Shadow’s Depths Page 7

Transcript

Page 7 of the Dystopia comic Shadow's Depths shows Bradson and Frazier beneath the Spill as the rubble opens and three strange new figures enter the scene.

In the first, large panel, Bradson and Frazier are seen from behind in the foreground, crouched among broken rock and debris. Frazier holds a handgun up toward the newly opened passage while Bradson reaches toward him, trying to stop him from firing. Ahead of them, a massive purple organic being has pushed through the collapsed wall like a living canopy or membrane, holding back the rubble around the opening. A large rumbling sound effect stretches across the top of the panel. Bright white light pours through the passage, silhouetting two figures beyond it. One tall winged figure stands to the left, and a smaller figure stands to the right. Broken rebar and jagged rock frame the opening.

In the second panel, the view shifts to the two soldiers facing the figures. Frazier stands stiffly with his handgun still raised, while Bradson steps toward him and places a hand on his arm, trying to calm or restrain him. The foreground shows the back of one of the strange figures, with a hand raised toward the soldiers. A speech balloon says, “I’m not sure I’ll be able to ‘prove’ anything, Lieutenant Bradson.”

In the final panel, two of the figures are revealed more clearly. The taller figure is pale green, thin, and humanoid, with pointed ears, large eyes, long fingers, and wing-like structures rising behind him. He stands with one hand extended in a calm, diplomatic gesture. Beside him is a shorter blue-skinned figure with tendril-like hair, wearing a dark shirt and jeans, arms folded quietly. The taller figure says, “But I’ll do my best to show you the different world you’ve been thinking of.”
 

Comics

Chapter 04: Shadow’s Depths – Page 07
Posted on September 14, 2026 by ALFA

Meeting old friends for the first time

Chapter Four of Dystopia: Shadow’s Depths continues beneath the Spill, where Bradson and Frazier discover that the voice in the dark belongs to something very real.

After the rubble shifted and the passage opened, this week’s page introduces three new characters to the current webcomic. They may be new to readers, but they are not new to the world of Dystopia. These characters reach back to the original Dystopia Chronicles digest comics published by 5th Panel Comics in 1994, and bringing them into the current story meant revisiting designs, intentions, and years of history.

This week’s Patreon post walks through the process of bringing older characters into the modern version of the comic, including how their appearances have evolved, how color changes the conversation, and how ALFA and Jackwraith are still working through the exact visual identities as they enter Shadow’s Depths.

Readers interested in extended creator commentary, worldbuilding context, and visual storytelling discussions can find the full video on Patreon.
→ Read ALFA’s essay on Patreon

News

Jul
09

The Need for Intermission

By | Creative Process•Lore•Worldbuilding

The Need for Intermission This week on Patreon, Jackwraith looks at why Dystopia is taking a short interlude between Chapters Three and Four. The post explores how these intermission pieces give readers a moment to breathe while also widening the […]
Read More

Jun
15

In the grim darkness of the far future…

By | Bloodpulse•Creative Process•Gangs•Lore•Pit Crews•Shadow Dragons•Social forces•The Phalanx•Violence•Walkers•Warhammer 40K•Writing

That title is the opening to the tagline of Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40K miniatures game; a game I played for around 15 years (along with Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Battlefleet Gothic, Epic Armageddon, Necromunda, Mordheim, Battlemaster, Man o’ War and pretty […]
Read More