The Couriers, Volume 1

The Couriers #1

by Brian Wood, Rob G (Artist)

Starring characters from Brian Wood's COUSCOUS EXPRESS, the sleeper hit graphic novel of 2002, THE COURIERS is a fast-paced action-adventure comic set in New York City, featuring Moustafa and Special: mercenary couriers. They do the work the normal couriers are only barely aware of: intelligence, large cash transfers, protection, assassinations, blockade-running... you name it. But there is one job they always knew they would refuse, known as a "biologic." But when the package turns out to be a young deaf/mute girl from Nepal, with a gone-rogue Chinese Red Army Brigade hot on her heels, how can they NOT get involved? THE COURIERS is a pure action movie on paper.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Thriller, Graphic Novels Comics

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2003

About the author

Brian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.

From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.

His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.

He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.

Reviews

[Jes Reaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good three stars. It's the graphic novel version of everything you want in a good action movie. Quick, fast-paced, more plot than character (though the characters don't feel weak or too flat), villains and blood and guns and kidnapping and people eating noodles in an airport and nice cars and punk rock and and and! It even opens more like a movie than most.

It appears this is part of a series/trilogy, but I think it holds up as a standalone really well. I had no idea there were more until I checked. Made a good palate cleanser read in between heavier stuff. And 88 pages goes by quick. Took me about 20 minutes. I tend to love everything Brian Wood does so none of this is really a surprise. The artwork is a little different than what I'm used to, only because it's black and white, but it was really enjoyable.

[Poiboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

9 word review:
Truly is an action movie on paper.. well done.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Brian Wood, so I may be biased, but this read like my favorite action movie I've never seen. Rob G (who's also impressed me in the past), works with Wood's text and dialog beautifully to craft a book that, while playing with every urban, cool, violent, sexy cliche the crime/action genre has to offer manages to keep its own voice. Good times.

[Michel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moustafa en Special zijn koeriers in een New York van de nabije toekomst. Enfin, koeriers, ze zijn iets tussen huurmoordenaar en pakjesleveraar.

Heel erg van zijn tijd, dit. Waarmee ik eigenlijk wil zeggen: bijna al verouderd.

[Lionel · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast pace reading, a lot of action, highly entertaining but not earth - shattering neither

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action is so exaggerated it's funny. The Couriers escape some hairy situations that would in real-life kill them 10 times over. And they do it with the nonchalance of buying a loaf of bread, even though the shootouts are spectacularly bloody. Too bad the comic is black and white.

As the name of the comic suggests, the main characters Moustafa and Special are couriers. But they carry out the most dangerous jobs in this line of work which often requires them to be fast, smart and with a steady aim. Their most recent job has them transport a young girl who is the target of a dangerous organization that doesn't shy away from shooting at the couriers in the street, in broad daylight. Those poor mercenaries don't know who they're dealing with, poor souls.

The girl is wanted by a former Chinese general with ties to the Triad. With nowhere to send her to and more Triad and army men on the way to get her, the Couriers consider just giving up the job and letting the girl go. The general orders to retrieve the girl at any cost results in a war on the streets, but the Couriers are more than ready to protect their home turf. After a bloody victory it's revealed what triggered these events. The girl saw some sheet music - an original, never before played Mozart - that the general wanted to keep for himself. The Couriers wipe the floor with his army and have the girl play the music for the whole city. After taking this prised possession from him, they finally decapitate the general.

[Krishnakumar Mohanasundaram · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a decent work. Seems not so believable at one point, but doesn't bore you.

The premise is a couple of couriers, who end up transporting a package that is a mute/deaf girl with eidetic memory and who is being pursued by militia to not let out what she has seen.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise seemed really cool, however the plot and the characterization was kind of weak. You do get a good look at how Wood's style of writing was beginning to develop early on and it really shines in the action scenes. I highly recommend listening to Bloody Beetroots or some other intense electronica music when reading.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, folks, fasten your seat belts and hold on tight, because this is one craaazy ride. It's basically a John Woo film storyboard involving mercenary couriers, the Chinese triad, a kidnapping, and lots & lots of bullets. Throw some dark humour in the mix and what you've got is something that's unique and thrilling.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moustafa and Special are bike couriers in New York who also happen to be armed and dangerous. No cargo or delivery is too hot for thme to handle. In the first installment they have to keep a young girl safe from a retired Chinese general.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fun fun.

[Sam McCanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

comics,crime,drama

[Vim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun novel by Brian Wood. It's so nice to discover really good comic book writers and illustrators. I'm so excited to read the rest of Brian wood's works =]

[Matt Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the art stylistically, but the story is lacking.