Aspen Comics/Blockade Entertainment 2018
Written by Blake NorthcottIllustrated by Donny Tran
Coloured by Omi Remalante Jr. & Luis Guerrero
Lettered by Jaymes Reed
When a routine security job takes a turn for the worse, Executive Assistant Iris realizes she might be at the crossroads of her career! The world’s deadliest assassin is faced with a choice: remain a freelance Executive Assistant, or join Magni Global—a mysterious corporation that has acquired nearly every private security firm on the planet. But, what fateful decisions may come from joining a giant conglomerate whose interests may spell doom for her?
First of all this is the franchise is celebrating it’s ten year anniversary! So with that being said I urge try this issue because not only is a great companion to what’s already come before but it is so completely new reader. You can walk right into this and be like this kick-ass stuff and honestly it really because Iris is a lot like a mixture of Jason Bourne and Mission Impossible with a lot more style, sophistication and class. This is an action packed thriller with and excellent story behind it.
The way this is structured is extremely well done and the opening is a great example of starting off with a bang. It is this smooth and easy way of getting to see Iris in action and allow the reader to understand a bit about her. I like everything about this from the dialogue and how we see her “client” it just has the aloof professionalism about it that is both detached and intriguing. I got a real kick out of all it how it was presented. Personalities shining through like this is what separates the strong from the weak.
When we hit the next scene in this issue we get the beginnings for understanding some of how things in this world work. It has that essential to the plot feeling about it and it creates not only a somewhat of a dilemma and a reason for Iris to become involved. The whole progression of the story is so well executed. I get why this gentleman feels like he needs protection, thought he does come across like the kind arrogant blowhard so often found in the Texas area or in politicians. Still his ego aside it’s a nice plot point and one that almost makes you do a double take. In one regard it feels natural on the other you question if it is a set-up, it’s an interesting conundrum.
I really the interior artwork here as it feels like the linework is so nicely manipulated and the attention to detail in what we see comes across so well. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a solid eye for storytelling. There are a few wonky moments like seeing the scientist head titled at an odd angle, like his neck’s been snapped but still he’s an illustrator worth keeping an eye on. Plus he isn’t totally shying away from how we see him utilise backgrounds and that is wonderful in my opinion.
When we meet Alexander Magni III, head of Magni Corp who personally gives Iris a tour of the building well it’s then you really start to wonder if he’s a helper, saviour or a monster? Still he has the most impressive of toys and inventions because of everything that has achieved to date but at what cost is the real question. Though there is a moment that solidifies this franchise into the whole unified Aspen Universe. The ending here is superb and while not a cliffhanger ending it is the most exciting and intriguing of one as far as story potential goes.
This is a strong book with a very good solid and interesting female lead and I look forward to seeing where they are going to take this.