Far Down Below

by Chris Condon, Nathan Kempf (letterer), Gege Schall (illustrator)

Journey to the Center...of Eastern Pennsylvania. On a rainy 1983 summer day, two friends decide to investigate a haunted house, and inadvertently discover a tunnel to the center of the earth. The Goonies if it were written by coked-up 1980s Stephen King. It all begins in 1865. Somewhere beneath Pennsylvania, in darkness. A distant sound is heard. A whirring...Suddenly, the wall explodes and a gigantic drill bit bursts through, revealing a train-like cab and locomotive wheels encased by sharp, metal treads. This metal beast is known, simply, as THE MONOLITH. Explorers emerging from the cab look at the massive cavern they are standing in, and declare that they have found it--The Hollow Earth. From the darkness, something slithers up the cab, kills the lights, and the explorers are never seen alive again... A century later. 1983. It’s a rainy day in Eastern Pennsylvania. Two friends, Mike and Brian, are bored at Brian’s house. While down in the basement, they uncover the key to Brian’s grandfather’s house –abandoned since the mid-60s and presumed haunted after his grandfather mysteriously disappeared.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

152 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2025

Reviews

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced copy.

While this isn't a bad comic, it is unfortunately not one I'll buy for my shelves. The story is fun but rushed and the art is decent but doesn't wow.

I thought there'd be more horror but it's more of an adventure thriller with horror elements. If this had been 10 issues instead of 5, with more time spent below, I think this would've been a banger story, but as it is the writer was clearly rushed to complete the story in five and it feels like it. No sooner are they below that they come back above. They're hardly gone... or, if they're gone longer then we think it doesn't feel like it. I'm pretty sure it's just an afternoon passing.

The art pops at times but for the most part doesn't really stand out. I think it could've been more energetic given the story, but it's not bad. The coloring was great.

It is a fun story though, and my type of story, I just wish it were longer. A solid three star comic.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley.

It didn’t go in the expected direction for me and just didn’t feel satisfying.

[The Void Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ — Far Down Below by Chris Condon, Nathan Kempf, and Gege Schall

Far Down Below is a fun, fast-moving adventure that feels tailor‑made for younger readers dipping their toes into sci‑fi and horror. The premise is irresistible: a haunted house, a long‑lost grandfather, and a tunnel that leads straight into the Hollow Earth. It’s the kind of setup that practically begs to be read on a rainy afternoon.

The story opens with a striking prologue set in 1865, where a monstrous drilling machine—THE MONOLITH—bursts into an underground cavern and its crew meets a mysterious, deadly fate. A century later, in 1983 Eastern Pennsylvania, two bored friends stumble onto the key to an abandoned house and accidentally retrace the steps of that doomed expedition. From there, the book leans into classic pulp energy: hidden tunnels, strange creatures, and the thrill of discovering a world no one was meant to find.

Condon’s pacing is brisk, Schall’s illustrations bring a retro-adventure charm, and Kempf’s lettering keeps the action clear and lively. But while the concept is rich, the execution feels geared toward a younger audience—light on complexity, heavy on momentum. As an adult reader, I enjoyed the ride but found myself wishing for deeper character work and a bit more narrative weight.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a nostalgic, Hollow Earth romp with a Saturday‑morning‑serial vibe, Far Down Below delivers exactly that. A solid, imaginative read—just not one that fully taps the potential of its premise.

Happy reading from The Void 🦕🦖📚

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far Down Below is a journey into the unknown filled with mystery, nostalgia, and adventure. Written by Chris Condon and illustrated by Gegê Schall, Far Down Below is brimming with captivating storytelling and phenomenal artwork set against the backdrop of an Eastern Pennsylvania suburb in 1983.

In the muggy Pennsylvania summer of 1983, teen friends Jeff and Brian seek escape from rainy day boredom by exploring Brian's abandoned — and apparently haunted — family home on the other side of town. What they find instead is a secret that will unlock the doors to adventure and danger as they descend beneath the surface, encounter terrifyingly strange creatures, and journey far, far down below to discover a strange new world... and themselves.

The premiere issue, first chapter in the collected edition, of Far Down Below was enough to get me hooked into the series. Not only was the artwork extremely fitting for the tale at hand, but the mystery, intrigue, and the unknown was just what I had hoped this series would be filled with.

While at its core Far Down Below is a story about friendship, family, and adventure, there is an undercurrent of horror and science fiction that adds to the story without bloating the plot. The dialogue between Mike and Brian feels authentic, reflecting their camaraderie. innocence, and at times fear. Condon's ability to weave these moments together creates elements that enrich the story beyond just plain and overdone childhood exploits.

Perfectly complementing Condon's excellent storytelling is the outstanding illustrations and colors by Schall. Each page brings a new mystery with a remarkable blend of young adult storytelling and a Jules Verne style of adventure. The artwork throughout the series is nothing short of amazing; each panel brings a youthful feel while also a suspenseful tension. The colors evoke both nostalgia for past times, but also new adventures. While Condo's writing is excellent, Schall's artwork takes center stage and engrossing us in the mystery at hand. Not only is the artwork fantastic, the layout and design of the issue enhances the reading experience.

Far Down Below is an exploration of discovery and danger. Chris Condon's fantastic blend of intrigue, horror, and science fiction along with Gegê Schall's phenomenal artwork, this series is one of the most fun comics to read this year.

The collected edition of Far Down Below hits local comic shops and bookstores everywhere on December 24, 2025 from Mad Cave Studios.

[Terence James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun and moody read that leans into 80s-style supernatural adventure. Two teens stumble on a hidden world beneath an abandoned house, and the mix of humor, tension, and mystery gives it that Stranger Things and Goonies energy. The artwork is a highlight, with expressive characters and atmospheric colors that make the underground feel both strange and alive.

The story itself didn’t grab me as much as I hoped. The pacing slows down in places and there are hints of bigger world building that never really get used. It felt like the book wanted to suggest a larger mythology but didn’t actually do much with it. By the time it gets to the ending, it feels more like a confused tease than a proper resolution.

Even so, I enjoyed the ride. The characters are likable, the tone is fun, and there are moments that capture the sense of adventure perfectly. For me it lands at 3.5 stars. Worth picking up if you enjoy supernatural coming of age stories, even if it leaves some of its promise on the table.

[Rustic Red Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I'm familiar with Chris Condon, That Texas Blood and Green Arrow, but haven't read them. Read this one and honestly disappointed. It feels too rushed, the "far down below" feels it's far down below but it seem not that far down below (reminds me of Brevig's Journey to the Center of the Earth movie).

There's seems to be something new down there, grandpa, the Russians, the dinosaurs, other creatures. I wanted to see more of it, but it was just a quick and unsatisfying adventure for me.

The art is fine, reminds me of Amulet Graphic Novels, it feels like a comic for teens/YA. I wonder if this will be expanded more in the future.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

A perfect example of a book that can do anything and everything – and then, unfortunately, does. Our two kids find a key to the local 'haunted' house, a place that once belonged to the grandfather of one of them, but then got abandoned, yet never disposed of. However just entering that place will spark a full-on pile of cockamamie, as the mahoosive underground world of the prologue is discovered, and then this happens, and then that guy is met, and then that happens, and then…

This wants to pay homage to the 80s genre movies so many of us were brought up on, and for some reason tries to do that through stealing about ten ideas from Jules Verne, adding on copious B-movie silliness, and never once having the desperate loads of chutzpah needed to pull it off. If you want to revisit really PG-shlocky, Saturday morning cinema from a time when just anything went, this is for you. Anyone else sees these depths as really quite shallow. Two and a half stars.

[Louise Karolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Far Down Below, and it was giving me Stranger Things vibes. I liked the friendship between our two main characters, and despite it being a fairly quick and short read, it still had a lot of emotional depth.

The first few moments below ground are terrifying (being stuck in a cave is one of my worst nightmares, and then on top of that, realizing you're not alone). The adventure then becomes bizarre, in a good way, and discovering alongside our main characters what's down there is really entertaining.

I do wish it had been a bit longer though, but I did really enjoy the story and the art and would gladly read more set in the same universe. 4 stars.

I’d like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

[East of Reality · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic reminds me of the Heinlein juvenile books in the best way. It has two kids going on an adventure and being sucked into a decades old mystery that involves a missing grandfather, strange creatures, lost explorers and dinosaurs! And there are nice touches here, such as the dinosaurs being bioluminescent, the strange humanoid creatures looking suitably otherworldly — and mushroom like — and all the action scenes focus on the adventure rather than the gore.

Honestly, I’d be happy with a dozen or so comic collections set in this world. The art is very well done, the dialogue is always adding to the world without resorting to info dumps.The colors are vivid, and it’s just a quick, fun read.

Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underground adventure! Far Down Below starts in 1865, when a group of explorers find the Hollow Earth. They use a train-like locomotive called MONOLITH to reach this part of the world. However, something is lurking in the darkness and they are never seen again. Fast forward to 1983, two kids, Mike and Brian, decide to explore Brian’s grandfather’s abandoned house…which was rumored haunted after his grandfather disappeared. Soon, they find themselves in an adventure like no other.

Ahhh this was such a fun read! The story captivated me from the very beginning. I liked the absurdity of some of the scenes (for example, the dinosaurs) and how everyone seemed to be connected. It’s an action packed, fun story!

Thank you, NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios, for the ARC.

[Federica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this graphic novel via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
The concept is nice, even if not original, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. It's an okay read to pass an hour of free time, but the story develops too quickly to really have time to appreciate the characters or the development of the narrative or anything else. I wasn't particularly impressed by the graphics either.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fine. a fun little romp.
going off the covers I thought it would have been a deep, dark mystery thriller but instead it was the goonies.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun!

[Shivesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Been waiting for this to be collected to read it all. Was a fun ride but nothing memorable. Good Twilight Zone episode.