It really puts one in the mind of a mid-80s cartoon series about a family living in unusual circumstances and I really want a set of Nekton family action figures with a Arronax Submarine playset like I had for Voltron. There’s something fantastically all-ages about this series. It’s clear that it comes from a genuine sense of wonder and adventure rather than trying to please a particular audience and as a result will appeal to pretty much everyone except the most cynical among us. The central concept of The Deep is that the Nekton family, who come from a long line of aquatic explorers travel the oceans of the globe in their awesome, high-tech submarine – The Arronax – and partake in adventures whilst searching for the fabled lost city.

Having established the world of the Nekton’s and the supporting cast (including the Jeffery the fish) in the first volume Here Be Dragons the story begins in earnest in The Vanishing Island. The Nekton’s take the Arronax to the the source of the mysterious happenings with their new cast-mate in tow. Nereus was introduced as a fisherman but was later revealed to have knowledge of the deep than he initially let on. Exploration of the island involves unearthing tombs, examining relics, awesome gadgets and some damn suspenseful action. The final reveal certainly does disappoint either – a solid pay-off in what was already an exciting story.

When an island is ‘completely not hit by a tsunami’, a new investigation begins for the daring aquanauts, the Nekton family.

Danger, secrets, peril, ancient messages, shocking revelations, and the first word to rhyme with ‘orange’.

The Nektons are back, along with Jeffrey the Fish, in an adventure every bit as mysterious as the deep blue sea.

ISBN: 978-1-922023-05-6