Pigs #1
Reviewed by Jim and Joel Black
Writers: Nate Cosby and Ben McCool
Artist: Breno Tamura
Color Artist: Christopher Sotomayor
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Jock
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Cover Date: September 2011
The Story...
"Hello, Cruel World" is the opening chapter in a new ongoing series from Image. The reader joins the story in progress. The police have arrested a woman to interrogate about an unnamed incident. They are losing their patience when she stays cool and reserved.
Through a series of flashbacks a second story is revealed. It deals with the death of a man and the reaction of his family. Did he die of natural causes? Or was he murdered?
It all ties together into a world where the KGB plotted revenge for the 1961 Bay of Pigs incident and the Cuban Missle Crisis. The KGB planted a sleeper cell in the United States. Now, 50 years later, the cell is activated. Through a series of kidnappings, assassinations, and terrorist acts the cell will take their revenge on the U.S.
The two stories are connected and lead into a final page revelation that is one of the best cliff hangers of the year.
My Thoughts...
In the early parts of the story, I worried that the writers were trying to craft a story that they were not up to writing. I was wrong. Cosby and McCool have created one of the most intelligent spy thrillers in any media. The story of a modern world still in the Cold War is a fascinating setting.
Beginning the story in the middle is an excellent way to draw the reader in. At first it seemed like the police officers were bullying the older woman they are interrogating. As the story progresses we come to realize why they are treating her this way. In retrospect, one of the constants of this issue is that appearances are deceiving.
Although the characterization is not the strongest, the plot carries the story. The many mysteries captured my interest. Why did the family think the man who died, of natural causes, was murdered? Why are the police interrogating the woman? Why did the KGB wait 50 years to activate the sleeper cell? What is the cell's next move? How will the writers ever top the final page of this issue? While many of today's comic books are written for the trade collections, this cliff hanger shows that writers can still do stories in the traditional format. I think the cliff hanger works better because it forces the reader to wait for the next issue. It is one that you want to talk to other fans about.
If you are looking for art that is smooth, don't pick this up. Tamura's art is rough and unpolished but it fits the story. It is obvious that the artist has already mastered the basics of storytelling. The character placement and movements helps to guide the reader through this fascinating story. It is similar, without copying, to some of the manga artists I have seen. Tamura does not worry about making every panel perfect. His focus is on telling the story. I find this a refreshing change from the style of poster art that is common today.
"Pigs" is worth picking up if you are looking for something different than the traditional super hero book. I know I will be anxiously waiting for future issues.
Take a Look Inside
Reviewer Bio
Jim Black/Reviewer and Interviewer
Jim has been a comic fan since he was a little boy. Comics, science fiction and music became his passions. After writing for some fanzines, Jim finally broke in writing an independent comic. Unfortunately, it did not last. In recent years, Jim has been reviewing comics (http://comicbookrevolution.net/) and science fiction (http://sciencefictiontimes.blogspot.com/). In addition to reviewing, Jim is working on his own writing projects.
blog comments powered by Disqus
