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Scarlett Couture
Beautiful. Intelligent. Deadly. Scarlett Couture is all of these things, and more. She’s a spy. Using her cover as Head of Security for her mother’s internationally renowned fashion house, she gathers intelligence for the CIA. In this explosive first issue, Scarlett follows her instincts right into the middle of the action and finds she needs to use all her wits to get herself out of hot water!The high-octane critical and sales hit, finally collected in one explosive volume. Collects Scarlett Couture #1-4.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2015
45 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Des Taylor
14 books1 followerDes Taylor, is an English author, pop artist and comic book illustrator from London, England. He is a rising star in the world of Pop Culture creating cover art for DC Bombshells , Dr Who, Archie comics, Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition, as well as his creator-owned comic books Scarlett Couture, The Vesha Valentine Story, The Trouble With Katie Rogers and his upcoming book- Eva Strongbird and The Marine.
His Fine Art is exhibited in Las Vegas, Paris, Munich and appears regularly at conventions around the world.
His appointment in 2016 as Co-Host to SKY's (UK), Official DC Fan show, ensures he continues to be at the forefront of cool to an ever growing audience.
His Fine Art is exhibited in Las Vegas, Paris, Munich and appears regularly at conventions around the world.
His appointment in 2016 as Co-Host to SKY's (UK), Official DC Fan show, ensures he continues to be at the forefront of cool to an ever growing audience.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 19, 2024
"Prepare for my seven inches of pleasure." -- mook# 1, brandishing a military combat knife
"Not without dinner and a movie first, creep!" -- our title character, dispatching said mook with a double-tap to the head via her Glock pistola
It's unfortunate that Taylor is a better artist than author. His Scarlett Couture features one of the more stale or generic espionage plots that I've lately encountered in a graphic novel, but yet his artwork is unique and probably the best thing about this book. Scarlett Carver is somewhat derivative of Marvel Comics' Black Widow with helpings from a trifecta of the forgotten TV shows The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., V.I.P., and She Spies. An outrageously attractive flame-haired secret agent (and offspring of a veteran spy and a high-ranking NYPD officer), she travels the globe under the requisite deep cover in her day job as a supermodel, while then working off hours in a role as a deadly U.S. government operative. Again, the narrative isn't anything special, but the illustration style could be right at home in a PIXAR animated feature . . . yet this occasionally works against the flow when presenting some graphic scenes of stabbings, shootings, torture, and beatings. So is this meant to be for adults, but yet is drawn in a cartoonish style to appeal to kids? Not a great idea. 🫤
"Not without dinner and a movie first, creep!" -- our title character, dispatching said mook with a double-tap to the head via her Glock pistola
It's unfortunate that Taylor is a better artist than author. His Scarlett Couture features one of the more stale or generic espionage plots that I've lately encountered in a graphic novel, but yet his artwork is unique and probably the best thing about this book. Scarlett Carver is somewhat derivative of Marvel Comics' Black Widow with helpings from a trifecta of the forgotten TV shows The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., V.I.P., and She Spies. An outrageously attractive flame-haired secret agent (and offspring of a veteran spy and a high-ranking NYPD officer), she travels the globe under the requisite deep cover in her day job as a supermodel, while then working off hours in a role as a deadly U.S. government operative. Again, the narrative isn't anything special, but the illustration style could be right at home in a PIXAR animated feature . . . yet this occasionally works against the flow when presenting some graphic scenes of stabbings, shootings, torture, and beatings. So is this meant to be for adults, but yet is drawn in a cartoonish style to appeal to kids? Not a great idea. 🫤
October 13, 2023
Outrageous action/espionage cheese that put me in mind of 90s schlock like Model by Day.
I like the distinctive art style, though. I'd likely give another Scarlett adventure a try.
I like the distinctive art style, though. I'd likely give another Scarlett adventure a try.
December 31, 2023
This one was harder to rate because the first half was just okay, but the second half had me on the edge of my seat. I think part of it is getting used to the art, which is beautiful, but not quite like what you find in most comics. Des Taylor is an amazing, unique talent and I look forward to reading more.
November 20, 2023
"Scarlet Couture" is a fast paced action-thriller-espionage tale with stunning artwork that both celebrates and parodies secret agent stories. Essentially, this book is a "007" tale in which James Bond has been completely replaced by the "Bond Girls". This may not work for every reader, but the book itself is very well thought out and has a lot to offer readers who are attuned to the finer details. Somewhat surprisingly, this book is actually a pretty good espionage story as well. Furthermore, the characters are well developed and as believable as possible in this sort of story. There are also plenty of gadgets and technical details, as one would expect, and the plot is right out of a Bond film with action scenes that twist and turn enough to give the reader whiplash.
April 2, 2018
I borrowed this from my local library, and I was really hoping I'd like it since Alias is one of my favourite television shows, and I love Charlie's Angels. The premise is interesting and I think the idea of recruiting models as CIA operatives is a great idea, it just felt like there wasn't much there. I love the idea of ladies beating up bad guys, but the art was so focused on scantily clad women that it clearly wasn't aimed at me.
July 19, 2016
Forgetable.
Pretty decent art but not to my taste, almost no character development, slightly ridiculous plot and concept (supermodels as superspies!). Still, it was a fun read, the closest to a "popcorn" movie a comic book can be. Turn your brain off and enjoy.
Pretty decent art but not to my taste, almost no character development, slightly ridiculous plot and concept (supermodels as superspies!). Still, it was a fun read, the closest to a "popcorn" movie a comic book can be. Turn your brain off and enjoy.
October 3, 2023
Good art, so-so story
Good enough spy thriller, I guess. The big standout is the art. Clean lines and lighting, almost looks like stills from an animation. Relatively mild gaze towards the heroine. No romance. The plot is okay, nothing in particular shone through.
Good enough spy thriller, I guess. The big standout is the art. Clean lines and lighting, almost looks like stills from an animation. Relatively mild gaze towards the heroine. No romance. The plot is okay, nothing in particular shone through.
June 19, 2023
No, thanks
Liked the art, and was completely turned off by the writing and content only a few pages in. Maybe it would be better with a editor?
Liked the art, and was completely turned off by the writing and content only a few pages in. Maybe it would be better with a editor?
September 15, 2024
An interesting concept and very enjoyable. As a background as Robert Vaughan in the TV series 'I Spy' used a cover of international tennis and James Bond's cover is aa an import export executive - Scarlett Couture's cover is as security for an international model/fashion house.
Have to say, as you may gather, I really enjoyed this book (as I did the follow-up storyline) and thought that this would make a great movie or TV series. Where I think the book falls down, and hence the four instead of five star rating, is in the artwork (and artwork is always a high consideration of a graphic novel) - to my mind, and I accept that this is always only an opinion, the artwork is far too simplistic and almost crude, it reminds me of children's cartoons of the 1960s or 1970s. The artist is uncredited (is it the author?) and the book would be far better with a better artist.
That apart, great book and highly enjoyable escapist read.
Have to say, as you may gather, I really enjoyed this book (as I did the follow-up storyline) and thought that this would make a great movie or TV series. Where I think the book falls down, and hence the four instead of five star rating, is in the artwork (and artwork is always a high consideration of a graphic novel) - to my mind, and I accept that this is always only an opinion, the artwork is far too simplistic and almost crude, it reminds me of children's cartoons of the 1960s or 1970s. The artist is uncredited (is it the author?) and the book would be far better with a better artist.
That apart, great book and highly enjoyable escapist read.
January 11, 2024
Super models hired as CIA agents? Sounds like a fun action comic and in part it is. The first half of the book drags on to the point of causing boredom. A sexy spy comic should never be boring. However, the second half of the book ramps up the action and suspense making wading through the first half of the book worth it.
The art is done in a cel shaded style. Very unique and enjoyable for the comic book format. Overall, it is done very well, except for the over use and unnecessary use of making certain characters and objects in the panels out of focus. I get that the artist is trying to do the camera effect to create depth by blurring parts of the scenes, but it is really annoying, and affected my enjoyment of the art.
With some story and art editing this could have been a five star book.
The art is done in a cel shaded style. Very unique and enjoyable for the comic book format. Overall, it is done very well, except for the over use and unnecessary use of making certain characters and objects in the panels out of focus. I get that the artist is trying to do the camera effect to create depth by blurring parts of the scenes, but it is really annoying, and affected my enjoyment of the art.
With some story and art editing this could have been a five star book.
September 5, 2023
I was intrigued by a variant Dan Panosian did for the sequel series & ordered that from my lcs, not realizing it was a sequel, so I tracked down the initial mini on hoopla to read. Good stuff. Art feels like stills from an animated feature, which took some getting used to but worked for the story. High fashion and espionage is a good mix and it works well here. Enjoyable story, and now I am up to speed to read the current mini which is the sequel, as I was a bit lost reading the first issue when it came a couple of weeks ago.
September 17, 2023
Good graphic and in my opinion what the Black Widow movie, should have been like. Digital art style might bother some people, but it never bothered my enjoyment of the story. I'm currently collecting the sequel comic The Munich Files. If your a fan of old school Bond films, then you should enjoy this graphic novel
October 13, 2023
Kind of a modern day Charlie's Angels. It's about a group of mainly female spies working undercover at a modeling agency. The story isn't the best. I really liked the digital art though. Reminded me of Danger Girls if played completely straight, without the over the top cheesecake factor.
January 24, 2025
I know I should avoid complaining. Complaining is,bad. So I will show,the gratitude for another fearless strong hero type lady spearheading comic world.
But ouch I have,to complain when the art is so simple bland and bad and woman is totally sexualized in appearance... no matter,that she rescues men and dispatch the bad guys...
But ouch I have,to complain when the art is so simple bland and bad and woman is totally sexualized in appearance... no matter,that she rescues men and dispatch the bad guys...
November 12, 2025
This was clearly aimed at kids or casual readers. The storytelling wasn’t too intelligent. The artwork was very good, especially the covers. But the story was a letdown for me. I have watched spy series like Alias and Mission Impossible, but this book didn’t do it for me. Dialogues were too shallow and overall it didn’t feel mature enough. Beats me why Mark Millar liked this.
May 24, 2019
Des's artwork is soooo hot. And a female lead like Scarlett who's got everything to lose and still does it anyway is fantastic.
September 11, 2021
Hot Stuff!
If you like graphic comics this one is a delight to read. I'm sure it will keep you reading from start to finish.
If you like graphic comics this one is a delight to read. I'm sure it will keep you reading from start to finish.
November 23, 2023
Surprisingly dull story for something so filled with spy hijinks. The art's not bad, but Taylor's not really a writer...
May 28, 2016
Scarlett Couture is the daughter of an NYPD agent and model booker/sceret CIA agent so naturally , aftrer she was kidnapped as a teen and rescued by a crack squad of army officers she deicded the best form of revenge would be tracking down and punishingthose responsible.
As the Security Chief of Couture Fashion , she recruits, trains and tracks down when missing, supermodel undercover agents and in this debut offering, she comes up against international arms dealers, government agents, missing models whilst juggling her own family and training dynamics.
Fast paced and reminiscent of Modesty Blaise, I enjoyed it and defintiely want to read more! The ink work is lush,the almost dreamy use of colours reflecting the airbsuhed models you woudl see in high end fashion magazines. The story was easy to follow, cliffhanger ending ensures you woudl look out for the next in the series and I particularly enjoyed the 'files' on each character at the end of the novel.
As the Security Chief of Couture Fashion , she recruits, trains and tracks down when missing, supermodel undercover agents and in this debut offering, she comes up against international arms dealers, government agents, missing models whilst juggling her own family and training dynamics.
Fast paced and reminiscent of Modesty Blaise, I enjoyed it and defintiely want to read more! The ink work is lush,the almost dreamy use of colours reflecting the airbsuhed models you woudl see in high end fashion magazines. The story was easy to follow, cliffhanger ending ensures you woudl look out for the next in the series and I particularly enjoyed the 'files' on each character at the end of the novel.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews