By Byron Jackson and Ronny H.
Website: Drunkduck.com
First things first. I liked The Devilfish Project #1 or at least what all I read of it. Why "what all"? Well, for one, I had to read it off the (company?) website and two, as it is updated frequently and has no set conclusion, I had to take the ending of this first issue at the last page uploaded so far, i.e. the 24th.
Now with that opening (instead of my usual rant-o’-rific introductory passage) out of the way, let me get on to the main story and to why in the very line I declared my "vote" for it.
Set in the last half of the last decade of the 21st century, the story (at least of this issue) revolves around two main characters, their lives and more importantly, their work. The two, Adam Winthrop and Tonya Mills, are Federal Bounty Hunters (FBH), a "job" brought into existence due to the actions of the U.S. President in his "War Against Crime." Stop me if this doesn’t feel familiar to the current situation in the US of A. Good to know that even almost a century from now, some things don’t change. Anyways, politics aside, the opening of this issue reminded me quite a bit of the writing style of Garth Ennis, and even more so of a certain character of his, and in a good way. Although on the opposite side of the law/fence, William Macy cued me of Kev (by Ennis). A fugitive from the law, Macy is tracked down and apprehended by Adam and Tonya. The only reason he makes it out alive (as against his crony pals) is because of the extra reward money for his "live" delivery. That doesn’t stop Tonya from car-ramming him or Adam from shooting his fingers off.
As for the main characters themselves, we do get an introductory glimpse into their personal lives, be it Tonya’s fiancée Nancy (and her detesting Tonya’s choice of profession) or Adam’s personal demons (that seem to be his constant companions).
It is only towards the ending that the read got a bit confusing, not because of the tie-in it had with both Macy and the FBH duo, but because while Tonya and Adam’s action seemed justified, the "collateral damage" from this one was just a bit too reckless. As I am not sure whether page 24 was the last one of this first issue or whether there is more to come, I will refrain from passing final judgment on this particular development.
Artwise too, there is a certain pace to the visual part of story as is to the written half. Although done in black and white, the shading gives not only depth but also emotions to the panels.
Conclusion: Even with the (slightly) confusing ending bogging it down, The Devilfish Project #1 reads like an unrelenting rollercoaster ride, and quite an enjoyable one at that.
You can find more reviews by Bruce Logan at www.xcave.net
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