“Dystopia” has recently become a common buzzword. Perhaps this is because real-world technology is finally catching up to fictional dystopian comic books and novels. Perhaps it’s because of the literary and film success of series such as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent. Perhaps we truly live in a modern dystopia on the verge of collapse, besieged on all sides by terrorism, counterterrorism, information overload, surveillance, and a collapsing ecosystem.

It’s common to read responses like “If an XYZ gets elected, welcome to the United States of Dystopia!” during a heated and vitriolic American presidential election. Or dystopian fictional works are a warning and not some time-killing read?

In a dark dystopian future, how would you survive? Are you a fighter or someone who would run at the first sign of trouble? Are you fast on your feet and mentally sharp? Or would you crumble under the strain of commanding a band of like-minded rebels?

One such dystopian comic book rising to the occasion and making a massive hit in dystopian literature is “The Lost Gardens“ by Rabbit Hole Studio. This mind-gripping story will take the readers deep into the world of dystopian background and depict the horrors and atrocities of the high-tech dystopian world. Get ready to set course with the protagonist Shawn Meyers as he learns and explores the terrible realities of this dark world and must put all his contingency plans into action to survive!

The Characteristics of Dystopian Literature Settings

Many science fiction comic books about dystopian futures share the following characteristics:

Economic challenges: include widespread poverty that citizens must bear or huge wealth disparities that create a ruling class of elites while relegating everyone else to a life of scarcity and hardship.

Environmental devastation: Environmental devastation wreaks havoc on the characters’ lives and destinies. This devastation could take the shape of significant weather events such as earthquakes or floods; climate change and its disastrous consequences; or the consequences of pollution, overpopulation, or disregard for the planet and its finite resources.

Government influence: In most cases, there is either no government overseeing law, order, and civilization or an oppressive government that runs a police state and controls and watches all citizens’ lives.

Loss of freedom or individual identity: A dystopian society frequently deprives its citizens of fundamental liberties or individualism. It reduces them to sheep who must mindlessly obey an oppressive and unjust regime.

Propaganda: In dystopian comic books or novel settings, the existing power structure creates propaganda to keep the citizenry in order. In order to control the people, such propaganda may present a deceptive “everything is fine” picture of life, or it may incite fear and terror, providing an excuse to participate in further domination and subjugation.

Survival: In a dystopian background, the characters fight to survive the oppressive circumstances they find themselves in. To protect themselves and those around them, they must take extreme measures, which usually entail rebelling against the powers.

Technology: Technological advancements play an important role in controlling or tracking the inhabitants of a dystopia. Rather than solving issues, technology creates them by destroying relationships, reinforcing hierarchies and power structures, and lowering the quality of life.

Subsets of Dystopian Literature

Dystopian comic book literature is a type of speculative fiction that occurs in settings that may or may not be based on facts at the time of writing. This hypothetical aspect distinguishes speculative fiction from a straight science fiction comic books or fantasy. Certain plot elements in speculative fiction connect it to actual realities. The stories focus less on science, technology, supernatural elements, and other defining characteristics of fantasy and science fiction comic book literature. Instead, they focus on how people react to these topics.

There are subgenres of dystopian literature. Some works blend eutopia (an idealized, perfect world) and dystopia (a dystopian world). Ectopian fiction is set in a dystopia or eutopia and focuses on environmental problems like preserving or destroying the story’s natural environment. The settings of feminist dystopias are used to criticize male-dominated social and governmental structures and the relationship between gender identity and authority.

Here is a three-step guide to surviving your modern dystopia:

Commit How to Endure a Modern Dystopia

The first step is to decide how seriously you consider your dystopian fears. Are you just seeking to vent on social media, or do you have genuine concerns about the future of your world? There’s nothing wrong with simply needing to let off some energy. Diss your foes behind their backs. Fire off angry tweets at your most loathed politician. Don’t expect to achieve anything other than providing a much-needed temporary outlet for your rage. However, if your concerns exceed the capacity of a metaphorical punching bag, continue to step two.

Take Action

Even as we get closer to a world where The Matrix is no longer a work of fiction, our actions still have repercussions. Our thoughts, words, and actions can sway our minds and influence our choices. Most of us will never have the power to change nations, but if we can influence even one individual, we have made a significant difference.

Amid adversity, the human soul thrives on creativity, innovation, effort, and reason. If most dystopian comic book fiction has one defining feature, it is one hero or group of heroes breaking free from the oppressed masses to battle for a cause. Suppose you do not think when called to obey, act to be humble, and strive when called to resign. In that case, you risk falling victim to a modern dystopia of apathy. People rage quietly in private and cower in public until they become accustomed to their grey, ignorant, blissful world and no longer speak or think.

If you fear electoral subordination, join a political group or form your own. Engage in a polite but critical debate. Understand both your friends and your enemies. Learn what drives them and how you can assist them in sharing your truth. If your workplace is beginning to resemble Lord of the Flies, talk to your coworkers. Do your share and request that they do theirs. Recognize your equal rights and learn how to keep a just balance.

Feed the Revolution

Most rebellions do not succeed the first time. There’s a good possibility you won’t see the immediate results you hoped for. But stability is not the same as loss. The struggle persists whether you are fighting a feared or actual state of affairs. If nothing else, you’ll have learned a few lessons along the road that will allow you to act more decisively. You’ll have formed new alliances and connections to help your ongoing revolution. Remember that the biggest danger is not losing the initial struggle but ignoring the fight’s stakes.

If you have been searching to read the best dystopian comic book, Rabbit Hole Studio presents the best comic book series, “The Lost Gardens“, which will keep you on the edge of your seat and in utter intrigue about what will happen next!