There is something oddly comforting about a comic that starts with humanity already gone. If Destruction Be Our Lot… #1 places us into a world where humans have long been dead, leaving the robots who took care of them to carry on without us, but somehow manages to have a brighter horizon. Instead, writers Matthew Rosenberg & Mark Elijah Rosenberg and artist Andy MacDonald take this cold, post-apocalyptic setup, and turn it into a surprisingly human story following a robot who refuses to accept that this is all there is.
Humanity is extinct and all that remains are the robots who once helped us. The robots who once helped us are happier now, doing their work without human interference. But not Abe. He believes there must be something more out there. After nearly getting killed, he’s determined to wander the Earth until he finds it—or gets recycled trying.
The Rosenberg brothers have crafted a story in If Destruction Be Our Lot…, that is about the robots left behind after humans have seemingly gone extinct, but somehow finds humanity in the inhuman. There is this emotional connection felt between us as the reader and the robotic Abraham Lincoln that Matthew and Mark Elijah have been able to conjure up that I was not expecting, but glad exists.
Abe Lincoln of this comic is one to break from the mold and the everyday duties of a robot here to serve humans and think outside the box, wondering what else is there for these remaining robots now that humans are not around. Using Lincoln as this main character is such a perfect choice, getting to see Abe exploring this post-apocalyptic landscape as a robot and not the real life person who lived and died made the already outstanding premise even better.
A unique sci-fi concept that had me gripped from the start, thankful the debut issue was extra length. A story where the world seems quiet, but also speaks volumes. How the minds of the Rosenbergs crafted this story is beyond me, but they nail it completely.
Building on the feeling of humanity without humans is the illustrations by MacDonald and colors by Francesco Segala. In a cold world, with jagged edges of robotic beings, the art team finds a way to include a warmth and beauty. A desolate world that feels like there is hope on the horizon with exploration beyond the boundaries.
Brother writing team of Matthew & Mark Elijah Rosenberg and artist Andy MacDonald craft a story in If Destruction Be Our Lot… that somehow finds humanity in the inhuman after the living have gone extinct. A science-fiction exploration where lonely robots search for a purpose in a post-apocalyptic world. A must-read comic where there are more questions than answers, leading to a compulsive need for more.
If Destruction Be Our Lot… #1 hits local comic shops on May 6, 2026 (FOC: April 13) from Image Comics.
If Destruction Be Our Lot… #1 Covers Preview
