficulty considerably by that time (it's not a walk in the park when you start, either), you'll still be kept on your toes (depending on what you like, this could be a good or a bad thing).

There is also the karma system which is what the game marks himself on, but I think it may actually be the weakest. If you want to ensure that you get to be the strongest you can be, you either have to go completely good or completely evil...if you do a mix of good and evil actions, you won't be able to access certain upgrades and powers. So the game does direct you into an either/or option, and it's a shame there is no middle ground where you can be just as powerful. Additionally, some of the "karmic moments" feel rather forced, and some are actually debatable in what's the good choice and what's the bad one. However, the good side and bad side are markedly different playing styles, and it is fun to play through once and be goody-two-shoes and try to avoid needless killing and helping citizens out, and then playing evil during the second playthrough (yes, it's just as fresh the second time around), and then blasting and killing everything willy-nilly.

The sandbox aspects of the game are great, you start off on one locked area but you're able to move on to the more difficult areas soon enough (which coincide with your increases in power pretty well, not to mention means of travel: the upgrade to grind powerlines and traintracks comes just before your first train mission, for example). At the end of the game, it is fun simply trying to grind powerlines throughout the whole city, trying to find an unbroken path.

Although you will certainly die a lot, the game overall isn't that hard, although i have only played it on medium setting. But whatevs; you get no punishment for dying, and your respawn points are most often reasonable. If you die during a long mission, you wont have to redo the whole thing, just from the last time the game autosaved (usually right before the battle that you died in). One of the character's powers is to suck electricity out of nearby objects, which not only replenishes your energy, but your health as well. So, if you're aware enough and use your radar to find items with electricity, you can ensure a rather uninterrupted playthrough.

Finally, like all sandbox games do, they have little markers spread around the city for you to collect. Now, usually I dislike these, but in this game it is actually quite reasonable, seeing that they can all be found using your radar, and there is enough scattered around that most you will likely come by accidentally anyway. And of course, they serve an actual purpose, in that they increase your capacity for energy. Even if you not actively look for them, you will encounter them enough to fill your gauge to the max, anyway.

Oh, and presentation is well done. The comic scenes are a pleasure to the eyes. The story itself is a bit standard, but nonetheless enjoyable.
If you ever wanted to race across buildings while calling down lightning justice upon unruly hobos, here's your chance.