The Massive is Brian Wood’s epic take on a post-apocalyptic world, but you won’t find any zombies or Thunderdomes here. This is an incredibly realistic look at what might happen if the world suffered from multiple natural disasters all at once in a single cataclysmic event. The world of The Massive takes place primarily at sea, as the tsunamis and hurricanes that occurred have flooded much of the land. The world has changed dramatically, and, in the aftermath, people struggle to find food, seek out missing friends and allies, and, most importantly, try to maintain some sense of order and morality.
The story follows the crew of the Kapital, led by Captain Callum Israel, as they try to seek out their sister ship, the Massive, which has gone missing since the cataclysm. The crew consists of members of Ninth Wave, an environmental action group, but several members of the crew have darker pasts with connections to a private military outfit. Callum and his crew travel through this post-apocalyptic world trying to survive and learn just what happened to the Massive, and to cause this terrible, world-shattering event.
Wood is at the top of his game in this book. The characters are deeply flawed, yet incredibly likeable, as they fight to survive and to do the right thing. Gary Brown does a wonderful job capturing the characters’ expressions as they struggle with moral dilemmas and battle personal demons. The story easily switches between present day and the characters’ dark pasts, creating a history for each of the main characters.
Each issue tells a stand-alone story, and Issue #6 is one of the best yet following first mate Mag as he attempts to track down some food for the crew, getting in over his head. Wood and his team have crafted a new classic that goes above and beyond its intriguing story and amazing art. This book presents its characters and its readers with tough choices, and wisely doesn’t give the answers. Instead, it challenges them to seek out the answers for themselves. This is a book that tries to be much more than just a fun story, and it succeeds admirably.
