Extinction Event is a 5 issue mini-series from Wildstorm Studios that came out in 2003-2004. Written by Robert Weinberg (Marvel's Cable and IDW's HP Lovecraft: The Dunwich Horror), I mainly bought the first few issues because the premise of the book caught my attention AND it was drawn by Brett Booth, whose style I really like.
The story involves the discovery of a cave that leads to a hole in the Earth, which goes down 2 miles. At the bottom of the hole, Government officials, scientists and the female ranch owner (whose land the cave is on) discover super-intelligent raptors with opposable thumbs in suspended animation machinery that's 65 million years old! In some ways, the raptors are way better than humans since they created machinery that still runs after 65 million years and humans create machinery now that barely lasts 10 years!!
It's hinted in the 2nd issue that the Earth was visited by aliens, who experimented on the raptors and gave them the intelligence and opposable thumbs. I guess it's a tip of the hat to ancient alien theorists who believe that primitive humans were experimented on by extraterrestrials and , essentially, created modern man.
The raptors lived pretty much like we live today, which makes one wonder how no archaeologist ever discovered 65 million year old building remnants or intelligent raptor fossils. The raptors also used telescopes to study outer space and discovered that a meteor was on a collision course with Earth and would wipe out all surface life. I guess they weren't intelligent enough to come up with a way to deflect the meteor or blow it up in space. Instead, they invented and built cryogenic chambers 2 miles into the Earth that would last millions of years and release the raptors when the Earth was again livable.
There are other things happening in the story, as well. A female Journalist is sneaked into the cave to get the story of the century, a scientist who double-crosses everybody only to get double-crossed and killed and a fighter pilot from the Navy who, in the middle of running and fighting for his life, makes plans with the female ranch owner to have sex with her, should they survive. Oooo-kay.
You would think that even intelligent raptors would stand no chance against anyone's military but we find out that the raptors also possess a telepathic ability that levels the playing field a bit and makes the raptors more formidable. For some reason, though, there are humans that are immune and, thus, also gives the humans a fighting chance.
The ending was left open for a possible sequel, which never materialized. Sales were better than some mini's, not as good as others. Upon reading the entire story again after picking up the final issue, my impression is that it's very pedestrian. Middle of the pack, like it's sales. The premise that caught my attention wasn't executed like I thought it was going to be. If you can find it in a 50 cent bin then get it for Booth's Art and the occasional chuckle here and there but don't expect a great story. A solid C.
Replies