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Roger Ash
by Roger Ash
I discovered the James Bond films by watching them as a teenager on the ABC Sunday night movies (anyone but me remember those?). My mom was convinced I liked them so much because I used to watch Roger Moore in The Saint as a child (I have to take her word for that as I have no memory of it). That was my introduction to secret agent/spy stories and while it’s not a genre I actively seek out, it’s one I enjoy. There have been some terrific espionage comics over the years; Jim Steranko’s Nick Fury, agent of shield being one of the best, Black Widow (the current series is excellent), DC’s Human Target and unknown Soldier, and Whiteout by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, to name a few. now a new book enters the mix, Image’s velvet by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.
Velvet: before the Living End
The Brubaker/Epting team may be best known to comic fans for their work together on the death of Captain America and Captain America: The winter Soldier. If you enjoyed their work together on Cap, are a fan of espionage thrillers, or both, you need to read velvet and before the Living End, which collects issues #1-5, is the perfect place to start.
The story takes place in 1973 and stars velvet Templeton, a former field operative who now is the secretary to the director of the British intelligence Agency, Arc-7. When an undercover agent is murdered and another agent appears to be his killer, velvet goes outside normal channels to investigate the situation. This lands her in a world of trouble as she becomes the suspected killer and she must go undercover to solve the mystery while avoiding the team from Arc-7 that is hunting for her. I don’t want to say much about the story beyond the set up as it is filled with lots of twists, turns, excitement, double crosses, globetrotting, and more. This is real edge-of-your-seat storytelling and I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. However, the story isn’t. While you do learn a lot in the book, the main mystery is still waiting to be revealed. This is a book for mature readers due to swearing, violence, and occasional nudity.
Velvet #2
I really like the character of Velvet. It’s terrific seeing someone older (she’s in her 40s) be the star of a comic. She’s smart and capable and a match for anyone she comes up against. It’s fun to see her character develop in the book as you see her in action as well as discover more about her past.
Steve Epting’s art in velvet is stunning. He draws terrific action sequences. The shootouts and fist fights have impact and he draws a automobile chase early on that is tense and exciting. That’s tough to do using still pictures, but he masterfully guides the reader through the chase using close ups, long shots, and varying angles to leave you breathless by the end. When velvet has to use stealth, you can see her skill in action. When there are quieter moments, facial expressions and body language come to the fore.
Velvet #4
I really had a blast reading Velvet: before the Living End. It was nice to see a writer and artist working so in sync with each other. The story is exciting, the characters are interesting, and velvet is a lead character I care about and want to know more about. That’s what I look for in a good story, whether it be a TV show, novel, movie, or comic book. I’m really looking forward to the continuing adventures of velvet and seeing where Brubaker and Epting take her. If you’re a fan of espionage thrillers, do yourself a favor and give this book a read.
Now, go read a comic!
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Velvet: before the Living End
