Waterworld: Children of Leviathan

*This article is about the comics. For the faction see Children of Leviathan.*

***Waterworld: Children of Leviathan*** is a single-volume, four-issue limited series comic book released in the second half of 1997.

The comic books act as a sequel to the 1995 film and continuation of the franchise.

The comics were published by Acclaim comics, an imprint of Valiant comics which was then a subsidiary of Acclaim Entertainment and under licence from Universal Pictures which hold the rights to the franchise.

A second volume was planned but never came to fruition.

## Issues and Publication Dates

The volume was published in four monthly issues;

* Issue # 1 - August 1997
* Issue # 2 - September 1997
* Issue # 3 - October 1997
* Issue # 4 - November 1997

## Credits

* Writer - Chris Golden
* Writer - Tom Sniegoski
* Penciller - Kevin Kobasic
* Inker - Barbara Kaalberg
* Colours - Atomic Paintbrush
* Letters - Ken Bell & GraphicPlanet
* Assistant Editor - Alex Glass
* Editor - Jeff Gomez
* Editor-in-Chief - Fabian Nicieza
* Cover Painting - Lou Harrison

## Overview

The comic expands on the possible cause of the melting of the polar ice caps and worldwide flood. The comics also reveal some of the Mariner's back-story as he further explores Waterworld and gathers clues about where he came from and why he is different. The comic hints at the possibility that the Mariner's mutation may not be caused by evolution but by genetic engineering and that his origins may be linked to those of the "Sea Eater", the sea monster seen during the fishing scene in the film, and also to the villain of the comics, the Leviathan.

The comics also introduces The Foundation, the remnants of the United States government who are living in an underwater bubble, and also introduces new villains, the Children of Leviathan who are led by "The Leviathan", and who supplied the Deacon's Smoker organisation.

## Volume 1

### Issue #1 - The Mariner Returns

* *Main article: The Mariner Returns*

It is a few months after the Mariner left Dryland, and he has constructed a new trimaran from an old jet fighter after his last one was destroyed by the smokers. The Mariner is now invested in a hunt for answers as to his origins.

After dreaming of the flooding of the world, and of scientists observing him though glass, the Mariner is awoken by an attacking Whalephin, which he is forced to fight off. Soon after he swims down to the submerged ruins of Washington D.C. at the bottom of the ocean, to recover one of his treasure caches. There he gains the unwanted attention of a mysterious submarine, which follows him to the surface. There the submarine has a chance encounter the deranged cultists known as the Children of Leviathan, who viciously attack the occupants of the sub, and then leave with it tied to their raft. The Mariner observes the attack and does not intervene as he is hopelessly outnumbered by the marauders, but after the attack he does save the life of a young boy who was thrown overboard from the sub.

The berserkers arrive at their base, an old aircraft carrier now named the Church of Leviathan, giving up their war spoils as tribute. Their leader, the Leviathan, a hideous pale hulk who is regarded by them as a living god of the ocean, undertakes a ritual involving the agonising venom of mutated jellyfish. Leviathan has visions of a new and glorious future age for himself and his followers, that will come to pass if they conquer the underwater kingdom where the submarine came from, but Leviathan also envisions that the Mariner has the potential to thwart them. The Leviathan orders his followers to prepare for their final war, and decrees that it is the Mariner's destiny to die by his hand in three day's time.

### Issue #2 - Inside the Foundation

* *Main article: Inside the Foundation*

The young boy saved from drowning after the Leviathan attack reveals to the Mariner that his name is Carlos Torrez, and that he comes from a hidden and advanced underwater habitat called the Foundation. The Mariner's piqued curiosity turns to fascination when Carlos shows him a partially-complete book chronicling the history of the Foundation, which includes images of a half-man, half-fish.

*to be completed*

## Volume 2

A second volume of Waterworld comics was planned to introduce a new story arc and factions, but was ultimately cancelled.

## Trivia

* The live stunt show is also portrayed as a sequel to the film, albeit a more direct one.

## Behind the scenes

* Penciller Kevin Kobasic explained that he initially designed the Mariner in the comics to look like Kevin Costner. However, Costner declined to permit his likeness to be used. Kobasic assumed this was due to the negative press surrounding the film, but relished the opportunity to redesign the Mariner to be more "edgy", with more internalised rage. Kobasic lost the seashell earring, and made the Mariner more muscular and added longer hair.
* When designing the new trimaran, Kobasic couldn't get it to look 'racy' enough, so decided on the fighter jet since it was a similar shape to the original design, yet unique and not as 'square'.

## References

1. ↑ Volume 1 Issue # 4 epilogue notes
2. ↑ Kevin Kobasic's notes in the back of Issue # 1.
3. ↑ Kevin Kobasic's notes in the back of Issue # 1.