High Level is written by Rob Sheridan, with art by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Barnaby Bagenda. High Level is published by Vertigo.
The story follows a young woman named Thirteen. She has a pretty shitty job. Pun intended. She is a high tech plumber. I say this because the story is very cyberpunk in nature and futuristic in case you somehow missed it. It’s also hundreds of years after the world as we know it now has ended. Thirteen also takes on odd jobs for pay. After her normal day she heads to a bar to talk business with a patron.
While Thirteen is there a scary group of armed men comes into the bar asking about a little girl. This group goes by the name Black Helix. Thirteen hastily goes home. It’s evident she wants nothing to do with whatever Black Helix is looking for. Once home she encounters a friend that is retiring. He says he’s going to go to High Level for a better opportunity.
High level seems to be a glimmering perfect city in the sky that everyone wants to go to. It’s just such a nice place that once you get there you have no desire to leave. But, doesn’t that make you wonder if it even exists? There’s also some odd religious talk about ascension that is very mysterious.
While Thirteen is home she’s presented with an offer for a job. She decides to take it because she’ll earn 1,000 coin. But, things go a little awry. And, by a little I mean she may not survive the job. I can’t go into too much detail with spoiling a ton, but it does have something to do with religion and flesh. And, if that last sentence hasn’t piqued your curiosity nothing will.
High Level is a futuristic and mysterious thrill ride. Thirteen is a bad ass in all manners of the word. Right down to her snarky attitude. The characters she interacts with are already well-developed, and Sheridan does an amazing job of keep up suspense all while we try to learn more about High Level.
8.5/10 Stars
