The creative team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Sean Murphy on a comic should be enough to get one interested in Vertigo’s new series The Wake. The first issue is exactly the solid comic I expected from these two.

When Lee Archer, a marine biologist, is approached by the Department of Homeland Security for help on a shadowy project, she promptly declines but soon realizes they won’t take no for an answer. Before long, Archer finds herself plunging to the depths of the Arctic Circle to an underwater oil rig where she comes face to face with their miraculous yet terrifying discovery.

The sci-fi/horror series has the feel of a tense thriller like the classic movies Jaws or The Abyss. It seems to sprawl from the beginning of man to an apocalyptic future. It’s goal is to answer the questions “Where have we been?” and “Where are we going?”. That’s a pretty lofty goal.

The first issue starts off in the future and ends in the past with mystery and intrigue in between. The comic shares a horror tone with Snyder’s American Vampire, a series that has grown on me immensely. Murphy’s art is the excellence you’d expect. The man has a distinctive style and it is awesome.

But it’s not just the set up that’s interesting it’s the characters we’re introduced to. While the mix is pretty paint by number, how they’re presented in their manner makes them interesting and putting these personalities together under water should create a horror story for the ages. There’s something about the mix, what they say, and how they’ve acted so far that has me intrigued. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s a solid cast of characters.

The Wake #1 is a promising start from some of comicdom’s hottest creators. Can’t wait to see where this one goes.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Sean Murphy
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Vertigo provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review