Post-apocalyptic wastelands have been a popular setting in comics for many years. These landscapes are often depicted as desolate, dangerous and full of adventure. With the world currently experiencing a pandemic, post-apocalyptic stories may feel more real than ever before. In this article, we will explore some of the most iconic post-apocalyptic wastelands in comics.
1. The Wasteland – “Old Man Logan”
The Wasteland is the setting for Mark Millar’s “Old Man Logan” storyline. This dystopian future features a world where villains have defeated all superheroes and taken over the United States. The landscape is barren, with dust storms and radiation making it nearly impossible to survive without proper protection.
Despite its bleak nature, The Wasteland offers plenty of opportunities for storytelling with mutated creatures and bandit gangs roaming around looking for their next victim.
2. The Cursed Earth – “Judge Dredd”
The Cursed Earth is a radioactive desert that covers much of what was once America in the universe of “Judge Dredd.” Only small pockets of civilization remain amongst the ruins, with mutants and outlaws running rampant between them.
One unique aspect of this wasteland is that Judges like Dredd are authorized to take on law enforcement duties beyond Mega-City One’s borders due to its status as an isolated city-state surrounded by hostile terrain filled with danger at every turn.
3. Barsoom – John Carter
Barsoom is not your typical post-apocalyptic environment since it takes place on Mars instead of Earth but deserves inclusion nonetheless because it shares many similar themes such as desolation and struggle for survival after global calamities took place there centuries ago.
John Carter finds himself transported from Civil War-era America to Barsoom where he must navigate his way through warring factions while also trying to figure out how to get back home eventually.
4. The Deadlands – Secret Wars
In Marvel’s “Secret Wars” event, the Deadlands is an alternate reality where a virus has turned most of the Marvel Universe’s heroes into zombies. The landscape is filled with undead superheroes and villains that roam around looking for their next meal.
The story follows a group of survivors led by Elsa Bloodstone as they fight to survive in this hostile environment while also trying to find a way out. This wasteland offers plenty of action-packed moments, gore, and terror.
5. The Great Disaster – Kamandi
“The Great Disaster” refers to a series of catastrophic events that rendered Earth almost uninhabitable in Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi.” In this world, humans are no longer at the top of the food chain after animals evolved into intelligent beings (sound familiar?).
Kamandi is the last human alive and must navigate through this new world filled with talking animals who have formed civilizations based on human history. With each issue, readers discover more about what caused the disaster and how Kamandi fits into it all.
6. The Waste – Fallout
Based on the popular video game series, Fallout takes place in an alternate timeline where nuclear war broke out between America and China during 2077 (“the great war”). Players control a character known as “the Vault Dweller,” who emerges from his underground bunker decades later to explore The Waste – which used to be Washington D.C. before being destroyed by bombs.
The player must navigate through radioactive ruins while fighting off mutated creatures and bandits along the way. One interesting feature is that players can interact with various factions vying for power over small pockets of civilization dotted throughout The Waste.
In conclusion, post-apocalyptic wastelands offer endless possibilities for storytelling in comics. Each environment presents its own unique challenges for characters to overcome while exploring new worlds full of danger, excitement and adventure!