Deep Sea is a Graphic Novel by Ricky Lima and D.A. Bishop.
The world's energy crisis has been solved by a brand new substance known as Crudelis, or as it's known by the public "sludge". Since its introduction, technology has improved by leaps and bounds in a surprisingly short amount of time.
Where does sludge come from, though? Why, the sea, of course. What? Is that answer a little too vague for you? Well, it's the best that can be given, because the producers and distributors of sludge keep its source a closely guarded secret.
One day, though, when a pipe needs fixing, a deep sea welder named Patricia goes to the source of sludge. And after she comes back to the ship, it's attacked by said source once it breaks free. Patricia is discovered some time later among the wreckage and is given a lift home. However, the attacker left her a "dying gift".
The story was originally published as an 8-page comic book in October of 2012. The creators then went to Kickstarter to build up the funds to get it expanded into a deeper, more thematic story. The full graphic novel was published on October, 2014.
Deep Sea contains examples of:
- Applied Phlebotinum: Crudelis, or "sludge" as it's more commonly known. It's a highly efficient, completely bio-degradable substance that has caused technological progress to take a HUGE leap forward.
- Deliberately Monochrome: The comic is presented in mainly black and white. However, it uses blue and red to contrast water and blood in the original comic, and adds yellow to the graphic novel, which the authors have left up to the readers' imagination.
- Eldritch Abomination: THIS is where sludge comes from. It's basically a gigantic blob monster's bodily fluids.
- Eye on a Stalk: The Eldritch Abomination has a number of these on its proboscis.
- Fantastic Drug: Sludge, aside from being an amazing source of energy, also has this kind of effect on people who rub it on their skin. Amber describes its effect in detail to Patricia.Amber: At first it takes your breath away like jumping in ice water. But then you start to fall away... into the deep. And you're in a cave. You're connected to the world. Like the world depends on you. Siphoning your spirit away. Once you're completely empty, that's when you're finally at peace. People call that The Hollow. In The Hollow you understand that no matter what you do... it doesn't matter. Sludge is real. Sludge is about feeling the world.
- Half-Human Hybrid: The baby Patricia ultimately gives birth to is a cross-breed of human, and whatever the Eldritch Abomination was.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Happens to Patricia's captain. When the sea creature attacks the ship, it skewers him through the torso with one of its spikes.
- Monster Organ Trafficking: Sludge is collected through pipes dug into the flesh of a massive underwater creature held in a cave.
- Nightmare Sequence: Patricia has one while she's sleeping under a bridge with Amber.
- Telepathy: When Patricia takes off her helmet near the Eldritch Abomination, which is apparently a breach of protocol, it starts mentally projecting its voice into her head, begging her to set it free.
