“All you get are pieces – -a puzzle… And not a single fucking clue how it fits together.”
The mysterious protagonist of “The White Suits” mutters these words early on, and they perfectly describe what writer Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts) offers you in this debut issue: a thrilling conundrum steeped in the tenants of the genre’s that inspired it. The White Suits are a lethal force threatening to take out the criminal underworld and the protagonist is lost in the middle of it all. Toby Cypress brings a distinct visual flair that feels like a fever dream brought to life with wildly imaginative panels that continually break the mold, which may first seem unkempt but actually manage to be as tight as the story.This book is pure pulp crime fiction of the best kind.
WRITTEN BY: Frank J Barbiere
ART BY: Toby Cypress
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: February 19th, 2014
There is mystery to spare in this book. There are no certain terms being offered to you on these pages. Within this mystery is a captivating look into an ultra-pulpy criminal underworld. The violence is over the top, the protagonist’s voice is weathered and familiar, and the there is visual flair to spare.
“The White Suits” are an enigmatic force that are cutting through their opponents with relative ease. They are chaotic. They don’t seek anything, save for bloodlust, at least not yet. Lost within the shuffle is a strange nameless protagonist. He is weathered and adrift. He can’t make sense of his own memories. All he can remember for sure is his past was once of violence.
Barbiere manages to captivate at every opportunity. His script capitalizes on the use of questions rather than answers. The whole issue feels seemly disconnected and disjointed before all the plot points dovetail beautifully and take the story in a new direction.
Cypress’ art is reason alone to pick this book up. The man has the uncommon talent of being able to balance a raw and visceral style with a perfect sense when it comes to his layouts. At first glance what may seem messy is actually meticulous. The hand drawn sound effects, and thing uneven lines are balances beautifully by thick brush strokes. The result is a alluring give and take that creates a distinct visual style emanating and elevating the noir pulp that inspired it.
When the action hits. Cypress’ incredible character work really shows off. Long limbs and frantic faces dominate you. His attention to The White Suits makes them stand out among all of this. They stand amidst the chaos more imperious than those they vanquish, but they never are overbearing, instead they are just the right mix of threatening and mysterious.
I’ve managed to read this issue three times now, and with each successive read I gain something new from the story. It is ripe with detail, steeped in tribute and manages to elevate the genres that inspired it. “The White Suits” will blow you away on every level.
Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls