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Dept. H #4
Dept. H Volume 4: Lifeboat
Contains the exciting series conclusion!
The remaining survivors of Dept. H abandon the deep-sea base and prepare for their long-awaited ascent. But life above the waterline remains uncertain for the team, and the pressure to solve Hari's murder continues to strengthen its grip on Mia. Secrets and memories begin to surface, but before Mia can unpack the mystery, she must decide the fate of those still stuck six miles below sea level. As the water rises, Mia's time runs out in this last volume of the aquatic sci-fi mystery from New York Times bestselling creator Matt Kindt.
The remaining survivors of Dept. H abandon the deep-sea base and prepare for their long-awaited ascent. But life above the waterline remains uncertain for the team, and the pressure to solve Hari's murder continues to strengthen its grip on Mia. Secrets and memories begin to surface, but before Mia can unpack the mystery, she must decide the fate of those still stuck six miles below sea level. As the water rises, Mia's time runs out in this last volume of the aquatic sci-fi mystery from New York Times bestselling creator Matt Kindt.
161 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2018
2 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 12, 2018
So much of Kindt's work is a little like the series Lost, where you are lost a lot of the time, but still entertained. And as with Lost, this underwater murder mystery father-daughter adventure leaves some questions unanswered, but many of the central ones get satisfyingly answered.
The central ethical/logistical questions for the planet that the series deals with include these:
Okay, so you know the series takes place deep underwater sometime late within this present century, where a young detective is sent to solve the murder of her brilliant scientist/adventurer father; he's there because a team of scientists he gathers together see that Earth's resources are being used up at an alarming rate, the environment in rapid decline. Population growth is out of control. There are now epidemics killing millions. So these scientists have looked to space, to new planets, as a possible solution,, and some of the team still think this is the way to go to continue the human race.
Others think the way to go is deep underwater on Earth, an under-explored domain. While there, the scientists develop a cure for the central epidemic. If they get the cure to the surface, they can save millions, but is that the way science should go? Would it not be better for long term human survival to have epidemics wipe out a large percentage of the population? The disagreements among the scientists are deep and divisive and the decision is now in the hands of a few people. Could those disagreements have led to murder?
I like this intense environmental detective story. I love Sharlene Kindt's coloring of Kindt's sketchy drawing (which I also love). I am and remain a Kindt fan and like this series a lot.
The central ethical/logistical questions for the planet that the series deals with include these:
Okay, so you know the series takes place deep underwater sometime late within this present century, where a young detective is sent to solve the murder of her brilliant scientist/adventurer father; he's there because a team of scientists he gathers together see that Earth's resources are being used up at an alarming rate, the environment in rapid decline. Population growth is out of control. There are now epidemics killing millions. So these scientists have looked to space, to new planets, as a possible solution,, and some of the team still think this is the way to go to continue the human race.
Others think the way to go is deep underwater on Earth, an under-explored domain. While there, the scientists develop a cure for the central epidemic. If they get the cure to the surface, they can save millions, but is that the way science should go? Would it not be better for long term human survival to have epidemics wipe out a large percentage of the population? The disagreements among the scientists are deep and divisive and the decision is now in the hands of a few people. Could those disagreements have led to murder?
I like this intense environmental detective story. I love Sharlene Kindt's coloring of Kindt's sketchy drawing (which I also love). I am and remain a Kindt fan and like this series a lot.
September 15, 2019
Matt and Sharlene Kindt’s Dept. H hits some wonderfully high highs in its concluding arc. Undeniably cinematic in its goals and in its influences, Dept. H wraps with epic scope and deeply personal catharsis, and its ultimate conflict is similarly grand and small at the same time. Another impressive book from Kindt.
February 5, 2021
Well, the last book, the conclusion, convinced me that despite the high hopes and excitement about the setting (deepwater exploration, that's almost space/exoplanet exploration!) I still have a hard time how Kindt presents it. And that, that's maybe the issue. Kindt is that kind of hipster-ish author, as Lemire and few others. And now I realized the root of the issue I have with Kindt. It's the "hipster-ish" take on things. With Lemire, I do not have this issue, because he writes about topics/settings I'm not hyped for, or he writes "regular" stuff with his magical touch but without that hipster-ish style. But Kindt does the hipster-ish style for the topic I'm hyped about. Thus I'm hyped before, but disappointed later. By that, I try to tell that Dept. H is not a bad comic. It's quite unique, the story has a lot to tell, it looks watercolour-ish nice. And the colouring did his wife, and that is sweet. Conclusion: I will read Kindt stuff again. And again. And I'll be probably disappointed. But Kindt is a good writer and I hope that one day we'll match. I really do.
March 29, 2018
(Read in single issues). I feel like this series never quite lived up to the "murder mystery under water" premise, but it did get more exciting toward the end and ended mostly satisfyingly.
January 1, 2019
I don't really think this was successful on the whole. There wasn't enough of a story to justify stretching it out over so many issues. And then, the ending is more of a non-ending than anything else. Still, I like the concept and Kindt's art is great, and the coloring my his wife is great, too. Here's hoping the next project is a bit more tightly-wrapped.
May 14, 2019
Ultimately this series was never really about the murder mystery... I loved the phylosophical ending.
February 1, 2019
7, just about four stars. I'm of mixed feelings having read this concluding volume of the Dept. H series. I did enjoy reading it, like I enjoyed the previous volumes. I was engrossed by the story, which here takes a more personal turn, delving into the backstory of several characters and playing out while the main character is sent on a harrowing journey back to the surface. The reveal at the end is a bit underwhelming, in my opinion, but the conclusion had a sober, elegiac quality and left the answer to the central question to the reader. I liked that. I can also appreciate the sketchy style of the drawings, they had enough depth to draw me in and enough of a SF-feel to capture my imagination. But after reading several reviews and looking back to the series as a whole, I agree with the more critical critics that this series probably went on a bit too long (it could have been finished in three collections probably), and at the same time several questions that were raised were not answered. Some mysteries, like the giant turtle and the apparition of the diver went nowhere. A larger story was suggested with maybe supernatural elements, but the end was purely 'of this world'. A missed opportunity in my opinion. Still, as an aquarist, diver and fan of The Abyss, I am a sucker for stories taking place underwater, in the deep sea, and this was no exception. I will reread this series soon!
June 27, 2019
Someone please find the potion to immortality . . . Matt Kindt needs to keep creating comics for all time. Dept. H Volume 4 concludes the creative hodgepodge of problems facing the protagonists, which create a cluster of interfering scenarios to keep her mind off of her main purpose . . . who murdered her father fathoms below the sea.
Depending on the readers prerogative, Volume 4 may conclude with disappointment. The murder mystery is solved and the problem surviving the depths of the sea are both quickly resolved with a new polarizing moral question that will no doubt have readers debating. This is the greatness of Kindt. True, the resolution with the murder may not seek the justice most readers want, but it's the moral questions that follow, which assists with what comes after the story . . . the readers desire to analyze and debate with one another about the decision our protagonist makes.
In regard to the entire series, Kindt's attention to every character, their histories and their possible motivations, is akin to a marvelous game of clue, which will constantly have the reader guessing who the true murderer and saboteur is. These elements, along with subtle yet creative science fiction elements truly make Dept. H a must read for science fiction and murder mystery fans alike.
Kindt's wife, Sharlene Kindt, provides the coloring for the series (as she did with Mind MGMT I believe) and it's not something to be overlooked in this series. The tight spaces, physical conflicts and the constant reminder that the characters are stranded beneath the sea, is felt and realized through her coloring technique. Truly a beautiful comic.
As with most hardcover collections published by Dark Horse, Dept. H Volumen 4 is incredibly well made with thick paper and strong binding at a great price.
Dept. H is easily one of those series that avid comic readers will suggest to their noncomic reading friends, with the hope of converting yet another nonbeliever of the medium.
Depending on the readers prerogative, Volume 4 may conclude with disappointment. The murder mystery is solved and the problem surviving the depths of the sea are both quickly resolved with a new polarizing moral question that will no doubt have readers debating. This is the greatness of Kindt. True, the resolution with the murder may not seek the justice most readers want, but it's the moral questions that follow, which assists with what comes after the story . . . the readers desire to analyze and debate with one another about the decision our protagonist makes.
In regard to the entire series, Kindt's attention to every character, their histories and their possible motivations, is akin to a marvelous game of clue, which will constantly have the reader guessing who the true murderer and saboteur is. These elements, along with subtle yet creative science fiction elements truly make Dept. H a must read for science fiction and murder mystery fans alike.
Kindt's wife, Sharlene Kindt, provides the coloring for the series (as she did with Mind MGMT I believe) and it's not something to be overlooked in this series. The tight spaces, physical conflicts and the constant reminder that the characters are stranded beneath the sea, is felt and realized through her coloring technique. Truly a beautiful comic.
As with most hardcover collections published by Dark Horse, Dept. H Volumen 4 is incredibly well made with thick paper and strong binding at a great price.
Dept. H is easily one of those series that avid comic readers will suggest to their noncomic reading friends, with the hope of converting yet another nonbeliever of the medium.
May 15, 2022
(Spoiler review for the series as a whole) 2.5/5
Dept.H is a mixed bag for me, equal parts enjoyable and underwhelming. This was the first Kindt story I have read (although I have MindMGNT sitting on the shelf waiting to go, too. The book is described as a murder mystery in a remote scientific station at the bottom of the ocean, which sounds rather enthralling, given the original and claustrophobic setting and limited number of suspects. The only problem with this is, for me, the whodunnit aspect of the story very quickly takes a backseat and becomes an average action thriller, albeit one rather light on the action and the thrills. The world's most brilliant scientist is found murdered at this underwater station, and the main character, Mia, is sent down to investigate. Their is a twist early on in the story about why the main protagonist wanted to investigate this crime which I wont spoil here, although it only added to the intrigue available to the writer. But everything from here on in rings rather hollow, with the main thrust of the story being to escape the station, along with a somewhat flimsy and unnecessary plot to save the world. The main impetus of the story should have been the solving of the murder. Little else needed tacking on, on top of that. The evil corporation and the world on the brink of destruction was not necessary here. It just seemed to distract the author, turning it into the run of the mill escape type scenario which it became. There are also some fantastical type creatures that needed significant explanation. They strangely come and go from the story as if they are a completely normal part of the world. it certainly left me scratching my head and wanting answers that weren't coming. The solving of the crime quickly becoming an afterthought that ambles along to an unsatisfying conclusion. I can't even remember who it was, such was the disappointing nature of it all, and I only read it a few months ago.
Kindt's art is an acquired taste and I certainly haven't learned to like it. A story such as this needed the artwork to do a gat bulk of the story telling, at least when you absorb Kindt's prose here, although Kindt's scratchy, somewhat unappealing characters do nothing to raise up the story through the pictures, but frequently drag it down. I would love to have Kindt's artistic abilities, it would make it so much easier to get my own writing out there, but a better artist would have inevitably captivated the reader so much more, giving the story greater breadth and appeal. Most of the characters were unlikeable. Again, maybe the unappealing art and direction the story took left me biased against them, but I didn't feel overly connected to, or concerned for any of them by the end. Even the main protagonist rang hollow, despite all the reasons the story threw at me to the contrary.
In summation, there is a very decent idea here, which sadly went in a direction that was not foreshadowed, nor one that I wanted. The praise littered on the back of this book is a little mystifying to me, as even if you are more forgiving of the stories direction and art than I am, when I put on my 'objective as possible pants', it really isn't anything to get that excited about. Check it out if you want, although I won't be returning to this in the future. 2.5/5
OmniBen
Dept.H is a mixed bag for me, equal parts enjoyable and underwhelming. This was the first Kindt story I have read (although I have MindMGNT sitting on the shelf waiting to go, too. The book is described as a murder mystery in a remote scientific station at the bottom of the ocean, which sounds rather enthralling, given the original and claustrophobic setting and limited number of suspects. The only problem with this is, for me, the whodunnit aspect of the story very quickly takes a backseat and becomes an average action thriller, albeit one rather light on the action and the thrills. The world's most brilliant scientist is found murdered at this underwater station, and the main character, Mia, is sent down to investigate. Their is a twist early on in the story about why the main protagonist wanted to investigate this crime which I wont spoil here, although it only added to the intrigue available to the writer. But everything from here on in rings rather hollow, with the main thrust of the story being to escape the station, along with a somewhat flimsy and unnecessary plot to save the world. The main impetus of the story should have been the solving of the murder. Little else needed tacking on, on top of that. The evil corporation and the world on the brink of destruction was not necessary here. It just seemed to distract the author, turning it into the run of the mill escape type scenario which it became. There are also some fantastical type creatures that needed significant explanation. They strangely come and go from the story as if they are a completely normal part of the world. it certainly left me scratching my head and wanting answers that weren't coming. The solving of the crime quickly becoming an afterthought that ambles along to an unsatisfying conclusion. I can't even remember who it was, such was the disappointing nature of it all, and I only read it a few months ago.
Kindt's art is an acquired taste and I certainly haven't learned to like it. A story such as this needed the artwork to do a gat bulk of the story telling, at least when you absorb Kindt's prose here, although Kindt's scratchy, somewhat unappealing characters do nothing to raise up the story through the pictures, but frequently drag it down. I would love to have Kindt's artistic abilities, it would make it so much easier to get my own writing out there, but a better artist would have inevitably captivated the reader so much more, giving the story greater breadth and appeal. Most of the characters were unlikeable. Again, maybe the unappealing art and direction the story took left me biased against them, but I didn't feel overly connected to, or concerned for any of them by the end. Even the main protagonist rang hollow, despite all the reasons the story threw at me to the contrary.
In summation, there is a very decent idea here, which sadly went in a direction that was not foreshadowed, nor one that I wanted. The praise littered on the back of this book is a little mystifying to me, as even if you are more forgiving of the stories direction and art than I am, when I put on my 'objective as possible pants', it really isn't anything to get that excited about. Check it out if you want, although I won't be returning to this in the future. 2.5/5
OmniBen
July 2, 2019
This review is more of the series as a whole, which I finished reading last night. You should know Matt Kindt is one of my favorite comic book writers. I consider him a genius and have recommended his books (Revolver, Three Story, etc) to countless people, especially when I worked in a comic book store. I constantly cleared out his books off the shelves because customers seemed to respond to my pitches for his books!
Unfortunately this never grabbed me, not even once. I was shocked because I felt like I instantly connect to everything he does, often to the point of tears, or at the least am hugely entertained by it (ie MIND MGMT, not an emotional favorite but a great page-turner that I could NOT WAIT to read the next volume of.)
As for Dept. H, I never cared about the characters, I never cared about the story, and while the setting gave us some really nice artwork, it just never felt intriguing or mysterious or fascinating to me. The main character was a huge problem for me, she just seemed devoid of personality and was unlikable (in not-interesting ways) and despite constant flashbacks to her childhood and life to try to draw the reader in, none of it ever made me care. And I feel if you have to keep flashbacking to try to get people to care, something must be missing in the present moment. Just a theory I've been thinking of lately. I had the same issues with the supporting cast, I never felt intrigued by them. I can't place my finger on what exactly was missing here compared to his previous books, but I was anxious to get through it and move on to something else.
Anyway, I would say if you're a fan of Kindt like I've been, maybe check out the first volume from a library or something, because I bought volumes 1-4 blind out of such loyalty to Kindt and love of his writing. Now I'm trying to sell them. Oh well.
Unfortunately this never grabbed me, not even once. I was shocked because I felt like I instantly connect to everything he does, often to the point of tears, or at the least am hugely entertained by it (ie MIND MGMT, not an emotional favorite but a great page-turner that I could NOT WAIT to read the next volume of.)
As for Dept. H, I never cared about the characters, I never cared about the story, and while the setting gave us some really nice artwork, it just never felt intriguing or mysterious or fascinating to me. The main character was a huge problem for me, she just seemed devoid of personality and was unlikable (in not-interesting ways) and despite constant flashbacks to her childhood and life to try to draw the reader in, none of it ever made me care. And I feel if you have to keep flashbacking to try to get people to care, something must be missing in the present moment. Just a theory I've been thinking of lately. I had the same issues with the supporting cast, I never felt intrigued by them. I can't place my finger on what exactly was missing here compared to his previous books, but I was anxious to get through it and move on to something else.
Anyway, I would say if you're a fan of Kindt like I've been, maybe check out the first volume from a library or something, because I bought volumes 1-4 blind out of such loyalty to Kindt and love of his writing. Now I'm trying to sell them. Oh well.
July 8, 2021
The mystery is finally revealed, but it pales in comparison to the choice Mia must make at the end of the book.
After the events of the last volume, only 1 person can go up to the surface with the cure that could stop a global level extinction event. The choice is made, and its voted that Mia will be the one. But as Mia swims upwards, she begins to reminisce, which shows us memories that are very important to what is happening in the moment. Because the bigger question is, does the world deserve a cure? Is it better to force man to look to the stars and move beyond in earth in an effort to survive? Or should she share the cure and just prolong the process causing more harm to the earth in general? It's a very a big question, and the way Kindt shows us her inner struggle with the choice was masterful.
Ultimately, Kindt leaves it up to us to decide what happens. And while these kind of "what do you think happened?" type endings annoy me usually, I thought this was really well done. The way he presents a poignant memory of each of Mia's parents, each representing the choice she must make, coupled with the lead up of the entire book showing us who she is, who her father was, and who her mother was, was a great way to build that emotional payoff that Kindt is known for. I read this book specifically for this kind of level of writing, as Mind MGMT was high in terms of quality writing.
Ultimately I would say this book is definitely a bit uneven. It has some good moments, but some slow moments as well. While it wasn't as good as Mind MGMT, I thought Kindt did a great job of keeping the book interesting and sticking the landing.
Recommended for fans of Kindt's writing, or stories about murder mysteries with a strange backdrop.
After the events of the last volume, only 1 person can go up to the surface with the cure that could stop a global level extinction event. The choice is made, and its voted that Mia will be the one. But as Mia swims upwards, she begins to reminisce, which shows us memories that are very important to what is happening in the moment. Because the bigger question is, does the world deserve a cure? Is it better to force man to look to the stars and move beyond in earth in an effort to survive? Or should she share the cure and just prolong the process causing more harm to the earth in general? It's a very a big question, and the way Kindt shows us her inner struggle with the choice was masterful.
Ultimately, Kindt leaves it up to us to decide what happens. And while these kind of "what do you think happened?" type endings annoy me usually, I thought this was really well done. The way he presents a poignant memory of each of Mia's parents, each representing the choice she must make, coupled with the lead up of the entire book showing us who she is, who her father was, and who her mother was, was a great way to build that emotional payoff that Kindt is known for. I read this book specifically for this kind of level of writing, as Mind MGMT was high in terms of quality writing.
Ultimately I would say this book is definitely a bit uneven. It has some good moments, but some slow moments as well. While it wasn't as good as Mind MGMT, I thought Kindt did a great job of keeping the book interesting and sticking the landing.
Recommended for fans of Kindt's writing, or stories about murder mysteries with a strange backdrop.
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August 2, 2022This is a review of the whole series and not just this volume
I thought it was very good. On paper it had a lot of things I love. Sci-fi, underwater setting, mystery. It had some really nice watercolors too. Ultimately the what of the mystery was pushed aside to explain more of the possible why. That resulted in an exploration of how lives interweave when connected by a charismatic figure with a vision. Most of the exploration proved fruitless in regards to finding answers to the mystery but it never stopped asking questions or provide interesting content
It's fascinating that this finished publishing back in 2018 with how much it is about the future and even predicted a pandemic. Many of the questions being asked about the state of the world still lay ahead of such as the destruction of the great barrier reef. Reading this now tackles a lot of the cynicism about the world that has risen out of covid and asks questions about what we should do. It looks for answers in the unknown. It maybe look like the future is bad but something positive might come out of it if we keep looking for it. Though so far we havent found any of it, there's a lot to explore and we need to not give up or give in to some kind of malthusian perspective. No matter how things are going, erring on the side of compassion, hope and determination is what we need to face the day and take a step forward
I thought it was very good. On paper it had a lot of things I love. Sci-fi, underwater setting, mystery. It had some really nice watercolors too. Ultimately the what of the mystery was pushed aside to explain more of the possible why. That resulted in an exploration of how lives interweave when connected by a charismatic figure with a vision. Most of the exploration proved fruitless in regards to finding answers to the mystery but it never stopped asking questions or provide interesting content
It's fascinating that this finished publishing back in 2018 with how much it is about the future and even predicted a pandemic. Many of the questions being asked about the state of the world still lay ahead of such as the destruction of the great barrier reef. Reading this now tackles a lot of the cynicism about the world that has risen out of covid and asks questions about what we should do. It looks for answers in the unknown. It maybe look like the future is bad but something positive might come out of it if we keep looking for it. Though so far we havent found any of it, there's a lot to explore and we need to not give up or give in to some kind of malthusian perspective. No matter how things are going, erring on the side of compassion, hope and determination is what we need to face the day and take a step forward
January 25, 2019
(Series review) So, I felt like this series' strong point was definitely the story/writing. Although the "murder mystery" aspect may have been stretched out more than was actually present in the plot, I was consistently interested in the world building and backstories of the characters. I could not, however, stand the art (although I would say that the coloring was well done and fit with the aquatic narrative). I know it's a personal aesthetic thing, but there were times in the earlier volumes when I almost put Dept. H down because I didn't want to look at the images anymore, which seems counterintuitive for a graphic novel. But I slogged through because the story interested me and in the end I feel the payoff was worth it.
November 22, 2022
The finale! All secrets are revealed. The fate of the world potentially lies in the hands of our adventurers. And everything ends...with a question mark?
Overall, it's still an interesting story, but it's hard for any other work from Kindt to have the same sublime narrative as MIND MGMT or something. This was a compelling story but with some weird pacing and an ending that was okay but not quite as impactful as it could have been maybe?
I will note that Kindt's art, particularly his coloring, was amazing in this book. He really did a great job of fully conveying the different emotions of the different scenes and narrative beats all throughout. He had some creative layouts and interesting panel choices that were evocative without feeling gimmicky.
Overall, it's still an interesting story, but it's hard for any other work from Kindt to have the same sublime narrative as MIND MGMT or something. This was a compelling story but with some weird pacing and an ending that was okay but not quite as impactful as it could have been maybe?
I will note that Kindt's art, particularly his coloring, was amazing in this book. He really did a great job of fully conveying the different emotions of the different scenes and narrative beats all throughout. He had some creative layouts and interesting panel choices that were evocative without feeling gimmicky.
July 23, 2024
As I suspected, the ending of the series was a bit of a let down for me. This is a unique series, but somehow the whole mysterious story falls flat, gets too tangled up and then can't be untangled in a satisfactory manner.
In the end the story feels at the same time too stretched out, and not developed to its full complexity and details. It is only my feeling, off course, but it is a bit underwhelming in the end, although I like philosophical ending to it, the atmosphere, and even the characters, so a lot of mixed feelings here.
I'd recommend the series, but not to everyone, maybe specifically to the divers, murder-mystery fans (although they might feel disappointed in the end) and all the artsy people out there.
In the end the story feels at the same time too stretched out, and not developed to its full complexity and details. It is only my feeling, off course, but it is a bit underwhelming in the end, although I like philosophical ending to it, the atmosphere, and even the characters, so a lot of mixed feelings here.
I'd recommend the series, but not to everyone, maybe specifically to the divers, murder-mystery fans (although they might feel disappointed in the end) and all the artsy people out there.
September 25, 2018
Pretty sure I called it with volume one - we're in serious Lost territory here. Matt Kindt wraps up about half the loose ends in predictably weird, but sorta satisfying fashion. At least the pacing is better in this volume with fewer backstory diversions to slow things down. I can't say I was particularly satisfied with the conclusion (it wasn't memorable), but I enjoyed the series overall. The art gets ragged on a bit since it's simple and sketchy, but it's very unique and fits the bill for a series where very little is what it seems.
October 15, 2018
Decent ending to a slow mystery. The whodunit aspect isn't bad, nor too obvious. The art in this volume is particularly good, starting with the cool, shadow-layered, blue cover. I began reading Mind Mgmt (Kindt's other series) right after I finished this, and realized that I was burnt out on Kindt and put it down. Not that this series was bad, it was just a bit tiring. However, as you can see by my rating, I enjoyed it and recommend it.
May 23, 2019
This is where Kindt shines. The worlds he is allowed to create and live in are a gift to us all. I do feel like perhaps he rushed the final volume here because we got a lot of explanation in a few pages and it feels a little off for a series that was otherwise very slowly paced (and perfectly so). The incredible thing is just how much I want to go back and live in this world some more. What a delight.
August 28, 2018
I appreciate the resolution. I like how it leaves the reader with some unanswered questions about Mia and her choices and the future. But the resolution in this volume came swiftly and at times felt unsupported. The mystery was under-developed and it will leave the reader without any possibility (or feeling like there wasn't any possibility) of figuring it out the "mystery" on their own.
January 4, 2020
2.5 Stars. I felt like the ending was just poor. We found some answers, but not to everything and it was just so up in the air. Many I'm sure will like it, but what really drove me to keep reading this series was the mystery and what was going to happen to the people in Dept. H. But it felt like half of this book didn't deal with that.
November 21, 2018
This might be my favorite volume of the series. We get some really interesting character backstories and the team trying to make it to the surface adds a great layer of tension. And Mia's Sherlock moment of putting the pieces together was very nicely done.
August 29, 2019
Found it at the library on the new releases. Forgot to check to see if it was a series. Turns out it’s the 4th volume but I really liked it! The water colors are stunning and the way the story is told, I couldn’t put it down.
April 12, 2020
A bittersweet conclusion that couldn't have been executed any better. I particularly enjoyed the chapter where he used a basic 6 panel layout with the black borders eating up more space from page to page, heightening the sense of claustrophobia and pressure.
June 24, 2022
Huge let down. Each volume got worse with lots and lots of recap. The art is amazing but there is maybe enough story for two volumes not four.
So much potential and many plot threads left but the ending is a huge disappointment.
So much potential and many plot threads left but the ending is a huge disappointment.
August 24, 2018
Like the art as always, tho sizing was more noticably haphazard, but while I like the open-ended finale, the mystery resolution made all preceding action feel very futile.
August 30, 2018
The whole "figuring it out" seemed a little rushed at the end, but the very last few pages/little story, was a great end. Overall I really liked this series.
January 3, 2019
Loved this series. It’s a miser mystery. The ending was definitely unpredictable. Mind blowing kind of. The creativity was there. Graphics were still on point. Worth a read
February 5, 2019
Fitting ending of this very good underwater mystery.
May 19, 2019
A gratifying ending to an odd, meandering, and sometimes beautiful series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews