Writer: Mark WaidPlot: A fishy murder in a Victorianesque realm leads a brilliant detective and his secretive partner hounding for clues.
One thing that's a bit lacking in comic books right now is a fine sleuth title. With press on CrossGen not too high on my local comic shop's priorities, I didn't find out about Ruse until testing out one of the company's other titles, Sojourn. An ad on the back of one of those issues showed me a pair of people in Victorian vestments in an art style I recognized from reading DC's Birds Of Prey. Recalling that Butch Guice transferred to CrossGen not long ago, and infinitely enraptured by his portrayal of Barbara Gordon, I thought I'd inquire more about this whole Ruse thing. So I got out my magnifying glass and British accent to discover more.
I learned of Mark Waid's involvement, and his name in the comic realm is a self-speaker. Laura DePuy's moniker coloured some talk, and then I heard that Ruse was a detective tale with a twist. I like twists, so I didn't need anymore convincing.
From gentle expressions to lightened eyes, and cityscapes in a cloudy sunrise, admitting this first issue is a viewer's delight would be to belittle it. The artists produce action and inquisition with like ability, destruction and beauty with equal passion. I haven't even gotten to Waid yet.
Waid's wit wades wildly here! The dialogue is tersely sarcastic, adding to the mood of the era in which the tale takes place. Each character wants something more, whether it's recognition, power, or quite thematically, answers.
Ruse challenges logic by quietly injecting the element of the magical into its spine. And my comic shop proprietor wasn't kidding, when he said #1 would be a lengthy read. I found myself using the healthier part of an hour to enjoy everything it had to show. Even if you're wary of adding a new title to your pull, if you're looking for an excellent detective story, this first issue alone will satisfy your discerning eye.
