Dark Horse Comics 2015
Written by Paul Tobin
Illustrated by Alberto J. Alburquerque
Coloured by Marissa Louise
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
TRINE HAMPSTEAD knows everything. No mystery is too small or too weird for London’s premier sidewalk detective—and she truly knows it all, from your most personal secrets to the details of the deepest, most incredible conspiracies. The only thing Trine doesn’t know is how she knows everything.
I’m a firm believer in the fact that this should be up for consideration for best limited series. It truly has one of the most exciting, unique and colourful characters to be introduced in comics in a very long time. She’s enigmatic, fun and has opened the door for all kinds of potential storylines that can never fully be explored though her own can be one that can be explored over time.
The way that Paul has been telling this story has been amazingly simple yet complex full of what if’s, how’s and what the hecks. This issue in particular has Trine chatting with the elderly Russian woman and then using the phone to save everyone she knows from death well it just goes to show just how creative Paul is but just how well he can take a situation twist it around and then make this plausible scenario happen. Yes it’s mysterious and infinitely interesting and just plain cool but it’s so very much classical comic book stuff.
Alberto and Marissa bring that classic comic book feel to the interior artwork as well. While we see how the folks in London going down with the dialogue and characterization we get this whole new level of sheer awesomeness. It’s very much what the industry is missing a lot of lately a classic feel good with moments of anticipation and tense meetings that are expertly portrayed visually and through words. I mean really the pages, panel layouts as well as facial expressions and just the flow of the story keep you extra interested.
I love the contradiction between Trine and what she’s doing versus those who are following her and using her. There’s a great sense of not only an arch-nemesis type thing happening, granted Linford is an instrument of that organization and he may or may not be the one to stick around but he’s fulfilling his role in getting us not only into Trine’s mind and personality but helping endear her to us. So the roles we see them all playing here and that not only us as readers but Trine can still be surprised is another reason why I think Paul is just one of today’s most prolific and underrated writers around today.
It’s very much this whole action/adventure mystery story that utilizes a whole range of I don’t what to say gimmicks but different tactics to engage the reader's imagination. You really do find yourself invested in the story, characters and this world before you’ve realized it and suddenly you don’t want this to end.