Low #10

By Rick Remender, Greg Tocchini, Dave McCaig

“Why imagine a future that is anything less than what you want? See the future you deserve.”

Reading this comic is like visiting a therapist. Feeling low? Then read Low. I feel like that’s what the doc would recommend. Writer Rick Remender does a great job this issue (the last issue of his 2nd arc) really driving home the point that hope is the most important aspect of this story…and life in general. He mentions at the end of the issue in a blurb how this story is something he’s writing in relation to what he’s going through in his own life – and in doing so it shows in the writing itself. This is a story about getting up and believing in yourself, even if you’re trapped underwater with blood-sucking Ursula looking monsters, there is still hope.

Remender spends this issue getting Stel out of the predicament (love that word) she found herself walking into last we saw her. She’s still hoping to get to the surface, still hoping to see her daughters again, and still delivering monologues about hope – even while fighting – there is always time for monologues.

The artist on this series is Greg Tocchini, the colorist is Dave McCaig, and together they create some pretty impressive artwork. As @PlanetDann so eloquently put it on twitter “Dave McCaig is a motherfricken Timelord of coloring!”. Personally don’t know if I could have put it better myself. The two work quite well together, and the panel in which PlantDann’s quote is in response to features the ex-pirate Zem ready to face off against the horde of Ursula look-a-likes. With a weapon in each hand he mutters the phrase “Just in time”, the horde closing in on him fast. Stel looks on in terror as she’s in the safety of the ship (thanks to him). The scene features the bright red of the ship alongside the dark purples of the bloodsuckers. Something McCaig does in the scenes to follow is plunge the panels increasingly into further darkness, but before it turns pitch black we see Stel and the ship rising higher, and suddenly the panels are filled with bright colors (almost feels like when the teacher turns on the lights after showing a powerpoint, the bright lights blinding you).

Low #10 offers some of Stel’s strongest words yet. The art continues to be a high point in the series (making this series a very well-rounded one). Remender does a great job of giving Stel’s new friends their time to shine, and Tocchini and McCaig take the opportunity to place them in some great scenes. Stel is still as hopeful as ever and now realizes she must focus on her own happiness first and foremost. Luckily she has some great comrades to watch her back and keep her company as she continues upwards towards hope.