Writer: Scott Beatty
Artists: Butch Guice(p), Mike Perkins(i), Nick Bell(i)
Publisher: Crossgen
Although Ruse does not offer much mystery this week, the book does bring to sharp focus the characterization of Simon and Emma. The trail of the cursed cover gem fascinates and unveils some shocking surprises for the main cast.
The story begins with Simon's dream. This is not a spoiler. Mr. Beatty and Mr. Guice imbue the book with a dream like setting of breathy dialogue and irregular, evocative panels. The dream does not simply exist to pad out the story. Rather it illuminates a rationale behind Simon's long-term behavior, displays the strength of his intellect and reveals the gist of the plot.
The dream shifts the reader smoothly back to reality where Simon receives a strongly characterized visitor. Simon Archard is clearly an analogue to Sherlock Holmes but who has let me stress grown beyond the characterization required for a simple pastiche. Inspector Thomas Trencher Mr. Beatty portrays as shrewd, dogged and a witness to the larger scheme of things. There is no analogue for this character in any of the Doyle canon, and his inclusion into the story brings added depth to the tapestry.
Trencher fills in some of the details behind Simon and Lightbourne's acquisition of the enigmatic prism: its curse makes that of the Hope Diamond appear to be a simple magical toe-stubbing. Beatty and Guice at this point once again make use of the comic book format's assets. The scene of Simon and Trencher in the foreground is superimposed on filmstrip style panels depicting the gem's current whereabouts. Even in movies, such a scenario's scenes would have melted into another, or the superimposition would not be so concrete. This type of narrative can only be done in comic books.
The final panel then segues again in a way that only could be done in comic books to villain Miranda Frost. Many a Miranda Frost fan will be ecstatic to discover their femme fatale bathing in a hot spring in the mountains--beautiful scenery. The shadows of course cover most of her nudity but also signify the character's darkness. Like the nudity of Modesty Blaise the element does not make the character look out of place or vulnerable. Her formidable, evil nature burns in the expanse of white flesh.
Interesting enough the vulnerability can be found in the usually unflappable Simon Archard. The gem was stolen from his safe. Emma accuses him of shirking his responsibility to keep the accursed stone away from the prying world, and Simon acknowledges that he has pretty much made the very worst mistake of his career.
Simon does his best to make amends by following the bauble's trail of misery, but in these scenes Mr. Beatty takes the opportunity of giving Emma a more central role. Emma more often than not plays Watson to Simon's Holmes. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this role, as it is a time-honored role that has a charm yet to erode. In the very first issue however readers learn that Emma is a very powerful, otherworldly being. The powers that be however forbade the use of her powers save in the most direst of causes; in any case such a use will attract Miranda--power leech--to her like a bloodhound to hare.
Beatty and the art team show Emma this issue peeling away more of her facade. In this issue, she exhibits the skills of observation and deduction her human mask is supposed to possess. Her look in a fashionable but contoured black dress, cape and hat describes her as ready for the chase. Her stance and speech exhibit power equal to if not greater than the showy Miranda Frost.
Ruse in general is an outstanding marriage between story and artwork. This issue creates one of the most powerful exercises for the characterization of the book's impressive cast.
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