Under-Earth

November 2, 2020
Gooch (Bottled) delivers a claustrophobic tale of brutality, survival, and betrayal in a world where humanity must persist in the harshest conditions. In a toxic prison built inside a subterranean landfill, prisoners sift through debris to make a living. (“You work or you starve. Nobody cares either way.”) Reece, a new arrival, struggles to adapt, and connects with Malcolm, a towering fellow inmate who offers him unusual friendship—until the hostile environment puts their friendship to the test. When a gang beats up Reece, he looks to his friend for help—only to be let down. Later, Reece gives up Malcolm to the predators, who sell him into an illegal fighting ring. Meanwhile, two women navigate the underworld and take on a job that might get them out, but their employer betrays them. Desperate and wounded, they plot their revenge. These two threads unspool in alternating chapters as the spare drawings linger on acts of violence, with brilliant red blood set against muted shades of black and yellow. The hyper-grim focus amplifies the significance of every act of kindness, making those moments surprisingly moving. Told with superb rhythm, this pitch-perfect thriller gets dystopia down right.

November 1, 2020
In this graphic novel set in a subterranean dumping ground turned prison, parallel stories take place. In one, Reece, a newly arrived inmate, learns to navigate the system with the assistance of a hulking man, Malcolm (who later gets sold into a fight club). In the other, thieves Ele and Zoe have been duped and are in hiding within the prison while they find a way to get their revenge. The four share a common enemy in the man who seems to control both the fight club and the black market trade. It's easy to sympathize with the protagonists, who exist in a black-and-white-striped sea of nondescript, gaunt prisoners struggling to survive. The detailed, shadowy artwork enhances the vast, bleak setting, and the alternate stories are easy to distinguish thanks to the different color palettes, both of which are accented with pops of bloody red. Though the 500-plus page count might seem daunting, the large scene-setting panels and limited text move quickly. Hand to readers interested in character-driven dystopias off the beaten path.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from December 1, 2020

A group of criminals exiled to a penal colony in the ruins of an underground city ruled by vicious gangs finds their fates intertwined in this masterfully crafted thriller from creator Gooch (Deep Breaths). Ele is obsessed with collecting scavenged artifacts from the outside world, pragmatic Zoe focuses on day-to-day existence; after proving their prowess as burglars by committing a string of heists at the behest of a criminal overlord called the Map King, they're offered information on how to escape in return for stealing a rare flower belonging to the Deputy Warden. Meanwhile, Malcom, a physically imposing, introverted veteran inmate, befriends newcomer Reece and endeavors to teach him the skills he'll need to survive. Following a series of twists and shocking betrayals, Ele and Zoe find themselves marked for death and on the run, and Malcom is forced to compete in a series of brutal, bare-knuckle gladiatorial brawls before crowds of rowdy spectators. Gooch builds to a brutal climax before offering a deeply tender, legitimately moving denouement. VERDICT A perfectly paced page-turning meditation on the possibility of grace from a creator who grows more impressive with every release.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.