Author: Tom Taylor
Artist: James Brouwer
Publisher: Gestalt
Plot: Undersea explorers and adventures the Nekton family head out to investigate an island that not only managed to be unaffected by a tsunami that passed through it, but moved it’s geographic location. On the island they find an unexpected answer and search for clues that will lead them to Atlantis.
Review: If you didn’t read the original outing of the Nekton family in The Deep: Here Be Dragons then you really should go and read a copy. As in right now. Go. Shoo.
Good. Wasn’t that great? It really puts one in the mind of a mid-80s cartoon series about a family living in unusual circumstances and I really want a set of Nekton family action figures with a Arronax Submarine playset like I had for Voltron. There’s something fantastically all-ages about this series. It’s clear that it comes from a genuine sense of wonder and adventure rather than trying to please a particular audience and as a result will appeal to pretty much everyone except the most cynical among us. The central concept of The Deep is that the Nekton family, who come from a long line of aquatic explorers travel the oceans of the globe in their awesome, high-tech submarine – The Arronax – and partake in adventures whilst searching for the fabled lost city.
Having established the world of the Nekton’s and the supporting cast (including the Jeffery the fish) in the first volume Here Be Dragons the story begins in earnest in The Vanishing Island. The Nekton’s take the Arronax to the the source of the mysterious happenings with their new cast-mate in tow. Nereus was introduced as a fisherman but was later revealed to have knowledge of the deep than he initially let on. Exploration of the island involves unearthing tombs, examining relics, awesome gadgets and some damn suspenseful action. The final reveal certainly does disappoint either – a solid pay-off in what was already an exciting story.
If you followed our instructions to read the first volume at the beginning of the review then you should be well prepped for The Vanishing Island. Go and get it.
