About Interpop’s ‘The Abyss’
Back in 2021, InterPop, a Web3 based digital entertainment company, debuted its first three comic book series The Nine, Emergents Presents, and #ZoeMG on the Tezos blockchain. Since that time they’ve expanded their ‘Emergents Universe’ with the title ‘The Abyss.’ A comic that expanded on the Interpop established lore and which is now coming to the end of its first season in a matter of weeks.
Interpop’s business model introduced readers to the ‘Emergents Universe’ over multiple issues at an affordable price, granted their supporters digital ownership and allowed their fans to read each issue on their own platform: Interpop Comics. All of which was influenced by fan voting. Think of that time in the 80s where DC Comics fans got to phone whether they thought Robin should live or die at the hands of the Joker – except on steroids.
As a result, The Abyss series came about after readers repeatedly voted for ‘The Abyss’ to make a return to InterPop’s anthology series; Emergents Presents. This was quickly followed up by ‘The Abyss’ Issue 1, debuting on May 25th 2022.
The logline read:
When the Abyss finds out that his greatest enemy and nefarious crime lord, the Hat, is staging a breakout from a high-security Emergents prison, he takes matters into his own hands. The Abyss has shadows and magic on his side, but will that measure up against the Hat’s powerful Emergent henchmen? Thanks to reader votes, skeletal super villain Memento Mori returns from Emergents Presents #1 to get revenge with his gravestone bullets. Can the Abyss take down the Hat’s team in time to prevent Culverton’s most notorious criminals from escaping?
With each major event in the character’s progression tied into fan voting this presented an impressive challenge for the creative team behind ‘The Abyss.’ A challenge which is nearing the end of its first season (story arc, if you prefer).
In this latest issue:
It’s the final battle for Culverton, and no one is safe! In this season finale of THE ABYSS, find out what will happen when one of the most dangerous villains, the power-hungry Red King, returns for vengeance. Join in on the Abyss’ journey to save his city! The Tree of Life Acolytes have one last chance to banish the Red King from their realm. New Emergents join the fight, and incredible powers clash in the streets. Can students, teachers, civilians, and heroes team up in time to prevent total devastation? Will the Abyss succeed in pulling the Red King under the influence of his shadows, or will the Abyss lose himself in the process?
‘The Abyss’ is written by John Rozum (Topps Comics’ The X-Files, Static Shock), illustrated by Cliff Richards (Dark Horse’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer), colored by Chris Sotomayor (Captain Marvel, Avengers) and lettered by Carlos Mangual.
This latest issue will be released over three weeks, with the first part of the issue available for purchase now at this link. While parts 2 and 3 will be released on January 18th and January 25th consecutively.
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Preview Pages
Initial Reaction
Without a full gauge on the entire series its hard to give a review on what’s to come from this Web3 comic or to make any predictions so let’s talk about the art.
Artist Cliff Richards and colorist Chris Sotomayor’s influences shine through the rugged supernatural looking landscape of this comic book loud and clear. And that’s not a bad thing. This feels like a character that sits somewhere between X-Men’s Proteus and Valiant Entertainment’s Shadowman. If reigniting the style of the 90s comic book craze was the plan here all along then mission accomplished.
A mission which doesn’t get off the ground without the wildly inventive lettering style from Carlos Mangual.
I know many of you online like to put a political spin on Web3 comics but if you don’t have a problem with the Blockchain backing of Interpop Comics then this comic wouldn’t be the worst place to start.
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