Being a bed-wetting liberal with a deep love of a good espionage / spy story has always presented me with a certain difficulty, as the modern writers that embrace the genre tend to think that Ronald Reagan should be carved into Mt Rushmore. Maybe this is why I so thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Warren Ellis�s new DC title Jack Cross, as his political leanings make mine look positively neoconservative but he still thinks that the idea of an intelligence operator (or spy-turned-private eye, in the case of Desolation Jones) doing what needs to be done is still compelling.Jack�s not James Bond: he lives under the good graces of several government agencies even as he criticizes their methodologies (DHS, in particular, gets a solid kick to the crotch.) There's a particular scene that I found particularly affecting: Jack performs a brutal interrogation and then finds himself literally sick at his actions. The first issue may seem sort of spare when you look at the seemingly-few actions presented, but much like MI-5 / Spooks, there�s extra layers and nuance to every bit of dialogue. Agendas are in play and people are getting hurt to do what�s perceived as "right," and Jack doesn�t necessarily like the system that he�s inserted himselve into.
Ellis�s dialogue, while having a distinct pitch, never falls victim to the Millar syndrome. If anything, it�s akin to Aaron Sorkin�s - everybody speaks in an idealized manner that shows that they�re thinking beings. Gary Erskine, while not my favorite artist, does pretty darn well, excluding one awkward-looking kiss. His storytelling may still be a little stilted, but it�s clear that he knows how to get from A to B. I do hope that a regular gig like this can help him loosen up in regards to facial expressions and body language. Ellis does tend to write towards artist�s strengths, so I�m pretty sure the readers will see some development.
Jack Cross #1 comes out this Wednesday and you should give it a look - it�s not flashy like 24, but I think it could be ultimately more rewarding.
