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Vachss: Underground
When there is no longer any reliable source of "news," there is nothing to trust . . . and "The Terror" descends. For decades, The Rulers have been at work, using prisoner/slave labor to construct Underground, believing that all those who flee there will trade their freedom for security. Now, "truth" is what the Rulers say it is, and The Rulers rule all. But even within this antiseptically evil world, a revolution is brewing. A new breed of journalists--known as "The Book Boys"--risk everything to graffiti the truth on Underground's pristine walls.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published November 11, 2014
10 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Vachss
138 books893 followersAndrew Vachss has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social-services caseworker, a labor organizer, and has directed a maximum-security prison for “aggressive-violent” youth. Now a lawyer in private practice, he represents children and youths exclusively. He is the author of numerous novels, including the Burke series, two collections of short stories, and a wide variety of other material including song lyrics, graphic novels, essays, and a “children’s book for adults.” His books have been translated into twenty languages, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, the New York Times, and many other forums. A native New Yorker, he now divides his time between the city of his birth and the Pacific Northwest.
The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is
www.vachss.com. That site and this page are managed by volunteers. To contact Mr. Vachss directly, use the "email us" function of vachss.com.
The dedicated Web site for Vachss and his work is
www.vachss.com. That site and this page are managed by volunteers. To contact Mr. Vachss directly, use the "email us" function of vachss.com.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 1, 2021
Underground is a dystopian vision of the future. Some unknown cataclysm forces humanity into a series of underground bunkers. The nature of the cataclysm is unknown to the characters in these stories. If the Rulers know, they aren't sharing the knowledge.
Life Underground is like a prison. Infractions of the rules are punished severely. Escapees are hunted down. Resistance is punished. But there are signs of rebellion. People *do* escape. The truth gets literally written on the walls by the Book Boys. No one knows who they are, but the Rulers would certainly like to know.
This graphic novel contains several stories, all showing various aspects of the Underground world. The themes--protecting children, the concept of family, the hard-boiled, minimal prose style--are all familiar to fans of Vachss' work. Indeed, prose versions of these stories have appeared in one of his earlier short story collections (Everybody Pays, I think. I'm currently on vacation, and don't have my Vachss collection handy to check.)
While Andrew Vachss does decent comics--I still think he could do a kickass Wolverine story--he's at his best with prose. This isn't bad, but I don't know that it's the best place to start with his work. Still, I did enjoy it.
Life Underground is like a prison. Infractions of the rules are punished severely. Escapees are hunted down. Resistance is punished. But there are signs of rebellion. People *do* escape. The truth gets literally written on the walls by the Book Boys. No one knows who they are, but the Rulers would certainly like to know.
This graphic novel contains several stories, all showing various aspects of the Underground world. The themes--protecting children, the concept of family, the hard-boiled, minimal prose style--are all familiar to fans of Vachss' work. Indeed, prose versions of these stories have appeared in one of his earlier short story collections (Everybody Pays, I think. I'm currently on vacation, and don't have my Vachss collection handy to check.)
While Andrew Vachss does decent comics--I still think he could do a kickass Wolverine story--he's at his best with prose. This isn't bad, but I don't know that it's the best place to start with his work. Still, I did enjoy it.
March 24, 2021
So, I love Andrew Vachss. Both as a writer and as a man who has built his life around advocating for children. When you read Vachss, you know you are in for a dark ride to a disturbing place -- and child abuse will be central to it.
Underground is no different. In set-up, the world of Underground draws from Burgess's "Clockwork Orange" and Nolan's "Logan's Run", though it's post-apocalyptic, underground world receives far less attention in explaining exactly how it works and how it got that way. That's a feature, more than a bug, because the real "underground" the characters must escape is the PTSD of abuse and making excuses for abusers. It is a metaphor in graphic novel form, and each chapter an interlocking, though stand alone story, all being related from some later time, exactly how much later (or not) not really being revealed until the final panel.
Some of the stories are powerful and of course the subject matter is horrific. In Vachss typical, iconoclastic way, what is heroism and what is simple endurance are not always clear, and justice is a slippery-slope. But this is not his best work. The final story, about a gambler and a waitress, one a survivor and one a patron of the "sex tunnels," who find each other just as the Underground's end approaches, is there to pull the whole thing together and it just doesn't quite work; the metaphorical Underground failing to materialize as enough a real setting to quite suck us in.
Nevertheless, there's some powerful material in here and much like Vachss wrote a Batman *novel* unlike any other, this shows the interesting and powerful ways the graphic novel can be used for serious storytelling.
Underground is no different. In set-up, the world of Underground draws from Burgess's "Clockwork Orange" and Nolan's "Logan's Run", though it's post-apocalyptic, underground world receives far less attention in explaining exactly how it works and how it got that way. That's a feature, more than a bug, because the real "underground" the characters must escape is the PTSD of abuse and making excuses for abusers. It is a metaphor in graphic novel form, and each chapter an interlocking, though stand alone story, all being related from some later time, exactly how much later (or not) not really being revealed until the final panel.
Some of the stories are powerful and of course the subject matter is horrific. In Vachss typical, iconoclastic way, what is heroism and what is simple endurance are not always clear, and justice is a slippery-slope. But this is not his best work. The final story, about a gambler and a waitress, one a survivor and one a patron of the "sex tunnels," who find each other just as the Underground's end approaches, is there to pull the whole thing together and it just doesn't quite work; the metaphorical Underground failing to materialize as enough a real setting to quite suck us in.
Nevertheless, there's some powerful material in here and much like Vachss wrote a Batman *novel* unlike any other, this shows the interesting and powerful ways the graphic novel can be used for serious storytelling.
April 25, 2015
Simply the worst writer I have ever encountered. Flaccid writing, with not a speck of originality. Just goes to show a good agent can even get the the most talentless of "writers" awards and critical acclaim. Do the world a favor Mr. Vax and retire.
September 16, 2015
Slightly philosophical post-apocalyptic comic lit. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon.
May 1, 2021
I was a Vachss devotee all through the first 13 or so Burke books. As a teen in 1985, I found Flood, the first book in the series, and was hooked by the intensity, the dark fantasyland of Burke's found-family, and the pure visceral pleasure of the revenge fantasy Burke's cases let readers experience. In the world of hard-boiled, Vachss was a king. But somewhere in the 2000s I went through a reading slump and lost track of his work. Picking up Underground, I had curiosity and misgivings; I find that the graphic novel format can hit or really, really miss. Art has a lot to do with its success too, because it either further feeds the imagination of the reader or it confuses or dulls it. Unfortunately, the visual style in this book didn't work for me, and it helped drag the story itself down too. I have much respect for Vachss' singular mission, and this story delves into that same territory -- rescuing and protecting children from predation and abuse and then helping the survivors manage their damaged psyches through adulthood. I just don't think the story was told well enough. I found it disjointed and a little hard to follow in places. I was left with more unanswered questions than not. Still the time spent reading this book was not wasted, and I don't regret having given it a go. If you're a Vachss completist, then don't miss this one.
The novel is framed by a meeting of people all telling stories from a book that is apparently an established wisdom-tome in their world. Each story describes happenings in the dystopian world of "Underground", a vast network of underground tunnels in which people live and die after a period known only as "the Terror". The shadowy Rulers of the Underground make arbitrary and oppressive rules, and torture and execute those who attempt to expose their most vile racket . Over the course of the various stories told by the gathering who are studying the aforementioned book of wisdom, it's clear that the group was founded out of a communal will to rescue children, rescue themselves (formerly abused children, some of them), and carry forth an understanding of the truth, versus the propaganda of the Underground Rulers. I've come away with the impression that this story could have used some refinement and elaboration to pack a better narrative punch. It's a shame it missed that mark, because the theme is a worthy one.
The novel is framed by a meeting of people all telling stories from a book that is apparently an established wisdom-tome in their world. Each story describes happenings in the dystopian world of "Underground", a vast network of underground tunnels in which people live and die after a period known only as "the Terror". The shadowy Rulers of the Underground make arbitrary and oppressive rules, and torture and execute those who attempt to expose their most vile racket . Over the course of the various stories told by the gathering who are studying the aforementioned book of wisdom, it's clear that the group was founded out of a communal will to rescue children, rescue themselves (formerly abused children, some of them), and carry forth an understanding of the truth, versus the propaganda of the Underground Rulers. I've come away with the impression that this story could have used some refinement and elaboration to pack a better narrative punch. It's a shame it missed that mark, because the theme is a worthy one.
February 4, 2015
As an avid audio enthusiast, I gave this book three stars. As a read, it would probably be lower. Still a good read/listen as the author has a tendency to place mortals in the worst of situations early and fervently move the plot. I wouldn't judge the author's overall talent based on this novel alone, check out two or three others and decide.
August 12, 2017
The story was missing something. I think it was trying too hard to be mysterious. The back cover blurb compared the writer to Kafka. It just seemed like a boring, jumbled post-apocalyptic story to me. The artist seemed to be doing an audition for Mike Mignola's Hellboy.
I read about half way.
I read about half way.
August 16, 2025
A nice anthology series set in a world that was mapped out by Vachss. There doesn't seem to be an uneven story in the bunch. I was reading the original dark horse set but can't find them here so this will have to do.
Reading them reminded me of Vachss other series. I wonder how he feels about some of the stuff that has gone on in the states and the use of save the children as a way of determining a certain control over some folks' bodies?
I really should look it up. These stories covered a lot of different interpretations but largely in a negative way. It is only in the last issue that we get to see something a bit more hopeful in a more traditional way. That isn't to say that some of the stories don't have hopeful endings but rather showing a larger way out is only near the end.
Worth searching out if you can stand the trauma.
Reading them reminded me of Vachss other series. I wonder how he feels about some of the stuff that has gone on in the states and the use of save the children as a way of determining a certain control over some folks' bodies?
I really should look it up. These stories covered a lot of different interpretations but largely in a negative way. It is only in the last issue that we get to see something a bit more hopeful in a more traditional way. That isn't to say that some of the stories don't have hopeful endings but rather showing a larger way out is only near the end.
Worth searching out if you can stand the trauma.
September 4, 2022
The payoff really didn’t compound the effort.
Ok, look maybe I didn’t “get it” but if someone that did get it wouldn’t mind trying to explain it to me while keeping me awake at the same time I’ll listen……Zzzzzzz
Just meh, I honestly don’t even know what TA this was intended for.
Ok, look maybe I didn’t “get it” but if someone that did get it wouldn’t mind trying to explain it to me while keeping me awake at the same time I’ll listen……Zzzzzzz
Just meh, I honestly don’t even know what TA this was intended for.
February 25, 2020
This was kind of all over the place and didn't really cohere. Also, I'm not sure what it really added to the dystopian conversation.
January 29, 2015
"When there is no longer any reliable source of 'news,' there is nothing to trust . . .and the terror descends."
For decades, perhaps even centuries, the Rulers secretly used slave and prisoner labor to construct Underground, a wholly contained world located below ground, predicting that their subjects would trade their freedom for "safety" and "security," fleeing to Underground out of fear of an unknown peril in the Outside. Now "truth" has become what the Rulers say it is, and the Rulers rule everyone and everything within their domain.
But within this antiseptic and utterly evil world, revolution rears its head. A new band of journalists, who call themselves "The Book Boys," risk all to tag the real truth on the pristine, well-cleansed walls of Underground.
This graphic novel, a collaboration by Andrew Vachss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_V...), Mike Richardson, and artists Chet Williams, Dominic Reardon, Keith Champagne, Jeremy Colwell, Nate Piekos, and Sean Phillips, presents a metaphor of the lives of sexually abused children and the journey they must make to become fully, healthily adult in a mad world. "Underground" stands for the collective unconscious that will not allow most people to see the evils all around them, and the individual unconscious mind that can keep victims who have suffered utter shame, humiliation, and even physical damage inflicted on them by their tormentors in a living hell for their entire lives. To leave Underground is to become conscious -- and thus able to make intelligent choices about what one will do for the rest of one's life, and how one should interact with other human beings, especially children. This is a story of sin, evil, deliverance, and redemption which, rather than being couched in the style of any particular religion, is presented as a fable of life in the mundane world.
Anyone who has ever suffered sexual and/or other abuse at the hands of caretakers, siblings, next-door neighbors, pastors, or anyone else as a child should read this book. So should anyone who has perpetrated such abuse -- who in many cases has suffered abuse as a child or political prisoner or other helpless person -- so that he or she may become aware of the harm abusing others causes, and to regain empathy toward potential victims that will hinder him or her in committing more abuse. I give this one 5 stars.
For decades, perhaps even centuries, the Rulers secretly used slave and prisoner labor to construct Underground, a wholly contained world located below ground, predicting that their subjects would trade their freedom for "safety" and "security," fleeing to Underground out of fear of an unknown peril in the Outside. Now "truth" has become what the Rulers say it is, and the Rulers rule everyone and everything within their domain.
But within this antiseptic and utterly evil world, revolution rears its head. A new band of journalists, who call themselves "The Book Boys," risk all to tag the real truth on the pristine, well-cleansed walls of Underground.
This graphic novel, a collaboration by Andrew Vachss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_V...), Mike Richardson, and artists Chet Williams, Dominic Reardon, Keith Champagne, Jeremy Colwell, Nate Piekos, and Sean Phillips, presents a metaphor of the lives of sexually abused children and the journey they must make to become fully, healthily adult in a mad world. "Underground" stands for the collective unconscious that will not allow most people to see the evils all around them, and the individual unconscious mind that can keep victims who have suffered utter shame, humiliation, and even physical damage inflicted on them by their tormentors in a living hell for their entire lives. To leave Underground is to become conscious -- and thus able to make intelligent choices about what one will do for the rest of one's life, and how one should interact with other human beings, especially children. This is a story of sin, evil, deliverance, and redemption which, rather than being couched in the style of any particular religion, is presented as a fable of life in the mundane world.
Anyone who has ever suffered sexual and/or other abuse at the hands of caretakers, siblings, next-door neighbors, pastors, or anyone else as a child should read this book. So should anyone who has perpetrated such abuse -- who in many cases has suffered abuse as a child or political prisoner or other helpless person -- so that he or she may become aware of the harm abusing others causes, and to regain empathy toward potential victims that will hinder him or her in committing more abuse. I give this one 5 stars.
May 12, 2015
The Rulers built Underground. The Rulers set down “the rules” to keep everyone safe. Everyone has their place. Except … what was surrendered to achieve this status? And is it as comfortable as the Rulers allege – assuming that the Rulers actually still exist?
Andrew Vachss sets forth a series of 8 stories, read from some sort of Canon by assorted narrators, that tell of various characters and situations in The Tunnels. The stories – are they being told as “factual” situations within this fictional setting or are they a second level of fiction on top of the setting created by Vachss and team? = provide a lesson as to truth, human nature, and other aspects of life within the Tunnels.
On the surface, the 8 tales that make up Vachss: Underground are pretty good in their own right. However, each allows the reader the opportunity to dig deeper into the point which the creators are trying to impart – and some, in fact, almost BEG the reader to stop and ponder further. There are so many aspects of human nature and society that are covered in this book that it almost BEGS to be the subject of book club discussion. (There is an essay at the end with one interpretation as to what Vachss is trying to say. I believe that this opinion piece might – MIGHT – have captured the authors' intent. BUT – I am not totally convinced of that, AND I suspect that the writer did not peel back any of the other layers of Vachss' work.)
One of the most thought-provoking comics or graphic novels I have ever read.
RATING: 5 stars. It's well done, it stays with me, and it makes me think.
DISCLOSURE: This book was provided free of charge by the publisher without obligation. I'm sure they will appreciate an unbiased posted review, and will be grateful that it turned out to be favorable.
Andrew Vachss sets forth a series of 8 stories, read from some sort of Canon by assorted narrators, that tell of various characters and situations in The Tunnels. The stories – are they being told as “factual” situations within this fictional setting or are they a second level of fiction on top of the setting created by Vachss and team? = provide a lesson as to truth, human nature, and other aspects of life within the Tunnels.
On the surface, the 8 tales that make up Vachss: Underground are pretty good in their own right. However, each allows the reader the opportunity to dig deeper into the point which the creators are trying to impart – and some, in fact, almost BEG the reader to stop and ponder further. There are so many aspects of human nature and society that are covered in this book that it almost BEGS to be the subject of book club discussion. (There is an essay at the end with one interpretation as to what Vachss is trying to say. I believe that this opinion piece might – MIGHT – have captured the authors' intent. BUT – I am not totally convinced of that, AND I suspect that the writer did not peel back any of the other layers of Vachss' work.)
One of the most thought-provoking comics or graphic novels I have ever read.
RATING: 5 stars. It's well done, it stays with me, and it makes me think.
DISCLOSURE: This book was provided free of charge by the publisher without obligation. I'm sure they will appreciate an unbiased posted review, and will be grateful that it turned out to be favorable.
November 23, 2014
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
Vachss' Underground, like his other work, is difficult to get through in places. The subject matter is not for the weak of heart or mind. The pay-off at the end is worth it.
Too much of our literature today tries to dive right into the heart of darkness and stay there like a sullen child who refuses to eat; not here. Vachss put his characters through the worst in a society that barely cares and then overreacts when the problem becomes too big, making it even worse. Rachel, Hexon and the rest come out the other side determined to build their own path and a better society no matter the obstacle.
The final panel on the final page shows that hope can be passed down through generations, just like abuse has been. All it takes is for good men and women to stand together and demand it.
Mike Richardson and Chet Williamson did a fantastic job on scripting. I think this could easily be turned into a film or mini-series. I hope it happens some day.
The pencils and inks of Dominic Reardon and Keith Champagne were perfect for the world of Underground. They draw you in and make you feel like you are in the tunnels themselves. In such a dark world, the palette for colors is limited, but Jeremy Colwell did a great job. I really don't think Dark Horse could have picked a better art team.
Congrats to all involved, you've got a winner here that everyone should read.
Vachss' Underground, like his other work, is difficult to get through in places. The subject matter is not for the weak of heart or mind. The pay-off at the end is worth it.
Too much of our literature today tries to dive right into the heart of darkness and stay there like a sullen child who refuses to eat; not here. Vachss put his characters through the worst in a society that barely cares and then overreacts when the problem becomes too big, making it even worse. Rachel, Hexon and the rest come out the other side determined to build their own path and a better society no matter the obstacle.
The final panel on the final page shows that hope can be passed down through generations, just like abuse has been. All it takes is for good men and women to stand together and demand it.
Mike Richardson and Chet Williamson did a fantastic job on scripting. I think this could easily be turned into a film or mini-series. I hope it happens some day.
The pencils and inks of Dominic Reardon and Keith Champagne were perfect for the world of Underground. They draw you in and make you feel like you are in the tunnels themselves. In such a dark world, the palette for colors is limited, but Jeremy Colwell did a great job. I really don't think Dark Horse could have picked a better art team.
Congrats to all involved, you've got a winner here that everyone should read.
February 27, 2015
What at first glance appears to be a departure for Andrew Vachss, a post-apocalyptic novel of a totalitarian society, soon becomes a vehicle for his continuing fight against child abuse. In a series of chapters, each linked to some sort of new testament of the faithful who live in an underground city, we learn of the defined roles in the society -- the never seen rulers, the sometimes seen book boys, who post revolutionary graffiti throughout the realm, and the other professions. This is a violent world, where gangs of Game Boys and Dancing Girls kill and riot in the streets, and where, if you have the currency, you can get anything you want in the sex Tunnels, especially children. Vachss does offer us brief glimpses of hope but this is a grim view of a world not that dissimilar to ours.
April 10, 2016
I had higher expectations. The back cover had all the right words and phrases to pique my interest: "impending oppression", "antiseptically evil world", "revolution" and, the clincher, "a grittier version of Kafka or Anthony Burgess."
The last one oversells by quite a bit.
I dig post-apocalyptic as much as anyone short of a doomsday prepper, but this went a different direction and a little heavy. The theme morphed from your standard rebellion against tyranny into a series of morality plays on child abuse. There's even a short essay by a therapist at the back. No one is going to criticize the message, it was just a little unexpected.
The last one oversells by quite a bit.
I dig post-apocalyptic as much as anyone short of a doomsday prepper, but this went a different direction and a little heavy. The theme morphed from your standard rebellion against tyranny into a series of morality plays on child abuse. There's even a short essay by a therapist at the back. No one is going to criticize the message, it was just a little unexpected.
January 14, 2015
I won a free copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I really didn't care for this book much. The art wasn't very good and it was difficult to get in to. I found the basic concepts of the dystopian society presented in this book interesting, but they were never explained in depth, which left me with a lot of confusion. Characters appeared and dissappeared randomly. The "conclusion" was unsatisfying and I'm not quite sure what happened.
I really didn't care for this book much. The art wasn't very good and it was difficult to get in to. I found the basic concepts of the dystopian society presented in this book interesting, but they were never explained in depth, which left me with a lot of confusion. Characters appeared and dissappeared randomly. The "conclusion" was unsatisfying and I'm not quite sure what happened.
April 23, 2015
A dystopian sci fi graphic novel without a whole lot of payoff.
An underground society based on lies and arbitrary rules faces resistance from a group following a different set of rules. I didn't think the pay off was worth the effort.
I'd liken it to Steve Ditko's worst Ayn Randean ranting stories, except at least there you get Ditko art.
An underground society based on lies and arbitrary rules faces resistance from a group following a different set of rules. I didn't think the pay off was worth the effort.
I'd liken it to Steve Ditko's worst Ayn Randean ranting stories, except at least there you get Ditko art.
January 4, 2015
*** received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads***
the book is great and I loved the topic!
the book is great and I loved the topic!
July 15, 2015
Dark, heavy, dystopian sci-fi done right. Haunting and powerful.
August 11, 2015
Another impulse grab at the library. I like this a lot, but it suffers from the thinness of many comics. Excellent compelling idea. Rich visuals. Little in the way of characterization or depth.
April 12, 2018
Andrew Vachss created an interesting world for his short-lived comics and prose series from the mid-1990s, but Mike Richardson's adaptations are ham-fisted and preachy, lacking the subtlety of Vachss' original stories.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews