What do you think?
Rate this book
Ocean
When a tiny research station discovers thousands of coffins floating in the gigantic sea underneath Europa's ice covering, UN weapons inspector Nathan Kane is sent to investigate. But the massive DOORS corporation also has investigators on Europa, and soon Kane is plunged into a race to discover the secret of the coffins.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Warren Ellis
1,971 books5,765 followersWarren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.
He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.
Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.
A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.
Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.
Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 18, 2012
This one was a little frustrating - it contained some great ideas and intriguing visuals, but 6 issues was just not enough time to explore them. It was almost like a teaser of something bigger. While I enjoyed my time with it, in the end I just felt let down that there wasn't more.
May 12, 2019
I don't read many graphic novels but at some point when I was doing some ordering at my favorite online used book store I came across this and bought it. And of course promptly forgot about it until I tidied up a couple of shelves in my Haven't Read These Yet bookcase and there it was.
I liked the story, and the artwork as well. The main character Nathan Kane was appealing, especially with his fascination for the early space age and the fact that he had a book, a real book, in a time when some other people didn't even know what that was.
Hale was sent to Jupiter to fix a problem encountered on Europa. But he is a weapons inspector. What kind of problem could there be on a research station orbiting this distant moon?! Will he keep his cool and figure out what to do?
I liked the other characters as much as Hale, and even though I agree with other reviewers that the story could have been expanded, I enjoyed this romp in outer space and I will keep Warren Ellis on my list the next time I do any online used book shopping!
I liked the story, and the artwork as well. The main character Nathan Kane was appealing, especially with his fascination for the early space age and the fact that he had a book, a real book, in a time when some other people didn't even know what that was.
Hale was sent to Jupiter to fix a problem encountered on Europa. But he is a weapons inspector. What kind of problem could there be on a research station orbiting this distant moon?! Will he keep his cool and figure out what to do?
I liked the other characters as much as Hale, and even though I agree with other reviewers that the story could have been expanded, I enjoyed this romp in outer space and I will keep Warren Ellis on my list the next time I do any online used book shopping!
March 18, 2013
Set in the future where mankind has perfected space travel, a UN weapons inspector is called to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons covered entirely by ice beneath which is water, to investigate a discovery of thousands of sarcophagi containing dead human beings held in suspended animation. The only problem is that Doors (a corporation much like Microsoft/Windows) is intent on getting to them first to activate their ancient weapons - weapons that could wipe out entire planets!
Warren Ellis and Chris Sprouse construct another excellent sci-fi comic book (they've worked together on "Ministry of Space") with similar style - convincing human characters set in fantastical machines and environments. Ellis might have written this to become a film but it never found funding so we get to see it anyway - it looks like it would've been a great pulpy sci-fi flick like Event Horizon, but less cheesy.
Fast paced and fun, with lots of gory fight scenes and snappy dialogue, "Ocean" is a great sci-fi read from a master of the comic book genre, Warren Ellis. Recommended.
Warren Ellis and Chris Sprouse construct another excellent sci-fi comic book (they've worked together on "Ministry of Space") with similar style - convincing human characters set in fantastical machines and environments. Ellis might have written this to become a film but it never found funding so we get to see it anyway - it looks like it would've been a great pulpy sci-fi flick like Event Horizon, but less cheesy.
Fast paced and fun, with lots of gory fight scenes and snappy dialogue, "Ocean" is a great sci-fi read from a master of the comic book genre, Warren Ellis. Recommended.
July 22, 2012
The first time I read Ocean, I thought it was a decent, intelligent sci-fi/action flick in comic form, reminiscent of Sunshine. On a re-read, I think it's a pretty good, intelligent sci-fi/action flick in comic form, reminiscent of Prometheus. (Note that it was written before either of those movies came out.)
The basic premise is that a hundred years in the future, we discover caskets in the ocean of Europa, and these caskets contain...DEAD ALIEN BODIES! Not to mention giant mechanical weapons. So Nathan Kane (who, despite not actually looking like Samuel L. Jackson, does evoke his sensibilities as a bald black badass with a goatee and sarcasm) is sent to the Cold Harbor space station to investigate, where he meets a ragtag crew of space misfits that includes an Iraqi woman who makes excellent coffee, a Chinese woman who's a tech wizard, a redheaded woman who likes sex, and a white dude who's a terrible cook. It's a nice, diverse cast, and although characterization is thin, the characters are all distinct.
Kane's mission is complicated by the presence of Doors (an obvious Microsoft dig), a corporate conglomerate who has interests in giant mechanical weapons. As Kane and Co. learn more about what's in the ocean, it becomes clear that Earth's very fate hangs in the balance! Cue gunplay and explosions!
The book is exciting and funny and well-paced and well-drawn and generally a solid adventure.
The basic premise is that a hundred years in the future, we discover caskets in the ocean of Europa, and these caskets contain...DEAD ALIEN BODIES! Not to mention giant mechanical weapons. So Nathan Kane (who, despite not actually looking like Samuel L. Jackson, does evoke his sensibilities as a bald black badass with a goatee and sarcasm) is sent to the Cold Harbor space station to investigate, where he meets a ragtag crew of space misfits that includes an Iraqi woman who makes excellent coffee, a Chinese woman who's a tech wizard, a redheaded woman who likes sex, and a white dude who's a terrible cook. It's a nice, diverse cast, and although characterization is thin, the characters are all distinct.
Kane's mission is complicated by the presence of Doors (an obvious Microsoft dig), a corporate conglomerate who has interests in giant mechanical weapons. As Kane and Co. learn more about what's in the ocean, it becomes clear that Earth's very fate hangs in the balance! Cue gunplay and explosions!
The book is exciting and funny and well-paced and well-drawn and generally a solid adventure.
December 6, 2020
3.5 stars. Pretty cool little sci-fi story. It’s 100 years in the future and a mission to Europa has found something under the ice. What they found was pretty interesting. I feel like to make me give this book a higher score, I would have liked to have seen more visual details of the backstory of what was under the ice. But otherwise, a decent book with some nice artwork.
January 7, 2018
Ellis' sci-fi is still spectacular.
September 3, 2023
Слабке все. Сюжет особливо.
На один вечір цілком.
На один вечір цілком.
December 25, 2020
Kane's character was a highlight, the action was intensive especially near the end, much like a film
August 13, 2012
I just watched Prometheus again on DVD yesterday, and it reminded me of this particular book. Both Prometheus and Ocean had the very same problem: a big tease followed by unsatisfying conclusion. The origin of man is a very teasing concept to be explored. There are just so many possibilities to go with only this one premise. But just like Prometheus (who hypothesized man came from the Engineers, while Ocean said man came from Jupiter's Europa), this book should've sustain the mystery a bit longer, for better effect. Instead, Ocean showed us the answer far too early, in a very rushed manner.
It's should be just like those times we played guessing game with friends, and DON'T want the answer to be given because we want to find it ourselves. Curiosity, just like fear and empathy, is one of human's most exploitable potential, so please don't restrict it by giving us a very obvious, into-your-face answer.
Dear Mr. Ellis, if we want bikini footage, please don't serve us full-naked porn.
It's should be just like those times we played guessing game with friends, and DON'T want the answer to be given because we want to find it ourselves. Curiosity, just like fear and empathy, is one of human's most exploitable potential, so please don't restrict it by giving us a very obvious, into-your-face answer.
Dear Mr. Ellis, if we want bikini footage, please don't serve us full-naked porn.
January 18, 2017
Great sci-fi graphic novel, surprise how much i liked it. Nathan Kane is an arms inspector who travels to Europa, the icy jupiter moon. He learns of a distant culture that once lived in the our solar system with a creepy, war torn past. The writing is pretty dang good, Ellis describes the details of this futuristic space setting with great detail. The art is also above average for the time of 2004. The story isn't terribly inventive but it's a fun ride. Its a pure sci-fi story so if you like that stuff, i would recommend.
April 3, 2017
Typical of middle-tier Ellis: plenty of big ideas, and even a few interesting characters, but never enough time to explore them. The climax in particular was a bit too formulaic for me. Closer to an outline for a summer blockbuster than something that could stand on its own.
February 10, 2019
A very nice plot, but this seems like there wasn't enough time or room to let the plot grow. The ending seemed abrupt. A solid read otherwise. Minus 1 star, this could have been so much more.
Definitely a must read.
Definitely a must read.
May 8, 2019
Although I can see some similarities between this comic book and the amazing Expanse book series, I feel that the comics have fallen into some cliché traps =/
August 16, 2020
I had this in a pile of "maybe" books for my elementary school library. I read it to make sure it was appropriate for an elementary school. It definitely is NOT, but I enjoyed reading it!
September 23, 2022
Good scifi, needed more space to breathe
February 21, 2020
In the future, mankind has safely tackled space travel (within the confines of our solar system) and we're beginning to build stations as far away as Jupiter and its moons, including Europa.
Currently, scientists believe but aren't certain, that Europa has a liquid ocean beneath its frozen surface, hence the name of the book. In Ocean, this turns out to be true.
Nathan Kane, a UN Weapons Inspector, receives an assignment to travel to the UN space station Cold Harbor, which has discovered something ominous within Europa's waters. The skeleton crew of 4 notifies him that the evil corporation Doors (a tongue-in-cheek reference to Microsoft, no doubt - Doors... Windows... Kane makes a comment about Doors being responsible for his operating system blue screening) is aware of what they discovered, too.
I really liked this a lot. When I read Orbiter, I kept seeing people comment about how Ocean was superior in just about every way, and I definitely agree. Orbiter's plot wasn't good enough for its concept. Ocean, on the other hand, is a tight, smart sci-fi action book, and while I wish it could've breathed a bit more (maybe if it were an issue or two longer in the original run), I really enjoyed it a lot. Kane and the Cold Harbor crew are fun and have a lot of personality for how quick the story moves.
This would make an excellent movie, by the by.
Currently, scientists believe but aren't certain, that Europa has a liquid ocean beneath its frozen surface, hence the name of the book. In Ocean, this turns out to be true.
Nathan Kane, a UN Weapons Inspector, receives an assignment to travel to the UN space station Cold Harbor, which has discovered something ominous within Europa's waters. The skeleton crew of 4 notifies him that the evil corporation Doors (a tongue-in-cheek reference to Microsoft, no doubt - Doors... Windows... Kane makes a comment about Doors being responsible for his operating system blue screening) is aware of what they discovered, too.
I really liked this a lot. When I read Orbiter, I kept seeing people comment about how Ocean was superior in just about every way, and I definitely agree. Orbiter's plot wasn't good enough for its concept. Ocean, on the other hand, is a tight, smart sci-fi action book, and while I wish it could've breathed a bit more (maybe if it were an issue or two longer in the original run), I really enjoyed it a lot. Kane and the Cold Harbor crew are fun and have a lot of personality for how quick the story moves.
This would make an excellent movie, by the by.
August 20, 2012
Ocean is highly enjoyable if you approach it in the right manner. Read this book as you would view a summer blockbuster film, for that is exactly how Ocean functions. It is light on hard science and light on depth of character while heavy on futuristic action and compelling Sci-Fi ideas.
Is Ellis capable of deeper, more nuanced and thoughtful fare? Sure. But I like an author who works along a broad spectrum, and there's always room for a high-speed thriller. That's not to say Ocean couldn't be better; the characters are indeed a bit flat and somewhat stereotypical, and the resolution of the story was rushed, as though Ellis came up hard against a predetermined page limit. These drawbacks aside, however, Ocean still entertains. There are plenty of speculative technological ideas within, as we expect from the futurist Ellis, some of them sleek and cool, others disturbing in their implications. The story briskly takes us from New York City to a Martian moon to Europa, and the artwork of Sprouse and Story gives plenty to tickle the fancy of anyone who likes to imagine what our solar dominion might look like in one or two hundred years. I'd love for nothing more than to see Ocean adapted for the big screen.
Is Ellis capable of deeper, more nuanced and thoughtful fare? Sure. But I like an author who works along a broad spectrum, and there's always room for a high-speed thriller. That's not to say Ocean couldn't be better; the characters are indeed a bit flat and somewhat stereotypical, and the resolution of the story was rushed, as though Ellis came up hard against a predetermined page limit. These drawbacks aside, however, Ocean still entertains. There are plenty of speculative technological ideas within, as we expect from the futurist Ellis, some of them sleek and cool, others disturbing in their implications. The story briskly takes us from New York City to a Martian moon to Europa, and the artwork of Sprouse and Story gives plenty to tickle the fancy of anyone who likes to imagine what our solar dominion might look like in one or two hundred years. I'd love for nothing more than to see Ocean adapted for the big screen.
August 30, 2007
Ah, graphic novels. Why must you tempt me with your awesome covers, your intriguing plot ideas, and then abandon me so thoroughly when I actually read you?
The idea for the book is cool. An expedition uncovers billion-year old sarcophagi locked under the ice on Europa. Good start. And then the book falls into the cheese of bad sci-fi. The main character describes how, if you shoot a pistol in zero-g, you'll go flying off at 700 mph in the opposite direction because of recoil. Uhh, no. Any high school physics student can explain why that's not true. And the evil mega-corporation called "Doors" that runs every computer in the world? Wow, that's SUCH a subtle dig at Microsoft... How EVER did they come up with that one?
It's like I WANT to be geeky enough to enjoy graphics novels, but I just can't let my brain go there.
Pretty pictures. Interesting space shots. Other than that, this isn't something I would recommend to anyone but the most base of sci-fi fans. And then, only if they're not too bright.
The idea for the book is cool. An expedition uncovers billion-year old sarcophagi locked under the ice on Europa. Good start. And then the book falls into the cheese of bad sci-fi. The main character describes how, if you shoot a pistol in zero-g, you'll go flying off at 700 mph in the opposite direction because of recoil. Uhh, no. Any high school physics student can explain why that's not true. And the evil mega-corporation called "Doors" that runs every computer in the world? Wow, that's SUCH a subtle dig at Microsoft... How EVER did they come up with that one?
It's like I WANT to be geeky enough to enjoy graphics novels, but I just can't let my brain go there.
Pretty pictures. Interesting space shots. Other than that, this isn't something I would recommend to anyone but the most base of sci-fi fans. And then, only if they're not too bright.
December 9, 2009
This book had one interesting idea and a whole lot of bland, redundant writing. The idea that life on Earth was made possible by an ancient race of violent, self-destructive, alien humans who decided to cryogenically freeze themselves sounds like great material for Warren Ellis to work with. Instead, the whole thing fell flat. Considering how little substance Ellis works into the story, the pages are taken up substantially by jokes about food, sex, and Windows operating systems in the future. Instead of digging deeper into patterns of violence within our world and corporate abuses of power, Ellis reduces and personalizes the protagonist's disarmament motives to 'My dad got shot in New York so I hate guns.' Having read almost everything Warren Ellis has written, it bothers me to see how frequently he gets hung up on pseudo-scientific physics tricks and settles for skin-deep characters.
December 27, 2015
Gorgeous art. Nice concept developed and presented in hard sci-fi lines. Maybe the energy devoted to the hard science makes the background theme a bit lost. There is some reflection about arms, pacifism, humankind, fate, technology. And it all gets wrapped up pretty quickly or feels dismissed. Unlike what happens in the dystopian tradition, where it is all about the theme and the premise. But I am biased towards that kind of sci-fi and usually get bored by hard sci-fi. This still gets 5 stars because it is so well delivered. There is nothing that really feels clumsy or not great. If it was literature, it would need a lot more than this, as a story. But as a comic book, and graphic art, it's just beautiful.
March 26, 2014
Another brilliant book written by Warren Ellis. I could see this becoming Hollywood's next science fiction hit. It's about Jupiter's moon, Europa, and the ocean beneath it's icy surface. An ocean of water is not the only thing that awaits this team of space explorers. Below the surface is also the secret to humanity's beginnings, and one of their greatest threats. Loved this story! Full of suspense, and never a dull moment. Reminded me a little of Prometheus the film.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401...
January 29, 2022
While not as good as Orbiter (in comparison to it it's more fiction, less science) but still satisfying read. As others wrote, it's good to treat it is as sci-fi action movie in form of graphic novel. Final issue was a little letdown compared to previous ones because of some deus ex machinas and Hollywood ending,but to stop complaining: characters are interesting, dialogues presents typical Warren Ellis quality: they are very good, technology presented is also interesting, mystery compelling.
November 16, 2008
Reads like a good summer action sci-fi movie. Like the characters, the setting and Warren's soft spot for reminding us that science is actually pretty cool.
The bad guy was a bit weak and while the idea of the aliens was cool, they were introduced and then didn't do that much.
Warren has written a lot of comics that were obvious movie pitches. This was one of the better ones.
The bad guy was a bit weak and while the idea of the aliens was cool, they were introduced and then didn't do that much.
Warren has written a lot of comics that were obvious movie pitches. This was one of the better ones.
March 30, 2012
A nice wee sci-fi adventure here, with elements of 2001, Stargate and James Bond thrown into the mix. Fun.
May 16, 2015
Awesome characters, awesome ideas, awesome awesome awesome. I only wish it was longer, with room to really dig deep into those awesome things.
October 8, 2019
Reseña de Alberto Benavente para Zona Negativa:
https://www.zonanegativa.com/zn-recom...
Futuro. Momento incierto. Comportamientos alterados.
Si de algo no se puede acusar a Warren Ellis es de ser convencional y de tener un gusto my especial por las tecnologías. En gran parte de sus obras podemos ver la pasión que le suscita al británico todo lo concerniente a la tecnología futurista. No tanto el Cyberpunk (que también) si no imaginar como serán nuestras vidas (o las de nuestros sucesores) en el no tan lejano futuro.
Ocean arranca con una de esas premisas que hemos visto mil veces (Desafío Total de Verhoeven se e antoja imprescindible como comparación en según qué apartados):
Dentro de Cien años…en una de las lunas de Júpiter, Europa, algo despierta. Vestigios de una antigua civilización encastrados en ataúdes criogenicos….y el encargado de investigarlo es el Inspector de la ONU (reconforta saber que dentro de cien años la ONU aún existe, oigan) Nathan Kane. Este, con una obsesión enfermiza por todo lo que huele a clásico, deberá descubrir hasta qué punto el hallazgo es digno de su estudio…mientras evita que le maten en el intento.
Ya digo. Común. Si. Visto antes. Pero donde empieza diferenciarse del resto de historias de este tipo es en la manera que tiene Ellis de caracterizar a sus personajes. Kane( con el subconsciente del propio Ellis, para que negarlo), que vive apasionado por el siglo pasado ( este mismo, fíjese usted), cínico, astuto y perspicaz, Fadia, la comandante de la nave que ha descubierto los sarcófagos alienígenas ( una suerte de Nostromo contemporáneo y menos rancio) y la única que parece estar siempre un paso por delante de Kane, Siobah, que es lo más parecido a la Starbuck de la nueva Battlestar Gallactica que te puedas echar a la cara ( y lo que mola eso) o la informática Anna, una asiática con semblanzas a Lucy Liu.
Común. Visto antes. Si. Pero no “el enemigo”. O igual si. Una suerte de sintezoides interconectados entre sí. Con puya incluida a Microsoft. Con las multinacionales en el punto de mira. Y es que Ellis apunta y dispara. Siempre. Puede gustarnos o no a quien lo haga, pero no deja indiferente.
Común. Visto antes. Si. Pero es que en esta ocasión está Chris Sprouse(anda que no ha llovido desde el Legionnaires), el gran Sprouse deberíamos decir, para completar el circulo. Para llevarnos al espacio profundo. Al fondo del mar, a la luna, al futuro, y aunque ya lo hayamos visto antes, ahora pinta un pelín mejor.
Puntos comunes con algunas (o la mayoría) de sus otras obras no le faltan a este OCEAN. Ellis es consciente de ello y se regala en esa cotidianidad. Se recrea. La abraza y nos regala una obra que se disfruta mejor, curiosamente, en esta edición española. En los USA esta obra se publicó durante seis meses, pero lo curiosos es que ya en el primer número veías que la estructura no era de comic book mensual. Estaba pensada para ser leída en tomo. Del tirón. Aunque imaginamos que el marketing todo lo puede. Sea como fuere, OCEAN demuestra que nadie como Ellis para llevarnos a dar una vuelta a un hipotético futuro…uno de tantos. Uno, que a diferencia de lo que estamos acostumbrados, nos es mucho más cercano de lo habitual. Y ahí radica su belleza. Sabemos, que posiblemente, ese es el océano que nos espera. Uno muy común y que ya hemos visto. Pero en el que zambullirnos no nos asusta.
Lo que todas las personas tenemos en común no es el espíritu, sino el destino.
(Elizabeth de Austria (Sissí))
https://www.zonanegativa.com/zn-recom...
Futuro. Momento incierto. Comportamientos alterados.
Si de algo no se puede acusar a Warren Ellis es de ser convencional y de tener un gusto my especial por las tecnologías. En gran parte de sus obras podemos ver la pasión que le suscita al británico todo lo concerniente a la tecnología futurista. No tanto el Cyberpunk (que también) si no imaginar como serán nuestras vidas (o las de nuestros sucesores) en el no tan lejano futuro.
Ocean arranca con una de esas premisas que hemos visto mil veces (Desafío Total de Verhoeven se e antoja imprescindible como comparación en según qué apartados):
Dentro de Cien años…en una de las lunas de Júpiter, Europa, algo despierta. Vestigios de una antigua civilización encastrados en ataúdes criogenicos….y el encargado de investigarlo es el Inspector de la ONU (reconforta saber que dentro de cien años la ONU aún existe, oigan) Nathan Kane. Este, con una obsesión enfermiza por todo lo que huele a clásico, deberá descubrir hasta qué punto el hallazgo es digno de su estudio…mientras evita que le maten en el intento.
Ya digo. Común. Si. Visto antes. Pero donde empieza diferenciarse del resto de historias de este tipo es en la manera que tiene Ellis de caracterizar a sus personajes. Kane( con el subconsciente del propio Ellis, para que negarlo), que vive apasionado por el siglo pasado ( este mismo, fíjese usted), cínico, astuto y perspicaz, Fadia, la comandante de la nave que ha descubierto los sarcófagos alienígenas ( una suerte de Nostromo contemporáneo y menos rancio) y la única que parece estar siempre un paso por delante de Kane, Siobah, que es lo más parecido a la Starbuck de la nueva Battlestar Gallactica que te puedas echar a la cara ( y lo que mola eso) o la informática Anna, una asiática con semblanzas a Lucy Liu.
Común. Visto antes. Si. Pero no “el enemigo”. O igual si. Una suerte de sintezoides interconectados entre sí. Con puya incluida a Microsoft. Con las multinacionales en el punto de mira. Y es que Ellis apunta y dispara. Siempre. Puede gustarnos o no a quien lo haga, pero no deja indiferente.
Común. Visto antes. Si. Pero es que en esta ocasión está Chris Sprouse(anda que no ha llovido desde el Legionnaires), el gran Sprouse deberíamos decir, para completar el circulo. Para llevarnos al espacio profundo. Al fondo del mar, a la luna, al futuro, y aunque ya lo hayamos visto antes, ahora pinta un pelín mejor.
Puntos comunes con algunas (o la mayoría) de sus otras obras no le faltan a este OCEAN. Ellis es consciente de ello y se regala en esa cotidianidad. Se recrea. La abraza y nos regala una obra que se disfruta mejor, curiosamente, en esta edición española. En los USA esta obra se publicó durante seis meses, pero lo curiosos es que ya en el primer número veías que la estructura no era de comic book mensual. Estaba pensada para ser leída en tomo. Del tirón. Aunque imaginamos que el marketing todo lo puede. Sea como fuere, OCEAN demuestra que nadie como Ellis para llevarnos a dar una vuelta a un hipotético futuro…uno de tantos. Uno, que a diferencia de lo que estamos acostumbrados, nos es mucho más cercano de lo habitual. Y ahí radica su belleza. Sabemos, que posiblemente, ese es el océano que nos espera. Uno muy común y que ya hemos visto. Pero en el que zambullirnos no nos asusta.
Lo que todas las personas tenemos en común no es el espíritu, sino el destino.
(Elizabeth de Austria (Sissí))
December 1, 2018
The art by Chris Sprouse was amazing, as usual. The story by Warren Ellis was...incomplete? Rushed? Lacking focus? This is the second time I have read this book (last time was 10 years ago - I think) and I wanted to see if I was still luke warm on it. I love Ellis so maybe it was my mood when I read it the first time. Nope - it is still a story that feels like it had some potential but the writer couldn't fulfill it.
Let's take the lead character - Kane - not much of a personality except "he doesn't like guns". Let's take the supporting cast - Ellis takes the time to give them all personalities but they don't do much. Let's take the villain "Doors" (a very weak play on "Windows") the Microsoft company who apparently wants to find a weapon that can destroy worlds? huh? Still not sure what the villain's motivation was.
The story just feels like a start of a story that never gets going. On a moon of Jupiter a bunch of ancient aliens suspended in animation are floating in the water. Kane gets called in to investigate - why HIM is not 100% clear. We find out these aliens once ruled our solar system but their drive to kill and built planet destroying weapons was so strong they were going to wipe themselves out so they instead put themselves to sleep. Um...okay...I guess. But now they might wake up!!! Oh no!
And then ... the ending. Which feels rushed and has no drama. I dunno. Maybe reworked as a Dr. Who episode it would have worked, but on paper it felt like an idea that never took flight. It sunk..in the OCEAN! (full circle, baby, full circle)
Let's take the lead character - Kane - not much of a personality except "he doesn't like guns". Let's take the supporting cast - Ellis takes the time to give them all personalities but they don't do much. Let's take the villain "Doors" (a very weak play on "Windows") the Microsoft company who apparently wants to find a weapon that can destroy worlds? huh? Still not sure what the villain's motivation was.
The story just feels like a start of a story that never gets going. On a moon of Jupiter a bunch of ancient aliens suspended in animation are floating in the water. Kane gets called in to investigate - why HIM is not 100% clear. We find out these aliens once ruled our solar system but their drive to kill and built planet destroying weapons was so strong they were going to wipe themselves out so they instead put themselves to sleep. Um...okay...I guess. But now they might wake up!!! Oh no!
And then ... the ending. Which feels rushed and has no drama. I dunno. Maybe reworked as a Dr. Who episode it would have worked, but on paper it felt like an idea that never took flight. It sunk..in the OCEAN! (full circle, baby, full circle)
November 1, 2023
Okay, I know Warren Ellis is now persona non grata, and I understand and support the reason why.
But I'm also so far behind in my TBR that I've still got books of his to be read. And, while I hate what he's done, there's also no denying that Ellis is a superb author, and I have to say, while I had no true idea what this story was about (there was a point where, if it said "Warren Ellis" on the cover, I was buying it), I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Ellis has a way of tossing in technology that's complicated, yet fascinating, and he makes it understandable, and then he uses it to full effect.
But that, on its own, would be useless if he didn't have a solid story to back it up. And in this one? He really does. The elements he ties together, the mythology that he builds in such a short time...it's brilliant.
I've seen some complaints that it should have been longer, and maybe some of the stuff was slightly rushed, but not enough to hamper the sheer enjoyment of the story.
So, while I don't love the person, I love what he's written.
But hey, that can be said of a lot of creators, can't it?
But I'm also so far behind in my TBR that I've still got books of his to be read. And, while I hate what he's done, there's also no denying that Ellis is a superb author, and I have to say, while I had no true idea what this story was about (there was a point where, if it said "Warren Ellis" on the cover, I was buying it), I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Ellis has a way of tossing in technology that's complicated, yet fascinating, and he makes it understandable, and then he uses it to full effect.
But that, on its own, would be useless if he didn't have a solid story to back it up. And in this one? He really does. The elements he ties together, the mythology that he builds in such a short time...it's brilliant.
I've seen some complaints that it should have been longer, and maybe some of the stuff was slightly rushed, but not enough to hamper the sheer enjoyment of the story.
So, while I don't love the person, I love what he's written.
But hey, that can be said of a lot of creators, can't it?
August 23, 2017
This was my first venture into the World of comic books, and I'm definitely not disappointed. A fast, colourful and really snappy little book with witty dialogue and an interesting plot - what more could you ask for?
Europa, Jupiter's Moon, is hiding something. A bunch of coffins full of seemingly dead humans. Well they look dead, and they have some human genetics. Inspector Kane sets himself the task of finding out exactly what these billion year old human-like things are doing here, and he doesn't have long to find out before someone else beats him to it or he dies trying.
A clever series with likeable, funny characters and a clever, unique plot. Definitely a good first choice for comic book reading for me!
Europa, Jupiter's Moon, is hiding something. A bunch of coffins full of seemingly dead humans. Well they look dead, and they have some human genetics. Inspector Kane sets himself the task of finding out exactly what these billion year old human-like things are doing here, and he doesn't have long to find out before someone else beats him to it or he dies trying.
A clever series with likeable, funny characters and a clever, unique plot. Definitely a good first choice for comic book reading for me!
October 9, 2023
“Ocean” by Warren Ellis
Excellent sci-fi space story about colonisation, commercial exploitation and alien first-contact. ****
#1 – “This is Descent Vehicle One, passing the ten mile point. … Hold on, let me turn up the headlights here. Oh. Oh, God.”
#2 – “Point being – once you’re off Earth, you can’t make assumptions about anything.”
#3 – “You’re working from a few misconceptions here, Inspector. The first, of course, is that I give a $#!+ about anything you say.”
#4 – “My body-clock never adjusts to space station time.”
#5 – “… and Mars was once a nice place to live.”
#6 – “Well, I think I’m going to be the one to greet our awakening assets down there in the Europan Ocean.”
Excellent sci-fi space story about colonisation, commercial exploitation and alien first-contact. ****
#1 – “This is Descent Vehicle One, passing the ten mile point. … Hold on, let me turn up the headlights here. Oh. Oh, God.”
#2 – “Point being – once you’re off Earth, you can’t make assumptions about anything.”
#3 – “You’re working from a few misconceptions here, Inspector. The first, of course, is that I give a $#!+ about anything you say.”
#4 – “My body-clock never adjusts to space station time.”
#5 – “… and Mars was once a nice place to live.”
#6 – “Well, I think I’m going to be the one to greet our awakening assets down there in the Europan Ocean.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews