fathom

Fathom is the first comic Michael Turner created of his own. It is his most well-known creator-owned title, and the flagship of Aspen MLT.

the plot

A boat arrives at shore years after it was thought to have sunk - and has been missing for ten years. On board is a young girl with no memory of her past. She is adopted by the captain, who names her Aspen. She goes on to become an Olympic level swimmer, a skilled diver, and a marine biologist. One day she becomes involved with research in a high-tech underwater laboratory.

Thus begins Aspen's journey into understanding who she is and where she comes from. Her journey leads her to the discover of an underwater race known only as the blue, her own identity as one of them, and to the discovery of her own power over water.

Aspen becomes involved in their political maneuverings, torn between different factions of the blue and unsure of which faction to trust. Charismatic terrorist leader Killian wants her to help him destroy the surface dwellers, while Canon seeks her assistance in maintaining peace and secrecy for the blue.

Thus, we move into the world of Fathom.

comics

Fathom was initially published by Top Cow Productions, but is now published by Aspen MLT. In order, Fathom should be read from the Top Cow issues first, then the Killian's Tide mini-series, followed by the stories from the Aspen previews, the Dawn of War mini-series, the Cannon Hawke special, then the two current Aspen MLT series (Fathom and Cannon). The Fathom: Beginnings short comic recently published by Aspen MLT can be read at any time during the read. Also, two short stories appeared in the recent Aspen: Seasons book, which can be read at any point after reading some of the Aspen issues.

The Top Cow issues have been collected in two trade paperbacks, but the back issues remain fairly affordable at my local comic shops, so you might try yours as well.

The only caveat to offer is that Turner is the creator of Fathom and while he does do quite a bit of art for it, he is not the only artist involved, especially with the new Aspen MLT series - Koi Turnbull and Talent Caldwell have also pencilled art for the new issues of Fathom.