Waterworld’s Comic Book Sequel Children of Leviathan Will Blow Your Mind

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1995’s “Waterworld” didn’t receive a direct cinematic follow-up, instead, the comic book universe took over with the 1997 four-issue mini-series titled “Waterworld: Children of Leviathan.” In this story, Earth has been almost completely submerged by a massive flood centuries in the future. Kevin Costner plays the Mariner, an aquatic wanderer with gills, who encounters a young woman and her adoptive mother. The young woman’s tattoo is believed to be a map leading to Dryland, a mythical place. Despite “Waterworld” being infamous for box office failures in 1995, it has since earned profits and gained appreciation as a post-apocalyptic film. A “Waterworld” TV series is also in development with Dan Trachtenberg, director of “Prey,” at the helm. However, “Waterworld” won’t be the first sequel to hit screens; the comic book series served as an alternative continuation.

Children of Leviathan – A New Adventure on the High Seas

In this sequel to the original Waterworld, our hero once again is the Mariner. This time, he’s up against a formidable new adversary known as Leviathan, ruler of the deep blue sea. Despite the initial underperformance of the movie Waterworld, Children of Leviathan hasn’t received its fair share of attention in the comic book world. However, given Waterworld’s enduring appeal and the cult following it has garnered over time, it’s only fitting that Children of Leviathan gets the recognition it deserves. This sequel not only adds depth to the original Waterworld narrative but also expands upon the rich mythology first introduced in the original film.

The Story of Waterworld: Children of Leviathan

In the story titled “Children of Leviathan,” our protagonist, the Mariner, embarks on further oceanic voyages post-“Waterworld.” Following the demolition of his initial Trimaran by the Smokers, he constructs a replacement vessel. This Mariner is haunted by disturbing memories that seem to depict him as a captive in a lab enclosed within glass, while his underwater investigations of Earth’s submerged remnants eventually lead him to encounter a group called the Children of Leviathan. In a dramatic turn of events, these individuals launch an assault on a human survivors’ underwater sub, and it is here that the Mariner saves a young boy named Carlos from the attack.

The sailor, referred to as the Mariner, discovers from Carlos that he’s actually from a submerged realm called The Foundation. Carlos also mentions that their historical records contain pictures of beings resembling aquatic humans, suggesting the Mariner’s gills might not be a result of the Waterworld flood, but genetic engineering. This could potentially connect him to the colossal sea creature from the movie known as the Sea-Eater, or Whalephin, as it was called in the making of Waterworld. On the other hand, the antagonist, Leviathan, is planning to overthrow The Foundation, causing an underwater war between the Foundation and the Children of Leviathan. Amidst this battle, the Mariner finds himself right in the thick of things.

Waterworld Was Perfect for a Comic Book Tie-In, & Children of Leviathan Delivers

In the pre-21st century age of standalone sci-fi films on the big screen, “Waterworld” was a cinematic adventure that could easily have been further explored through other media like comic books. The book “Children of Leviathan” expands upon the world and mythology introduced in the movie, offering new insights. For instance, unlike what was initially portrayed in “Waterworld”, the global flood is depicted as a meteor shower in “Children of Leviathan”. Additionally, the Mariner’s origins are revealed to be quite different than he ever imagined.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, diving into the visually stunning comic book series titled “Children of Leviathan“, I found myself immersed in an underwater world reminiscent of the vast oceans depicted in “Waterworld”. The Sea-Eater, the fearsome predator that roams these depths, and the human communities built beneath the waves in stark contrast to the Atolls we saw in the movie, create a captivating tapestry.

What truly sets “Children of Leviathan” apart is its creative introduction of the villainous figure, Leviathan. A monstrous aquatic equivalent to Jabba the Hutt, driven by megalomaniacal ambitions to rule the seas, mirroring the Deacon’s own territorial aspirations on Dryland.

Throughout its four-issue run, “Children of Leviathan” expands the world initially introduced in “Waterworld” in a way that will undoubtedly reel in any fan of the movie, hooking them with its intricate plotlines and vivid artwork.

Why Children of Leviathan Is a Great Sequel to Waterworld

In light of the notoriously challenging filming issues that made “Waterworld” the most costly production at approximately $175 million back then, the narrative and especially the predominantly underwater setting of “Children of Leviathan” serves as an apt sequel to the preceding movie. Given the immense challenges Waterworld faced during production, anything beyond the Mariner taking Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) to the submerged remnants of Denver, Colorado would have been practically impossible at the time. Unlike its cinematic counterpart, “Children of Leviathan” in comic book format is free from such financial and logistical constraints and offers readers a more immersive exploration and thrilling journey than the movie could.

In the same vein as any sequel or follow-up story should, Children of Leviathan delves deeper into the universe and characters established in its precursor, Waterworld. Previously, much of Waterworld’s origin was left shrouded in mystery. However, Children of Leviathan reveals these hidden truths within the context of the aquatic mythology that underpinned the original film. The protagonist, the Mariner, gains a deeper understanding of his own past, and so does the fractured human society residing in Waterworld. Notably, Children of Leviathan offers an expansive seafaring adventure, with the Mariner engaging in battles against undersea conquerors and the Sea-Eater in swift succession. The comic book sequel to Waterworld, Waterworld: Children of Leviathan, showcases that there’s more depth to explore beneath its surface, just as with Waterworld itself.

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2025-05-04 01:42