The Secret Service #1

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Co-plotter: Mattew Vaughn
Colorist: Angus McKie

This comic kicks off with Mark Hamill, the Mark Hamill, the actor who played Luke Skywalker. Not only that, but it also has a fun little scene discussing the prequels. Regardless Mark has been kidnapped. However it doesn’t take long for the British Secret Service to show up. Yep, Mark Hamill and James Bond, instant formula for fun.

At this point the action goes into high gear. The secret service agent wastes no time in piling up bodies. In five pages no less than 18 badguys bite the dust. But amidst all the carnage another element becomes clear: dark humor. In fact Hamill’s rescue is reminiscent of La Femme Nikita and Jean Reno’s role as the cleaner wiping out an absurd number of people with a pistol. The real joke comes after the shooting stops. I like dark humor, so at this point I was hooked.

Now might be a good time to point out that this comic is geared toward a mature audience. This isn’t a kiddie comic. There’s violence, language, and other adult content.

That aside, Star Wars isn’t the only franchise that gets a nod in this issue. Not to be outdone, Star Trek gets a mention plus a dialog spot on how well the reboot film was. Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica also get name drops.

When the action stops, the story delves into some drama and character setup. There’s some interesting development with some intriguing characters. A super spy uncle sees an opportunity to help out his delinquent nephew. Alas things come to an end before they get much further than that. Overall though, it’s a nice start and a fun read. I give it four out of five metal bikinis.

Reviewed By: Skuldren for Roqoo Depot.