by
- BLACK TIDE Enter The Game
- Black Tide - graphic novel Volume 1
- Black Tide: Graphic Novel - Volume 2
Enter The Game is where it all begins for Justin.
As the teenage son of an International Special Forces agent, Justin has seen the dangers in the world first hand. He's been to more high schools than he can count and can't talk to a girl to save his life. But now, when his dad is left for dead by the powers who employ him Justin must somehow find the courage to locate and rescue him by himself. To do it, he will have to infiltrate the Deceivers - the most covert and deadly Black Ops organization in the world.
Based on the popular comic book Black Tide. The fascinating story combines science, history, technology, myth, metaphysics and tales of Atlantis with some of the same issues we face in our world today. Unlike the comic book, this novel is set in Justin’s formative teen years. Justin is an old soul and he is haunted by nightmares from what he thinks might be his previous life. If it was, can he forgive himself? How does a soldier go on after violence?
Publisher: Angelgate
Illustrators:
Genres:
Tropes: Aliens Among Us, Antihero, Born Hero, Chosen One, Clones, Cross-Species Friendships, Dark Enemy, Dystopian Governments, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Fallen Hero, Fated Mates, Fish Out of Water, Galactic Civilization, Humanity is Dangerous, Humanity is Good, Humans Evolved From Aliens, Hunted, I See Dead People, Inaccessible Magic, Library of Secrets, Lost Civilization, Modern Human in Fantasy World, Parallel Worlds, Past People/Future Tech, Person in Distress, Portals, Post-Apocalyptic, Powerful Artifact, Prophesy, Quest, Redemption Arc, Reluctant Hero, Secret Heir, Secret Society, Training, Uploaded Consciousness, Villain to Hero, Wise Mentor
Setting: Modern Day, USA, Europe, Private Island, Earth
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Aliens Among Us, Antihero, Born Hero, Chosen One, Clones, Cross-Species Friendships, Dark Enemy, Dystopian Governments, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Fallen Hero, Fated Mates, Fish Out of Water, Galactic Civilization, Humanity is Dangerous, Humanity is Good, Humans Evolved From Aliens, Hunted, I See Dead People, Inaccessible Magic, Library of Secrets, Lost Civilization, Modern Human in Fantasy World, Parallel Worlds, Past People/Future Tech, Person in Distress, Portals, Post-Apocalyptic, Powerful Artifact, Prophesy, Quest, Redemption Arc, Reluctant Hero, Secret Heir, Secret Society, Training, Uploaded Consciousness, Villain to Hero, Wise Mentor
Setting: Modern Day, USA, Europe, Private Island, Earth
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
“A compelling prequel that sets the stage for the epic Black Tide saga, blending action, emotional depth, and a touch of mystery.”
Overview
Debbie Bishop masterfully gives Justin, the Black Tide series’ hero, an amazing prequel with Enter the Game. This novel shifts the focus to Justin’s formative teenage years, revealing his roots as the son of an International Special Forces agent and the harrowing events that shape his journey into becoming a key player in the series. With elements of action, myth, and metaphysics, this novel expands the Black Tide universe while also exploring themes of self-discovery, courage, and redemption.Key Highlights
1. Justin’s Evolution as a Character
• The narrative presents Justin as a believable and sensitive teenager who finds himself in a completely out-of-this-world situation.
• Conflicts with low self-esteem, loneliness, and carrying the heavy burden of being a shadow of his dad make Justin an emotionally relatable character.
• Hints of Justin’s life before this nightmareful existence come through his nightmares, which are intrinsically metaphysical, placing him within the larger scheme of the Black Tide mythos.2. Action-Packed Plot
• Justin’s rescue of his father is also an action plot with high stakes, including infiltrating the Deceivers death squad.
• The tension and suspense are real and compelling, pushing readers forward as Justin needs to navigate through the world of Black Ops.3. Incorporation of Myth with Contemporary Issues
• The book delinks mythology such as Atlantis mention from the current issues and themes such as trust, loyalty, and personal accountability.
• This blend of old and new themes makes the story rich and unique.4. Exploration of Forgiveness and Trauma
• Justin’s nightmares and inner turmoil explore deeper questions about guilt, forgiveness, and the aftermath of violence.
• These themes elevate the novel beyond a simple action story, offering readers an emotional and philosophical depth.5. Engaging World-Building
• As much as it revolves around the early years of Justin, hints at a great and elaborate Black Tide world that contains secrets about its conspiracies, future technologies, and connection to ancient stories.
• These things raise the hope for the people who are newly getting into this book and help develop the existing fan lore about it.Strength
• Wonderful Character Development: Justin's storyline is all about the growth, so he became an inspiring, real, and likable hero.
• Gripping Plot: The thrilling storyline holds its readers captive through the entire read.
• Fascinating Mythology: The themes of Atlantis and metaphysics introduce a rich sense of depth in the story.
• Accessible to First-Time Readers: Being a prequel, the novel is an excellent introduction for readers to the Black Tide series.Who Would Like to Read This?
• Any fan of Black Tide comics looking for deeper insight into Justin's history.
• Fans of action-packed coming-of-age stories mixed with mythology and science.
• For readers seeking a character-driven story with emotional and philosophical depth.Enter the Game is a gripping and heartfelt prequel that expertly expands the Black Tide universe into a powerful story of courage, resilience, and self-discovery. Debbie Bishop weaves action, myth, and emotion together cohesively to create an enthralling read for fans and newcomers alike.
Whether it is high-stakes action or a journey of introspection, Enter the Game provides a story that strikes on so many different levels, making the reader want to read the rest of the Black Tide saga.
BLACK TIDE is a comic book series originally published by Image comics, then Angel Gate Press. Graphic novels Vol 1 and Vol 2 are available on amazon.
Enter The Game is the first novel in this series. This story takes place when one of the three main characters, Justin, is a teen, living in the US. It tells a bit about his life then and events that shaped him into becoming the number two agent in the elite international secret spy organization called The Deceivers.
About Black Tide comic book series:
Atlantis is now a myth, and the Atlanteans would like to keep it that way. Living secretly among us, their elite Black Ops team tries to protect us from supervillains from ancient times.
As leader of the most covert black ops team in the world, Justin has devoted his life to saving others. Captured on a mission, he discovers that he was once the most powerful villain of Atlantis. After its demise 12,000 years ago, survivors recreated Atlantis and regenerated their higher beings who had been killed in the war. Villonious survived, but since they feared him, he was put in stasis and hidden from those who would free him. His love, Kaila, never gave up trying to find him. When she finally nearly succeeds, the heirarchy blocks his memories so he will not remember how to use his powers then forces him to be reborn.
Now, on a mission to solve the mystery of a series of international murders, he is reunited with his enemies. In a weird twist of fate, he triggers the same series of events that led to the destruction of his ancient land. He is a changed man who remembers nothing of his past. But how he deals with the present will either save us or destroy us all.
Review:
"COMPLEX PLOT WITH MANY CHARACTERS By Tim Janson Part Sci-fi, part fantasy, with elements of covert intrigue and superhero action, Black Tide is one of the more multifaceted stories I've read in quite a long time. The art by Mike S. Miller is first-rate and very smooth. If you like in-depth, elaborate storylines, then this is unquestionably a book you'll want to read. It's rare that you get a comic series this complex today.
Black Tide has had a publishing history as complex as the plot of its story. Starting with Image, then moving on to Avatar before finding its home at Angel Gate press. It's not easy trying to categorize Black Tide. There are characters with super powers who wear costumes but it's not a super hero title really. Part Sci-fi, part fantasy, with elements of covert intrigue and superhero action, Black Tide is one of the more multifaceted stories I've read in quite a long time. Trying to summarize the story in a short review would not really do the multi-layered plotline justice, but let me give you a bit of a synopsis.
Nearly 13,000 years ago the legendary lost city of Atlantis was destroyed and sunk beneath the ocean, yet its people endured. Using far advanced technology the people regenerated themselves, building a new home, far below the surface, cloaked from modern man. It is in this modern world we meet Justin Braddock, leader of a special ops team known as "The Deceivers." All his life he has been haunted by strange nightmares and he's finally about to find out why. While on a mission he encounters Kaila, an Atlantean and helps her rescue an Atlantean Prince named Theros. They return to Atlantis where Justin comes face-to-face with the revelation that he had once been Atlantis' greatest enemy, Villonious, responsible for much bloodshed and death. Villonious had been placed in stasis and was regenerated as a human who should not have had these memories of his previous life. Queen Celestia decrees that Justin be put to death for his past crimes but Theros intercedes on his behalf since he is the rightful ruler. He frees Justin, and to Celestia's consternation, Justin, Theros, and Kaila leave Atlantis for the surface world.
We then find out that Kaila herself is also a member of the Deceivers as well and Justin never knew it. They were once lovers in Atlantis but Justin now does not hold those same feelings as he did as Villonious. Celestia will not give up her son or Justin so easily and allies herself with the Catharta, the witch who stole Theros' powers. While all this is going on, Justin and Kaila are determined to find out who killed Justin's partner and friend, and also track down terrorists who intend to use a biological bomb at an international summit meeting. Theros is forced to return to Atlantis to deal with great trouble at home. The Atlanteans are not happy that Theros freed the slaves before he left and there is rebellion on the rise against him.
Whew! And trust me I'm being brief. Writer Debbie Bishop has woven a story that is extremely intricate and layered with plots, and sub-plots and even a few sub sub-plots, I think. It's certainly not a story you can breeze through and I found myself re-reading sections just to make sure I had everything straight. One thing Bishop does is devote a full page here and there to a character, giving their background, powers, etc, which really helps you get a handle on who is who in the story. Kind of like a graphic novel scorecard. The art by Mike S. Miller is first-rate and very smooth. If you like in-depth, elaborate storylines, then this is unquestionably a book you'll want to read. It's rare that you get a comic series this complex today."
Thattwistedpage review: “A rich fusion of sci-fi, fantasy, covert operations, and superhero drama, Black Tide: Awakening of the Key delivers an intricately layered story that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.” see more on their page.
Graphic novel: Volume 2 review:
“A thrilling continuation of an intricate saga blending ancient Atlantis, futuristic technology, and deep emotional conflicts.”
Summary
"The second book to the Black Tide (issues 5–10), takes this wealth of mythology and multi-layered storytelling, now further developed through earlier issues, to new heights. Debbie Bishop has taken the story forward by digging more into the secrets of Atlantis and introduces new characters such as DR: The Draconian Warrior while increasing the stakes with global conspiracies, covert operations, and personal betrayals...
...With its mix of ancient secrets, futuristic tech, and intense character dynamics, Black Tide cements itself as a standout series for fans of mythological and sci-fi graphic novels. Highly recommended for those ready to dive into an epic world of danger, discovery, and redemption."
