In 1999, a crew of hackers led by Gabriel uncovered a dark force that hid under the veil of the internet known as the undernet. Gabriel and his team managed to suppress it for a time. Now in 2024, a murder has occurred and broadcasted on social media. The presence of the undernet has returned and it’s a race against time. Who unleashed the undernet? What does Ellison have to do with the broadcasted incident? Can Ellison uncover the mystery behind the undernet? Will Gabriel and his team reunite to solve the mystery before it’s too late?
Within the first few pages, Tynion pulls you into the mystery and madness that is the Worldtr33. I think what makes this book interesting as a mystery, thriller, and horror is just how close to reality it feels given the massive developments that have occurred with technology and social media. It starts with a murder, broadcasted onto social networks, and then all hell breaks loose. The story focuses on Ellison, who is the central character of the book aside from Gabriel. Both characters seem to have nothing in common, but as events unfold due to the undernet, a dark web of sorts that affects those that come into contact with it, threads start to intertwine which makes for an interesting story that hooks readers’ interests. It’s not so much of what occurs, but more so how things unfold that puts you on the edge of your seat.
Fernando Blanco illustrated this series and it is gorgeous to look at. Not only is the book easy on the eyes, but it is also reminiscent to Mazzuchelli’s line of aesthetics through the use of dummy lines and panelwork that makes the book flow smoothly. Aside from the character designs, the looming dread of fear and mundanity is well constructed within this book thanks to Jordie Bellaire’s color work and Aditya Bidikar’s lettering. One of the highlights of this book is Dylan Toidd’s design work on the book which coats it in a cyberpunk y2k aesthetic which is fitting. If you’re into movies or series such as Girl with a dragon tattoo, Se7en, Death Note, or cyber thrillers of that nature, then this series may be up your alley. It’s a solid first issue, and I hope its able to stick the landing as it goes on.
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