Dr. Atlantis #1
Dr. Atlantis from publisher Rare Earth Comics asks it’s readers an important question; have you ever had a weird friend? Not just kind of weird but somebody so weird they literally suck you in and you end up spending every waking moment with them. If the reader can even imagine saying yes to such a broad question Dr. Atlantis has something to offer them. The series is originally a kickstarter project and is now collected in a published black and white form. Creators Ian Alley-Seals and Carl Mefferd are telling a story so distinct and heartwarming, readers will imagine themselves in almost every scenario in the comic.
Dr. Atlantis evokes an Indiana Jones type mixed with pirate sensibilities. Shrouding a lead character in mystery can lead to a wealth of interesting and exciting stories, which is where the first volume of the strip really delivers. Readers are given an emotional hook into the series in the character known simply as Chosot who is severely wounded by a giant lobster. Dr. Atlantis immediately comes to the rescue with his arsenal of weapons and strange ship known as The Atlantis. The doctor has much of the bravado and silly confidence that was contained in the old Aquaman comics. There are not many pure adventure comics on the stands today and this tale will suck you in with it’s deft sense of humour and breakneck pace. The three stories contained in the volume all suck the reader in, they are stand alone while still being slightly interconnected.
Any reader of this comic will notice the art right away, it has as much confidence as the lead character. While this book is in black and white, it utilizes the format in such a way that color has a chance of detracting from the story. The pencils by Mefferd are so incredibly explosive and kinetic the strip successfully renders the illusion of motion. Backgrounds and panel borders are sparse because this strip will demand attention of your eye on one place. Facial expressions are mostly lost on current comic book creators, which is where Mefferd shines.
A piece of the story that may be glossed over by some is that all of the characters in the story go through a character arc. When we first meet Chosot he seems like the most innocent character in all of comics, yet in the next chapter he commits a heinous act. Even the characters are slowly growing and evolving the comic never stops being fun. At the end of the day the story is more than a simple action tale with a big plot, because the characters are so interesting.
The first volume of Dr. Atlantis contains raw energy and offers readers an adventure story that will stand the test of time. Anyone who traverses these waters will be encapsulated by the expressive art, and will stay for the great characters. This absurd mix of Indiana Jones and Aquaman will grab your attention and likely not let go until the last page is turned.
Dr. Atlantis evokes an Indiana Jones type mixed with pirate sensibilities. Shrouding a lead character in mystery can lead to a wealth of interesting and exciting stories, which is where the first volume of the strip really delivers. Readers are given an emotional hook into the series in the character known simply as Chosot who is severely wounded by a giant lobster. Dr. Atlantis immediately comes to the rescue with his arsenal of weapons and strange ship known as The Atlantis. The doctor has much of the bravado and silly confidence that was contained in the old Aquaman comics. There are not many pure adventure comics on the stands today and this tale will suck you in with it’s deft sense of humour and breakneck pace. The three stories contained in the volume all suck the reader in, they are stand alone while still being slightly interconnected.
Any reader of this comic will notice the art right away, it has as much confidence as the lead character. While this book is in black and white, it utilizes the format in such a way that color has a chance of detracting from the story. The pencils by Mefferd are so incredibly explosive and kinetic the strip successfully renders the illusion of motion. Backgrounds and panel borders are sparse because this strip will demand attention of your eye on one place. Facial expressions are mostly lost on current comic book creators, which is where Mefferd shines.
A piece of the story that may be glossed over by some is that all of the characters in the story go through a character arc. When we first meet Chosot he seems like the most innocent character in all of comics, yet in the next chapter he commits a heinous act. Even the characters are slowly growing and evolving the comic never stops being fun. At the end of the day the story is more than a simple action tale with a big plot, because the characters are so interesting.
The first volume of Dr. Atlantis contains raw energy and offers readers an adventure story that will stand the test of time. Anyone who traverses these waters will be encapsulated by the expressive art, and will stay for the great characters. This absurd mix of Indiana Jones and Aquaman will grab your attention and likely not let go until the last page is turned.
A Look Inside
