There is a level of attraction for readers of high fantasy which usually draws them to Terry Brooks in the first place. His books are usually steeped in lore and imagined worlds shaped by the past. Each story carefully taking the reader on a journey through eyes of a few narrators, each possessing an attribute that his audience can empathize with. Take for instance his Shannara Chronicles books, which spans over hundreds of years and literally feels like it has a cast of thousands. Of

As one of the first books that introduces readers to the Sword of Shannara, gave readers a ground floor view of what his world yielded.  The book that often got many readers including me enveloped into this mythology was First King of Shannara, the prequel to Genesis of Shannara book series. I often wondered if this could apply to many of the superheroes that occupies the current pantheon within comics? We get one such story that begin in the first issue, “The Deluge” of Atlantis Chronicles, as we find out how the mighty kingdom of Atlantis rose up those many years ago before Aquaman.

We meet Albart of Ancinor, a historian, who has seen enough of the royal family to understand that his current appointment does not dismiss the disarray the royal court has been in since King Orin has been in power and his contentious relationship with his brother, Prince Shalako. As one of the many mistakes he carries out is sharing the realm’s weapons with neighboring city-states which causes one sovereign to invade the kingdom’s borders, further causing dissention amongst the court including Shalako who believes in the worst of people, leading to a major disagreement between the brothers. As Orin orders the building of a dome to protect all Atlanteans, something which Shalako doesn’t think will be enough. As the dome s completed the warring city state who had invaded them, requested a truce between their two realms, one that Shalako sought the power of The Dark Gods to intervene where he felt his brother failed. As this would have a price, as a meteoroid strikes Earth, it would also affect Atlantis. As Orin sends his emissary, Rajar, the neighboring city state takes their revenge, killing Orin’s old guard. By issue’s end, Orin comes around to Shalako’s way of thinking, in what goes into far reaching consequences, and what might mean the destruction of Atlantis.

Overall, a dense history that feels almost biblical in its telling while reminding readers that these were the descendants of Aquaman. The story by Peter David is engrossing and heartbreaking. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a fascinating prequel that makes Atlantis even more epic than it does with Aquaman included.

Story: Peter David Art: Esteban Maroto and Eric Kachelhofer
Story: 10 Art: 9.7 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy