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High Level (2019) (High Level
Hundreds of years after the end of the world, a new human society has rebuilt itself from scratch. The one percent of the population who control all of the wealth and power on Earth have long since hidden themselves away behind the walls of a mysterious city: High Level. Our story begins in an outland community where High Level is spoken of only in myth and rumor. There we'll join a self-interested smuggler called Thirteen on a sprawling sci-fi adventure across a new continent of mystery and danger, as she's tasked with delivering a child messiah to the fabled metropolis at the top of the world, from which no one has ever returned. Collects the six-issue series.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2020
3 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Rob Sheridan
13 books14 followersrob sheridan is an art director, writer, designer, illustrator, photographer, director, and editor, among other things. he currently resides in the pacific northwest, but is often journeying in an rv with his wife and dog.
he is the writer/creator of high level, an original sci-fi adventure comic book on dc vertigo.
he was the creative director for nine inch nails and trent reznor for 15 years, defining the band's distinct visual identity and creating award winning package designs, stage productions, media campaigns, music videos, and more.
he co-created the extensive dystopian mythology of year zero, an award-winning immersive alternate reality game experience that was picked up by hbo for a miniseries produced by bbc america and bender brown productions.
he was nominated for two grammy awards for special edition album package design for nine inch nails' ghosts and the girl with the dragon tattoo.
he designed visuals, videos, and stage production for the band how to destroy angels, and performed with them in their live shows.
he was creative director at beats music streaming music service, which later became apple music, and is an inventor of multiple apple-owned software patents.
he has the dubious honor of being credited as creating the first meme, the Dancing Baby.
he is currently developing several tba writing and visual projects.
his client list includes: Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor, How to Destroy Angels, DC Comics, Beats Music, HBO, BBC America, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Interscope Records, Universal Music, Capitol Records, Vevo, The Grammys, 42 Entertainment, Cloak and Dagger, Spaceland, Peter Murphy, Puscifer, Phantagram, L7, Zedd, The Black Queen, The New Regime, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & more.
he is the writer/creator of high level, an original sci-fi adventure comic book on dc vertigo.
he was the creative director for nine inch nails and trent reznor for 15 years, defining the band's distinct visual identity and creating award winning package designs, stage productions, media campaigns, music videos, and more.
he co-created the extensive dystopian mythology of year zero, an award-winning immersive alternate reality game experience that was picked up by hbo for a miniseries produced by bbc america and bender brown productions.
he was nominated for two grammy awards for special edition album package design for nine inch nails' ghosts and the girl with the dragon tattoo.
he designed visuals, videos, and stage production for the band how to destroy angels, and performed with them in their live shows.
he was creative director at beats music streaming music service, which later became apple music, and is an inventor of multiple apple-owned software patents.
he has the dubious honor of being credited as creating the first meme, the Dancing Baby.
he is currently developing several tba writing and visual projects.
his client list includes: Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor, How to Destroy Angels, DC Comics, Beats Music, HBO, BBC America, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Interscope Records, Universal Music, Capitol Records, Vevo, The Grammys, 42 Entertainment, Cloak and Dagger, Spaceland, Peter Murphy, Puscifer, Phantagram, L7, Zedd, The Black Queen, The New Regime, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & more.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 5, 2020
Even with all the familiar sci-fi, dystopian tropes in this, this still feels fresh and original. The worldbuilding and questing was fantastic. Thirteen is a local smuggler in a post apocalyptic landscape. She gets hired to transport a young girl to High Level, an almost mystical city where after toiling away for years you can ascend to the life of the one percent. The art was amazing. Even though there are three artists across 6 issues, Romulo Fajardo Jr's exquisite colors bring the book to life.
The only downside is that this is only the first volume. Now that DC has killed off Vertigo will we even get to see the rest of the story? I want to know what the first page with knights and princesses has to do with a dystopian comic, dammit!
The only downside is that this is only the first volume. Now that DC has killed off Vertigo will we even get to see the rest of the story? I want to know what the first page with knights and princesses has to do with a dystopian comic, dammit!
May 12, 2021
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. Not since Saga have I been so engrossed. The art was magnificent with its bright colors, the story line was on point and the characters were extraordinary. The only downfall of the book is the next one is not out there waiting for me. I will definitely be on the look out for it. Highly recommended!
March 4, 2020
While it uses familair sci-fi tropes, High Level still feels fresh and original. The characters are great and Sheridan has created a highly interesting world. Looking forward how this story will develop.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
February 23, 2020
Good story and excellent illustration. I'm definitely intrigued enough to read the next volume when it comes out. Thirteen is a badass, although I really hope Valentina comes back, because she was my favorite. The kid wasn't too annoying, thank goodness. I am a little confused on some plot points, but I think that's because this is just the beginning. Looking forward to solving those mysteries!
March 12, 2021
High Level strongly reminded me of the Descender series in that it leans in to science fiction tropes, acting on them just well enough to make you forget that they're tropes. Until the final issue, that is, when things go off the rails.
Up to that point, we have the fairly straightforward narrative of "main character must get package to destination". The main character is Thirteen, a predictably grumpy smuggler in the post-apocalyptic north. The package is a young girl, Minnow, who has unique powers desired by warring factions. High Level primarily plays out as a travelogue, moving Thirteen and Minnow through interesting dystopian locales. This type of tale distracts the reader with imaginative landscapes, even as some storytelling elements (why do Minnow's powers matter?) fall by the wayside. But the artwork! My goodness.
Then we get to that final issue, where the predictable but fun narrative shifts dramatically with a series of betrayals and the revelation of some god-like figure pulling the strings. The second volume has a lot of questions to answer. I think the final issue would have worked better if the twists had been better seeded throughout the rest of the book. As it was, I was flummoxed. And I had such high hopes! High Level starts with an excellent map, after all. No book with a map can be all wrong.
Up to that point, we have the fairly straightforward narrative of "main character must get package to destination". The main character is Thirteen, a predictably grumpy smuggler in the post-apocalyptic north. The package is a young girl, Minnow, who has unique powers desired by warring factions. High Level primarily plays out as a travelogue, moving Thirteen and Minnow through interesting dystopian locales. This type of tale distracts the reader with imaginative landscapes, even as some storytelling elements (why do Minnow's powers matter?) fall by the wayside. But the artwork! My goodness.
Then we get to that final issue, where the predictable but fun narrative shifts dramatically with a series of betrayals and the revelation of some god-like figure pulling the strings. The second volume has a lot of questions to answer. I think the final issue would have worked better if the twists had been better seeded throughout the rest of the book. As it was, I was flummoxed. And I had such high hopes! High Level starts with an excellent map, after all. No book with a map can be all wrong.
May 14, 2020
Rob Sheridan manages to recycle almost every Sci-Fi and post-apocalyptic trope into one book. But amazingly, from those common pieces he has created an uncommonly good work.
We've got the reluctant hero, XIII, a special child, Minnow, and a trek across a post-apocalyptic world avoiding warring factions to reach a paradise city in the sky. Even the fact that the leads are female, while appreciated, is not really novel. But out of these pieces Sheridan builds an intriguing world generations beyond the apocalypse, which is teetering on the edge of another, and populates it with characters that breathe, even if they initially appear to be pulled from stock character archives. I think it was his take on the city of Pleasure Island that really made me realize just how much I was enjoying this book, and the ending (which has some closure, but is definitely setting up future volumes that it doesn't look like are coming) throws in a twist that, while still somewhat predictable, still feels earned. Coupled with art that really gives a sense of place to the world and personality to the characters, and you've got an unexpectedly enjoyable Post-Post-Apocalypse. Highly recommended.
We've got the reluctant hero, XIII, a special child, Minnow, and a trek across a post-apocalyptic world avoiding warring factions to reach a paradise city in the sky. Even the fact that the leads are female, while appreciated, is not really novel. But out of these pieces Sheridan builds an intriguing world generations beyond the apocalypse, which is teetering on the edge of another, and populates it with characters that breathe, even if they initially appear to be pulled from stock character archives. I think it was his take on the city of Pleasure Island that really made me realize just how much I was enjoying this book, and the ending (which has some closure, but is definitely setting up future volumes that it doesn't look like are coming) throws in a twist that, while still somewhat predictable, still feels earned. Coupled with art that really gives a sense of place to the world and personality to the characters, and you've got an unexpectedly enjoyable Post-Post-Apocalypse. Highly recommended.
February 29, 2020
Nakoľko Vertigo je fuč, neverím, že toto niekam ešte bude pokračovať, čo je naozaj škoda. Koniec zostal viacmenej otvorený a viem si predstaviť, že by to ešte jedno volume zvládlo celé parádne ukončiť. Po dlhej dobe ma bavil príbeh so ženskou hlavnou hrdinkou, príjemné sci-fi plné mutantov, robotov, post-apo sveta, zaujímavých miest a postáv. Kresba bola miestami nádherná, inokedy vyzerala ako keby to ani nerobil jeden a ten istý človek. Ale stále sa mi to skvele čítalo..
July 2, 2020
Cool scifi story. Very good art
August 22, 2021
It was a pretty decent book. The metaphors for religion were solid but as a person who is somewhat familiar with the subject I can guess it fairly easily
September 23, 2019
Thank you DC for your occasional attempts to bring back science fiction, western, and even adventure comics instead of publishing super heroes only. Yeah, I think you deserve some credit for that despite what you as a company did to Vertigo this year.
Yes, it is the typical post-apocalyptic set up, and the disaster is never fully explained. That doesn't stop the journey of Thirteen and her child charge from being both entertaining, and maybe even a little sentimental at times.
The story does borrow a little from Logan's Run, but I'm not divulging that spoiler.
Yes, it is the typical post-apocalyptic set up, and the disaster is never fully explained. That doesn't stop the journey of Thirteen and her child charge from being both entertaining, and maybe even a little sentimental at times.
The story does borrow a little from Logan's Run, but I'm not divulging that spoiler.
September 29, 2020
Meh. Not a terrible attempt at post apocalyptic world building, but the dialogue is rough and the plot seems forced upon the characters. Because everything is all a bit murky and vague, the twist doesn't really land because you have no strong expectations of, well, anyone. So instead there's just an unnecessarily blunt punch line to give the protagonist motivation for a sequel that almost certainly isn't coming any time soon. The art is decent and the colours are nice, but neither can save a mediocre story that's hard to trudge through.
July 4, 2020
It's a little bit "young adult", and themes are far from subtle, but it doesn't take itself too seriously most of the time.
The world building and designs are great, colours amazingly vibrant. Characters nice and distinct, no confusion over who's doing what in this comic. Lots of tasty full page panels, tricks like "panning shots" used rarely but done well.
A couple of very minor quibbles on speech bubbles but I stress only a couple and very minor.
Keen to read the next.
The world building and designs are great, colours amazingly vibrant. Characters nice and distinct, no confusion over who's doing what in this comic. Lots of tasty full page panels, tricks like "panning shots" used rarely but done well.
A couple of very minor quibbles on speech bubbles but I stress only a couple and very minor.
Keen to read the next.
October 7, 2022
Unfortunately, doesn't really expand past the overdone tropes of dystopian society where the richest people live on the High Level and when the main character who is smuggling a child, it turns out to be not what they thought High Level actually was! I didn't care enough about the characters to get sucked in.
May 4, 2020
Lots to love in this - looks incredible and its world creation is beautifully delivered. A little unsure about its ending which is why I'm not confident awarding full stars. But I'd definitely read a Book Two. Here's hoping that there is one.
December 29, 2022
3.5 stars
Illustrations are not bad, I liked the premise of the story, predictable betrayal plot line, but unexpected death! Now I have no idea what's going to happen. Will continue, but happy to keep it as a library borrow.
Illustrations are not bad, I liked the premise of the story, predictable betrayal plot line, but unexpected death! Now I have no idea what's going to happen. Will continue, but happy to keep it as a library borrow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2020
good sci-fi story. I recommend and I can be quite picky about graphic novels. 1 star off for not being a stand alone. Total book 2 setup but I’d read more.
April 24, 2021
Almost gave up after the first issue. Stayed for the world building, which was fairly not bad. The last issue completely torpedoed any good will.
December 19, 2021
It was good up until that most dismal of endings. :(
April 14, 2025
Big vibes, little substance. Enjoyed this, but it had very cliche and predictable dialogue that was simultaneously trying to be edgy and liberal.
April 12, 2024
The worldbuilding is fantastic. The art is gorgeous. The story is compelling. The only thing I could ask for would be an extra issue of length so the ending was given more room to breathe and felt less hurried.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews