Steven DeKnight, Michael Gaydos, Kate Sanchez. Papercutz, (124p) ISBN: 9781545821077. Graphic Novel, read 05/07/25, eBook ★★★★☆

Beneath

I’m still on a bit of a graphic novel kick at the moment (well that and non-fiction) as I can’t seem to concentrate on novels right now.

As part of that I got Beneath to try and wow, it was over so fast, not because it was short or lacking anything, but because it was so compelling and I really didn’t want to put it down until I’d finished it.

Unknown underground terror snatching people in the desert, so far so Tremors, but there is a fascinating twist.

Set on the  current Texas/Mexico border and this is important, very important.

Migrant smuggling sees the first attack from what’s beneath and it only escalates from there, tight storytelling from Steven DeKnight, complemented by what can feel almost photographic though slightly shifted graphical style of Michael Gaydos and it took me almost the whole read to remember where I’d seen his work before, Alias, and it really captures the darkness and action of the story.

There is a slight exploration of the politics of making money from incarcerating migrants in poor quality facilities, and the importance of shifting borders is made clear, as is the consequences of conquest and genocide.

This adds to the story in a very natural way rather than dragging us outside of the action which is the important thing, and always love endings like this books!