Devolution #1–5: A Savage Descent into Prehistoric Chaos
Genre
🧬 Science Fiction, 🦖 Post-Apocalyptic, 🧠 Psychological Thriller, 💥 Action-Adventure
Main Characters
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Raja – A tough and brilliant scientist determined to find a cure and restore humanity before extinction becomes permanent.
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Isham – A hardened, violent mercenary with a complicated past and survival instincts that often clash with Raja’s morals.
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Salvador – A devout religious extremist whose beliefs make him both a threat and a tragic product of the devolved world.
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Scorch – A nihilistic and grotesquely deformed warlord leading the Neanderthal hordes, embodying the worst of regression.
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The “Still Sapiens” – The last pockets of un-mutated humans desperately clinging to knowledge, technology, and hope.
Writer
✍️ Rick Remender
Known for thought-provoking, high-octane works such as Black Science, Deadly Class, and Fear Agent, Remender uses Devolution to explore themes of science, belief, and human nature under pressure.
Artist
🎨 Jon Wayshak
Wayshak’s gritty, kinetic style brings this primeval nightmare to life, emphasizing grotesque mutations and the raw violence of a devolved Earth.
Colorist
🎨 Jordan Boyd
Boyd’s palette captures both the bleakness and surreal vibrancy of this broken world — toxic yellows, blood reds, and shadowy blues dominate the pages.
Editor Details
🛠️ Edited by Philip R. Smith
Smith ensures a consistent tone throughout the series, allowing Remender’s narrative and Wayshak’s chaotic visuals to complement each other fluidly.
Publisher and Brand
🏢 Dynamite Entertainment
A respected indie publisher known for edgy, genre-pushing titles. Devolution fits right in with their catalog of bold storytelling.
Release Year
📅 2016
Brief Plot Summary
A catastrophic scientific experiment intended to remove humanity’s destructive tendencies backfires horribly, releasing a retrovirus that de-evolves every living organism on Earth. Civilization collapses overnight as people morph into primitive, prehistoric versions of themselves. Cities become warzones ruled by mutated beasts and tribal warlords. Amid this chaos, Raja—a survivor and former scientist—leads a desperate mission to locate the antidote she helped create.
Joined by a ragtag group of mercenaries, fanatics, and survivors, she must cross hostile territory, outwit devolved monstrosities, and confront the philosophical consequences of science run amok. But with hope diminishing and violence escalating, the real question becomes: can humanity evolve emotionally and ethically, even if their biology says otherwise?
Notable Arcs or Storylines
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“Patient Zero” – The origin of the virus and its connection to Raja’s failed experiment.
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“The Fall of Las Vegas” – A major turning point where the group witnesses the full scope of societal collapse.
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“Salvation vs. Savagery” – An internal moral and ideological conflict between Raja and Salvador, culminating in a devastating betrayal.
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“Rebirth or Extinction” – The final confrontation with Scorch and the morally ambiguous conclusion about the cost of playing god.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
🧠 Philosophical Allegory: Many readers interpret Devolution as an allegory for humanity’s internal struggle between reason and instinct. Raja represents science and progress, while Salvador embodies blind belief. Their dynamic speaks to real-world debates on faith, technology, and responsibility.
🔍 The Virus as Metaphor: The retrovirus has been viewed as a metaphor for societal regression — a commentary on how easily civilization can unravel when empathy and reason are cast aside.
⚗️ Eternal Recurrence Theory: Some fans suggest that the cycle of devolution and attempted redemption mirrors Nietzsche’s concept of eternal recurrence — implying that humanity is doomed to repeat its mistakes unless it fundamentally changes.
Review Summary
💥 Devolution is a visceral, thought-provoking ride through a world stripped of progress and civility. Rick Remender’s script is unapologetically raw, merging science fiction with sharp sociopolitical commentary. The characters are flawed, layered, and constantly tested, making for a compelling narrative full of moral ambiguity.
🎨 Jon Wayshak’s art is intensely detailed and unsettling, perfectly suited for the world of chaos and mutation. Jordan Boyd’s colors enhance the gritty atmosphere, pulling readers into a world teetering between madness and hope.
Whether you're a fan of dystopian fiction, psychological thrillers, or sci-fi action with a pulse, Devolution offers a brutal, imaginative look at what happens when evolution reverses — and humanity is left to pick up the pieces. 🦴🔥🧪
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
