Black Mask Studios 2015
Written by Michael Moreci
Illustrated by Ron Salas
Coloured by Tamra Bonvillain
Welcome to Espionage, everyone. This however has a slightly different take to it and one that may surprise you and fits right in with what’s happening today. With shows like 12 Monkeys and the like currently on air time travel to fix or ensure the past happens in a certain way has captured our attention and imagination so what set’s this one apart from the rest is in Michael’s writing and the mission of these agents and what they go through. This is a fast paced thriller full of surprises.
I’m liking the interior artwork here as well, the characters seem very much like you’d find in any spy story with good looks and nice clothes with the attention to detail in their faces giving off wonderful emotion. Also Tamra’s colouring with light sources from things such as the fire show off her skills nicely as well keeping things interesting and on point. I’ve said it’s always harder to draw everyday ordinary people but Ron makes it seem easy enough.
I will admit i’m more than a little curious now as to whom Colton and company work for. Is this some secret government organization or is it some privately funded venture remains to be seen but now after seeing what I have it feels like a combination of both. Regardless it raises questions and gets the reader properly involved in the story. As does another thing that happens here and that’s personal to Colton but it also adds a twist that personally I can’t wait to see explored more as it looks like it may add some irrational thinking and risque behavior that probably won’t be sanctioned by the company.
The big reveal here however is the game changer in my opinion. Suddenly Colton and his team have someone else they are going to have to deal with and he’s a known quantity to them, though not to us. This goes to explaining Colton’s own side story and how it could have happened which kind of ups the personal ante. I hope he likes playing poker or blind man’s bluff because suddenly I have a feeling he’s in store for more than he’s ready to handle.
An agency that keeps the timestream flowing the right way without anyone changing what’s supposed to be sure we can handle that. Being hired by the rich and powerful to see what happens to certain people like we saw in this issue, well at least the conversation about such a mission, and whether they like or not what they can or cannot do about it is decidedly something to see unfold.
Black Mask has been putting out some very solid, interesting and exciting new books and it’s a nice time to see that work rise to the top.