The Massive (2012), Volume 2

June 1, 2014

In the aftermath of the Crash, an unexplained series of natural disasters that killed untold millions and catastrophically disrupted society and the environment worldwide, mercenary-turned-pacifist Callum Israel captains environmental action group Ninth Wave's ship Kapital. Together with his lover and second-in-command Mary, fellow ex-mercenary Mag, and a multinational crew of activist volunteers, Callum traverses the waters of the devastated Earth chasing phantom signals that seem to be coming from the Kapital's lost sister ship, the Massive. The captain must also deal with the realities of survival in a dangerous world of piracy, war, and black markets--realities that threaten Ninth Wave's pacifist ideals and leave its members questioning their mission. Here, the Kapital visits Moksha, an oil rig in the Indian Ocean that has declared itself a sovereign nation and adopted utopian principles, and Callum learns some life-altering news. Wood (DMZ; Channel Zero) delineates the post-Crash Earth with power and believable detail and gives his characters, especially the haunted Callum and the mysteriously superhuman Mary, compelling depth. VERDICT Strong and thoughtful, recommended for all adult collections.--S.R.

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