The Goddamned Volume 1: Before The Flood

Rough. That's the word I would use to sum up this book. This is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended. This is a bare bones, brass tacks, cards on the table, beautifully rendered story of what the world might've been like before the Biblical Flood. And I could not put it down. This may sound strange when you consider that I'm a Christian, but I'm always ready to read or see something that might give me insight to my faith, and that's what Jason Aaron does. Yes there's some liberties taken that go against the good book (such as Noah being a religious fanatic), but that only makes me want to see what direction Aaron takes even further. For those looking for a great apocalyptic story, this is for you. Just keep, an open mind.

I loved the premise of this story. Without giving too much away, I can say it's a really bold retelling of the events leading up to the flood. Let's just say that this is a very reimagined Noah that you've never seen before. And the protagonist is well told--you'll be surprised who it is! I'm really looking forward to where this story continues. Artwork is excellent.My only complaint is that the world is very much "Mad Max" (total collapse of society). I was hoping to see some Sodom and Gomorrah type of setting (that would be more inline with the Book of Enoch), but this was OK too.

This starts with depictions of that period of depravity in Genesis before the flood as more fully and totally depraved than I imagined: cannibalism run rampant, defiling the land, brutal idiocy. Cain is father of murder, but he is also the most civilized being in this pre-flood Earth. Noah brings civilization, iron, and religion, but with it slavery and other forms of savagery. Jason Aaron's use of profanity is anachronistic but similar to Deadwood's attempt to use modern profanity to get across more arcane profanity. I suppose the major problem is that outside of Cain, the characters are so depraved or broken that it is hard to like anyone. Making Noah highly unsympathetic does help, but even that is limited in its creativity. Still, the world building here using fairly solid biblical background for a post-acolyptic landscape that is really pre-deluge is brilliant.

First and foremost, the comic is raw with the violence depicted, but it's not violent just for the sake of being shocking. Jason Aaron establishes a world where humanity is a moral cesspool, but it also touches on how it becomes a moral cesspool which I appreciate. Cain is the typical immortal anti-heroic loner that decides he wants to be a hero once more. The part of the story that I found the most disturbing yet the most genius was the way the children were depicted in this world. The children characters depiction and development truly drove home the theme of how violence spreads across generations.

Vivid and thought-provoking. What was humanity like before that Great Flood, when the world was young, before everything changed, before God had completed his great work, when man was wicked? The great questions, as they would be asked by of any biblical scholar or any Sunday-school child are laid bare and examined in grim and brutal detail. The dirt and the darkness and the drudgery of these imperfect lives, though they be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and yet somehow so fantastically long. The story is marvelous to behold and ingest.I only wish it was longer.

I was in love with the premise of this story. However, it was so bad. Seems like it was written by a 3rd grader. Cursing and violence just for the sake of cursing and violence. I probably curse more than most but most of this didn't even make sense. And none of the characters were likable. I love stories that are based on biblical stories that would piss off Christians. But, could not get through this one. I will not continue with more of the series unless they made changes.

Pretty fun take on the old testament. Obviously its jam packed with sex, violence, gore, and profanity. Nice and fun.

Not a Christian, but this story Before the Flood was something very special. It reminds me of apocalyptic stories, but was somehow unique among them. It is a land devoid of human decency and morality. There is no love and no trust left in the world, thanks to the son of Adam.

This was cool. Good interpretation .... brilliant art work. This is a cool book.

Always enjoy Jason Aaron he's a great writer and teaming up with the artist from scalped I can't wait to see where it goes.

Looking forward to more

Unbelievable book. Gritty and violent. No holds barred.Madmax meets the Bible

I liked it. Waiting for volume 2.