Written by: Rick Remender
Art by: Greg Tocchini
Published by: Image
Low was the first comic I started following in single issues. Truly it was the art that made me do this because just look at that cover, it’s beautiful and it continues on like that throughout the entire book. Even in dark and isolating settings Tocchini is able to bring across an interesting environment without losing that feeling of ambiance.
For those that don’t know, Low is set in a time where the sun is slowly destroying the earth and humanity has receded deep into the oceans to escape the supposed barren wasteland that is now the surface. Unfortunately this is only delaying the inevitable and eventually mankind will die. It’s a bleak setting that’s for sure, but the whole series is constructed around fighting that feeling of nihilism and having hope. An understandable outlook as it’s based off of Remender’s childhood fear of the heat death of the universe.
Fortunately a good amount of world building and dialogue stops everyone that believes in Quantomology (this world’s religion that believes that there is a chance for survival) from sounding like that one character in an anime/ TV show that won’t shut up about believing in a better tomorrow.
This issue starts off by showing one of the big upcoming threats, a hoard of giant, sentient bees.
Couldn’t resist.
Well more hornets really. But not much is said about them other than that they’re giant, evil looking, believe in a burning god and reproduce by laying larva in another living being.
We then cut back to Stel and her new travelling buddies. Stel has pretty much renounced her fate and given up on everything since her son, Marik died in #5. Also, her daughter Tajo has left her while her other daughter, Della is still missing. One of the two new gladiators Stel is travelling with tries to comfort her by telling her how he lost his family and how Marik helped him earn his chance to redeem himself.
I’m not going to go into specifics due to spoilers, but it’s enough to say that Zem is… not a great guy, he’s done some pretty terrible things. I do like how hard it is pushed that although Marik is dead he still does live on. In the way that his teachings and actions to Zem and the other surviving gladiator, Mertali, have affected them. Some may argue that this point is not subtle enough, but I think as long as the characters don’t outright acknowledge it, it is well handled.
The rest of the issue is spent exploring the ruins of Misalt for provisions, leaving Stel to reflect on how she came to believe in Quantomology and why she has abandoned her faith now. It’s a nice moment that I thought was well delivered and brings Stel’s suffering across perfectly. Some minor horror themes are even expressed towards the end quite eloquently. Frankly though I would like to know more about the history of Mertali’s people (who are not dissimilar to mermaids) as they seem to have been in Low longer than any other race as they are accustomed to the radiation of the waters.
One of the biggest complaints I have heard of this series (although it wouldn’t really come up with this issue) is that the frequent depiction of female characters in skimpy or revealing clothing undermines the rest of the series’ portrayal of them. I think that this is a valid argument although it only fits in certain cases.
The cover of issue 2 fits well with Marik’s fantasy. Stel’s attire in issues 5 & 6 also fit because she was a slave at the time. You can see that once she has the chance, she immediately switches out of it. Thus it still fits with her character. The only real portrayal of a female in exposing clothing that doesn’t seem to have a reason is Tajo, who wears a bikini like outfit when she’s of princess status. But even then it might just be that that’s what Tajo likes to wear, or Roln forced her. She was more or less a prisoner although she didn’t realize this.
In the end, I love Low and I’m a huge fan of the series. Low has been a fantastic story so far that explores the depths of the human soul and what it will do when faced with an end that can’t be stopped. If you’re looking to get into the series I recommend you either pick up the trade paper back of the first arc or start at #7 (which serves as a great stand-alone) and continue on from there (the first arc does have a slow intro).
