Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by David Mack
Published by DC Comics
The creator owned tale of comic book artists going undercover has been great!
Bendis and Mack are at the top of their game and they are just doing an amazing job. I am excited by the book and its experimental style.
The first few pages continue the experimental style well. We start off with two kids who are apprenticing for a sword maker. This scene takes place in the past and it is beautifully drawn by Mack. It’s amazing artwork that is amongst some of the best on his career.
From there we cut to outer space in present day. We see an astronaut floating. There is some spy work being done. Then we see a big light and then we cut to another scene.
It’s quick and you’re not on solid ground, yet you trust the creators so much that you just go with it. It eventually pays off very well.
We then cut to the main plot of the book. We see an interrogation happening. Max Field, our protagonist, is getting the third degree.
Bendis kills it on the dialogue portion with this scene and it is fast and funny and just great. It flows like you wouldn’t believe.
Eventually, we see Max going to a comic book convention. He is being sent to the Angoulême International Comics Festival. He’s about to earn their highest award too! But then, the suspicion starts. Did he actually earn this award? Or is he being set up for something else? Bendis writes so well in these scenes that you are kept on your toes throughout.
Everything starts to fall apart for Max in this issue. The creators keep the tension up throughout. You can’t look away.
It’s quite an achievement the two have created here in this comic. This is one of my favorite books of the year.
RATING: A
