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The
Atlantean dream is over. Atlantis’ once-shining society has
deteriorated into dissolute plutocracy. The only escape, for some of its
citizens who want freedom from its constricts, is in the unknown
frontier on the surface of the ocean. In the September graphic novel
UNDERTOW by Steve Orlando and Artyom Trakhanov, the rebel Redum
Anshargal leads a crew of Atlantean defectors toward an uncertain
future.
Joining
Anshargal in VOLUME ONE: BOATMAN’S CALL, as he chases a rumor of the
mysterious “Amphibian” who may be the key to living on land as well as
in the ocean, is Ukinuu Alal, a young man from a wealthy family who
chose to abandon a life a privilege for one of freedom.
For
writer Orlando, the tension between the two men’s relationship with
their homeland is the heart of the story. “Both have so much anger, but
how do they react to it?” he said in an interview at Broken Frontier.
“For Anshargal, it is detachment. He hates Atlantis, but simply wants
to live away from it. Living well is the best revenge, that is. For
Ukinnu, though, his is a younger anger, more petulant, and he wants to
hurt Atlantis — to get back at it, for grinding him through its social
soul-crushing machine.”
Orlando’s
partnership with Russian artist Trakhanov arises from a shared love of
pulp and science fiction — and, of course, comics. Trakhanov makes use
of scratchy inks, vivid, clashing colors, and underwater visuals that
can be murky but never muddled to create the world of UNDERTOW.
“Artyom’s
influence is huge; much of the visuals and tone come from him,” said
Orlando. “My design notes are almost always emotional rather than
visual, noting how the creations should make other characters in the
story or readers feel, the thoughts they should evoke, and then Artyom
runs that through his artistic powers and creates something amazing.”
UNDERTOW
VOLUME ONE: BOATMAN’S CALL also includes never-before-printed stories
set in the UNDERTOW universe by Blair Butler (HEART) and TJ Kirsch
(OUTLAW TERRITORY), Leila del Duca (SHUTTER) and Tony Gregori with
colors by Mike Spicer (Sons of Anarchy), and Tyler Niccum (OUTLAW TERRITORY) and Yaroslav Astapeev.
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