Writer: Ram V
Artist: Laurence Campbell
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Cover Artists: Laurence Campbell, Lee Loughridge, and Tom Muller
Thanks to Image for the review copy!
The second chapter in this multi book crossover event (with The Six Fingers). Detective Nassar continues to hit roadblocks as he searches for leads on his new case. He’s been served with a subpoena regarding the first case while yet another murder has taken place under his nose. During an obsessive search for his regular working girl he stumbles upon a clue but is turned away after security recognizes who he is and refuses to let him investigate any further.
Damn! This creative team is firing on all cylinders! Another strong issue that builds on the current story adding further intrigue and mystery as well continuing to add layers of depth to the main characters. Continually highlighting their personal challenges both related and unrelated to the central plot of the book. Ram V continues to craft exciting and edgy dialogue. Every word as if it’s a piece of the larger puzzle. Carefully lettered and sandwiched between some of the best color and art I’ve seen thus far this year. Each panel hits. The character expressions. The twists and turns. The clues and puzzles you see take shape before your eyes. I love the foggy, dark atmosphere. You can almost feel the warmth of the neon lights as they cut through the smoke and smog of the cityscape. You can feel the bleakness of the city pulling the life out of its characters giving the words “Can’t get out” real meaning. A feeling Detective Nassar is clearly having as he tries to muster the energy to see this case through until its end. Words both he and a man burned alive share in common within this issue. One dead, one alive, but both trapped in this claustrophobic hellhole. There is a lot to unravel here and it’s just been a joy to see it all unfold so far.
In summary, while I hate to compare one creative team’s work to another, I can’t help but think about how much this book reminds me of a Brubaker and Phillips joint. They’ve set the bar for noir and pulp thrillers for years now and been masters of the genre for so long. With that being said. This creative team has created a masterful multi sensory experience unlike anything I’ve read yet this year and when it all comes together I believe this will be very very hard to top. It’s just that good! If they can continue the momentum they have thus far this could go down as yet another classic of this genre and easily a top book of the year. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
My Rating – 10/10 Superb!!
The One Hand #2 is now available.
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