Europe Comic s 2017
Written by Thierry Smolderen
Illustrated by Dominque Bertail
At the end of the year 2020, a team of military veterans are out to uncover a secret fortune built from the ashes of 9/11 so vast that it could disrupt the entire global economy. Their primary target is a beautiful young billionaire who crosses time zones with disconcerting ease.
This blew me away! The story is one that I could actually believe is from the history books or some classified files in an office somewhere. The U.S. Government setting up a black ops team who has a hard on for Al Qaeda, their operatives and finding the money that he had backed with. Throw into that mix some religious zealotry and a team consisting of some very undesirables and well it certainly makes not only the skin crawl but keeps the reader fascinated and glued to the page.
I get why they named this series Ghost Money because after all if you want to find someone then it’s easiest to follow the money trail only here it seems to have ghosted. It really is a spectacular premise to start a story with. It is very relevant to today’s world and the mindset of certain individuals and that makes it eerily poignant, topical as well as mesmerising. Thierry goes above and beyond here in his vision of what this book and story is and how he’s structured it. The flow is amazing as we open with a scene out of any war movie. It’s also the introduction of the American team and how they formed.
What they do and are authorised to do with the targets they select should curl your toes. This is the stuff that we all know goes on, that the United Nations has condemned the use of. Then again leave it to the United States to think they are above the rules of the rest of the world. That’s how everyone else sees them and it’s not far off.
Dominique is an amazing illustrator and his linework, attention to detail and the sheer scope of what he’s able to bring to the page astonishes me. So vivid so much life is brought to his work and you can almost feel the cold of one place and the heat of the desert it’s that good. His use of page layouts through their angles and perspective are amazing to see as he highlights everything that is needed to make the maximum impact. Then there’s the backgrounds here which made me have a huge fanboy moment and makes an instant lifetime fan of whatever he works on.
The scene changes to London and the life of a girl who one would say is working class and her meeting with another young woman who lives a privileged life of luxury. The two couldn’t be any more polar opposites and yet the bond over a terrorist attack in London. This leads to a whirlwind friendship and on one girls part hopefully a romance. I love this because not only is Thierry’s characterisation incredibly good but the way we get to know these women despite their best intentions otherwise. Though to be honest Lindsey being as naive as she is is easy to read. Still there’s an excitement in watching her acclimate to this new lifestyle that she’s introduced to.
As the story weaves in and out or around all the characters we begin to see where the story is headed. Chamza is at LSE and she’s living off family money she’s young and seemingly innocent though spoiled and yet through her we get to see how this story takes clearer shape. As the world of the girls starts to take a beeline intersection with the American Team.
The story reads incredibly well and somewhat fast which is a good thing. Though in all honesty reading through it several times to catch the little nuances that are present is very helpful. Thierry has mastered the art of storytelling for me this is what the world is like and will continue to be like. The desire of men to dominate others with their own twisted ideals whether they be those wishing to unify the Middle East of those who’s plans don’t allow for that. There is a complex system presented here one of subterfuge, war and how innocent lives get caught up in things they have no idea about.
This is scary in it’s depiction of our world and what we’ve become and yet also re iads like some of the best action/adventure/thriller/war epics I’ve ever seen. In all reality this is the kind of stuff that a cable or Sky network could make a series out of and win way too many awards. It’s strong, powerful and poignant as it brings the reader into a world they’ll never escape from or be the same after reading.