After a four month break from the explosive conclusion of the Unity arc, Undiscovered Country is back with a new Zone, “Possibility”, promising pirates, noir gangsters and more sinister threats afoot. And the dystopian journey continues to reach inventive energy and imagination, as our group discovers the evolving landscape of American creativity and culture, from cinema to poetry.
In previous issues, Snyder and Soule spent time exploring the brief origins of our group members. The siblings, Daniel and Lottie, with their complicated relationship with the United States, Ace and his passionate knowledge of Americana, and in issue #13, it begins with Valentina and her traumatic childhood witnessing the birth of war and the destruction of her home, and ultimately, her country.
These flashbacks are never put to waste as Snyder and Soule continue to masterfully tie these memories into the threads of Undiscovered Country, especially in this issue’s conclusion as Val is faced with a new possibility of her own.
But of course, it’s not just our characters’ past that are in focus. Their present situation involves meeting the pirate version of Uncle Sam in a brand new Zone, out at sea. Possibility was once home to creatives who birthed America with its stories, myths, music, styles and culture. Instead of technological advancements in the previous Zone, Unity, Possibility is tasked with making new culture-defining creations, redefining and renewing the American dream.
To continue their journey across to Aurora, our group must create their own groundbreaking creation. If you’ve been following Undiscovered Country, then you’ll know that this is obviously Ace and Val’s time to shine, with their combined knowledge of American history, culture and truths. The premise is a little on the nose, but admittedly, it will be exciting to see what Snyder and Soule come up with as our group is forced to produce the next Star Wars or The Wizard of Oz.
Image Comics
And with the added pressure of fighting back against noir gangsters and inevitably future threats, it’ll be a tough balancing act of creativity and survival.
Compared to past issues of Undiscovered Country, Camuncoli and Grassi’s art and Wilson’s colors are much brighter here, as they depict ocean blues, vibrant sunlight and the colorful pirate life. It’s a refreshing contrast against the bleak challenges that our group have faced so far, and it’ll be exciting to see what future double-page spreads are in store for us, bursting with maddening chaos and gorgeous colors. Some facial expressions feel a little repetitive with wide-eye shock, but ultimately, the art continues to depict a troubled group searching for answers in a bleak, beautiful way.
Undiscovered Country #13 is a refreshing return after a four month break, promising new horizons and a creative exploration of American culture. Although the formula of ‘new Zone equals new threats’ could start to feel repetitive, it’s the characters and their connection with the world around them that will entice readers to keep walking on this journey. And with enough new possibilities, the series may produce enough energy it needs to keep a transformed United States an engaging world to be in.
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