[su_quote]“I’ve got my finger on the trigger and tonight faith just ain’t enough when I look inside my heart there’s just devils and dust.”[/su_quote]
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Devils and Dust’
Indoctrination opens with these immortal words and asks the question, “How do you kill an idea?”
And let me tell you, when it comes to this book, you can’t. I was hooked from the very first page by the art from Matt Battaglia, which was moody, scratchy but textured. This man certainly knows how to use shadows to create an almost ethereal atmosphere as we see the gorgeous sunset skies of the United States draw out before us.
And in this most stunning of settings we have placed before us a murder, a ritual killing with similarities to other atrocities committed across the country.
Can it be the work of just one man?
If not then how are the crimes so similar?
Michael Moreci’s writing is nothing short of superb, it grips you right away, it feels grown up, sophisticated and nuanced. This is beautifully demonstrated just a few pages into the story, as we are presented with a harrowing speech from a man behind bars with links to the terrorist.
The creators have worked together to create something truly powerful as they explore the ideas of terrorism and indoctrination.
What will a man do with the right push?
What madness can he inflict on himself and the rest of the world?
I don’t know the answer but my god I want to find out.
A few classic, crime fighting cliches might creep in around the edges of our two investigating FBI agents but I’m being overly critical here. The pacing of the story is excellent, there’s never a dull moment and events unfold without the need for clunky exposition.
It’s been a long time since I was so instantly grabbed by a book. Yet for all its grounded elements and gritty realism, this story almost has a touch of Neil Gaiman about it. The book is punctuated by breathtaking panels with an almost otherworldly feel about them, showing us the darkness that lies beneath.
I don’t mean to sound sycophantic here, but this is a book of note and indeed worthy of praise. In fact, it makes me feel quite guilty for not having heard of Z2 Comics before today. The final pages will leave you wanting more, forcing you to question - what’s happening here, who’s behind it, and more insidiously, could this ever happen to me?
Even if political books are not your cup of tea, I urge you to check this one out, you’ll be glad you did. I know I am.
[su_box title="Score: 4/5" style="glass" box_color="#8955ab" radius="6"]
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