BRIAN K. VAUGHAN - THE PRIVATE EYE

BRIAN K. VAUGHAN - THE PRIVATE EYE

Written by Brian K. Vaughan, drawn by Marcos Martin and colored by Muntsa Vicente

Brian K. Vaughan has proven to be one of the most respected comic book writers of the last decades, while not the most prolific (working in the more lucrative TV series arena has taken time away from his comics work), every time he does a project it becomes an event. 

A tale set in the future, where the internet cloud bubble burst and everyone's secrets spilled out for everyone to see. In this future privacy is the way of life. Almost everyone wears a disguise (sometimes, several). Activities are conducted in total anonymity and the population's home life is sacred.

When a private detective is approached by a woman to investigate her sister's murder, he discover a plot that will threaten society as it is now.

While not one of Vaughan's best works, The Private Eye is a clever, and original premise, that delivers plenty of thrills, patented BKV twists and an exciting ending.

Kudos to artist Marcos Martin for really going to bat with his imaginative costume designs that truly bring the reader into this world. Imaginative layouts, simple but appealing renderings make this story a truly fun read.

Serialized in digital form at http://panelsyndicate.com (Where you can acquire the entirety of the story for whatever you'd like to pay!), it was also collected in hardcover form from Image Comics, which you can purchase through this link:

CRYPTOCRACY #1

                                                               CRYPTOCRACY #1 

Written by Van Jensen and drawn by Pete Woods. Published by Dark Horse Comics

Since before recorded history, nine families have controlled and orchestrated society, people and regimes from the shadows. Deeper than the illuminati, they have professed the world's best interest from their viewpoints. But a flaw in one of the family's plans might have triggered a coup from one or several powerful entities who were unknown to even them.

Fascinating premise to this series from Van Jensen, who in one issue packs a lot of information, world building and character development without losing its' readers in unnecessary exposition.

Great art from Pete Woods that skates the line between realistic and cartoony making the various goings-on a lot easier to accept. Woods even makes the quieter scenes dynamic never losing the reader's attention along the way. The coloring (also by Woods?) is flashy but works to enhance the line art.

Another great series from Dark Horse Comics who is proving to be one the most ballsy "mainstream" comics publishers these days.

Available through your local Comic book shop or digitally from Dark Horse Digital: https://digital.darkhorse.com/profile/6831.cryptocracy-1/

WEIRD DETECTIVE #1

WEIRD DETECTIVE #1

Written by Fred Van Lente , drawn by Guiu Vilanova, Published by Dark Horse Comics.

Detective Sebastian Greene is a weird guy. He seems to talk like movie and TV detectives. He's stiff and hard to get a read on but he's a hell of a detective in New York City's Minor crimes unit. Problem is that he wasn't always this good. That fact is not lost on his superiors who want to know why he got this good.

Give credit to writer Fred Van Lente who reveals the truth almost right off the bat but it in no way makes it less interesting. Shades of the 1980s movie The Hidden and to some degree, another great series from the very same publisher, Resident Alien. It is reminiscent of various genre tropes but it is executed extremely well and with a wicked sense of humor.

Very good art from Guiu Vilanova, that tells the story quite well and conveys the small moments as well as the more outrageous ones. 

First in a five issue miniseries that is well worth picking up. Available through your local Comic book shop or digitaly on Comixology: https://www.comixology.com/Weird-Detective-1/digital-comic/378637

DAREDEVIL Vol.1 #1-11

DAREDEVIL Vol.1 #1-11

The very first comic book I ever remember reading was a Daredevil comic. I was probably six or seven and the character struck a cord right away. No real superpower to talk of really, except for a "radar sense" that helped the blind hero in his fight against criminals. The striking red devil costume, the swashbuckling attitude, his cane used as a weapon. I was sold. 

It is a fascinating experience to re-read those old comics every ten years or so. Obviously, the scripting by comic book legend Stan Lee, is extremely dated and in places, shows a chauvinistic attitude that is borderline uncomfortable but the excitement of the new Marvel age of comics was evident on every page. 

The first 11 issues of Daredevil (starting in April 1964) are wonderful to look at on an artistic level as they featured the works of comics legends Bill Everett (Daredevil co-creator along with Lee and Jack Kirby), and EC Comics veterans Joe Orlando and Wally Wood. On a purely visual level, those comics are simply marvelous (pardon the pun). 

While Daredevil's original villains were not memorable (at least for the right reasons) these comics did feature the first appearance of The Purple Man, who mass audiences went on to discover in the Jessica Jones Netflix Series.

Follow either of these Amazon links to discover these classic comics: