Steve Taylor-Bryant Comic Reviews

Mike Dowling's art has been top drawer all series and again in issue 3 there is a dark realism to it you wouldn't find in many other comic books. The panel with Monty being breastfed as a baby crossed with grown up Monty in another sexual congress moment is chilling to see.

Not to everyone's taste I am sure but Monty Nero has managed to get inside my mind and write a comic just for me. I cant believe it but a fifth 10/10 is ordered.

To rate this issue alone would be a travesty. You have to have committed to the other 5 for this superb ending to make sense so the score is for the run overall. Oi Art Department! Wake up I need an eleven graphic.

I do love a conspiracy comic, the problem is most of them make up a conspiracy but have no back story or substance. Deep State is different. It is very X-Files in its execution and that is pleasing to my corrupted imagination. The cover is stunning and the artwork inside the issue is on a par with the cover, making for a fantastic read. Deep State will not be for everyone, but for a conspiracy nut X-Files fan it really hits the spot.

What a concept. Simon Spurrier has completely shocked me with Disenchanted. Of all things mystical, a basic slum for fairies was not anywhere on my radar and, whilst the storyline of political corruption, greed and violence is a serious one, I found myself endlessly entertained as I turned the pages. The story, characters, terminology and names are as brilliant as they are inventive, and I really wish I'd caught this when it was released online as a web series rather than wait for the paper copy.

The artwork (see above example) is stupendous. It is really clear, full of beautiful colouring and makes a great story jump right off the page at you. Marco Cosentino's panels are a joy and another rarity in my comic reading is that Cosentino's artwork compliments the cover by Stacey Lee that is worth the price of the issue alone.