Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Eduardo Ferigato
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Amid climate change and pandemics, the world’s scientists years ago determined about 30 years ago that planet Earth would become uninhabitable for humanity.
And so the world’s people would have to leave the planet en masse. Two gigantic ships have already taken two-thirds of the world’s population.
On December 31, 2055, one final ship will depart with the rest of those who choose to leave. Literally named Noah’s Ark in Hebrew, the Tevat Noah III sits in the Pacific Ocean, dwarfing the tankers full of shipping containers docking at it.
But is this the story of the end of the world?
No.
Is this the story of the man who invented, engineered and oversaw the construction and launch of the arks, a trillionaire Dr. Ben Caewood?
Yes, and no.
When we first meet Ben, who insists on everyone calling him Dr. Caewood, he’s working on an engine in his lab in 2031 as his wife’s about to deliver their daughter, Sara. Of course, he misses the birth.
This picture repeats, again and again, of Caewood neglecting his family, until we jump ahead in time to 24 hours before the launch of Tevat Noah III.
Caewood appears nervous before launch, but not because of anything in his perfect design. It’s that Sara, now age 24, has not reported to Tevat Noah III. Surely she wouldn’t choose to stay on Earth, amid the Planet Death deniers and dangerous deplorables ready to reign over the chaos.
But Caewood calls in every favor, including to the United Nations secretary-general herself. She lends him a strike team to head to Chicago, find her, and get the team back to the ark in time for launch.
If you think this will go smoothly, then storytelling ain’t your strong suit.
Writer Marc Guggenheim and artist Eduardo Ferigato, who created this title together, have an intriguing premise. And amid our current world that feels like its own dystopian, apocalyptic tableau of climate change, pandemic and rising autocracy across the world, I guess we’ll get to see their takes on the current state of the world accelerated by 34 years.
There’s just one hitch on this for me: Why should I care about Ben Caewood? Is this going to be another story about a terrible man learning a lesson? He had the weight of the end of the world on his shoulders, and somehow couldn’t use that energy to be there for his daughter all her life? Why would he gain such introspection now?
I wonder if Guggenheim can write his way out of that conundrum.
