Comic Review: Velvet Volume 1

    If you need a one sentence synopsis to sell your book, you could do worse than “Imagine that Miss Moneypenny used to be a superspy, and when Bond gets killed, she gets blamed, and has to clear her name no matter how many bodies she leaves in her wake.”  Velvet is one seriously cool character, and as the first volume of the series progresses, you learn more and more about her time as a spy, and the bad opp that put her behind a desk.  Set deep in the heart of the Cold War, with exotic locations and plenty of action, this is a compelling comic, and one of the best things on the market at this time.

    Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting, who brought the Cold War to life in Captain America’s Winter Soldier arc, are unchained from Marvel’s generations of canon, able to create new characters to explore spy action where consequences are real.  If a character dies, there is no editing staff insisting that he or she be resurrected six months later.  Nobody is safe in this kind of story, and that’s the best.  Brubaker’s writing is intense and crisp, with plenty of sudden, shocking twists, yet doesn’t feel rushed or confused.  Epting’s art is typically stylish, with solid, but not flashy panel work.  There’s a Film Noir style, which is enhanced by Elizabeth Breitweiser’s awesome color work.

    If, like me, you’re just not all that into the caped crusaders and spandex clad heroes, comics like Velvet are an excellent option.  Being a fan of Cold War spy thrillers doesn’t hurt.  Brubaker has quickly become one of my very favorite writers working in the medium, and I can’t wait to find out what he has in store for Velvet in the coming months.  I can’t imagine things will turn out well, but I’m guessing she’ll get plenty of bloody vengeance before it’s over.  It reminds me of why I am digging Image Comics, these days.  While Marvel and DC continue to flounder around with reboots and re-launches, Image is dropping some of the best comics I’ve read one after another.  Sure, they’re putting out stuff I don’t care for, you can’t please everyone, every time.  If you’re willing to read comics, but not interested in super heroes, take a look at Image’s catalog.

Velvet: Before the Living End
Author: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Steve Epting, etc.
Publisher: Image Comics
ISBN: 978-1-60706-9645

-Matthew J. Constantine

A Fistful of Spies! (Matt’s Picks)

    With the release of Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, we at In the Mouth of Dorkness figured it would be a good time to talk about some of our favorite cinematic spies.  Spies have been sneaking around on screen since before sound.  And I’m sure they won’t be going away anytime soon. 

5.  Gary Johnston (Team America: World Police):  Gary has a specific set of skills.  Skills that will help him save the world from whatever evils it might face (no matter how much collateral damage it takes).  He’s an actor.  No.  He’s a great actor.  And he’s willing to do whatever it takes (whatEVER it takes) to get the job done.

Master of disguise!

4.  Lyn Cassady (Men Who Stare at Goats):  He isn’t just a spy.  He isn’t just a super-secret psychic agent for the US government.  He’s a Jedi.  

3.  A man of many faces, Felix Leiter is there when a friend is in need.  At least, he is if that friend is James Bond.  Leiter is always willing to go the distance, break the rules, and do the right thing.  A good man to have in your corner when the chips are down and the Reds are in the shadows.

2.  Sidney Reilly (Reilly: Ace of Spies):  There are few protagonists so ruthless.  Reilly is quite simply a cold hearted bastard.  Yet, watching him do his thing, screw over whoever he can, fight the good fight, and the bad fight while he’s at it, is fascinating journey.  James Bond wishes he could be this tough.

1.  Der Mann (Woman in the Moon):  That sneaky two faced member of the first rocket ship to land on the Moon.  You just can’t trust him.  He’s working for…the Other Side!  Fritz Rasp had this ophidian charm that made him somehow jarringly repulsive on a gut level, and frightfully friendly at the same time.

-Matt