The Wake is a sci-fi story which takes place over the course of two generations. In its first half, we are introduced to a team of individuals tasked with learning the origin of a newly discovered and vicious underwater organism. When conflict erupts during their research, not only is the crew put in danger, but so is the rest of the globe. With time of the essence and their lives in constant mortal threat, this ragtag group including a scientist, a historian, and a poacher are forced to work together to understand a previously undiscovered race of marine humanoids.
The second act of the story shifts in tone considerably. Set 200 years in the future from where the story first took place, readers are introduced to a world formed by the consequences of years prior. As such, we follow the story of Leeward and her dolphin pal Dash as they scavenge and fight for survival in what’s left of North America.
When Leeward stumbles upon an old communique from one of the scientists from two hundred years ago, she is thrust into an outrageous adventure readers will have to see to believe.
The two acts of the story are parallel in tone, with the first part of the story reading like a deep sea horror thriller, and the latter acting, on the surface, like a swashbuckler. One story is dark, the other is bright and vibrant. Yet neither take away from each other: they complement with their differences.
Snyder crafts a story as thrilling as it is intelligently written. Amidst its well-paced arcs and cool characters are dabbles of scientific facts which enhance the experience of the whole graphic novel. On art, Murphy dazzles with his distinctive character designs and knack for world building. Every panel crafts the world of The Wake into a visually unique entity.
The Wake’s publisher, Vertigo Comics, at one time reigned supreme as the leader in cutting-edge graphic novels for mature readers. Founded in 1993, the company helped introduce audiences to notable works such as Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Alan Moore’s Watchmen. That being said, Vertigo has garnered some serious competition in recent years.
Image Comics has dominated the market as of late and is arguably the new leader of adult-oriented comics. This has led many to question the future of Vertigo’s existence in the comic book industry. However, if The Wake is any indication of the company’s future, fans can rest easy. Vertigo shows no signs of tucking its tail between its legs just yet.
Killer Mermaids, Colossal Cruise ship tipping monsters . . . and a dolphin in body armour. This and many more wild and amazing things are what await readers who pick up the thrilling tale that is The Wake. While the story is far from perfect — notably, it suffers from a convoluted ending — it certainly comes very close.
Brought to you by prolific Batman scribe Scott Snyder and arguably the best artist in comics today (in this connoisseur’s eyes), is a testament to well-written science fiction horror the world over. It is also proof that with the right creative team, even something as previously child-friendly as mermaids can be made absolutely horrific.
