Released: 1st March 2023
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Mike Deodato
Colourist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Steve Wands
Randall Crane, an unassuming American professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at NYU, is called in by the US government for a secret international mission back to Russia, where his long-buried secrets come to light. When his support team of commandos is ambushed and killed, it’s up to Randall to fight his way out of Russia using his “particular set of skills.”
Thoughts…..
This first issue does exactly what an issue 1 should do, introduces the characters and setting and hooks you in for the series to come, and boy am I hooked. The main character of Randall Crane is definitely a mystery man, at first glance he is a mild mannered university professor, but even in the early pages you get hints there is more to him than meets the eye, when he notices he is being watched in the classroom he reaches for a weapon, well a pen but you can tell from the way he is holding it that its not for writing with. He seems excitable and distracted throughout the story and is very quickly swayed to joining the team on their mission once he hears what's involved, but when it counts he seems to pull it all together very quickly. I am looking forward to learning more about this character. The synopsis tells you a lot about how the issue goes so I wont be spoiling anything by saying that he will need all the help he can get once he is stranded alone behind enemy lines, but with his “particular set of skill” yet to be revealed fully, the cliffhanger ending of the issue sets the next issue up nicely and gives a hint that he is a lot more capable than it seems.
Artwise, this is as good as it gets, with Mike Deodato on the case how could it not be spot on. I was lost at first to the likeness of our main character as the cameos are an extra bit of enjoyment we get from Deodato's work and in the back matter he mentions an actor by the name of Vincent Cassel, and my god the likeness is exact. We also get I believe a bit of Gillian Anderson and I think Reachers Alan Ritchson. Cameos aside the art is great, and with the colourist adding some real depth to the issue, especially when it all hits the fan, the pages become so bright you will need sunglasses.
The issue is written well, from the dialogue to the setting itself. The story progresses at a great pace and builds well throughout. Cullen Bunn is known more for his horror and stories of that genre rather than spy stories, something he even mentions in the back of the issue. Though I don’t think we will be getting the standard style of spy story going forward as his final line of his summing up his mind while writing this is a question to himself…..How weird can you make it?. This one line should get everyone excited for what is to come as this could go in some very out there directions and I am sure will keep us guessing right up to the end of the series.
Great first issue, with the main story and the back matter all hooking us in for what I am sure will be a wild ride, I would give this 8 out of 10 and I have high hopes for the rest of the run.
Covers for Issue 1
Cover A by Rahzzah Cover B Mike Deodato
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