Comics
Review: ‘Undertow’ #1
“Undertow” is billed as a “new pulp monster series” but it’s clear very early on in this first issue that it’s indeed a very shrewd look at our current socio-politic climate skillfully disguised as a pulp monster series. This is a statement comic that’s mixed with a spoonful of kickass sugar.
WRITTEN BY: Steve Orlando
ART BY: Artyom Trakhanov
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: February 19, 2014
The first issue of “Undertow” kicks off mid-action, dropping us in the middle of a battle between the militia of Atlantis and a rebellion. Atlantis is a world superpower—bloated, greedy, lots of first-world problems. Sound familiar? Orlando himself described his version of Atlantis as “fat and rich, an enormous metropolis driven by self interest and materialism.” So when Redum Anshargal, the leader of the Rebellion offers a young Atlantean, Ukinni Alal, the chance to join him and fight the corruption of Atlantis, Ukinni’s leaves his cushy existence behind.
The Rebellion lives aboard a watertight city barge called The Deliverer. They are currently on the hunt for an Amphibian in order to find a way to breathe air on land (they are confined to water helmets when not under water). In their minds, this is the way to complete freedom. It’s clear that this is a setup for a much larger problem and probably a realization that what they thought was freedom was only a start.
Initially it appears that “Undertow” is set in a prehistoric world, before caveman developed into Man. But upon further consideration, it’s quite possible that “Undertow” is set in the present or even future, and it’s an alternate reality in which Man never came to be. Atlantis is the evolved culture, and humanity is still nothing more than uncivilized beasts.
This comic flawlessly showcases an interesting juxtaposition of a high fantasy world we are completely unfamiliar with and a way of life we are immersed in. Orlando takes familiar aspects of our 21st century life like war, rebellions, and terrorism and mixes them with staples of the Millennial Generation. Things like overbearing parents, over privileged children, impossible political and career expectations, and even sneaking alcohol from your parent’s stash to get blotto on the weekends, to create a hyper-real existence that makes this fantasy realm feel eerie in its authenticity.
I’m impressed with Orlando’s ability to leave so many aspects uncertain without the reader feeling lost. For example, I’m not entirely sure whether or not the Rebellion is a good or bad thing. And it is not totally clear if Redum Anshargal has pure motives. Is he a hero? Antihero? Villain? While I am leaning toward Antihero, part of me feels like the rug could be pulled out from underneath us at any moment.
Intended to be a somewhat exaggerated mirror of our modern life and our modern consolations, “Undertow” definitely sets out to make the reader think. But it also sets out to entertain. This is a brilliantly crafted and illustrated comic. The pacing is quick but relentless and the characters are extremely multifaceted. Aside from any agenda, the comic stands strong on its own as a dystopian fantasy adventure.
4.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Bree Ogden
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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