UNDERGROUND is a different type of comic which will doubtlessly appeal to comic readers looking for a book beyond the realm of super people in tights kicking other spandex-clad asses. The first issue of this five part series introduces readers to the historic and environmentally important caves of Kentucky and the players on both sides of the recent controversy surrounding these wonders of nature.

The opening sequence has a dreamlike feel to the panels, with the diluted colors, interviews with various people involved in the debate of whether or not the caves should be available as a tourist attraction and the disembodied hands reaching towards some unknown goal. When the dream ends, Wesley the Park Ranger awakens, and with a bit of a pickle on her hands. Seth, her fellow Ranger and current lover (as of the night before) is asleep in her bed, and her ‘rehearsals’ in the mirror before he wakes up was a perfect scenario of real life humor.

Despite the awkwardness, life goes on as usual, except for Winston Barefoot, local entrepreneur extraordinaire and profit-lover at heart, who breaks up their morning after breakfast with a camera crew and ornery locals in support of opening the caves to bring in more revenue to the town, regardless of the irreparable damage it would do to the ancient caves. Things, of course, are not as simplistic as the townsfolk would like them to be, and the action escalates as unsavory people take the fate of the caves, and innocent people, into their own hands.

UNDERGROUND is devoid of the drama surrounding typical superhero or action comics (so far), rather delivering a more realistic dramatic scenario complete with relatable characters and real life environmental situations while touching upon the ever-present complications which always encompass conservation movements. Parker has managed to find time in his busy schedule of revamping the EXILES book (which I am loving, by the way) to come up with this grounded and interesting story. Lieber’s art is more than decent; gritty and real without being too dark or jaded, synonymous with the script, and as stated before, the opening sequence hit a very haunting note. If you are interested in nature, be it human or earth related, UNDERGROUND is worth checking out.

Avril Brown