Reviewer: John Babos
Story Title: For the Wicked
Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Sean Phillips
Colored by: Tony Avina
Lettered by: Rob Leigh
Asst. Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Scott Dunbier
Accessibility: Suggested for Mature Readers
Publisher: Eye of the Storm > Wildstorm > DC
Setting the Table – Spotlight Reviews:
This is my first foray into the Wildstorm Universe since I read Stormwatch: Team Achilles #6 a while back. This review is part of 411’s weekly Spotlight Review series that was announced at the beginning of our New Fall Lineup. As our Dark Overlord has said…
Previously, the Spotlight section was used to showcase new interviews, but now each week you’ll find a featured review therein. Every Monday, a different 411 Reviewer will review a title they don’t normally read to give you the most unbiased review possible. They’ll come into the book not knowing what to expect, but you can expect to get a no-holds-bared view of the featured title.
My review of Sleeper #9 is my contribution to this innovative approach, that drained my wallet of bit more cash than I thought I’d spend last week. Was it worth it? Read on.
The Appetizer – Wildstorm’s Solicitation for the Issue:
Keep your friends close…and your enemies closer! Holden is sent by Tao to locate John Lynch’s secret records that, if revealed, could betray his true agenda as a sleeper agent. Accompanying him is a fellow operative — who also happens to be his sworn enemy!
The Main Course – Reviewing Sleeper #9:
This book has elements of tv’s Alias tv show that stars “it”-actress Jennifer Garner as a lead covert operative that was a dual agent in its first Season.
Not having read a previous issue of Sleeper, I can say that issue #9 is a good jump-on point for new readers who want to pick up an espionage-suspense genre book in the backdrop of Wildstorm’s super-powered or “post-human” world.
This issue revolves around Agent Holden Carver and a multiple-covert-agency hunt to find a dossier that will reveal the identity of the sleeper agent or mole (for whatever agency he works for – either the CIA, Department PSI or I.O.). Its not clear from this issue, unless I missed it, 1) what agency Agent Carver really works for, and 2) what agency he’s a mole in. I wasn’t interested enough to reread the book to find out if I missed those points.
The idea of a dual agent forced to search for a file that would reveal him as a spy, teamed with his enemy in that search, is not a new concept. The question is then whether scribe Ed Brubaker can do something different with this belabored concept.
So, does he?
Well… sorta.
The most original spin on this is that its set in a world where super-heroes exist. While intriguing, readers only get sporadic tastes of that super-hero world throughout the issue. A little more could have been done with that – perhaps with a little less first person narrative and more plot.
I’m not sure why this book is “hot” or why it needs to be “Suggested for Mature Readers”. The “mature” language, i.e. swearing, in the book seems forced.
However, the art of Sean Phillips beautifully captures the dark world of Sleeper and visually helps move the story along. The art is the best thing about this book.
Overall though, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about around this series.
