Dead Seas is a new IDW Originals series that feels like a mix of Con Air meets Ghostbusters. Sounds rad, right? That’s because it is, as Cavan Scott and Nick Brokenshire reveal a different kind of ghost story wrapped up in one man’s wish to get back to his family. Throw in some creative ghost designs, and you potentially see what could be your new favorite ghost comics series.
Dead Seas #1 opens with Gus and his family three years before the story’s main events. We learn that the world has encountered real-life ghosts for some time now, and they’ve become part of life. In an argument with his wife, Gus’s daughter comes out because she can’t sleep. Her dead grandma is haunting her at the moment. Yipes.
Cut to a helicopter on its way to a 1,200-foot boat named Perdition. Gus is a prisoner, yet doesn’t know what his crimes are. All we can guess is he’s been brought to the boat to burn off months, if not years, of his sentence to do something with ghosts.
This story requires much information to be imparted to the reader, which can sometimes feel a bit heavy, but Brokenshire’s character acting is great. More of a cartoonist than a traditional comics artist, the characters are fun to look at, from their emotions to their body language. There’s high stress on the Perdition, and we soon learn firsthand why. There’s some science jargon thrown in, but if you’ve seen Ghostbusters, you’ll know what they’re after from these ghosts. Essentially the creators are showing us what would happen in a society where ghosts are real, but capitalism and making a buck are king.
I’d tell her to not turn around, but she’s already seen the thing.
Credit: IDW
There are many moving parts in Dead Seas, so much so that it can feel overwhelming, but it’s also exciting since it’s not running out of new threads to tug at with the story. From the idea of ghosts existing to not knowing why Gus is a prisoner or the two twists introduced near the end, you’ll be wracking your brain to figure out what could happen next.
Overall it’s a neat concept carried forward by our protagonist, who is clearly a caring father and has fallen on a hard time. The ghost design is cool looking and unreal, giving them a liquid look that’s still a bit transparent yet with some weight to it. As the story progresses, we meet all sorts of characters, from violent prisoners to hard-ass warden types, to average Joes, who happen to be prisoners. One can see the various dynamics falling into place, which will play out nicely when chaos hits in the second issue.
Dead Seas is an intriguing start to a world where ghosts are real, and someone uses prisoners to profit from them. Relatable in a world where for-profit prisons are putting prisoners in danger, the science fiction element and deep character work play out in an exciting and intriguing story. Intelligent, creepy, and well-told, you will be fascinated with Dead Seas.
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