Surface Tension #4
Titan Comics 2015
Written & Illustrated by Jay Gunn
The ‘Sea Sickness’ swept the world. 99% of the world’s human population walked into the sea, drawn by mysterious coral structures. There, they dissolved.
Two people – Megumi Suzuki and Ryan Fisher – returned to the island of Breith, home to a community of survivors. Fearing further infection, the pair were quarantined.
Megumi, with the help of Mary Maybel, has been unlocking the memories of her return, including her connection to the coral, and the dreamlike, interconnected world it contains. Her guide within that world is a mysterious figure in a shell-like mask, wreathed in an iridescent cloak.
Ryan’s alcoholic father survived the Sea Sickness – but no-one knows the fate of his younger brother, Kyle. Ryan and his former girlfriend, Shauna, have gone to his home to investigate.
Something monstrous returned with Megumi and Ryan, seeking to return them to the sea. While the residents of Breith retreat to St. Brendan’s Church to wait out the oncoming storm, island leader Jean Cassel has mustered a last stand against it…
I am always a huge fan when a book is done completely by one person. It’s a chance to really enjoy exactly what the creator has envisioned fully. Jay started out with this amazingly unique concept and with each issue we’ve seen more and more of it revealed in such great ways. This issue the unexpected reveal as to what the Selkie’s actually are came as a huge shock and made complete sense.
We’ve seen them kind of like pets but we never knew what they were. I thought perhaps they were animals at one time but with Ryan and Megumi’s return and their transformations we see that they share with us than we could have possibly guessed. This is a little thing that has massive consequences and that alone is the kind of stuff that as a reader I think is hugely important.
Ryan has wondered what happened to his brother Kyle since his return. This issue we learn just what has happened to him. Nothing can prepare you for what we find.
Meanwhile Megumi’s own change and her memories are focused on and this again is another wow moment in a series full of them. Her connection to the coral and what she has learned about the situation is all coming back to her and is on display for us.
Lest we forget Jean has a team out facing off against the giant beast that has also come ashore. It’s horrific and fearsome to behold and it’s intelligence means that its much more terrifying to encounter. Only after being distracted and humans unable to affect it do they learn who it’s after. Mary and Megumi are it’s target and it’s more than likely because of what the two women are doing and learning. Knowledge after all is power.
This is such an intense story of survival. The coral thinks that the humans have ruined the planet and they are trying to revive the planet, heal it as it were by removing the cause. Only Erik who's been part of the coral for so long is communicating with Megumi and we see her tell all he knows. It’s like suddenly the floodgates opened amidst all this interesting action and now it all kind of makes sense to me. The penultimate issue before the finally reveals so much that you wonder can Megumi save the human race in time or is this truly the end?
With stunningly gorgeous interiors and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat this is one not to be missed.
Titan Comics 2015
Written & Illustrated by Jay Gunn
The ‘Sea Sickness’ swept the world. 99% of the world’s human population walked into the sea, drawn by mysterious coral structures. There, they dissolved.
Two people – Megumi Suzuki and Ryan Fisher – returned to the island of Breith, home to a community of survivors. Fearing further infection, the pair were quarantined.
Megumi, with the help of Mary Maybel, has been unlocking the memories of her return, including her connection to the coral, and the dreamlike, interconnected world it contains. Her guide within that world is a mysterious figure in a shell-like mask, wreathed in an iridescent cloak.
Ryan’s alcoholic father survived the Sea Sickness – but no-one knows the fate of his younger brother, Kyle. Ryan and his former girlfriend, Shauna, have gone to his home to investigate.
Something monstrous returned with Megumi and Ryan, seeking to return them to the sea. While the residents of Breith retreat to St. Brendan’s Church to wait out the oncoming storm, island leader Jean Cassel has mustered a last stand against it…
I am always a huge fan when a book is done completely by one person. It’s a chance to really enjoy exactly what the creator has envisioned fully. Jay started out with this amazingly unique concept and with each issue we’ve seen more and more of it revealed in such great ways. This issue the unexpected reveal as to what the Selkie’s actually are came as a huge shock and made complete sense.
We’ve seen them kind of like pets but we never knew what they were. I thought perhaps they were animals at one time but with Ryan and Megumi’s return and their transformations we see that they share with us than we could have possibly guessed. This is a little thing that has massive consequences and that alone is the kind of stuff that as a reader I think is hugely important.
Ryan has wondered what happened to his brother Kyle since his return. This issue we learn just what has happened to him. Nothing can prepare you for what we find.
Meanwhile Megumi’s own change and her memories are focused on and this again is another wow moment in a series full of them. Her connection to the coral and what she has learned about the situation is all coming back to her and is on display for us.
Lest we forget Jean has a team out facing off against the giant beast that has also come ashore. It’s horrific and fearsome to behold and it’s intelligence means that its much more terrifying to encounter. Only after being distracted and humans unable to affect it do they learn who it’s after. Mary and Megumi are it’s target and it’s more than likely because of what the two women are doing and learning. Knowledge after all is power.
This is such an intense story of survival. The coral thinks that the humans have ruined the planet and they are trying to revive the planet, heal it as it were by removing the cause. Only Erik who's been part of the coral for so long is communicating with Megumi and we see her tell all he knows. It’s like suddenly the floodgates opened amidst all this interesting action and now it all kind of makes sense to me. The penultimate issue before the finally reveals so much that you wonder can Megumi save the human race in time or is this truly the end?
With stunningly gorgeous interiors and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat this is one not to be missed.
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