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The Wake
The Wake Part One
The first five issues of the acclaimed new Vertigo series THE WAKE are all collected in this new special!
112 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2013
5 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,766 books5,065 followersScott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 29, 2013
Dr Lee Archer is a cetologist and a single mother who’s approached by a shady government agent to take part in a secret underwater operation to identify the source of a strange sound off the Alaskan coast. The sound belongs to what seems to be a mermaid – but mermaids aren’t real (or are they?) and this one looks and behaves far more monstrously than their fairy tale creations, as Archer and her team are about to discover.
This is the first Scott Snyder book since American Vampire that I’ve not completely loved partly because the characters are so two-dimensional and partly because the story just isn’t very interesting. Archer (just the name!) is your standard moral scientist-type – you know Bill Paxton in Twister? That kind. She even has an evil double who’s in bed with the government – you can almost hear the same dialogue, “they’re not in it for the science, man!”.
Agent Cruz is your standard issue man in black government type, who talks in a monotone, is very secretive, and of course turns out to be duplicitous, while there’s a bounty hunter character who feels like he’s stepped out of an 80s action movie, who’s here to hunt rare species ‘cos he’s a tough guy! All of the characters are highly unoriginal and boring, and aren’t helped by Sean Murphy’s art. If you’ve read Punk Rock Jesus, you’ll notice how similar Archer looks to Gwen and Agent Cruz to Thomas McKael – it’s like Murphy has a handful of character designs and has to keep reusing them.
Story-wise, it’s fairly ok up to a point and then it becomes repetitive. The fish monster predictably escapes because there’s no story otherwise, you’ve got humans trapped in limited space, a cat and mouse chase ensues, and then the ending happens. Reading several issues in a row which are basically just characters running from a monster is frankly boring and there’s little variety in what happens. Move from one part of the station to the next, repeat.
Snyder does throw in some interesting scenes now and then, showing us a dystopian Waterworld-esque Earth set 200 years in the future, before hurtling us back hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of years back to the past, hinting at a much larger and mysterious story. I loved seeing these but unfortunately they are very brief snippets so most of the time you’re spent with a crew of unconvincing cardboard cut-outs running around. The good news is that the second part looks to be entirely set in the dystopian future with a new set of characters so I anticipate liking that book a lot more than I did this one.
Snyder’s writing in The Wake Part One isn’t especially brilliant – he’s always had the propensity to throw in plot-relevant anecdotes into his stories though in The Wake they feel very heavy-handed and awkwardly placed. At one point in the middle of a chase, the characters pause and wait while Archer tells a story! Murphy’s art is fine and I think his fish monster designs are effectively scary but I’m still not as in love with his art as many others are. The Wake is definitely readable despite the script’s flaws and has some interesting story moments but it’s not nearly as good as other books Snyder’s writing at the moment like Batman and Superman Unchained for DC. The Wake Part One is like Aliens crossed with The Abyss but not nearly as good as either.
This is the first Scott Snyder book since American Vampire that I’ve not completely loved partly because the characters are so two-dimensional and partly because the story just isn’t very interesting. Archer (just the name!) is your standard moral scientist-type – you know Bill Paxton in Twister? That kind. She even has an evil double who’s in bed with the government – you can almost hear the same dialogue, “they’re not in it for the science, man!”.
Agent Cruz is your standard issue man in black government type, who talks in a monotone, is very secretive, and of course turns out to be duplicitous, while there’s a bounty hunter character who feels like he’s stepped out of an 80s action movie, who’s here to hunt rare species ‘cos he’s a tough guy! All of the characters are highly unoriginal and boring, and aren’t helped by Sean Murphy’s art. If you’ve read Punk Rock Jesus, you’ll notice how similar Archer looks to Gwen and Agent Cruz to Thomas McKael – it’s like Murphy has a handful of character designs and has to keep reusing them.
Story-wise, it’s fairly ok up to a point and then it becomes repetitive. The fish monster predictably escapes because there’s no story otherwise, you’ve got humans trapped in limited space, a cat and mouse chase ensues, and then the ending happens. Reading several issues in a row which are basically just characters running from a monster is frankly boring and there’s little variety in what happens. Move from one part of the station to the next, repeat.
Snyder does throw in some interesting scenes now and then, showing us a dystopian Waterworld-esque Earth set 200 years in the future, before hurtling us back hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of years back to the past, hinting at a much larger and mysterious story. I loved seeing these but unfortunately they are very brief snippets so most of the time you’re spent with a crew of unconvincing cardboard cut-outs running around. The good news is that the second part looks to be entirely set in the dystopian future with a new set of characters so I anticipate liking that book a lot more than I did this one.
Snyder’s writing in The Wake Part One isn’t especially brilliant – he’s always had the propensity to throw in plot-relevant anecdotes into his stories though in The Wake they feel very heavy-handed and awkwardly placed. At one point in the middle of a chase, the characters pause and wait while Archer tells a story! Murphy’s art is fine and I think his fish monster designs are effectively scary but I’m still not as in love with his art as many others are. The Wake is definitely readable despite the script’s flaws and has some interesting story moments but it’s not nearly as good as other books Snyder’s writing at the moment like Batman and Superman Unchained for DC. The Wake Part One is like Aliens crossed with The Abyss but not nearly as good as either.
January 30, 2017
The first comics I've read that was created by the Snyder/Murply tandem was one of the short stories in New 52's Detective Comics #27. I absolutely loved that part of the super-sized special. Back then, Scott Snyder was paired with Greg Capullo in their legendary Batman run. Sean Murphy on the other hand is already making waves of his own. Though I didn't actually like his Punk Rock Jesus, I thought that his art would really shine.
Yep, you have that one in The Wake.
Then there's The Wake. I am so elated that finally, we'll get to see a full-blown story written by Snyder and drawn by Murphy. And let me tell you, this team really works! I love the cinematic appeal this comics has. Set in a rig far below the depths of the ocean, the story follows marine biologist and cetologist (crudely defined as a whale scientist) Lee Archer and her crew in uncovering a mystery behind a creature the rig workers had found. The story starts with Arrival-ish (Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner) feels, with a crack team on a quest to solve a puzzle, then things turned out drastically different at the end.
What I liked the least about The Wake is Snyder's tendency to over-lecture his readers about history and folklore. Although long-time readers of Snyder will definitely know that it is bound to happen somewhere in the story, The Wake is filled with exposition that there are times it felt really awkward for a certain character to be delivering a lesson given the circumstance they are in, .
The Wake part one feels so underwater that Aquaman could have popped-up outta nowhere and participated in whatever is happening in the story. I love it as it is and I wish to see it in the big screen someday.
Yep, you have that one in The Wake.
Then there's The Wake. I am so elated that finally, we'll get to see a full-blown story written by Snyder and drawn by Murphy. And let me tell you, this team really works! I love the cinematic appeal this comics has. Set in a rig far below the depths of the ocean, the story follows marine biologist and cetologist (crudely defined as a whale scientist) Lee Archer and her crew in uncovering a mystery behind a creature the rig workers had found. The story starts with Arrival-ish (Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner) feels, with a crack team on a quest to solve a puzzle, then things turned out drastically different at the end.
What I liked the least about The Wake is Snyder's tendency to over-lecture his readers about history and folklore. Although long-time readers of Snyder will definitely know that it is bound to happen somewhere in the story, The Wake is filled with exposition that there are times it felt really awkward for a certain character to be delivering a lesson given the circumstance they are in, .
The Wake part one feels so underwater that Aquaman could have popped-up outta nowhere and participated in whatever is happening in the story. I love it as it is and I wish to see it in the big screen someday.
August 18, 2014
Compelling story and fantastic artwork. Sean Murphy does a wonderful job of capturing the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere and the monsters are quite creepy. Scott Snyder's writing is great as one would expect from him, though the dialog does occasionally get a little exposition-y but not enough for me to dock a star.
The Wake vol 1 is great. Vol 2 is really really good but I was a bit disappointed in the final issue. Overall this was a fantastic series to follow monthly. Highly recommended.
The Wake vol 1 is great. Vol 2 is really really good but I was a bit disappointed in the final issue. Overall this was a fantastic series to follow monthly. Highly recommended.
March 30, 2024
This was a quite interesting read. I like the characters in the dialogue and the art was quite good.
May 22, 2014
Scott Snyder did it again, he construct a fallen world,in which the deep blue come to reclaim the land, in an amazing story that got a bit of everything: Sci-Fi, thriller, horror, myth, folklore, history... with an amazing artwork by Sean Murphy that will take back to the time when The Thing was the thing :)
My only issue with the first part was the heroin :/ something was missing, a mysterious past that didn't quite unfold... then the first part came to end and the second start after The Wake, with a new heroine that is more likable that the first :) and the story took another turn in it that's more interesting.
So, this first part a kind of a build up to the second part, but a unique story in itself that can stand on its own, I think :)
I can't wait to see how everything gonna wrap up... 3 more issues to go :)
For covers and spoilers
My only issue with the first part was the heroin :/ something was missing, a mysterious past that didn't quite unfold... then the first part came to end and the second start after The Wake, with a new heroine that is more likable that the first :) and the story took another turn in it that's more interesting.
So, this first part a kind of a build up to the second part, but a unique story in itself that can stand on its own, I think :)
I can't wait to see how everything gonna wrap up... 3 more issues to go :)
For covers and spoilers
January 23, 2014
It takes a little while to get going, because Snyder has to lay some ground work before getting into the real meat of the story, and ultimately, his horror mystery.
But when it does start rolling, it turns into a science fiction horror story that reminded me a little of The Thing (the secluded scientists tampering with things they shouldn't be) and by the final part it's more like a monster story. Tipping slightly into different genres, with the final twist which promises the story to dove tale into another different genre. But all the time, Snyder sticks close to the genre he's best at which is horror.
I'm still not quite there yet on what the deal is with Sean Murphy as an artist. I like his work and his panel design, but I'm still failing to see what all the hype is about surrounding him. Maybe I need to read Punk Rock Jesus.
But when it does start rolling, it turns into a science fiction horror story that reminded me a little of The Thing (the secluded scientists tampering with things they shouldn't be) and by the final part it's more like a monster story. Tipping slightly into different genres, with the final twist which promises the story to dove tale into another different genre. But all the time, Snyder sticks close to the genre he's best at which is horror.
I'm still not quite there yet on what the deal is with Sean Murphy as an artist. I like his work and his panel design, but I'm still failing to see what all the hype is about surrounding him. Maybe I need to read Punk Rock Jesus.
September 27, 2015
4.5/5
Soooo... I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. I thought it was going to be like The Massive; which I am not a fan of as of 3 issues in - probably just because of the fact that they're both set out at sea/in the sea.
Part one is basically a set up for the actual protagonists story and history to make sense, in case anyone was wondering.
I did get a bit teary throughout, which is surprising considering that it's not actually a full volume and hasn't had a lot of time to allow me to relate or connect with any characters, but I did feel for them.
If you like the movie Alien... and the game Dead Space even? then you would probably really enjoy this!
Soooo... I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. I thought it was going to be like The Massive; which I am not a fan of as of 3 issues in - probably just because of the fact that they're both set out at sea/in the sea.
Part one is basically a set up for the actual protagonists story and history to make sense, in case anyone was wondering.
I did get a bit teary throughout, which is surprising considering that it's not actually a full volume and hasn't had a lot of time to allow me to relate or connect with any characters, but I did feel for them.
If you like the movie Alien... and the game Dead Space even? then you would probably really enjoy this!
August 6, 2016
Imagine a cross between Alien and the Abyss. If that sounds like your kind of romp, this is the book for you!
September 28, 2017
Primo di una coppia di volumi dedicati a una storia sci-fi che segue un intreccio millenario e ci mostra quello che successe all'umanità durante l'evoluzione, in uno dei proverbiali bivii darwiniani, che per ipotesi di Snyder portò alla generazione di una razza di uomini pesce. La storia inizia con una equipe di scienziati che è chiamata a studiare una creatura mai vista, una sorta di sirena, letale come l'essere mitico. Ma nulla va come dovrebbe, e la sirena non è sola: un gruppo di esseri simili attacca gli studiosi e rade al suolo l'intero complesso dove si trovano, portando alla luce un attacco su vastissima scala alla terraferma. E' l'uomo acquatico che si riappropria del pianeta. La storia, nel prossimo numero, seguirà questo filone di pianeta diverso in cui gli uomini terrestri combattono per la propria vita. Trama eccitante, molto dinamica, a cui si perdonano alcune banalità in virtù di un ritmo davvero invidiabile. E disegni ottimi con una bella gestione della pagina.
August 3, 2022
This was very Snyderesque and reminded me a lot of his horror piece Severed. The mood is very dark and fans of deep sea sci-fi drama will enjoy this with 4 stars (nerdy bits about whale songs and mythology litter the story). The story just doesn’t add up to me in the end. It demands too much faith in the fantastical without taking more time to build on the science (Ex. There are small whales and big whales so there must be small monsters and ginormous monsters? Ok…). Still I was happy to pick it up every time. I won’t read it again and may read volume 2 if I ever find it on the cheap or in a library.
Mature only: nudity and language and violence
Mature only: nudity and language and violence
May 21, 2023
I wasn’t sure what I was buying, but I was on board for every step of this sci-fi horror journey.
Page one gives a framing device from a post-apocalyptic future, and moves on to the classic setup of assembling a team of experts to investigate a marine mystery. The front cover art has already hinted that it’s a mer person.
I loved the characters, the art was great, but the wild sci-fi concepts and sea monster story had me hooked.
Reminiscent of Aliens/The Abyss/Underwater, with some deep time flashbacks and Lovecraftian vibes, I loved it.
Page one gives a framing device from a post-apocalyptic future, and moves on to the classic setup of assembling a team of experts to investigate a marine mystery. The front cover art has already hinted that it’s a mer person.
I loved the characters, the art was great, but the wild sci-fi concepts and sea monster story had me hooked.
Reminiscent of Aliens/The Abyss/Underwater, with some deep time flashbacks and Lovecraftian vibes, I loved it.
April 22, 2020
This starts off with fairly standard tropes, but then springs some science anomaly references of which even I'd never heard, and had to promptly look up. This could've been a solid 4 stars! EXCEPT for the big monster being just another aquatic ape, but 100 times larger. Lame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2014
Deep beneath the ocean in a huge hidden bunker, a group of scientists gather to investigate a new humanoid life. The creature escapes and wreaks havoc. But unlike similarly themed monster stories, the duo of Snyder and Murphy manage to elevate the concept into a unique story that goes into some rather unexpected and satisfying directions. Snyder, perhaps best known for
American Vampire, Vol. 1
and his work on the Batman titles, melds the best elements of science fiction and horror, somehow creating something that is both familiar and different. The creator of the extraordinary
Punk Rock Jesus
, Murphy once again demonstrates his ability to produce images, scary and beautiful, all while successfully conveying Snyder’s non-linear plot. While largely a complete story unto its own, The Wake Part One leaves the reader hungering for future volumes.
July 31, 2014
Scott Snyder is good, he is so good. He is quickly becoming my favorite comic writer. His characters come alive and his storylines are gripping and suspenseful and his stories always seem to have a cinematic script. This collaboration with Sean Murphy is fantastic.
I am so thankful that the first 5 issues of this comic were put together in a special so that I could catch up.
The story is a rollercoaster ride and I found myself audibly gasping at several moments.
Overall, this story felt very original and fresh and new. It seems like a combination of several sci-fi sub genres and I was definitely left wanting more.
I am so thankful that the first 5 issues of this comic were put together in a special so that I could catch up.
The story is a rollercoaster ride and I found myself audibly gasping at several moments.
Overall, this story felt very original and fresh and new. It seems like a combination of several sci-fi sub genres and I was definitely left wanting more.
March 30, 2014
Saturday afternoon, before Cable became big, was a great time to watch TV. For those of us that weren't into sports, you could watch D level shows, Anime Marathons or some sort of B Sci-fi movie from the 80s.
Reading the Wake reminded me of one of those Saturday afternoons. This is like a Deep Blue Sea, John Carpenter directed, Peter Weller starring kind of movie, wrapped in an intellectually pleasing comic book. The best part about watching those B movies on a Saturday, is that you got to experience all of the terror, the weirdness and humor, without having to share the experience with anyone else in a movie theater. The Wake gave me the exact same sensation, travelling in an underwater Odyssey, just one wave away from the apocalypse.
Reading the Wake reminded me of one of those Saturday afternoons. This is like a Deep Blue Sea, John Carpenter directed, Peter Weller starring kind of movie, wrapped in an intellectually pleasing comic book. The best part about watching those B movies on a Saturday, is that you got to experience all of the terror, the weirdness and humor, without having to share the experience with anyone else in a movie theater. The Wake gave me the exact same sensation, travelling in an underwater Odyssey, just one wave away from the apocalypse.
January 12, 2014
At first blush, this story is standard trapped-with-monsters horror fare like Alien or The Thing. However, spectacular artwork by Sean Murphy creates a fresh, absorbing work with truly terrifying creatures. In addition, writer Scott Snyder taps his knowledge about mythology and nature to add a layer of intelligence you don't always get in this type of story.
While it does have its share of cliches, overall I found The Wake to be a fast and enjoyable read. The teases for a post-apocalyptic second part definitely left me hungry for more.
While it does have its share of cliches, overall I found The Wake to be a fast and enjoyable read. The teases for a post-apocalyptic second part definitely left me hungry for more.
February 27, 2014
A rare comic that reads like an old-school, James Cameron movie (think 'Aliens' but underwater and with mermaids (mermen? mer-people?). Or maybe more accurately 'The Abyss'). Murphy's art is kinetic and gritty, and Snyder's story keeps you interested and engaged, even when it's going through standard action movie tropes.
Also, it's a bit difficult to give a definitive review since this is only the first part of the story, and the ending promises to do an entire 180 on what you thought the story and characters were about. Nevertheless, I'm curious to see where it goes.
Also, it's a bit difficult to give a definitive review since this is only the first part of the story, and the ending promises to do an entire 180 on what you thought the story and characters were about. Nevertheless, I'm curious to see where it goes.
December 2, 2015
Meh.
I bought this for Sean Gordon Murphy's art, and that's just great, as usual.
The story, however, is quite unimpressive and the scientific premises are all hogwash. The discredited theory of the acquatic monkeys is the very foundation of the setting, and there are several rather glaring points that show how the writer has a scientific knowledge that is quite ridiculous. And that's bad when you write a scientific story that offers scientific explanations.
Just buy it for the art if you want to but don't expect a great story.
I bought this for Sean Gordon Murphy's art, and that's just great, as usual.
The story, however, is quite unimpressive and the scientific premises are all hogwash. The discredited theory of the acquatic monkeys is the very foundation of the setting, and there are several rather glaring points that show how the writer has a scientific knowledge that is quite ridiculous. And that's bad when you write a scientific story that offers scientific explanations.
Just buy it for the art if you want to but don't expect a great story.
March 30, 2015
My first by Scott Snyder, the guy is pretty good, this first part is full of mistery and the story at leat in the beginning flows very well, my criticism begins when things go wrong with the characters I felt that there wasn't enough character development for me to care much about them. The monster's idea was pretty cool and inspiring but there is something missing here. Now the art, AMAZING Mr. Murphy does a great job, I would dare to say, this is one of the "prettiest " stories I've read so far...now let's wait for part two!
April 7, 2014
This compilation of the first five issues of "The Wake" really serves as a prequel to a much more vast story that continues in the next volume. While it is very good in and of itself, I felt a little cheated knowing the characters and settings I had just been introduced to are not what the actual story is about in the future. In another way, however, I guess that it is also a clever and original way to genuinely hook your audience.
September 11, 2014
The first part of this taut science fiction thriller by Scott Snyder (with haunting illustrations by Sean Murphy) is everything you could want from a genre comic: horror, suspense, intrigue, secret underwater oil rigs, monstrous mermen... everything. Sean Murphy's artwork here is really stand out. I found myself compelled to push this book on as many readers as I could right after finishing, even the non-comic reading ones.
August 12, 2014
Excellent story and art. I'm a sucker for underwater stories and thing s set in frozen wastelands and this has both. It's a little bit like John Carpenters The Thing with James Cameron's The Abyss and Mermen. An odd twist at the end almost wrecked it for me but I'll read volume 2 to see if they can recover.
August 31, 2014
Scott Snyder guarda en su estilo cierta tendencia cinemática que hace de sus obras un producto fácil de leer. Un relato en dos frentes, que en esta primera fase plantea el argumento sobre el cuál se finiquitará la segunda parte, y de paso deja ciertas pistas en el pasado para entender el futuro de la historia. Entretenida y ante todo accesible.
January 14, 2014
outstanding... every thing to love out of a comic: symbolic and breathtaking art, characterization, and a plot line with grand scope (slight humanization of the enemy, but we'll see who the enemy really is....)
January 17, 2014
Scott Snyder can seriously do no wrong.
The first half of this series is a dramatic, dark, gritty horror comic about mermaid like creatures discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Evidently this is the set up for an incredible, futuristic second arc.
Amazing. Highly recommend reading this one.
The first half of this series is a dramatic, dark, gritty horror comic about mermaid like creatures discovered at the bottom of the ocean. Evidently this is the set up for an incredible, futuristic second arc.
Amazing. Highly recommend reading this one.
January 28, 2014
I couldnt love this more. Everything is perfect, the drawing, the inks, the coloring, the writing, the atmosphere. I love anything about the ocean so this just appeals to me so greatly. I cant wait for the final five issues.
March 16, 2014
First, I shouldn't judge a comic by its cover but I did anyway. In the end, it turned out amazingly well. The artwork, story, characters, drama...everything is amazing. Go read it! You won't regret it!
April 12, 2015
A great book. Snyder has constructed an interesting story here, full of myths, monsters, and mainly, people struggling for the survival of the human species. Part 1 has a lot of action moments and interesting characters and makes you crave for Part 2 which promises to be even more epic. 4/5 stars
December 21, 2013
Alien meets The X-files, with a pinch of world folklore... Cool cool cool! Merci Scott Snyder!
January 16, 2014
Really good, despite a couple things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews