Review: Redback #001
From Redback Comics
Redback #001 is a new thriller with the second issue now running on Kickstarter. This initial issue is available in print and digital formats from Redback Comics.
Dean Mercer was a war hero. A symbol. Until the day he vanished behind enemy lines and into the hands of Oglevoy- a black-ops nightmare buried beneath leagues of snow.
They turned him into a weapon. Then they used his blood to make another.
Now, decades later, his legacy is a ghost story- His name nothing but words in a history book... But some ghosts don’t stay dead: a girl in black and red, moving like a shadow, erasing names no one dares challenge. She’s precise. Relentless. Unstoppable.
And someone wants her found.
When a disgraced journalist is sent a classified file long thought destroyed, the truth begins to unravel- exposing a legacy soaked in lies, silenced opponents, and blood.
REDBACK is a Cold War revenge thriller inspired by The Winter Soldier, Soldier Boy, and Black Widow- but sharper, stranger, and forged from real lived rage. It’s about the ones left behind, the voices erased, and the war that never really ended.
‘Ghosts have graves. Voices have names. Chasing either means risking everything-
But hell if it wasn’t her job to chase them anyway.’
It’s been a while since I had a thriller like this. Harking back to the classic Cold War style, this initial issue of Redback has some excellent build-up to what looks to be an interesting chase. Combining super soldiers with some old school cloak and dagger and an investigative reporter.
Kicking off with an intriguing tease, there are shades of the Winter Soldier here, but this is something more. The hints at the other subjects are exciting, as our super soldier is the only one to have survived this process—control seems to be a key point here, and it appears to have been successful.
Jumping in time, we meet our plucky reporter who is on the verge of losing her job when something lands on her desk — something dark that she can delve deeper into. That delving leads her towards one of the scientists involved in this project and perhaps the results further down the line. There is a nice touch at the point where you think the timelines don’t match up, but that is well handled.
There is some deep distrust in this story. As a reader, you are suspicious, and it seems that Elsie — our journalist — is also careful about what she knows and what she reveals. The point about her home and phone being wired was well done, especially with the panels interjecting over the narrative.
As a start to this story, there is just enough information to keep us drip-fed and looking to discover more. There are some excellent hints and threats bordering the story, and mysterious figures are only hinted at. This issue builds the world excellently and keeps you hooked, even through some dialogue-heavy pages.
The artwork is splendid, combining flashbacks and even brighter scenes with the shadows and spycraft of a thriller in this style. I love the colouring, and it is dark in all the right places while conveying the scenes’ feelings.
If you are a fan of The Winter Soldier or Velvet, then I recommend this series to you and with catch-up options available on the Kickstarter, this is a good place.
