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“Deep Beyond” #1

By | February 5th, 2021
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Visually, “Deep Beyond” #1 is a stunner. The unwieldy story, however, can feel a bit unfocused and unnecessarily complicated. (Warning: may contain minor spoilers.)

Cover by Andrea Broccardo

Written by Mirka Andolfo and David Goy
Illustrated by Andrea Broccardo
Colored by Barbara Nosenzo
Lettered by Fabio Amelia

In an underpopulated future Earth, devastated by the dire consequences of the millennium bug, the survival of mankind—and, maybe, of the planet itself—is handled by a small number of people. Talented scientists who, despite the adverse situation and the stupid feuds that continue to divide the small number of people still alive, try to understand and study what is hidden in the depths of the abyss. Something mysterious and dangerous, which could eventually cause an even worse and more destructive catastrophe! The 100 meets LOW, with a hint of Death Stranding in the brand-new sci-fi thriller series from acclaimed creator MIRKA ANDOLFO (UNNATURAL, MERCY), teaming up with writer DAVID GOY and rising-star artist ANDREA BROCCARDO (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Empyre: X-Men) and colorist BARBARA NOSENZO (The Ballad of Halo Jones).

Without question, the artwork for “Deep Beyond” #1 knocks it out of the park. The story was written by Mirka Andolfo and David Goy, but I have to believe Andolfo had significant influence on the book’s art and design. Much like Andolfo’s work, illustrator Andrea Broccardo’s lines are exceptionally clean and dynamic. Barbara Nosenzo’s vibrant colors are similarly striking, with simple highlights and shading that make the characters pop. Paired with interesting poses and great paneling, there’s a tangible, 3D quality to the characters that really brings them to life. Well placed warm and cool accent colors accentuate Nosenzo’s palettes that tend to feature lush purples and aquamarines, pale green, light red and orange. Not exactly every color in the 64-pack of crayons, but definitely all of the right ones. It all has a hi-tech sheen and an eerie, otherworldly glow.

Much of the story takes place in medium-wide sequences, but when Broccardo and Nosenzo cut to a close-up, they take full advantage. Throughout the book, the characters’ expressions and body language read like frozen moments in time, distilling each scene down to its essence. In the relatively few panels where we see characters in close-up, the effect is riveting. The characters’ faces draw you in and they refuse to let go.

Broccardo and Nosenzo also completely nail the design of the various biohazard and safety suits. They’re futuristic, clean, expertly colored and authentically hi-tech. The survivors of this nightmare – whatever it is – haven’t been slacking off or stumbling their way through a grimy post-industrial hellscape. They’ve been busily doing science and it seems to be paying off.

Well, except when it comes to the monsters and eco-terrorists. Which leads us to the story.

After reading comic twice, it still isn’t easy to neatly and briefly summarize what actually happens. With one character sending desperate May Day radio calls while another unleashes a horrific ‘birthday surprise’ and a third stares into his drink, wallowing in the past, it’s hard to figure out who we’re supposed to root for, much less follow the interwoven plotlines.

It’s a first issue, I get it. There needs to be lots of intrigue and several compelling unanswered questions. Here, we get that in spades, with at least three separate subplots that are likely capable of carrying the book on their own.

What we do know for sure is this: it’s the year 2085, precisely 85 years since an unspecified catastrophe filled the world with toxins and made the world unlivable in “the poisonous, dangerous wilds.” As the story opens, it happens to be Remembrance Day, presumably to commemorate the apocalyptic disaster that forced the survivors to retreat into climate controlled, hermetically sealed structures. There’s also some stuff about various independent colonies, only one of which is able to clone cows for milk and meat. Maybe the rest specialize in tofu and cashew milk.

If it sounds like a lot, it is. To the point where you can’t say for sure if the inciting incident is the arrival of what may be a ghastly fungus, an eco-terrorist attack or the sudden, surprising appearance of a long-lost sibling. All of which is set in a dystopian, plague-ridden world where every colony must fend for itself. Kind of like “The Hunger Games” with a kaiju twist, mashed-up with “Dept. H” and your favorite monster-hunter series.

Continued below

As for the monsters themselves, we only get partial glimpses. They’re colorful, they’re squishy, they kind of look like rubbery plants and at least one of them has a face. Beyond that, not much is known.

Presumably, the overarching narrative is tied together by a common character, but I’m not entirely sure. The book can be pretty trippy at times. It’s not a light, breezy read. But damn, it looks amazing.

Final Verdict: 7.3 If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward book, you might want to sit this one out. The exceptional art, however, may convince you to put in the work.


John Schaidler

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