Comic Review: Voyage to the Deep (IDW)

In yet another adventure occurring underwater, IDW brings us a long dormant title: Voyage To The Deep.

This collection of previously printed Dell comics from the 1960s is well presented. There is a lengthy foreword by Stephen R. Bissette, and an “Afterward” by Rufus Dayglo, as well as the four issues.

Voyage To The Deep was originally illustrated by Sam Glanzman, (well known from DC’s war comics) in 1963. The subject matter is this: a brand new submarine has been developed by the US. It is unique; it is designed to alter its shape underwater when required. A small ‘inner’ submarine is surrounded by a layer of ultrathin metal that can be elongated or changed into other shapes.

In the four comics, Admiral Leigh commands the submarine through deep sea exploration and saves the planet (and the US) from “the enemy”, an unnamed nation. Presumably, Russia, since this is Cold War days. But things heat up a ton, when giant tidal waves, underground volcanoes, sound waves and global freezing all threaten to decimate earth. Only by ingenuity and the marvelous submarine’s abilities is the Free World saved!

It’s far fetched and fun, with all the stereotypes of the early ’60s, all the cliches, and generalizations of the times. There is the submarine’s cook, who wants to bake for the men during one crisis, and a girlfriend who tends to cling to her beau at every scary moment. There’s inaccurately researched science (divers with scuba gear exploring the Marianas Trench, where the water pressure would actually kill a person) and lots of good old pipe-smoking hokum.

But it’s an interesting read, and cleanly reproduced here, as a nostalgic trip back into the comic adventures of the early ’60s.

As a bonus, the covers, inside cover illustrations and back cover ads have been included.

IDW, Voyage To The Deep, $24.99 for 178 pages. All ages