Broken Frontier

I’m still trying to recover from the shock and awe of the fourth season finale of Dexter, and every little distraction helps. Robert Kirkman’s Murderer #1 is among the more successful stories keeping me occupied; the tale is skillful enough for me to appreciate the motives of a killer while creative enough to introduce a crafty “what-if” scenario that toys with the imagination.

Admittedly, I’m not familiar with the work of Kirkman outside of his role on Ultimate X-Men, a stint that caused me to quit the book. I’ve heard wonderful things about The Walking Dead, but have yet to pick up the first trade. Which makes the premiere issue of Murderer my latest Kirkman foray after a few years, and I’m pleased to say it was a pleasant experience.

The title’s main character is Jason Sparks, a wayward young man who can hear the thoughts of others. Take note that this is a clear distinction from mind-reading; he’s not listening in on the thoughts of others on purpose. The voices and imaginings simply flood Jason, oftentimes making concentration and focus impossible to achieve. Oh, there’s a quick fix, but it’s messy: murder.

So, Jason wanders the streets, listening in on the thoughts of others, choosing the worst of the worst, and proceeds to wipe them out. During the brutally intimate act of claiming someone’s life, Jason is able to drown out all external psychic white noise, finding temporary peace. It sounds vicious, but Kirkman skillfully shows the character for who he truly is: a cursed average Joe who’s really not a bad guy at all.

The first issue of Murderer is a fun and worthwhile read that’s accessible to anyone. Kirkman handles the psychic sequences with savvy care, allowing them to unfold calmly like diary entries (wholly complimented by the fine lettering of Troy Peteri) until they explode into visual violence. The art of Nelson Blake II is light and fun; it’s not stylized to emit a dark mood, but rather follows a traditional comic structure familiar to standard mainstream comics. This is not a gory or gothic book, but rather a fun and inviting one worth the cover price.