Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy are both highly respected creators, and have reaped a huge audience for their respective works. Given the amount of hype for a new collaboration from the two, it would have been easy for them to cash in some rehashed story thats been told a hundred times before in comics. But thats not like these two. Instead, theyve crafted an intriguing new world with a sinister mystery lying beneath, all depicted through stunning art that warrants a purchase on its own. So far The Wake is off to a great start, and I cant wait until the end of June to see where Lee Archers saga takes her next. Whether youre fan of Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy or neither, this is a book you should definitely be reading. Read Full Review

Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy have developed a following for their work both separately and together. Seeing the two creators reunite is enough to get readers excited. For a new series with a new concept, THE WAKE does a great job in setting up the story and characters. You almost feel as if Snyder and Murphy are teasing you because we've barely scratched the surface to what must be coming up next. The little we do see of the cast of characters is enough to make you want to see more. You can almost envision the possibilities of this crew investigating whatever mysteries are headed our way. We have a great story with great art and color. It's refreshing being able to read a comic that doesn't follow the traditional comic book formula. Don't wait to pick this issue up. Read Full Review

The Wake #1 is the perfect example of the Vertigo style. This is a fitting title for the publisher and a great alternative to your average superhero affair. Snyder and Murphy are at the top of their game, telling a story that's creepy, intriguing and mysterious. It looks like it will unfold slowly and I can't wait to see it all come together. Read Full Review

It's a first issue of a new book from an amazing creative team who have consistently delivered high quality work. It's safe to say that new readers could easily pick this up, and very well should. Fans of sci-fi and horror will definitely feel at home reading this book, which will expand across ten issues to bring a truly epic story. Read Full Review

If youre a big fan of sci-fi films from the 70s and 80s then this book is exactly what you need. If youre a fan of mystery and the loch ness monster this is where you need to be spending your moneyHell if you love Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy then you already know what youre in for. These two do live up to the hype and trust me you wont be disappointed! Read Full Review

The Wake #1 is an excellent little mood piece that sets up an epic, century-spanning story. I genuinely dont know how the brief bookends will come into play, but Im definitely interesting in finding out. This is just good, smart, solid storytelling, giving us characters we care about and a weird, surprising, creepy situation. I have my problems with Snyders work, but The Wake is just good, period, nothing else to say. Snyder wants to make you afraid of the deep waters, where the weird things live and the light doesnt reach. If this is any indication, hell be incredibly successful. Read Full Review

I cant wait for what comes next. As a fan of horror, sci-fi, and suspense, Im probably the target audience for this book. If you have even a passing interest in the concept, please do yourself a favor and pick up this issue. You will regret not jumping on at the start. Snyder and Murphy are a wonderful team. The story is something new and different. Get excited. Read Full Review

It's rare to have every aspect of a book's creation come together in perfect harmony, but The Wake shows just how beautiful it is when it happens. Snyder's three-part narrative structure adds a touch of doom and gloom to the story, while the visuals are equally essential in crafting the world of The Wake. It's a wildly successful start to a ten-issue series that's sure to inspire equal amounts of terror and intrigue. Read Full Review

While not outstandingly original, Snyder and Murphy's The Wake is outstandingly beautiful, mysterious, and (most importantly for Vertigo Comics) worth returning to. It is something that fans of Snyder, Murphy, and Vertigo Comics have been looking for. We are only on issue #1 of The Wake and I'm already looking forward to their next, post-The Wake collaboration for (hopefully) Vertigo Comics. Read Full Review

The Wake is the next big thing for Vertigo and comic books in general. Like Saga or Hawkeye, what you read is a well-crafted comic made by some of the industry's best creators. Read Full Review

What we can expect from this book is something dark that will unravel. Something that will keep us at the edge of our seats and that's what makes this such a great team up between Snyder and Murphy. Whatever is to come next remains unknown, but as a first issue this was on the mark. Read Full Review

Speaking of the art, it's really good here. The emotions shown in the characters' faces, the full page (or half full page) spreads that detail the scenery and setting, the use of inking and coloring in the right moments to create the mood, and even the characters themselves with how different each of them look from one another. This is truly amazing and wonderful art that even if the story was bad, which is not, I would still recommend checking this issue out just to see what Sean has drawn. Read Full Review

Throughout the issue security and normalcy are systematically ripped away; leaving the audience with the sensation that the reality we know is littered with secrets and possibilities that bubble just beneath the surface. The dramatic conclusion of "The Wake" #1 introduces a mystery that is sure to make readers impossibly curious. Unanswered questions, strong characters, and an honest sensation of terror will draw you in, and leave you wanting more. Beautiful to look at, and a joy to read, “The Wake” #1 is a deft display of creative skill that touches on the most frightening aspects of being human. Read Full Review

Snyder explores yet another side to the horror genre, plumbing the depths of the sea for the terrors it holds. Everything, from the narrative structure to the character work, puts his talent on display. Murphy's art, given color, is completely supportive, enhancing the impact of every beat in Snyder's script. Read Full Review

The Wake comes with absolutely the highest praise, every book should be this good. Read Full Review

I’ve been ready for this series ever since it was announced last spring and now that it’s here I can safely say that it was well worth the wait. Read Full Review

Overall, The Wake #1 is a very interesting issue. It has left me very curious about the opening setting and if we will return to it soon. The end of the issue has left me wanting more which is really the most you can ask out of a comic book. The characters piqued my interest and I am concerned we won't have time to explore them enough in just ten issues. Read Full Review

With recent changes taking place in Vertigo's lineup, it's reassuring to see the imprint is far from losing its creative edge. Snyder and Murphy are certainly aiming to provide readers with a different type of reading experience in The Wake, which begins with a slow build up in this issue but, as seen towards the end of the issue, promises to bring thrills as the story continues. Read Full Review

The Wake hooks you in and pulls you under to the deepest depths of the sea. Snyder and Murphy have laid out the skeleton for a great mystery that seems to have epic implications. Snyder is truly a master of the spooky and mysterious. Read Full Review

This is the kind of book fans have come to expect from Vertigo: an unexpected, genre bending, soul chilling horror story that puts character first. Sean Murphy has kind of become Vertigo's go-to guy for unique and gripping storytelling. He renders the dystopian future with as much gusto as he does the modern technological trappings of the sea platform, and he has the right sense of nuanced timing needed for an effective horror comic. Vertigo is not producing much new material these days, but The Wake #1 makes it clear that when they do, they hit the mark. Read Full Review

My only real complaint is that this first issue is almost wholly build-up, which makes me worry that Snyder's going to do his usual and drag out a five-issue story over the course of this ten-issue miniseries, but the fact that we have three different timelines going on -- two of which we have only just glimpsed -- makes me think that The Wake will feel just as rewarding ten months from now as it did in this first issue. Read Full Review

I expected nothing short of perfection given the creative team and I got it. It sits comfortably among the great first issues of many Vertigo series. Hopefully your LCS will still have a copy if you missed The Wake #1, released Wednesday May 29th 2013. Read Full Review

Overall, Buy The Wake #1! Snyder is one of the best writers out there today so I suggest buying almost everything his name is on. This delivers and sets up what appears to be an awesome story going forward. Only issue I had is wanting the "Prologue" to maybe be placed earlier in the issue. Read Full Review

The Wake #1 is a solid start. I’m really excited to see where a dream time like Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy take this series. Read Full Review

The Wake #1 is a promising start from some of comicdom's hottest creators. Can't wait to see where this one goes. Read Full Review

The Wake is, as of its first issue, nothing revolutionary, but it appears to conceal some ambitions that it is confidently keeping under the table until the right time. Until then, it's just damn solid. Read Full Review

"The Wake" #1 is a strong first issue, and with the basic set-up concluded, it promises to get even stronger in the issues to come. Where is this going? With even the title not offering on a definitive clue (the ceremony connected to a funeral, the act of waking up, or the track left behind in water by a moving body?), it's fun to try and guess what's ahead. Based on strictly what Snyder and Murphy offer up here, though, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a lot of fun. Let the thrill-ride begin. Read Full Review

The Wake is off to a good start. I like the characters and I like the setup for the horror component enough to come back for more. Hopefully the next issue will continue to expand the threat without giving everything away. If you like great writing and a little bit of fright then this is the book for you. Give it a try. Read Full Review

The Wake doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel here. It hits some standard beats and offers familiar character archetypes, but it's also an example of a competently crafted, effective and fun adventure/thriller story peppered with genre elements. Read Full Review

This is a fantastic first issue that really sets the stage for what looks like will be an excellent ten issue mini-series. This issues gives us an intelligently written main character, beautifully drawn locales and technology, and a mysterious storyline that spans different locales and time periods. The Wake #1 sets the stage for what should be an interesting story by a team that has produced great work before. Read Full Review

What we get here isn't exactly the strongest hook in the world, but for folks like myself that like these kinds of stories and definitely like that it looks to be bigger than just a story set in the present, it starts off in a good way and leaves me wanting more. Read Full Review

I thought that talking about the issue would somehow help me decide if I liked it or not, but for once I’m still on the fence. It was actually pretty average and definitely overhyped for what was delivered. It’s not bad, but it’s far from great that’s for sure. The art might be enough to bring me back for at least another issue, but the story would have to deliver something other than dry conversations and dolphins in matching suits. Read Full Review

Big fan of Snyder's work, which is what drew me to this series. I have so many questions that I can't wait to have answered. The last time a story brought me to the bottom of sea, I was not disappointed.

. . $3, 25pgs? Minimal ADs. murky cover with striking title color. . . So,i am drawn to this title because of Sean Murphy and his work on Punk Rock Jesus (which is not to be missed, BTW.). The art here is clearer and is opened up a lot compared to his illustration for PRJ. This is a good thing, considering this art is in color and it was a but too tight at times in PRJ. The color does not impress me, and may even drag down Murphy's work, but ill give it some time to grow on me. The Writer wastes no time and jumps right into developing the story and the characters. The plot is certainly not fully revealed at this point, but i like where its going. A very nice starting issue, at 25 pages for only $3, its certainly worth a look. I'm on for this series,even if the page count drops to a normal amount.
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I really didn’t want to like Scott Snyder. Anyone who puts a question mark shaped mohawk on the Riddler is pretty dumb in my book. Unfortunately, I’m a sucker for things involving marine life, so this 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea send-off proved irresistible. So far the plot seems to consist of a bunch of government hub bub around a newly discovered killer mermaid man. This wouldn’t be a totally amazing premise if it didn’t utilize intriguing plot points in three different time periods and a dynamic protagonist fueled by the desire to support her son. The Wake features great pencils by Sean Murphy, who draws in a shadowy jagged style a la Bill Scienkewicz. It’s also worth noting that the light blue and orange coloring job by Matt Hollingsworth is some of the best coloring being done right now. Sadly, the cover is ho hum, and the interior is occasionally difficult to interpret- but this is definitely a comic book reader’s comic book and it seems important to read all the visual details. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Wake #1 is the possibilities it offers knowing that we’re promised 10 issues- I can’t wait to see what happens. more

god i hate how this is yellow. it's a very good issue, just obviously a lot of setup. 7 is very good in my book.