Ales Kot has burst onto the comic scene like few other creators have in recent years. He’s made name for himself by writing smart, dense stories with heavy political and social meanings, and seems to be thoroughly committed to make creator-owned books his specialty. His latest book, Zero is the tale of Edward Zero, a spy and one-man death squad who is given the missions that others often cannot handle. Told over many years, Zero will feature a rotating cast of artists, each telling a chapter of Zero’s life and the grisly things he does. Issue one sees Michael Walsh take Zero on a journey through 20 years of time and regret.
Zero #1
The issue starts in 2038, with Zero at gunpoint, but wanting to share a story. The story Zero tells take place twenty years earlier, as he enters a war zone to steal some technology that isn’t supposed to exist. What follows involves super soldiers, a rooftop chase, explosions, and unnecessary civilian death. In the end, Zero, as always, finishes the mission, but possibly loses a piece of something more important.
Zero #1
Kot begins a story that spans decades and makes it seem effortless. Seeing the very different Zero in the first page makes it apparent that his time with the agency changed him in more ways than one. Edward Zero is cold, calculated, and driven, but he shows that he’s human. Woven amidst the top-notch spy story are many political and social aspects, which surely will come into play more as the story progresses. Though seemingly more straightforward than Kot’s other works like Wild Children, Zero is sure to have some surprises in store.
Zero #1
Walsh makes the first issue look slick. His art, coupled with colors from the ever talented Jordie Bellaire, not only captures the action and destruction of a war zone well, but brings it vividly to life. The brutal fight between the Israeli and Palestinian soldiers is made even more forceful by the simple, but effective style that Walsh has. The obligatory “cool guy walking away from the explosion” scene is made even better by the Walsh’s use of shadow in the panel and Bellaire’s fantastic colors.
Zero is definitely not a zero. It’s a first issue that deftly tells a complete story while building a small part of a larger mythos. With Kot, to my knowledge, previously only having dabbled with shorter stories, it should be interesting to see how he builds the world and story of Edward Zero and what strange stories he has to tell. Based on this issue alone, it’s safe to say that I’ll be along for the ride.
