AfterShock Comics have announced “Last Line,” a British sci-fi adventure by writer Richard Dinnick (“Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor”) and artist Jose Holder (“Assassin’s Creed: Origins”) revolving around the London Underground train network. Colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick with lettering by Dave Sharpe, the book revolves around driver Sally Hazzard, who witnesses a man being killed after he is pushed in front of her train.
However, CCTV footage shows the man falling on his own, and the discrepancy draws the attention of MI6 agent Edward Tarn. He and Sally soon “discover an off-world explanation for the assassination, plus an alien invasion and the craziest plot twist of all: an interplanetary travel system buried deep beneath the London Underground!”
Dinnick states, “I am a Londoner. I have always loved the tube – as we call the London Underground train network – and I became fascinated when I discovered there were stations that were dubbed ‘ghost stations‘ because they were no longer used. I was also amazed to discover that the actual shape of the tube map is incredibly irregular and not the neat and beautiful layout Harry Beck’s wonderful map would lead us to believe! When I saw the actual layout, I immediately thought of the constellations and star maps and it went from there.”
Tonally, he describes the book as “fun,” likening it to Doctor Who, Star Trek and other fantasy series with “room for jokes and nods to the audience.” He promises it’ll have “characters you will love,” describing Sally as someone “who’s spent her life wanting to travel but going round in circles on the London Underground and suddenly transported to alien planets,” and Edward Tarn as a “down-to-earth military man,” who finds himself “way out of his depth with aliens and robots wormholes.”
“Last Line” #1 will be released on September 7, with a main cover by Andy Clarke with colorist Jose Villarrubia, and an incentive cover by Das Pastoras. It will retail for $4.99. In the meantime, you can check out an unlettered four-page preview, and a full Q&A with Dinnick:
RICHARD DINNICK ON WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT AND WHY HE IS EXCITED FOR IT TO COME OUT:
“LAST LINE is about a tube driver who discovers that while she’s been driving back and forth on the London Underground, there’s a whole other world beneath the wheels of her train that she’s about to fall into and have the ride of a lifetime! It takes the premise: what if the London Underground map is actually a star map of other planets? It’s got MI6 agents and SAS and the iconic London Underground slammed up against a diesel-punk robot, outlandish alien trains and an evil regime intent on universal domination. I’m thrilled that this is coming from AfterShock as we share a vision for the series and I’m very excited for everyone to see Jose Holder’s amazing art! It’s incredible.”
RICHARD DINNICK ON WHAT SOME OF HIS INSPIRATIONS WERE BEHIND CREATING THE BOOK:
“I am a Londoner. I have always loved the tube – as we call the London Underground train network – and I became fascinated when I discovered there were stations that were dubbed “ghost stations” because they were no longer used. I was also amazed to discover that the actual shape of the tube map is incredibly irregular and not the neat and beautiful layout Harry Beck’s wonderful map would lead us to believe! When I saw the actual layout, I immediately thought of the constellations and star maps and it went from there. I had always thought the Lost Property office (at Baker Street) would be the perfect entrance for a secret organization, too! I have always loved things hidden beneath or behind other things. One big inspiration for the lowering platforms was Thunderbirds (which I have written for on TV) where they hide huge spaceships and jet planes beneath swimming pools or behind cliffs with palm trees masking the entrance.”
RICHARD DINNICK ON (3) REASONS WHY COMIC READERS SHOULD PICK UP THIS BOOK:
“It’s fun. I am not a fan of anything that takes itself too seriously. I believe that in dealing with fantasy there should be room for jokes and nods to the audience. All the best fantasy does this – from Doctor Who and Star Trek to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
It’s got characters you will love. From Sally, who’s spent her life wanting to travel but going round in circles on the London Underground and suddenly transported to alien planets, to Edward Tarn, who is the most solitary and down-to-earth military man ever who finds himself way out of his depth with aliens and robots wormholes. From VIM, the sarcastic and superior diesel-punk droid who just wants a family, to Jaden, Sally’s younger brother who’s a geek but so wants to be seen as a tough guy “roadman.”
It’s original. I’ve never seen anything like this which is why I was compelled to create it. It’s very British but with an international appeal. It’s difficult to pigeonhole LAST LINE, but I guess if you love Doctor Who, or Harry Potter, or Stranger Things, or The Last Starfighter, or Men in Black, or Buffy, or a myriad other funky, weird adventures, you’e gonna love LAST LINE.”
RICHARD DINNICK ON HOW HE FIRST HEARD OF AFTERSHOCK AND IF HE HAS ANY FAVORITE TITLES OF THEIRS:
“I’ve known about AfterShock for a while as I am a big fan of Garth Ennis. It’s been a dream of mine to work with the wonderful Mike Marts and the team for a while. So when we met at SDCC a few years back (in the old times!), this was the first idea I pitched him. My favorite AfterShock titles that I would recommend to other comic book fans are: JIMMY’S BASTARDS and DREAMING EAGLES, as well as WE LIVE. And I’m really looking forward to A CALCULATED MAN.”
