WEBCOMIC WEDNESDAY REVIEW: Deep Dive Five

Hello, everyone! I’m Aaron, and I’m back again to bring you your next favorite webcomic (hopefully) while you either recover from or plan for Mardi Gras! Please, if you have any feedback, leave it here in the comments or contact me on Twitter (@Sully_Writes). And as always, if you have or know of a webcomic that you’d like to see reviewed, reach out and let me know!

Creator: Brad Howell
Webcomic: Deep Dive Five

Summary: Deep Dive Five is the story of a submersible and her crew, Captain V (for Venus) and Sam. Under the command of Chief, the overseer of Station 13, V and Sam embark on aquatic rescue missions to protect wildlife from assorted dangerous situations in the briny deep of the ocean. Deep Dive Five is geared towards a younger audience and has recently collected their first arc, Hold Fast Leviathan, into PDF and physical copies.

Story: With the understanding that Deep Dive Five’s target audience is a younger generation, the content is very light. Story pacing is quick and easy to breeze through. The plot, dialogue, and sequences are very digestible. While this is ideal for a children’s comic, it will leave most older readers feeling somewhat unsatisfied. It should be said that this is not inherently a bad thing, but the information might be relevant for someone who finds themselves reading my review.

Characters fit into classic, recognizable tropes and remain uncomplicated. Captain V is headstrong, and strives to do what it right, no matter what the cost. Sam is always there to back her up, providing support in piloting the submersible. And the Chief is a monolithic figure of authority, presenting some tension when V goes off the books, but overall is still a “good” character.

Art: The art of Deep Dive Five, while not groundbreaking, is vibrant and pleasing to look at. Characters have a tendency to appear a bit static and inexpressive due to their anthropomorphized nature, but they convey the story well enough and are each easily recognizable at a glance. Bright contrasting colors and simple page construction once again make this comic ideal for children, but a bit boring for an audience looking for substance.

Conclusion: If you’re looking for an introductory read for a very young comic fan, then this is a great title to go with. There is talking wildlife, a feel-good message, and simple presentation that is sure to tickle any kid’s fancy. However, if you’re looking for an epic adventure for yourself, then Deep Dive Five may not be the route that you want to go. In the end, the rating is based upon the target audience, who is sure to get a kick out of it.

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