Murky Depths #15
How can you resist a magazine with a cephalopod on the cover? I know I can’t.
Murky Depths is a hybrid graphic novel/short story speculative magazine out of the UK that’s been doing great things for years now. Issue #15 kicks off with a simplistic graphic strip, Boxed In by Al Ewing and Neil Roberts. One can’t help but sympathize with the lead, and feel the emotion through this series of punchy cut shots. This story definitely wouldn’t be the same told any other way.
Unforeseen Legacy by Juliet McKenna plays with several classic “monsters”, throwing Myrtle, a housemaid into a supernatural mystery over the the recent death of a local man, Tom Marvel. Marvel, of course, is not what he seems and neither is anyone in this throwback tale.
Deep Trouble by Anthony Malone is the inspiration for the giant octopus on the cover. This one’s an environmental tale of the deep seas and that which lurks beneath, told by an off-kilter, more modern lead than Ahab.
Robin Bell and Thomas Tuke’s Susie Pepper’s Teeth is a taunting tale of a little girl with teeth growing where they’re not supposed to be, and creepy monster that we don’t see enough of. While the art is good, and the pacing great as well, this is one that might have been better in a longer form.
The Fence Sitters by John Hilario is one of those unavoidable political-fueled tales, but without a lot of preachiness or a crystal clear twist. Disturbing and effective, the biggest flaw is the text is difficult to see printed on the gray scale background.
Spare Change by Jon T. Cook is a short study on how short the memory is, and how that which is imagined previously quickly becomes outdated. Frozen by Gareth D. Jones and Mick Trimble is also very short, with a clear, horrific story.
Juggling Glass Globes at the Hemophiliac’s Zoo by Robert Davies is a tantalizing piece with more meat to it that the previous tales. My favorite of the issue, it centers on an ape working in a bizarre religious exhibition/zoo/theme park where sinners are infused with diseases to suffer for the learning of the non-sinners. It has a lot of classic science fiction themes and avoids becoming lurid or overdone.
The Face by Rory McConville and George Gousis is an interesting piece as well, potentially more interesting for not explaining its world setting. Here people can switch faces and become new people which leads to all kind of interesting issues with identity.
Fishers of Men by Jasper Bark and Paul Rafferty is sick, funny and well drawn. Offensive too in a deep-southern-fried way. Victimized by Rhichard Thomas is also very interesting, telling of a future world where victims of crimes can take their assailants into the ring for a possibly-to-the-death fight. The effects of this on all involved, and those on the sidelines placing bets, makes for a rich, engaging story.
Lavie Tidhar and Neil Struthers’ Episode #1: I Dream of Ants, is also a great addition to the Murky Depths pages. It translates well to the more visual medium of a graphic strip, is complete in pen and ink form and like many of Lavie’s tales is very strange, mashing up two very real things that you’re not likely to see together anywhere else.
Last up is Kaolin Imago Fire’s second half to Murky Depth’s “Finish this story” challenge. Time travel stories are hard to pull off. This one about a pharmaceutical company manufacturing a drink that can induce time travel (Then!) is done well while remaining clear. My only complain is not knowing more about the drink itself (but I suppose I missed that in the previous issue).
Murky Depths ( this one, and all the awesome past issues) is available here.