King of Spies #1
If you’re looking to pick up a new comic this week, it has to be King of Spies #1. One of the best first issues in comics in a long while — and there have been a lot of great new series this year, especially from Image.
Image Comics
Written by: Mark Millar
Art by: Matteo Scalera
Colors by: Giovanna Niro
Letters by: Clem Robins
Mark Millar and Matteo Scalera start this four-issue miniseries at a breakneck pace, then slow things down a bit as readers get to know Roland King a bit better. However, King of Spies #1 is still uptempo after the first 10 or so action-packed pages. If this series-opening oversized issue is an accurate indicator for what’s to come, this has the chance to rank among Millar’s best stories.
On top of action, King of Spies #1 is filled with flair, regret and the hope of reconciliation. While Scalera was able to shine throughout the action sequences — with the latter fights being much grittier than the first ones readers see — he is just as efficient with each panel as Millar is. Every moment gives a better look at this character we’re just getting to know. And that’s crucial. Readers are only going to get to spend so much time with Roland King.
Given Millar’s working relationship with Netflix, this story has the potential to be a big hit for the streaming service down the line. And the role of Roland King is one that could draw the attention of some of the better talent in the industry.
Looking for more comic book content? Go check out the latest episode of Geeks WorldWide Radio‘s TLDR podcast, where Joseph Gilmore and Nick Friar discuss comics weekly and talk to creators from the industry — available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify!