Crux, Volume 1: Atlantis Rising

by Mark Waid, Steve Epting

Millennia ago, the Atlanteans were the self-styled mentors to the newborn race known as homo-sapiens. But when a mysterious cataclysm plunged Atlantis and its people beneath the waves, six and only six awoke one thousand centuries later to find their island city forgotten and in ruins, their brothers and sisters caught in an unshakable slumber...and Earth devoid of all life. Now the one, simple question that drives them is this: Whatever happened to the human race? Cruz combines the most primal and exciting elements of super-hero comics with imaginative science fiction reminiscent of Isaac Asimov"s Foundation and Larry Niven"s Ringworld.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2002

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Tom Malinowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

10,000 B.C. - the well-advanced population of Atlantis are separated from the rest of the humans who are on the verge of discovering fire. The Atlanteans are at a crossroads - ascend or stay behind. The ones who stay behind are about to be put into stasis tubes but something happens....and suddenly thousands and thousands of years pass. Capricia is awakened from her stasis by a mysterious stranger deep below the water. She's tasked to wake up five others before an impeding attack by aliens. They come to the realization that thousands and thousands of years have passed. Humans have progressed and advanced to the stars. But then something happened to the Earth and there's much destruction with humans missing.

I started collecting these issues somewhat late and tried to piece the story together with back issues. I know CrossGen (publisher) went through changes and eventually went bankrupt. But solid storytelling and I have always enjoyed Steve Epting's art and it's spot on here.

[Đenis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atlantída a jej obyvatelia sa dostanú k míľniku povznesenia sa do inej roviny. Väčšina z nich prejde bránou, ale niektorí sa rozhodnú zostať a pomáhať ľuďom vo vývoji civilizácie. Uložia sa teda počas povznesenia do stázy. Niečo sa ale zvrtne a prebudia sa len šiesti po stovkách storočí na planéte bez života. Ihneď sa stanú terčom útoku vojska negácie a bez dalších podrobností musia bojovať o svoj život a planétu. Atlantiďania sú vyššie bytosti so superschopnostami.
Prvá polovica príbehu je o zorientovaní sa ...

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was really interesting. A group of beings from the city of Atlantis are awakened thousands of years after they were supposed to be to find the human race gone and a group of intergalactic bugs attacking the earth.

While they have the kind of powers that make you think "superhero" they are from a very peaceful race so they are trying to figure out how to fight and figure what happened to the humans.

[William Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing worth bothering with- overly explanatory to a point that it seems like a chore, mediocre art with no sense of composition.