This Comic Is Good - Fear Agent #1

In the world of comics, if you want to have success with a new series, you have to learn to master the high concept. Rick Remender has done so quite well with his other Image comics, Sea of Red and Strange Girl, and he continues this nifty feat with perhaps his most enjoyable series yet, Fear Agent, which details the misadventures of an "alien exterminator."

Of course, it is not as simple as it sounds (which is why the read more was there...hehe), for the aliens our hero, Heath Huston is sent to exterminate are basically cavemen-esque creatures. This is the life of Heath, the last of the "Fear Agents," of whom we will learn more about as the series progresses (as Remender plans on flashing back and forth in Heath's life). There are rules about who you can kill, and only creatures with a certain level of intelligence can be legally killed. These cro-magnon esque creatures are interefering with a terraforming project, and the terraformers hire Heath to exterminate their pests.

The whole issue is Heath trying to do just that (and he discovers that things are not quite what they seem with these aliens, for instance, why exactly did they all happen to grab wrenches?). The entire issue is mainly Heath talking to himself, but his inner monologue is interesting. Remember manages to toss in a lot of nice sci-fi touches. If you are a fan of Joss Whedon's attempts in Firefly to do a "down to earth" Sci-Fi show, then you would take a real shine to Heath Huston.

Just look at the guy!



Doesn't that scream down-to-Earth?

On that note, of course, we have to highlight the work Tony Moore has done on this comic. Tremendous, tremendous job.

From his design work (as you see above) to his action drawings, Moore knocks this issue out of the part, art-wise, and the result, between his art and Remender's strong story, is that you have a very enjoyable comic book.

Not only that, but the story in the comic, while continuing in some respects (Heath does something that may have repurcussions in the future), essentially begins and ends in ONE issue.

What a novel concept. A "done in one" story that introduces a character and a setup all in one fell swoop.

Rick Remender has stated that this book was underordered by retailers, so if you think this book is right for you, run (don't walk) to your local comic shop to snag a copy!

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