Mad Cave’s upcoming supernatural adventure series Far Down Below is a nostalgic, supernatural thriller set in the 1980s — not unlike classics of the period. Behold our review!
Published by Mad Cave, Far Down Below comes from creative team Chris Condon (writer), Gegê Schall (artist) and Nathan Kempf (letterer). The series follows teenage friends Mike and Brian as they search for a way to escape the monotony of being stuck in Brian’s house on a rainy day. Ultimately, their desire to explore leads them to venture outside, with an intriguing idea in mind: to explore Brian’s abandoned family home, a creaky and notoriously haunted old house. What lies ahead (or in this case, down below) is a mysterious and dangerous cave beneath the house.
I’ll start by saying I really enjoyed issue #1. The dialogue is snappy, and the art is fast-moving and cinematic, with a style well-fitting to the time period. The tale instantly engrosses you as it unfolds. But at the same time, I couldn’t shake off the notion that it felt like a story I’ve read a thousand times before. I mean, kids solving mysteries in a small town, set in the 1980s? Isn’t that basically The Goonies, E.T., and Stranger Things?
And so I had to keep asking myself: Does Far Down Below offer anything inherently unique and different to all the other offerings out there? Well, perhaps the best praise I can give Condon is that I was enthralled enough by issue #1 that I am very eager to see what happens next. Sure, the story isn’t the most novel idea in the world, but it was more than entertaining enough.
The main characters, Mike and Brian, and their fun dynamic—one fearless, one scared—really captivated me.
Far Down Below sets up a compelling mystery, told through the lens of two best friends with a thirst for adventure. There’s a little of everything: emotional drama, family drama, and plenty of juvenile silliness for good measure.
Verdict
A 3-star rating of issue #1 may be a little harsh. It’s a good start to this series, and as it goes on and the world begins to unravel and the mystery thickens, I can imagine that Far Down Below will get so much better. I was a huge fan of Condon’s work on That Texas blood. That coupled with Schall’s stunning artwork gives me no doubt that Far Down Below will be a huge success. I mean, with scary monsters involved, what’s not to love?
Far Down Below #1 debuts March 26, 2025 in comic book stores and online.
Rating: 3/5
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