THE VANISHING OF LAKE PEIGNEUR

A true account of an astounding disaster, chronicled as a graphic narrative that reads like an environmental thriller.

On November 20, 1980, a routine oil-drilling operation in Louisiana’s Lake Peigneur accidentally went catastrophically wrong, creating a breach that allowed lake water to rush into underground mine chambers, draining the entire lake in mere hours. Wolf narrates this incredible story through the voice of the lake itself, weaving together multiple perspectives—from miners trapped 1,300 feet underground to fishermen stranded on the suddenly exposed lakebed. Detailed diagrams, maps, and cross-sectional illustrations help readers unfamiliar with oil rig operations and underground mining truly understand the complex events unfolding. As the stakes escalate—first a stuck drill bit, then a tilting oil rig, then water rushing into the mines—the mounting tension becomes genuinely gripping. Pimienta’s artwork brilliantly supports the storytelling through strategic panel design that mirrors the characters’ emotional states. Underground scenes confine figures within increasingly numerous small panels, visually conveying the miners’ desperation, while more expansive panels capture the scale of the swirling sinkhole above. His palette enhances the drama—inviting greens of the nearby Rip Van Winkle Gardens, oppressive darkness in the salt mine tunnels, and natural earth tones as the landscape literally dissolves. Wolf’s meticulous research is apparent in the technical details and authentic dialogue, while his honest acknowledgment of gaps in his investigation only adds credibility. Characters vary in skin tone.

A riveting page-turner that will have readers eager to learn more about the topic.