The Way (of Yahweh)

Webcomic that I was invited to review via Instagram.

Title: The Way (of Yahweh): Ty's Story 01 & Liv's Story 01
Publisher: The Way Saga (Group Lore)
Writer: Jason S. Tucker, Andie Rugg, Robert Ramos
Artist: Jason S. Tucker
Editor: Shana Murph

This is an interactive webcomic, featuring essentially two different pathways through the story from each from the point of view of a different lead character. The preview that I got a look at included the opening part for each character, and while the two character's don't meet in these initial segments, that is clearly the direction that the story is heading in.

The navigation on the site took a bit of getting used to, but was fine once I had the basics down. There are some interesting uses of the technology, including links to background information on objects, and planned interactive decision-making as the story progresses.

The setting is post-apocalyptic, with the surviving human population occupying the floating city of Halcyon, hovering over the Atlantic Ocean after a century of devastating earthquakes. The city is held aloft by magnetic levitation technology, called Ferrotech in the story. The secrets of Ferrotech have been lost following a destructive event known as the Anomaly, which shattered portions of Halcyon into floating islands called the Hanging Ruins.

Now, Ty, a prisoner, works scavenging lost tech in the Hanging Ruins, forced to do the Halcyon's most hazardous work.

Meanwhile, high school student Liv leads a double lift as a conspiracy journalist, sneaking into restricted areas and capturing video of ongoing magnetic anomalies that could threaten Halcyon's very existence.

This is a story loaded with potential. I liked both characters, and the story succeeded at making the setting interesting and building anticipation for how the plot threads will bring Ty and Liv together.

The technological elements felt like they needed a bit more development, especially the issue of the magnetic anomalies. They are presented as a threat, and one that is covered-up by the government, but it's not made clear what the full implications are. Is is simply that the Ferrotech could fail completely, destroying Halcyon, and the government is trying to avoid a panic? The anomalies are treated as very mysterious, but these opening chapters don't give much in the way of clues as to what direction those mysteries will develop in.

I liked the supporting casts for both storylines, with Liv's mother standing out as particularly intriguing. I also enjoyed the dialogue between Liv and her A.I. companion. The flow of Ty's dialogue with his scavenger crew was a bit hindered by the need to infodump, but a flashback sequence involving Ty was excellent, and gave the best real picture of what the original Anomaly was all about. Because of this scene, I'd recommend reading Ty's Part 01 first, although both really do stand alone.

The Way (of Yahweh) is presented as Christian-themed, but these opening segments were certainly never preachy or judgmental. God is namedropped once in Liv's story, but otherwise the Christian elements do not come to the forefront in these opening chapters. That will change as the story moves on, but what I read here felt true to the creators' goals of presenting an engaging science fiction story.

Rating: 8/10