Dead Seas #1 Review

James Rodrigues of Rodders Reviews shares his thoughts on the 1st issue of Dead Seas

As part of IDW’s Originals imprint, prolific writer Cavan Scott introduces readers to a world where ghosts are real. As dangerous as they are valuable, their ectoplasm is capable of curing diseases. Prisoners can sign up to harvest this miraculous drug in exchange for a reduced sentence, which is the motivation behind prisoner Gus Ortiz as he believes it’s his best chance at seeing his daughter again.

Gus is one of many who arrives on the Perdition, a ship which holds spirits onboard because research shows they’re weakened at sea. There’s a sense this operation is struggling to stay afloat, as people dodge questions regarding safety while the equipment fails, and things go wrong. It’s an interesting bit of world-building which shows the state of such a seemingly necessary workforce, while this journey driven by his hopes may put Gus through the wringer.

Key to this issue is Nick Brokenshire, whose art captures the grisly forms of these ghosts while being wonderfully expressive in showcasing the character’s emotions. This is particularly true of Callow, an archetypal harbinger who’s experienced horrific stuff, offering hints while speaking in vague terms yet to be deciphered. It’s an intriguing first issue which holds one’s attention and offers promise for this six-issue miniseries.

Rating: 4/5