Review: VELVET #8

STK650391VELVET #8
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting, Elizabeth Breitweiser
Published by Image Comics
Release Date: November 5, 2014

Velvet continues the offensive in the newest issue by the masterful team of Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser.

Ed Brubaker writes strong women well and Velvet may be the best example of that so far in his career. To say that she is a capable spy is an understatement and how Brubaker showcases her skills in this issue is fantastic. Velvet is playing her former employer like a fiddle and this arc is full of big action and great character work. The interactions between Velvet and the Director are excellent and highlight how much the two respect each other, even under the current circumstances. The drama builds really well in this issue and the intensity of the series has increased dramatically since Velvet has been on the offensive. Spymaster Brubaker is weaving a mystery for readers that just keeps getting deeper and, with how well he is writing these characters, I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. Velvet is the best spy comic you are ever going to read, and Brubaker is delivering some of the best work of his career right here.

…and Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser are matching him punch for punch. Epting’s pencils and Breitweiser’s colours set the tone for this story and, my word, is the tone ever perfect. Epting delivers a stylized look at the time period, integrating current technology of the time very well and making it all look natural. His pencils are crisp and sharp, showcasing Velvet as a powerful character who is not to be trifled with. You can see Epting respects the character in his depiction of her and if I had my way he would never pencil another character again. Elizabeth Breitweiser takes Epting’s artwork to the next level, bringing Mad Men-level style to this comic and making it so easy on the eyes. Her colour work is masterful and hits all the right beats in this visually impressive issue.

Velvet #8 is a flat out fantastic comic. This series is only getting stronger and when you have talented creators like Brubaker, Epting and Breitweiser firing on all cylinders, magic happens. If you enjoy the spy genre, this is a must read. If you enjoy good stories, this is a must read. If you enjoy anything, do yourself a favour and read the most kickass woman in comics.

The Verdict: 10/10

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