Low, Book Two

Low #4-5

by Rick Remender, Greg Tocchini (Artist), Dave McCaig (Artist)

Stel Caine faces the greatest challenge to her hope yet. Meanwhile, Tajo returns to her family home on Salus, only to find a city on the brink of devastation. There is no food, no air, no hope for mankind's last great dome city. Now, Tajo must band together with Io, a man carrying a secret millennia old, and Mertali, a brave mermaid from the gladiator pits of Poluma, to fight for a better future for everyone. It all ends here in this second oversized hardcover, featuring a ton of designs, layouts, script and other never before seen treasures, as writer RICK REMENDER (DEADLY CLASS, SEVEN TO ETERNITY) and artist GREG TOCCHINI (Uncanny X-Force) conclude their tale of mankind’s final hour in the cold, deathly dark of the sea!

Collects LOW #16-26

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics Manga, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy

352 pages, Hardcover

Published August 31, 2021

About the author

Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.

Reviews

[P Roberge · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Mertali dramatic self-sacrifice to blood-thirsty mermaids followed in the next volume by an unexpected survival would have been a lot more poignant if this EXACT same thing hadn't happened already to Zem in Book One.

I'm also confused as to why the robot in the epilogue is still Marik? Like, he was switch-a-roo evil robot and then they showed him the luminous shell pendant and he turned back into Marik and he was like "I can't hold the evil robot half for too long and I'm using my own core to power up the ship so I will probably die" and then in the epilogue many years later he's Marik again?

For how much drama the series love to put into the characters' apparent demises and noble sacrifices, it's afraid to kill any of its main characters.

But still, the cinematic ending was pretty cool and the artwork is divine.

[Highland G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as tight as book one but still enjoyable and nice to finally finish the story. Not sure what else to say. Things took some really strange turns and there’s a lot left open to reader interpretation.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great second half. While the first half of this volume was a bit weaker than the rest of the series it still sets things up nicely. But the final 6 issues are excellent. They showcase a whole new civilization in a great way, epic moments of death and triumph. Forgiveness and hope. Love and conquer. So many emotions, so many themes. If you read Book One and Two together, this is a epic classic adventure of survival and hope that I could NOT get enough of.

[Robson Castilho · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Encadernado que fecha a história, com os números 16 ao 26).

Os problemas do anterior continuam aqui: alguns quadros confusos de entender e os diálogos arrastados sobre "esperança".

O autor também toma uma decisão muito controversa aqui, que é formar um casal entre a protagonista Stel e o ex-pirata assassino Zem. Achei uma ideia péssima, forçada demais.

Outro ponto negativo é a falta de coragem do autor para matar os personagens principais. Perdi as contas do número de vezes onde um personagem morreu (ou estava para morrer) e páginas depois está bem vivo. Marik mesmo, que já havia morrido e agora está no corpo de um robô, deixa claro que morrerá (de novo), só para aparecer ainda vivo (?!?) no epílogo.

Por essas e outras, não é uma história genial, mas é uma boa diversão, algumas ideias bacanas e muito combate.

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

As stated in my updated review of Book One, the ending is a little bit expected, given the assumption that Remender has accepted the idea of thinking positively. The path to get there isn't always what you expect and often comes at a price which is something a few of the characters experience.

Instead of keeping the story small, Book Two makes it big, with Stel and family being the center of the fate of the entire world. He also makes it "us vs them", a direct, clear-cut good vs. evil story. While this makes for sprawling, widescreen action, I felt it buries the central theme and lessens the individual characters' experiences regarding the idea of Quantumology.

As it's framework, it's classic sci-fi: a world coming to an end which examines just what would humanity do with itself when there's no hope. I agree with Remender that all the ugliness of the world today would just be amplified - self-serving, giving in to base desires, classism, etc. Truly a time of hopelessness which is a stark contrast to the idea of hope and the perfect setting for the story.

The characters make strong speeches, some of which sound like they came straight from Remender's mental health provider, but that's ok. It's not overly preachy, and everything doesn't just come up roses, but the power of positive thinking is real and I'm happy that Remender has made a new life for himself and seemingly benefited from it.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing, art and colours are all lacking from the first volume. I was really disappointed. The layouts suffer the most. Some panels are stretched vertically to fit in the page. It's very peculiar.

I dont particularly enjoy having two or three issues with a few characters, then moving on to do the same with other characters, and so on. I find books more enjoyable where we visit the cast every issue or two; have a scene with both/each group regularly.

The robot late addition seemed to just be in there to solve some problems and end the series neatly. A lot fo telling us about hope, when it could just be shown.

Definitely read the first book, maybe take that as your ending.

SPOILER: issue 23 ends with Mertali sacrificing themselves, saying that they will lead the vampiric mermaids/sirens away from Tajo and keep them focused on themselves and the Voldin "i dont mind dying for (my new family)." Then issue 24 begins and Mertali is crying out in despair for Tajo not leave them behind and leading the creatures straight back at Salus. Complete contradiction. These two issues only came out one month a part. Not the usual delay between issues which may have explained it. Very disappointed by that, which sums up this Book Two.

[Rumi Bossche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its time to get Low again with the final hardcover from Remenders Giant Generator imprint. The Human race fled the earth and lives on the bottom of the sea now because of the massive radiation. There are multiple underwater cities but resources are getting more sparce by the minute. The premise is still brilliant and it started very good with the first hc but ended kinda in a whimper for me, i was hoping for 180 story wise but this failed to be better then the first one sadly. There are lots of ideas but the story became more vague until its end, might reread in the future as i liked all Remenders book more the second time around. The artwork by Tocchini remains a sight to behold and for that alone its worth it.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t really live up to my expectations after the first volume, but still pretty good and amazing artwork.
I didn’t like that the main characters were apart for most of the series and only got short moments of interaction towards the end. I also felt some of the characters got their redemption a little too easily, after all the horrible shit that they did. Some side characters or factions were introduced quite late in the story, without really getting the time to breathe and develop.
Also the artist weirdly warps the perspective in some panels, that looks like it’s done digitally and I didn’t really liked that effect. I don’t remember that from the first volume.
Having said all that, the final two issues are really climactic and I thought the ending was pretty good.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume, the second half of the series, is a bit more clunky than the first half, but remains stellar. The series is one of the best image books I have read, one of the best science fiction comics I have read, and sticks the landing. The art remains incredible and pretty distinct from most other comics.

[Aildiin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like much better how the story develops in this second part !

[John J Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely buy this version as the art especially after 20 is fabtastic. Story was ok but nothing too original

[Grace]

I've tried many times to finish this series and I just can't. I don't care about the story or characters anymore.

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

there is a lot of repeatedness in these and it starts to get old.

[Neil Mehta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot really got away from me. I had trouble keeping track of all the different stories and character arcs – who was doing what where – because things kept changing very fast, all the time. Plus some character designs weren’t distinctive enough, so it was sometimes hard to know who I was even seeing.
The final few pages are lovely, though.

[Luke Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh it was okay