List Price: $17.99Now Price: $10.68Authors: Sean Phillips, Ed BrubakerPublication date: 2005-04-01
4.5 stars
2005-11-21
Some of my favorite characters from the first two books were not featured as much in this third one, but otherwise this continues at the high level of rest of the series. Wish the story did not end in Book 4.
One of the best graphic novels out there
2005-10-17
People go on and on about how great this series is, and the good news is, it completely lives up to the hype. I came to "Sleeper" after reading a few other titles Ed Brubaker had written, notably DC's deliciously revamped "Catwoman" (which is also a lot of fun)... I was skeptical, but I'm glad I took the plunge with "Sleeper," as it is one of the best comicbook stories I've read in a long while.
The action takes place in the WildCATS/Authority/Stormwatch universe, once a comicbook backwater that has recently been revitalized into a gritty and witty superhero noir... "Sleeper" tells the story of a superpowered secret agent, Holden Carver, who is placed undercover by a Machiavellian Nick Fury type to infiltrate a sinister spy network populated with superpowered, super-amoral bad guys. Brubaker uses the character's specific superpowers to flesh out their inner lives -- Carver's power is the ability to absorb any amount of bodily damage and transmute it into pure pain, which he can zap other people with. Meanwhile, he feels no pain himself and is practically unkillable, a situation that leaves him feeling dead inside and increasingly alienated from the true-believer idealism that lead him into military service to begin with. Brubaker borrows from the well-trod genre of spy fiction, but adds an extra layer with the whole superpower thing that is well thought-out and rewarding. Without getting into spoilers, etc., I'll just say that this was one of those rare comic series that I regretted getting to the end of... the world it depicted was so absorbing and textured that I was bummed I knew the story would end with Volume 4... (The entire "Sleeper" story is contained in four slim volumes, plus the prequel, "Point Blank," which sets the stage for "Sleeper" and should definitely be read as well...)
It should be mentioned that this is not a book for little kids: there are many of the same sort of "adult" elements as DC's Vertigo imprint -- semi-graphic sexuality and some extreme violence -- although to his credit, Brubaker includes these elements for a reason, and does it with far less of the "gee-whiz" gratuitousness that has made the Vertigo books become so tedious and repetitive. The sex elements cut to the heart of Carver's character, while the violence is used to show the seriousness of his predicament; they actually deepen the story and move it along and are not included merely to titillate readers or gross us out. That being said, I highly recommend this series.
Excellent as Always
2005-03-27
This comic is one of the best reviewed that's being published today, and for good reason. This is an excellent comic. The characters are all very interesting, with some of the coolest super powers I have ever seen. Their interactions with one another are interesting and believable. The story is constantly twisting and turning so you're never quite sure who's good and who's bad. Just because this comic has super heroes in it does not mean it's for children. It is very mature and has complex storylines. All in all, If you like crime, secret organizations, superheroes, and mystery, then this comic is for you. If you even like one of those things then this comic is for you. If you like comics then this comic is for you. Am I making my point?
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