KNEE DEEP

Two hundred years after a worldwide eco-catastrophe, a teenager descends into the vast labyrinth of deep sewers and tunnels beneath a ruined city in search of her parents.

Flood kicks off this series opener by pitching 16-year-old Sarah “Cricket” Higashi, daughter of two long-missing scientists, deep into the sodden, rubble-strewn bowels of the earth, where she battles foes ranging from evil mining company PERCH’s armed corporate goons to (inevitably) alligators and falls in with a cast of rough, tough subterranean fugitives and mutants. These characters are reminiscent of the Star Wars and Mad Max universes, not to mention Howard the Duck, as humanoid but mallard-headed hybrid Bill takes her under his wing just in time for a rousing climactic clash. Wielding a length of iron bed frame and making good use of her kendo master’s lessons, Cricket fits readily into this wretched hive of subterranean scum and villainy as she begins her journey into darkness and danger. In addition to Cricket’s Japanese heritage, diversity in the cast is cued through names and physical appearance. The dynamic illustrations, executed in rich, vibrant colors and laid out in interestingly varied panels, are captivating and dramatic. This volume closes on a cliffhanger that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

A strong start featuring both a memorable dystopian setting and an intrepid hero ready to take names and bash heads.