Crush Depth #1

by Tim Daniel, David Brian Andry, Alex Sanchez (Illustrator)

Two brothers locked in a sibling rivalry wrestle for command of a massive nuclear submarine, The Absolution, in a near future irrevocably altered by climate change. Chief Science Officer Liana Pearson finds herself not only caught between the Wilder brothers but drowning in her fear of the surface world. When something alien infiltrates The Absolution and upends the balance of power, Liana is left with only two deadly options–reaching the toxic surface world or steering the sub into the unforgiving abyss and crush depth–Breathe Deep!

Genres: Comics

Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

Reviews

[Tabby Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to an unknown apocalyptic event, the crew of the submarine The Absolution have been alone, submerged for nearly a decade. A sudden signal of the possibility of others still alive leads them further into the depths, but what they find there may be their undoing.

There was a lot I enjoyed about this graphic novel. The art was great and delightfully gruesome for the kind of story it is. Unfortunately, it was also occasionally a little unclear what was going on. I found myself confused about which character was which a couple of times, but I mostly read for enjoyment and the few moments of confusion didn’t diminish that very much. As for the story, I live for this kind of isolation horror, and this one didn’t disappoint. The ending was a little unclear, but maybe it’s meant to be so that the decision of what happened is up to you, the reader. That’s how I choose to see it. Overall, this graphic novel is a good time if you’re down for a scare.

3.75 out of 5 ⭐️s

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for sending me this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Kanan Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crush Depth, a sci-fi horror comic published by Mad Cave Studios, effectively creates a claustrophobic, suspenseful tale reminiscent of the Alien franchise. Set in a near-future where climate change has devastated the surface, the crew of the submarine The Absolution is on a deep-sea scavenging mission. After answering a distress signal, they encounter an insidious, alien organism that begins to turn the crew into something monstrous.
Reviews praise the writing team of David "DB" Andry and Tim Daniel for their expert pacing, slowly building tension before plunging the crew into chaos. Artist Alex Sanchez's detailed and atmospheric art effectively portrays the oppressive underwater environment, capturing both the claustrophobia of the sub and the horrors that unfold. While some critiques mention that character development could be deeper, the series is lauded for its strong start and solid execution of familiar horror elements. This comic is a must-read for horror fans seeking an action-packed, tension-filled deep-sea adventure.

[The Void Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crush Depth #1–#5 by Tim Daniel & David “DB” Andry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Breathe Deep—and don’t come up for air.

Crush Depth is a briny, claustrophobic descent into sci-fi horror that had me gripping the bulkheads from issue #1. Set aboard the nuclear submarine The Absolution, the series plunges readers into a near-future ravaged by climate collapse, sibling warfare, and something alien lurking in the deep. The tension between the Wilder brothers is electric, but it’s Chief Science Officer Liana Pearson who anchors the emotional core—torn between surface dread and abyssal terror.

Each issue ratchets up the pressure, blending naval thriller grit with Lovecraftian unease. The art is kinetic and oppressive in all the right ways, and the pacing never lets you catch your breath. While the series doesn’t fully surface with a conclusive ending (yet), the ride is absolutely worth it.

If you like The Abyss, Leviathan, or Event Horizon with a dash of eco-horror and sibling drama, this one’s for you. Here’s hoping future volumes take us even deeper.

Crush Depth proves that in the ocean’s darkest corners, survival isn’t just about oxygen—it’s about power, fear, and what waits below.

Happy reading 🌊📚🦀

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, the graphics for this were really well done! I also loved that this story was set in a sub deep below in the ocean. The setting really added to the creepy vibes. However, I did have a tricky time following the story and keeping up the current time setting: I.e “earlier”, “later”. It felt a little disjointed - but that could also just be a me thing. I wish we had a bit more of an introduction to the characters so I could really invest into their story and reasons behind their decisions. But for a first volume, it still held my interest and I read it all in one sitting. I’ll definitely read the next volumes to see if there is more backstory to the characters and to see what happens next! (Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the e-arc).

[Alex Thom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art of this book was really cool! I did have a bit of a hard time following the story as it was told in sort of present, later, etc. I do wish we got to know more about the characters as well. There were a lot of names thrown around for the characters, but we didn't fully get to know anything about them. The description mentioned a lot about the brothers fighting, but they weren't the biggest piece in the story. I do wish there was more character exploration, hopefully in future editions this will happen! Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

[Samantha Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really cool art style story about this submarine with a crew surviving some kind of bio terrorist apocalypse. Was super quick read and the ending made me question some things. Characters were kind of flat but that's just because they really dont get much page time, its mainly Llana and the captain. Still fun read but felt like it was a little too rushed. Thanks Netgalley for an early review copy.

[Adri Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a potential future reality, humans are unable to live on the surface. Aboard the ship, The Absolution, Liana Pearson is the Science Officer. Their ship receives a call for help from another ship, HMS Vehemence. Being able to assist this ship would be the first contact they’ve made in years. However, The Absolution may be getting more than it bargained for in this attempted rescue.

#ThxNetGalley #CrushDepth #Tim Daniel #DavidDBAndry

Merged review:

In a potential future reality, humans are unable to live on the surface. Aboard the ship, The Absolution, Liana Pearson is the Science Officer. Their ship receives a call for help from another ship, HMS Vehemence. Being able to assist this ship would be the first contact they’ve made in years. However, The Absolution may be getting more than it bargained for in this attempted rescue.

#ThxNetGalley #CrushDepth #Tim Daniel #DavidDBAndry

[Caitlin Stucky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this graphic novel are great! My one qualm with this was that the storyline was a bit difficult to follow. I did enjoy this and was creeped out with the alien-esque vibes! I’d love to get more of a backstory on the characters and the mission.