Broken Frontier

Bobby and Marcus finally come together in an uneasy alliance. They must peel away layers of deception though to find the truth that will save them both.

Writer Steven Grant has something of a reputation for writing noir tinged, crime fueled stories where none of the characters are clear-cut "good guys." 2 Guns is no exception. Just because it follows a well-trod path, though, does not mean that it does not have something to offer.

Bobby Trench is in deep. His boss at the D.E.A. and the only one willing to even think he was clean is dead, some very violent men in black suits are out to kill him, the money from the bank heist is gone, and the Underworld Don who tried to frame him does not know the kinds of things needed to be behind it all. There is only one thing to do… find the man who partnered him on the bank job. Lucky for Bobby that man in question, Marcus Steadman, finds him first. Marcus has his own set of killers on his tail and now they all want Marcus and Bobby dead. Two undercover agents from two very different agencies must start digging out from under all the deception if they are going to live. The problem is they live by deception and die by deception. Can these two learn to trust one another before they end up six feet under?

As I said above, Steven Grant is good at creating characters whose hats are more gray than white. No one in this title is totally clean; no one is working solely for the side of the angels. Despite that, Grant does a good job at dragging reader sympathies onto the side of Marcus and Bobby. These two guys look to have been manipulated into a position to be the patsies for everyone else’s sins and for that there must be payback. Grant also does a very good job at crafting a thriller with a little bit of political edge, a fair amount of violence, and enough action for two Hollywood blockbusters… directed by Michael Bay.

Grant’s companion in crime for this title is artist Mat Santolouco. Santolouco’s angular, cartoony style seems an odd fit for this hard-hitting title but the reader quickly warms up to it. Likewise incongruous is Popart Studio’s bright color palette which suits Santolouco’s style to a T but seems out of place for this gritty actioner. Despite the disconnect, somehow the art and color do combine well for this tale.

When you get right down to it… can there really be too many noir-tinged, crime fueled, gritty, action thrillers on the market? Not really, particularly when they are done as well as 2 Guns is.