Rating: 4.5/5 – What is the Clean Room? A New Vertigo Classic!
by ComicSpectrum EiC Bob Bretall
DC’s Vertigo imprint has been one of my favorite comics providers over the years, but sometimes it is putting out more series I enjoy than others. Recently Vertigo has been launching new series that have been scoring hits with me much more than misses, and of the new crop out so far, Clean Room is a favorite. It could very well be my favorite thing from writer Gail Simone, and that’s saying a lot.
People who have had near-death experiences are seeing things that are not there. Or are they? A young woman is investigating the suicide of her fiance who got involved in the “An Honest World” movement. Is there a sinister purpose behind the movement started by Astrid Mueller described as occupying the “weird twilight industry between self-help and religion”? Many questions. No answers. But that was strangely OK with me because of the deft storytelling by Gail Simone. Coupling her story with crisp, clean art and colors of Jon Davis-Hunt made this issue a treat to read. And re-read. And it is extremely rare that I feel like going back and re-reading a comic. This could easily jump onto the top of my “must read” pile.
Simone weaves a compelling tale in this debut issue loaded with setup and questions that have no answers. In the hands of a lesser storyteller this would leave me feeling frustrated at the lack of information. In the hands of Simone it leave me intrigued and wanting to read more! This has the feel of being a new Vertigo classic. Fans of Vertigo series like Y: The Last Man or Preacher should check this one out and get in on the ground floor. This is not a direct comparison with either of those series, other than the fact that I had the same feeling of reading something special in this first issue that I had when I read the debuts of those other Vertigo classics.
Reviewed by: Bob Bretall
(bob@comicspectrum.com)
https://comicspectrum.com/ Covering the full spectrum of comics culture
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