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Incognito #1-2
Incógnito Integral
Imagina que eres uno de ellos. Imagina que te has acogido al programa de protección de testigos. Imagina que eres incapaz de olvidar los días en los que no tenías que seguir las leyes que acatan todos los demás. ¿Podrías llevar una vida aburrida después de años y años de diversión y destrucción? Ed Brubaker y Sean Phillips vuelven al tajo con una obra imprescindible.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2012
11 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,794 books3,018 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 2, 2015
So, this is The Classified Edition of Incognito that includes both volumes.
Huh.
I have to admit, I was a tad annoyed at the ending when I found out that this was it. Hello? What the hell was that?!
So, this thing doesn't exactly have a tidy ending.
I don't consider that a spoiler. More of a WARNING for others, like myself, who have certain expectations when it comes to reading books.
And if you're like me, then this 'ending' will bother you a great deal!
I know a lot of you lovely folks out there like these open-ended kinds of stories, but if I'm going to invest my time in something, then I sure as shit want to know how it all turns out.
Is that too much to ask?
I think not.
Other than that MAJOR complaint, this was a pretty decent story.
You've got a Villain turned NotQuiteAsBadAsHeOriginallyWas kind of thing going on. He's got to try to navigate all the lies he's been told to get to some sort of truth about his origins, and maybe save his life.
Ish.
Because it's not even totally about that, either.
Incognito is one of those Let'sLookAtTheGreyAreasOfLife stories. And also one of those There'sNoRealMeaningToAnything sort of stories.
In other words, it's a tale that's meant to be read over and over again, with the reader finding new and interesting interpretations each time.
Shockingly, I'm not that kind of reader.
However, if you are, then I think you might enjoy this one quite a bit.
Huh.
I have to admit, I was a tad annoyed at the ending when I found out that this was it. Hello? What the hell was that?!
So, this thing doesn't exactly have a tidy ending.
I don't consider that a spoiler. More of a WARNING for others, like myself, who have certain expectations when it comes to reading books.
And if you're like me, then this 'ending' will bother you a great deal!
I know a lot of you lovely folks out there like these open-ended kinds of stories, but if I'm going to invest my time in something, then I sure as shit want to know how it all turns out.
Is that too much to ask?
I think not.
Other than that MAJOR complaint, this was a pretty decent story.
You've got a Villain turned NotQuiteAsBadAsHeOriginallyWas kind of thing going on. He's got to try to navigate all the lies he's been told to get to some sort of truth about his origins, and maybe save his life.
Ish.
Because it's not even totally about that, either.
Incognito is one of those Let'sLookAtTheGreyAreasOfLife stories. And also one of those There'sNoRealMeaningToAnything sort of stories.
In other words, it's a tale that's meant to be read over and over again, with the reader finding new and interesting interpretations each time.
Shockingly, I'm not that kind of reader.
However, if you are, then I think you might enjoy this one quite a bit.
May 6, 2020
Brubaker and Phillips' movie optioned series about a super villain sort of falling into becoming a hero. Quite an interesting world of masked but not costumed heroes and villains and an interesting, partially revealed back story and history. I read the comic book versions (in 2011).
September 25, 2014
Erm....supervillain in witness protection as a file clerk? Yes please! Brubaker's crime stories merge with that whole superhero mythology stuff to create a fascinatingly complex and conflicted noir protagonist and place him in a world of people who are out to use him, abuse him and discard him or just straight up kill him for one of many perfectly valid reasons - he was a self serving murderer afterall. The twisted tale he weaves is brilliantly complex and loaded with the kind of nihilistic inevitability you find in all of the very best classic noirs, even his supporting characters are created with an emotional and psychological complexity that might rival the protagonist. And yes his name is Zack Overkill, a name as perfect to the genre as Hiro Protagonist is to Cyberpunk. Alongside Brubaker's words is the art of Sean Phillips once more, which adds an extra layer of awesome grit to proceedings. Great stuff all round.
December 1, 2013
In 2008 and 2010, comic book creators Ed Brubaker (writer) and Sean Phillips (artist) came out with a new, pulp-inspired comic book, Incognito, published as a pair of mini-series.
The main character of Incognito is Zach Overkill. He and his twin brother, both superstrong and supertough, had been soldiers in Black Death’s organization until someone tried to bump them off. Zach’s brother, Xander, was killed. Zach survived and turned state’s evidence against Black Death, as it seemed it was his organization that tried to killed them. Zach was put into witness protection, and given a drug that took away his powers. He lives a boring life as a mail room clerk.
Taking recreational drugs, he finds they counteract the drugs that neutralize his powers. But instead of using his restored powers to be a criminal, he winds up being a minor vigilante. This brings him to the attention of both Black Death’s organization and the SOS. During the story, he meets Zoe Zeppelin, learns about who he really is, wipes out Black Death’s organization, and decides to now work for the SOS against other villains.
The first Incognito series ran six issues; the second one, subtitled Bad Influences, ran five.
I hope that Brubaker and Phillips will come out with another Incognito story.
Now, Brubaker’s writing is not pure pulp. He used pulp as an influence in what he wrote. He has his own sensibilities. He would have done a poor job writing a pulp story that was true to the originals. So it’s better that instead of mistreating Doc Savage, The Shadow, et al, that he created his own characters that he could do with as he wished. This way, no one could be upset with how he used or portrayed the characters. For me, I really enjoyed these titles and look forward to seeing more.
I hadn`t read the original series as it came out, or even the trades, I only recently started discovering Brubaker as a writer with his work on Criminal, Scene of the Crime and The Sleeper, all of which I have purchased the "Omnibus Hardcovers", all of which I really, really liked, so I guess it was a natural step for me to purchase Incognito (I had hesitated at first as it did seem a bit more super-hero-y from the descriptions I'd read). But man, am I ever happy I ever bought this.
My only complaint would be the ending... there's way too much of a "and then what happens" moment at the end of this book for Brubaker and Phillips not to come back to it in the near future... Come on guys, don`t leave us hangin' here.
So, I guess my next Brubaker and Phillips series to read will be their "Fatale"... just waiting for the Deluxe Hardcovers of those to come out already!
The main character of Incognito is Zach Overkill. He and his twin brother, both superstrong and supertough, had been soldiers in Black Death’s organization until someone tried to bump them off. Zach’s brother, Xander, was killed. Zach survived and turned state’s evidence against Black Death, as it seemed it was his organization that tried to killed them. Zach was put into witness protection, and given a drug that took away his powers. He lives a boring life as a mail room clerk.
Taking recreational drugs, he finds they counteract the drugs that neutralize his powers. But instead of using his restored powers to be a criminal, he winds up being a minor vigilante. This brings him to the attention of both Black Death’s organization and the SOS. During the story, he meets Zoe Zeppelin, learns about who he really is, wipes out Black Death’s organization, and decides to now work for the SOS against other villains.
The first Incognito series ran six issues; the second one, subtitled Bad Influences, ran five.
I hope that Brubaker and Phillips will come out with another Incognito story.
Now, Brubaker’s writing is not pure pulp. He used pulp as an influence in what he wrote. He has his own sensibilities. He would have done a poor job writing a pulp story that was true to the originals. So it’s better that instead of mistreating Doc Savage, The Shadow, et al, that he created his own characters that he could do with as he wished. This way, no one could be upset with how he used or portrayed the characters. For me, I really enjoyed these titles and look forward to seeing more.
I hadn`t read the original series as it came out, or even the trades, I only recently started discovering Brubaker as a writer with his work on Criminal, Scene of the Crime and The Sleeper, all of which I have purchased the "Omnibus Hardcovers", all of which I really, really liked, so I guess it was a natural step for me to purchase Incognito (I had hesitated at first as it did seem a bit more super-hero-y from the descriptions I'd read). But man, am I ever happy I ever bought this.
My only complaint would be the ending... there's way too much of a "and then what happens" moment at the end of this book for Brubaker and Phillips not to come back to it in the near future... Come on guys, don`t leave us hangin' here.
So, I guess my next Brubaker and Phillips series to read will be their "Fatale"... just waiting for the Deluxe Hardcovers of those to come out already!
January 17, 2025
Not your typical superhero story, and definitely well in line with what I've read of Brubaker's works previously. The arc wasn't what I expected, nor was the backstory. But I found myself more interested in how various peoples' powers worked and the structure of the organizations looking out for/fighting against them.
August 8, 2022
Incognito by the Bruphillips gang is somewhat of a love letter to all those bygone pulp era hero comics and (as expected) delivers an eruption of gritty noir storytelling.
Like most people, I'm a sucker for anything these two creators put out because they so very rarely miss the mark, but I will say upfront, that this wasn't my favourite read of theirs.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it! Incognito really is a great read. The atmosphere is dark and broody, our main protagonist, Zack Overkill, fittingly appears like he's straight out of the pulp era and it all connects beautifully!
That said, this did lack a little of the extra pizzazz factor I've been so spoilt with from Brubaker and Phillips and some of the plot did feel like it dragged for me with the twists lacking the usual gut punch I've come to selfishly expect.
The art is beautiful here (which is always the case with Phillips!) and the dynamic between plot and illustration is incredibly well demonstrated with the murky city scapes and action scenes.
Overall, Incognito has a cemented place in my personal collection, but it definitely doesn't reach the mark of what I've personally become accustomed to from Brubaker and Phillips. But is it worth reading? Absolutely!
_______________
My Score: 7/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
_______________
Like most people, I'm a sucker for anything these two creators put out because they so very rarely miss the mark, but I will say upfront, that this wasn't my favourite read of theirs.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it! Incognito really is a great read. The atmosphere is dark and broody, our main protagonist, Zack Overkill, fittingly appears like he's straight out of the pulp era and it all connects beautifully!
That said, this did lack a little of the extra pizzazz factor I've been so spoilt with from Brubaker and Phillips and some of the plot did feel like it dragged for me with the twists lacking the usual gut punch I've come to selfishly expect.
The art is beautiful here (which is always the case with Phillips!) and the dynamic between plot and illustration is incredibly well demonstrated with the murky city scapes and action scenes.
Overall, Incognito has a cemented place in my personal collection, but it definitely doesn't reach the mark of what I've personally become accustomed to from Brubaker and Phillips. But is it worth reading? Absolutely!
_______________
My Score: 7/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
_______________
October 4, 2017
It's interesting to see and read the earlier works by this pair. You can see bits and pieces of what is to come. This Classified Edition actually has two stories, the first being the "origin" of Zack, although not exactly his origin, just an introduction to the reader. Brubaker creates a new world with some history and a structure of good and evil. Sure it's borrowed heavily from the Marvel universe and with only a few pages per volume, he doesn't spend too much time filling in the details, however, it's enough to set a framework for Zack to move through.
Volume 1 feels a lot like a man who is trapped, unhappy with his current predicament but doesn't know who to get out of it, while circumstances push him into a certain direction. Volume 2, he takes a little more control of his life, but he isn't happy because he's searching for who he is and needs to come to terms with it. Volume 2 is certainly darker and has more action.
Phillips' art is a little more raw and slightly less detailed, but the layout and storytelling is still excellent, although it doesn't have that "wow" factor like it does later. Staples' colors keep the drab palette you typically see in this team's noir book, somewhat muted and desaturated, although Staple's work (at least at this point) didn't have the "highlighting" seen in Breitweiser's coloring of Velvet.
In the end, it's still an enjoyable read. You feel as if there could be one more chapter, cementing Zack and his life where it needs to be to give you that closure. Comparing it to other similar works by this team, it ranks slightly less, but is better than most other books out there.
Volume 1 feels a lot like a man who is trapped, unhappy with his current predicament but doesn't know who to get out of it, while circumstances push him into a certain direction. Volume 2, he takes a little more control of his life, but he isn't happy because he's searching for who he is and needs to come to terms with it. Volume 2 is certainly darker and has more action.
Phillips' art is a little more raw and slightly less detailed, but the layout and storytelling is still excellent, although it doesn't have that "wow" factor like it does later. Staples' colors keep the drab palette you typically see in this team's noir book, somewhat muted and desaturated, although Staple's work (at least at this point) didn't have the "highlighting" seen in Breitweiser's coloring of Velvet.
In the end, it's still an enjoyable read. You feel as if there could be one more chapter, cementing Zack and his life where it needs to be to give you that closure. Comparing it to other similar works by this team, it ranks slightly less, but is better than most other books out there.
November 1, 2017
Not as good as I remember it to be. It reads like The Sleeper: Omnibus lite. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. After all Sleeper is one of the best example of Noir I have ever read.
On the other hand Incognito feels like rushed in places, especially the second part of this two-parter. This seems to be an early collaboration between Brubaker and Philips and it has all the characteristics of its better known siblings, but somehow they do not gel together to give us a thrilling ride. It did not get enough chance to give us a deeper look into Zack's life and his struggles. As a result I was never that much invested in him. The art is, what you expect from Sean Philips. His art style goes really well with Crime-Noir style of Brubaker. It not only enhances the dark atmosphere of the stories, but also pushes the story forward with its background and facial expressions.
It is a quick read. All in all this is a pretty average outing for Brubaker and Philips. But, even an average Brubaker crime-noir story is better than a lot of other creator's best work. This is recommended for any Brubaker or Crime-Noir fan, you will not regret reading it. If you are neither of those, you can skip it.
On the other hand Incognito feels like rushed in places, especially the second part of this two-parter. This seems to be an early collaboration between Brubaker and Philips and it has all the characteristics of its better known siblings, but somehow they do not gel together to give us a thrilling ride. It did not get enough chance to give us a deeper look into Zack's life and his struggles. As a result I was never that much invested in him. The art is, what you expect from Sean Philips. His art style goes really well with Crime-Noir style of Brubaker. It not only enhances the dark atmosphere of the stories, but also pushes the story forward with its background and facial expressions.
It is a quick read. All in all this is a pretty average outing for Brubaker and Philips. But, even an average Brubaker crime-noir story is better than a lot of other creator's best work. This is recommended for any Brubaker or Crime-Noir fan, you will not regret reading it. If you are neither of those, you can skip it.
July 27, 2025
A dupla Ed Brubaker e Sena Phillips vêm acumulando belos trabalhos em quadrinhos em histórias que sempre remetem ao gênero policial. Incognito me chamou a atenção porque, diferente da maioria delas, se apoia mais no universo dos super-heróis. Ou melhor, no caso desta história, no universo dos super-vilões, já que nosso protagonista é o gêmeo sobrevivente de um experimento em que ambos ganharam superpoderes. Como parte de seu programa de rehabilitação, ele é colocado infiltrado para descobrir mais sobre a rede de vilões que participava. Mas então "o personagem descobre que tudo que acreditava era uma mentira" e começam as complicações. Embora tenha uma trama interessante o ritmo dessa história em quadrinhos é muito lento, trazendo cenas e detalhes que poderiam ter sido suprimidos para dar mais dinâmica para a trama. No final das contas Incognito não é uma história em quadrinhos ruim, mas cansativa, dado que as duas partes aqui apresentadas somam doze edições e mais de quatrocentas páginas. Talvez se fossem vendidas separadamente deixassem o leitor menos incomodado.
October 4, 2017
My first stand alone Brubaker story and a bit of let down. I'm sure his other work is outstanding (Criminal, Sleeper, etc) but this just felt like it was unfinished. I hated the ending. That said I was engrossed for the most part and this had the makings of being something bigger. Art was great...gritty, dark...very noir and perfect for the narrative. I still have plenty to read change my perception of the Brubaker/Phillips pairing with Velvet on my read list soon.
August 2, 2015
Incognito: The Classified Edition by Ed Brubaker is a graphic novel that collects Incognito 1-6 and Bad Influences 1-5. Brubaker is the creator and author of such notable comics as Criminal and Fatale of which I am a huge fan. So eventually I would find a work by Brubaker that I did not in love with and this is it.
What happens to super villains when they get captured? They get sent into super villain witness protection program where they are drugged enough to keep their powers in check. Zack Overkill is a file clerk. A quiet sort of guy that you wouldn't notice. But it wasn't always that way. Together with his twin brother Xander, the Overkill brothers were responsible for over two hundred acts of domestic terrorism. Now Xander was dead and Zack hidden in plain sight, his powers kept in check. Until the day Zack starts to miss the excitement of his old life. Only now he isn't committing acts of crime, now he's trying to stop them. But Zack's actions do not go unnoticed. Not by the powers that want to keep him in check or the his old bosses that want Zack back or dead.
Incognito is a blend of criminal noire and dark superhero storytelling that Vertigo is known for. For me it just doesn't click. Zack and the origin story is convoluted. The factory of super powered humans is not very original as the brief lessons in history as to how the two super powered groups came to being. For a Brubaker story it just doesn't engage. Whether it is a superhero or a main character in a traditional novel setting, there should be some kind of connect between the character or the reader. It doesn't come to being with Zack Overkill. You never get his sense of redemption of his outrage at his coming into being. You just get the sense that he is doing this because, well, he is bored and after a time, as a reader, so are you.
What happens to super villains when they get captured? They get sent into super villain witness protection program where they are drugged enough to keep their powers in check. Zack Overkill is a file clerk. A quiet sort of guy that you wouldn't notice. But it wasn't always that way. Together with his twin brother Xander, the Overkill brothers were responsible for over two hundred acts of domestic terrorism. Now Xander was dead and Zack hidden in plain sight, his powers kept in check. Until the day Zack starts to miss the excitement of his old life. Only now he isn't committing acts of crime, now he's trying to stop them. But Zack's actions do not go unnoticed. Not by the powers that want to keep him in check or the his old bosses that want Zack back or dead.
Incognito is a blend of criminal noire and dark superhero storytelling that Vertigo is known for. For me it just doesn't click. Zack and the origin story is convoluted. The factory of super powered humans is not very original as the brief lessons in history as to how the two super powered groups came to being. For a Brubaker story it just doesn't engage. Whether it is a superhero or a main character in a traditional novel setting, there should be some kind of connect between the character or the reader. It doesn't come to being with Zack Overkill. You never get his sense of redemption of his outrage at his coming into being. You just get the sense that he is doing this because, well, he is bored and after a time, as a reader, so are you.
December 9, 2015
This made me happy. It's the best non-Marvel work I've read by Brubaker.* I was thinking this took place in the Marvel universe but it does not. I think it's one Brubaker built just for this story. A future (or the past a decade or so ago) where super-villains and heroes fight each other mostly behind the scenes and our hero/villain languishes in witness protection wondering whether his life still has any meaning. Naturally events don't let him just stay static and both heroes and villains wonder whose side he is on?
Others note the ending was not what they wanted. It's not a twist so much as it left me looking thru the extras for the next page of the book. The extras include the covers and an essay about the book with some interesting info. I paid cover price plus shipping which was not cheap but it was worth it.
*I've read his non-Marvel Catwoman, Gotham Central, Fatale, and Sleeper. His Marvel Captain America, Daredevil, and Iron Fist are my top three Brubaker runs.
Others note the ending was not what they wanted. It's not a twist so much as it left me looking thru the extras for the next page of the book. The extras include the covers and an essay about the book with some interesting info. I paid cover price plus shipping which was not cheap but it was worth it.
*I've read his non-Marvel Catwoman, Gotham Central, Fatale, and Sleeper. His Marvel Captain America, Daredevil, and Iron Fist are my top three Brubaker runs.
September 21, 2018
I liked this although this world buidling took a bit longer than the usual Brubaker story to kick in. Phillips art always compliments Eds noir style. I feel like this is a baby brother story to Sleeper. Just doesnt hit the same sweet spots.
July 30, 2019
The pulp genre-fiction and golden age comics pastiche (and Phillips' always strong art) are the only things that work.
Brubaker / Phillips' second-worst work behind the execrable Kill Or Be Killed.
Brubaker / Phillips' second-worst work behind the execrable Kill Or Be Killed.
April 12, 2018
This is the complete (to date at least) story of Incognito, a pulp/superhero/crime story that lies halfway between Brubaker's previous work on Sleeper and Criminal. Alongside Sleeper, it's also Brubaker's best merging of superhero and noir tropes.
The story is an interesting one of a bad man who decides to be good, another trope that seems to have obsessed Brubaker over the years (right alongside the good man who decides to be bad). He makes the idea more interesting by extending it to a question of nature and nurture.
When I originally read these stories it felt to me like the first volume was only setup. But in reading them again, I can see that these two arcs are really flipsides of a coin: the first is about the untrusted outsider, and the second is about how he is welcomed inside. And they both center around questions of how much trust can be extended and by whom.
There's also lots of great character work here and violent action and beautiful art. This is overall a terrific story that keeps you guessing.
And I still feel like there's another story that should have been told as a third volume. Maybe Brubaker will return to it someday!
The story is an interesting one of a bad man who decides to be good, another trope that seems to have obsessed Brubaker over the years (right alongside the good man who decides to be bad). He makes the idea more interesting by extending it to a question of nature and nurture.
When I originally read these stories it felt to me like the first volume was only setup. But in reading them again, I can see that these two arcs are really flipsides of a coin: the first is about the untrusted outsider, and the second is about how he is welcomed inside. And they both center around questions of how much trust can be extended and by whom.
There's also lots of great character work here and violent action and beautiful art. This is overall a terrific story that keeps you guessing.
And I still feel like there's another story that should have been told as a third volume. Maybe Brubaker will return to it someday!
April 21, 2022
My opinion on this is mixed. Incognito was published in the 2008-2011 time frame in two separate arcs, the first Incognito series and the sequel Incognito Bad Influences. The first arc is utterly brilliant, about a former super-powered villain, Zack Overkill, who goes into a witness protection program. The world Zack lives in is populated by pulp heroes and villains. Zoe Zeppelin runs the S.O.S., but you can recognize her as the daughter of a Doc Savage type of character, Dr. Zeppelin, who performed lobotomies to "remove the evil from the minds of men." Zack has to take a drug that removes his super powers so he can essentially be a mail delivery boy in an office (do such jobs even exist now?). Eventually Zack figures out a way around that drug and winds up using his powers for good. His former bosses in the underworld start to figure out that Zack is active, and the chase is on. Five stars for this arc.
The second arc starts off with Zack, now with the S.O.S., going undercover. I don't think it was well planned, by Brubaker's own admission he didn't have the ending figured out in advance and it was not very satisfying, especially because there doesn't seem to be a third volume coming. Three stars for the second arc.
The second arc starts off with Zack, now with the S.O.S., going undercover. I don't think it was well planned, by Brubaker's own admission he didn't have the ending figured out in advance and it was not very satisfying, especially because there doesn't seem to be a third volume coming. Three stars for the second arc.
January 1, 2025
Eh bien j'ai beaucoup aimé ! Un peu d'amertume sur la fin par contre, qui est ouverte et appelle une suite, suite qui n'a pas l'air d'exister et qui n'existera probablement jamais.
January 11, 2013
Brubaker never ceases to impress. I love his work, as I'm mildly obsessed with noir and such tales. So to see this dark take that blends superheroes and villains, with a classic noir aesthetic? What's not to love.
Really, these are two very dark tales that might be a bit much for some, but dark humor and less-than-sunny dispositions are some of my favorite things in stories: This one is packed with both.
Basically, it reminded me of the flipside of THE INCREDIBLES. Rather than being a former superhero, we get the tale of a former supervillain that has to "adjust" to new life. But it's so much more than a simple tale, as Brubaker explores morality as a whole, what we do to one another, why we do such things, the importance of cause, and even that difficult line we all tend to walk between doing right or wrong--and the consequences that often come from making the right choices. Though not something often discussed, the right choice often leads us to the most trouble, and Brubaker doesn't shy away from this idea.
As usual, too, Phillips art is amazing. His facial expressions are always perfect, as you can simply read these characters' minds simply because we KNOW those expressions and what they mean.
The only thing that kept me from a five-star rating is how these end. Yes, I get what he's going for, but the story still feels incomplete--and I really, really hope Brubaker decides to continue Zack Overkill's tale down the line.
Great stuff here, especially if you're a fan of Brubaker already. And if you aren't, this might just make you one.
Really, these are two very dark tales that might be a bit much for some, but dark humor and less-than-sunny dispositions are some of my favorite things in stories: This one is packed with both.
Basically, it reminded me of the flipside of THE INCREDIBLES. Rather than being a former superhero, we get the tale of a former supervillain that has to "adjust" to new life. But it's so much more than a simple tale, as Brubaker explores morality as a whole, what we do to one another, why we do such things, the importance of cause, and even that difficult line we all tend to walk between doing right or wrong--and the consequences that often come from making the right choices. Though not something often discussed, the right choice often leads us to the most trouble, and Brubaker doesn't shy away from this idea.
As usual, too, Phillips art is amazing. His facial expressions are always perfect, as you can simply read these characters' minds simply because we KNOW those expressions and what they mean.
The only thing that kept me from a five-star rating is how these end. Yes, I get what he's going for, but the story still feels incomplete--and I really, really hope Brubaker decides to continue Zack Overkill's tale down the line.
Great stuff here, especially if you're a fan of Brubaker already. And if you aren't, this might just make you one.
May 28, 2013
Ever since I began reading the series Fatale I've become a big fan of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. I really enjoy the type of stories they tell with their work. They bring a pulp style to the medium which really grabs my attention and keeps me interested. The artwork is of course a big plus because I think it fits the story perfectly. Beware Zack Overkill!!
August 16, 2023
3,5 stelline.
December 28, 2020
(Zero spoiler review)
I was waiting for it, and its finally happened. A Brubaker created story that I wasn't really a fan of. After Fatale and The Fade Out, I had been waiting with baited breath each time I started a new Brubaker/Philips story, expecting this to finally be the one that couldn't live up to the others. Velvet (not drawn by Philips) was expected to be this book, although it disappointed me by being yet more awesomeness from Brubaker. Maybe these guys just never penned anything average? I thought to myself. Although on my next Brubaker title, I finally found it. That inevitable dip in form. The difficult third album. I really just never got into Incognito. At least far less than I have all of his other creator owned stories. I'm yet to read any of Brubaker's superhero runs, yet I know some of them get plenty of praise. I do hope they are better than this was though.
The book just never really get off the ground for me. I never really cared for Zack, the main protagonist, as Brubaker doesn't seem quite sure who he is throughout the 11 issue run of the book. Continually deliberating and debating on who he is and who he wants to be (and not in an interesting, existential way). it came across annoyingly indecisive rather than engagingly explorative. None of the side characters get fleshed out much either. It really comes across as a B grade super hero run, with a little bit of noir throne in, because, well... it's Ed Brubaker. And with the B grade superhero story comes some of the less enjoyable tropes of the genre. Plot conveniences run rampant throughout this story, which had me rolling my eyes on more than one occasion. While there were one or two side characters that piqued my interest, they were too few and too far between. I was invested in basically every character in Fatale, despite its continually expanding cast of characters. Here, I just couldn't bring myself to see these as little more than two dimensional tough guys/gals. I'm not a massive fan of superheroes in general, though when I heard the idea for this story before I purchased the book, I was instantly sold. Knowing if there was anyone that could get me to care about OP superheroes, it was Brubaker, with his dark and gritty style. Whilst they are not instantly comparable, Miller's Sin City is something closer to what I thought it was, or wanted this to be. Incognito can barely bring itself to stand in the shadow of Sin City, much to my disappointment.
Philips isn't on top form here either, with only Staples on colouring duty covering himself in anything closely approximating glory. Introducing some 70's style, washed out brightness atop Philip's still reliable and enjoyable artwork.
I wanted to prove myself wrong yet again. that Brubaker and Philips could do no wrong. That everything these two men touch can do nothing but turn to gold. Sadly, Incognito proved the possible one speedbump on their smooth and spectacular highway. Still, these guys on a bad day is still better than two thirds of the other stuff out there. 3.25/5
OmniBen.
I was waiting for it, and its finally happened. A Brubaker created story that I wasn't really a fan of. After Fatale and The Fade Out, I had been waiting with baited breath each time I started a new Brubaker/Philips story, expecting this to finally be the one that couldn't live up to the others. Velvet (not drawn by Philips) was expected to be this book, although it disappointed me by being yet more awesomeness from Brubaker. Maybe these guys just never penned anything average? I thought to myself. Although on my next Brubaker title, I finally found it. That inevitable dip in form. The difficult third album. I really just never got into Incognito. At least far less than I have all of his other creator owned stories. I'm yet to read any of Brubaker's superhero runs, yet I know some of them get plenty of praise. I do hope they are better than this was though.
The book just never really get off the ground for me. I never really cared for Zack, the main protagonist, as Brubaker doesn't seem quite sure who he is throughout the 11 issue run of the book. Continually deliberating and debating on who he is and who he wants to be (and not in an interesting, existential way). it came across annoyingly indecisive rather than engagingly explorative. None of the side characters get fleshed out much either. It really comes across as a B grade super hero run, with a little bit of noir throne in, because, well... it's Ed Brubaker. And with the B grade superhero story comes some of the less enjoyable tropes of the genre. Plot conveniences run rampant throughout this story, which had me rolling my eyes on more than one occasion. While there were one or two side characters that piqued my interest, they were too few and too far between. I was invested in basically every character in Fatale, despite its continually expanding cast of characters. Here, I just couldn't bring myself to see these as little more than two dimensional tough guys/gals. I'm not a massive fan of superheroes in general, though when I heard the idea for this story before I purchased the book, I was instantly sold. Knowing if there was anyone that could get me to care about OP superheroes, it was Brubaker, with his dark and gritty style. Whilst they are not instantly comparable, Miller's Sin City is something closer to what I thought it was, or wanted this to be. Incognito can barely bring itself to stand in the shadow of Sin City, much to my disappointment.
Philips isn't on top form here either, with only Staples on colouring duty covering himself in anything closely approximating glory. Introducing some 70's style, washed out brightness atop Philip's still reliable and enjoyable artwork.
I wanted to prove myself wrong yet again. that Brubaker and Philips could do no wrong. That everything these two men touch can do nothing but turn to gold. Sadly, Incognito proved the possible one speedbump on their smooth and spectacular highway. Still, these guys on a bad day is still better than two thirds of the other stuff out there. 3.25/5
OmniBen.
June 20, 2024
Szokásosan minőségi Brubaker-Phillips kollaboráció, és egy meglehetősen eredeti csavar a szuperhős-műfajon. Én legalábbis eddig még nem találkoztam ilyesmivel, hogy az egykor rettegett szupergonosz, nálánál is mégkomiszabb szupergonoszokat beköpve, tanúvédelmi programba kerül, hogy aztán szupererő-lekötő gyógyszerektől letompulva tengesse tovább immár kiszürkített, leáltalánosított életét. De aztán egyszercsak, ahogy az az ilyen történetekben lenni szokott, történik valami, ami a főhőst kikényszeríti a fényre, és kiderül, hogy semmi se volt úgy, ahogy volt. Igazából a recept tökéletes, plusz nagyon tetszik, hogy nem a szokásos, „hétköznapi rosszfiúk” Brubaker-sztori (Criminal, The Fade-Out, Night Fever, stb.), hanem inkább a szerzőpáros obskúrusabb, korai, kevésbé ismert, és kissé méltatlanul másodvonalba szorult kult-klasszikusával, a The Sleeper-rel rokon. Érződik is rajta némi jutalomjátékosság, ahogy a sok gengszterkedés után az író visszanyúl a valamikor korábban főleg csak megélhetésért írt szuperhős-műfajhoz, és imádnivaló módon formálja a saját képére azt, nem kell se Marvel-, se DC-határvonalaknak megfelelni.
A képi világ is a szokásosan magas színvonalú, bár Sean Phillips munkái közül nekem még mindig a Reckless-sorozat, a Night Fever és a Pulp az etalon.
Ponyvafüggőknek külön izgalmas lehet, hogy a nyilvánvaló karakterhatások (Doc Savage, Fu Manchu) mellett olyan, már régen feledésbe merült, egykori ponyvaregény-hősök is megelevenednek, mint The Spider, vagy a Zeppelin-kötetek. Az eredeti TPB-k mindegyikében volt egy rövidke esszé Jess Nevins, ponyva-szakértő tollából, ebben a teljes sorozatot tartalmazó (a hat részes Incognito és az öt részből álló második széria, az Incognito: Bad Influences) kiadásban pedig egy korábban nem publikált, elvileg valamelyest átfogóbb írása szerepel (sajnos az eredeti írásokhoz eddig nem volt szerencsém).
Igazából nem teljesen vagyok a négy csillaggal elégedett, mert Brubaker cuccaival marha egyszerű szerelembe esni, plusz az említett különcségei miatt még így pár nap elteltével a sztori befejezése után is azt kell mondjam, hogy ott van a kedvenc Brubaker/Phillips történeteim közt máris, azért mostmár jópár közös munkájuk után muszáj belátnom, hogy a történetvezetésük iszonyúan kiszámítható, és ez elvesz kicsit az éléből a dolognak. De ez egy személyes problémám, ennek ellenére egy különlegesen király képregény, amit bátran ajánlanék a Ponyva szerelmeseinek.
A képi világ is a szokásosan magas színvonalú, bár Sean Phillips munkái közül nekem még mindig a Reckless-sorozat, a Night Fever és a Pulp az etalon.
Ponyvafüggőknek külön izgalmas lehet, hogy a nyilvánvaló karakterhatások (Doc Savage, Fu Manchu) mellett olyan, már régen feledésbe merült, egykori ponyvaregény-hősök is megelevenednek, mint The Spider, vagy a Zeppelin-kötetek. Az eredeti TPB-k mindegyikében volt egy rövidke esszé Jess Nevins, ponyva-szakértő tollából, ebben a teljes sorozatot tartalmazó (a hat részes Incognito és az öt részből álló második széria, az Incognito: Bad Influences) kiadásban pedig egy korábban nem publikált, elvileg valamelyest átfogóbb írása szerepel (sajnos az eredeti írásokhoz eddig nem volt szerencsém).
Igazából nem teljesen vagyok a négy csillaggal elégedett, mert Brubaker cuccaival marha egyszerű szerelembe esni, plusz az említett különcségei miatt még így pár nap elteltével a sztori befejezése után is azt kell mondjam, hogy ott van a kedvenc Brubaker/Phillips történeteim közt máris, azért mostmár jópár közös munkájuk után muszáj belátnom, hogy a történetvezetésük iszonyúan kiszámítható, és ez elvesz kicsit az éléből a dolognak. De ez egy személyes problémám, ennek ellenére egy különlegesen király képregény, amit bátran ajánlanék a Ponyva szerelmeseinek.
August 13, 2023
Tohle je úplně nový svět. Svět, který tak trošku paroduje svět Marvelu, se všemi jejich létajícími pevnostmi S.H.I.E.L.D.u a zločineckými organizacemi Hydra a A.I.M. Nový svět s brutálnější akcí. Tohle by v Marvelu neprošlo, říkal jsem si. To jsem se ale pletl, protože to u Marvelu původně vyšlo. Na rozdíl od klasického Marvelu tady ale nejsou superhrdinové. Jsou zde jen superpadouši a agenti S.O.S.
Je to také svět, který vzdává hold starým pulpovým příběhům se všemi jejich šílenými vědci, karnevalovými škraboškami a kosmickými plazmovými pistolemi. Je to velmi zvláštní kombinace, která mě bila do očí svou přepáleností a neuvěřitelností. Něco takového jsem po ‘Criminalech’ a ‘Zabij, nebo budeš zabit’ nečekal.
Co se týká příběhu, tak ten je parádní. Stejně jako nápad dát superpadoucha, zbaveného superschopností, do programu na ochranu svědků. Je zábavné sledovat, jak se ve světě běžných smrtelníků trápí. Je zábavné sledovat všechny jenom nemorální myšlenkové pochody a činy. Jenomže tato zápletka nevydrží dlouho. Hlavní hrdina nezůstane bez superschopností napořád a příběh se překlopí někam jinam. Ono to asi není překvapivé. Kdyby se to celé nezvrhlo, tak ta kniha nemá přes 360 stran. Důležité je, že to zůstává zábavné.
U kresby Seana Phillipse se často nechám zaskočit tím, jak na mě na prvních stránkách působí, když se k ní po delší době dostanu. Jako bych očekával něco lepšího. Je to tím, jak si jeho komiksy pamatuji. Ale výsledný dojem nezanechává jen kresba samotná, ale to, jak funguje společně s příběhem. A to si pište, že vždy funguje naprosto perfektně. Po dvaceti stránkách už vždycky nemůžu přijít na to, co se mi vlastně nezdálo. Ta kresba je perfektní. O Phillipsových obálkách nejde říct nic jiného, než že jsou geniální a dokonalé. Ještě že jich je plná bonusová část knihy.
Je to také svět, který vzdává hold starým pulpovým příběhům se všemi jejich šílenými vědci, karnevalovými škraboškami a kosmickými plazmovými pistolemi. Je to velmi zvláštní kombinace, která mě bila do očí svou přepáleností a neuvěřitelností. Něco takového jsem po ‘Criminalech’ a ‘Zabij, nebo budeš zabit’ nečekal.
Co se týká příběhu, tak ten je parádní. Stejně jako nápad dát superpadoucha, zbaveného superschopností, do programu na ochranu svědků. Je zábavné sledovat, jak se ve světě běžných smrtelníků trápí. Je zábavné sledovat všechny jenom nemorální myšlenkové pochody a činy. Jenomže tato zápletka nevydrží dlouho. Hlavní hrdina nezůstane bez superschopností napořád a příběh se překlopí někam jinam. Ono to asi není překvapivé. Kdyby se to celé nezvrhlo, tak ta kniha nemá přes 360 stran. Důležité je, že to zůstává zábavné.
U kresby Seana Phillipse se často nechám zaskočit tím, jak na mě na prvních stránkách působí, když se k ní po delší době dostanu. Jako bych očekával něco lepšího. Je to tím, jak si jeho komiksy pamatuji. Ale výsledný dojem nezanechává jen kresba samotná, ale to, jak funguje společně s příběhem. A to si pište, že vždy funguje naprosto perfektně. Po dvaceti stránkách už vždycky nemůžu přijít na to, co se mi vlastně nezdálo. Ta kresba je perfektní. O Phillipsových obálkách nejde říct nic jiného, než že jsou geniální a dokonalé. Ještě že jich je plná bonusová část knihy.
January 15, 2019
Thought this was a really novel premise, but I don't think it gets followed through on as much as it should've. The beginning of the book was basically what I expected, but after that it mostly becomes a pulpy, yet somewhat typical story. When the story sticks to the witness protection aspect, it's funny and interesting with a little action thrown in. It's mostly pretty standard superhero stuff though, and while everything has a classic feel to it, it often felt simplistic. It would've been nice to see all kinds of villains stuck in witness protection and to see how they deal with it, but instead the book chooses to focus on one. The result is the story of a villain who finds himself at odds with both the good guys and the bad guys.......and who also happened to be in witness protection when the story began. Not the same as what could've been in my opinion.
I recently obtained a few different titles by Brubaker after browsing suggestions on GoodReads and getting the hint that he had a strong reputation as a writer. After finishing this one my first impression of Brubaker is a mixed bag, so I hope the bits I liked are more prominent in his other stuff. Phillips' art has something timeless about it that I enjoy. Speaking of the art, the covers included at the end of this book are awesome, and the extras in general are great. The story itself just didn't thrill me personally.
PS: There is a scene or two in this book that don’t, we’ll say “read well", especially in 2019. It's up to you whether that kind of thing bothers you in a work of fiction. Many "non-spoiler" reviews have still spoiled what I'm talking about, so feel free to check around.
I recently obtained a few different titles by Brubaker after browsing suggestions on GoodReads and getting the hint that he had a strong reputation as a writer. After finishing this one my first impression of Brubaker is a mixed bag, so I hope the bits I liked are more prominent in his other stuff. Phillips' art has something timeless about it that I enjoy. Speaking of the art, the covers included at the end of this book are awesome, and the extras in general are great. The story itself just didn't thrill me personally.
PS: There is a scene or two in this book that don’t, we’ll say “read well", especially in 2019. It's up to you whether that kind of thing bothers you in a work of fiction. Many "non-spoiler" reviews have still spoiled what I'm talking about, so feel free to check around.
October 24, 2023
Venturing into my comic room and going through my backlog of unread books can be just like going to a comic shop, as I sometimes stumble upon books that I have no recollection of ever buying, like this one. Imagine my delight upon discovering a previously unread Ed Brubaker amd Sean Phillips book to read. Wow! Plus I didn't have to pay for it since I already bought it, so it was like getting a free book or something.
Brubaker likes to sneak contraband toys into the sandbox. If he is writing a superhero comic he plays it like a spy movie (Captain America). If he is writing a Noir comic it quickly becomes a Horror comic (Fatale). Incognito is a comic fan's comic. It requires a working knowledge of the Marvel Universe, as there are doppelgangers throughout that might not make much sense to an uninitiated civilian. Think of it as Astro City if Astro City got hooked on drugs, had sex, and swore.
This is some pretty hard-edged, balls out stuff, certainly not all ages reading. This is a more grounded, realistic take on the Marvel Universe (only it's not the Marvel Universe) where a villain named Zack Overkill sort of becomes a hero. Lots of page-turning, signature Brubaker writing here. This is some great stuff that everyone should check out.
Brubaker likes to sneak contraband toys into the sandbox. If he is writing a superhero comic he plays it like a spy movie (Captain America). If he is writing a Noir comic it quickly becomes a Horror comic (Fatale). Incognito is a comic fan's comic. It requires a working knowledge of the Marvel Universe, as there are doppelgangers throughout that might not make much sense to an uninitiated civilian. Think of it as Astro City if Astro City got hooked on drugs, had sex, and swore.
This is some pretty hard-edged, balls out stuff, certainly not all ages reading. This is a more grounded, realistic take on the Marvel Universe (only it's not the Marvel Universe) where a villain named Zack Overkill sort of becomes a hero. Lots of page-turning, signature Brubaker writing here. This is some great stuff that everyone should check out.
May 28, 2019
This contains the two volumes of "Incognito."
First volume I had read by itself previously, and it holds up to a second reading. An ex-villain who is in Witness Protection finds himself saving people to save himself from boredom, but then finds he doesn't want to stop. And then things get interesting when his past life comes back to find him.
Second volume is a nice continuation of the story, but would stand just find by itself. It's a year after the events of the first volume, and our ex-villain is now called upon to become a double agent & re-enter the criminal underworld in order to try to extract a different double agent, who seems to have gone native. Along the way, our protagonist finds that he simply cannot become a bad guy again without consequences, though there are consequences if he does try to stay with the "good guys." Slowly, he starts to question whose side he wants to be on.
Both volumes are quite enjoyable. First volume is much better than second, and there are a few plot points that not fully explained by the end of the second. Still, really good overall. Brubaker continues to shine doing gritty graphic novels.
First volume I had read by itself previously, and it holds up to a second reading. An ex-villain who is in Witness Protection finds himself saving people to save himself from boredom, but then finds he doesn't want to stop. And then things get interesting when his past life comes back to find him.
Second volume is a nice continuation of the story, but would stand just find by itself. It's a year after the events of the first volume, and our ex-villain is now called upon to become a double agent & re-enter the criminal underworld in order to try to extract a different double agent, who seems to have gone native. Along the way, our protagonist finds that he simply cannot become a bad guy again without consequences, though there are consequences if he does try to stay with the "good guys." Slowly, he starts to question whose side he wants to be on.
Both volumes are quite enjoyable. First volume is much better than second, and there are a few plot points that not fully explained by the end of the second. Still, really good overall. Brubaker continues to shine doing gritty graphic novels.
January 4, 2026
V zásade je to nepretržitá jazda. Brubaker vie čo chce povedať a aj to hovorí. Nebojí sa u toho byť originálny ani priznávať inšpiráciu Pulpom. Sú nám tak predstavený hrdinovia, ktorý nemajú s tými od Marvelu a DC nič spoločné a ktorý žijú v zaujímavej alternatívnej realite, ktorá dbá práve na ten realizmus. Je to zábavné, cynické, plné krvi a nahoty a pritom to nespadá do samoúčelnej šablóny, ale naopak, prináša to svieži pohľad na superzloduchov a dobrákov. Jediné čo tomu môžem vytknúť je to, že hoci je séria ukončená, mňa ten cynický koniec akosi nepresvedčil. Inokedy - ako v prípade Fade out, alebo Fatale, mi niečo také nevadilo. Tu možno aj vďaka premyslenému fikčnému svetu mi chýbalo stráviť v spoločnosti Zacka Overkilla dlhší čas. Mimo to je to ale ďalšia autorská rezanica, ktorá síce nedosahuje poetickosť Criminal, ale zase sa o to ani nesnaží. Určite stojí za prečítanie tým, ktorý chcú siahnúť po "inom", ale dobrom komikse.
Read
November 4, 2019Incognito is one of Brubaker and Phillips’ lesser efforts, but it’s still decent. They take a break from the straight crime of Criminal to dip their toes in the world of superheroes for a story not unlike Sleeper. It’s actually two miniseries, both about a supervillain living under witness protection. I adore this concept. Will he find comfort in his new, boring life, or will he revert to his villainous ways? Sadly, I found the answers to be unsurprising. The characters, too, aren’t as endearingly coldhearted as those in other Brubaker/Phillips collabs. I’m not sure if this is because they aren’t characterized well, or if there just isn’t enough time to get to know them. Still, this book is a fun enough dose of pulpy noir with great art. I enjoyed it, but probably won’t ever return to it.
February 7, 2023
This was probably my least favorite Brubaker book I’ve read so far. It can’t decide if it wants to be a superhero or crime noir story. It ultimately fails at both. None of the characters seemed to connect with me. I didn’t care about any of them, besides maybe Zach a little bit. Even with him he’s an indecisive jerk most of the time. The meat of the stories were decent, but both didn’t have satisfying endings whatsoever which was a huge let down. I read all this for that ending? Come on now. The art was pretty good as usual by Phillips. You can tell this is some of their earlier work together because things don’t gel as well as the newer books by them when they have mastered their craft. Overall I think it’s worth checking out, but don’t get your hopes up too much.
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June 6, 2023Recenziu pre Fandom.sk napísal Ivan Kučera:
Inkognito bude vnímané možno ako najrozporuplnejší Brubaker na našom trhu. Kým v minulosti experimentoval, vzdával poklony a zakaždým staré témy doplnil o nové štýlové smery, tentokrát sa „len“ neambiciózne hrá a zabáva. Akoby stopercentne neveril príbehu, ktorý nám rozpráva. Dalo by sa povedať, že nevniesol do témy nič nové. Áno, je to nihilistická jazda rozkladajúca mýtus superhrdinského komiksu, ale v porovnaní s Mooreovými Watchmenmi sa predsa len vyplašene krčí v kúte. Situáciu vylepší opakované čítanie. Vtedy sa kompaktnejšie prepoja niektoré fragmenty, ktoré pri prvom čítaní pôsobili dojmom, ako keby nikam nezapadali...
Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...
Inkognito bude vnímané možno ako najrozporuplnejší Brubaker na našom trhu. Kým v minulosti experimentoval, vzdával poklony a zakaždým staré témy doplnil o nové štýlové smery, tentokrát sa „len“ neambiciózne hrá a zabáva. Akoby stopercentne neveril príbehu, ktorý nám rozpráva. Dalo by sa povedať, že nevniesol do témy nič nové. Áno, je to nihilistická jazda rozkladajúca mýtus superhrdinského komiksu, ale v porovnaní s Mooreovými Watchmenmi sa predsa len vyplašene krčí v kúte. Situáciu vylepší opakované čítanie. Vtedy sa kompaktnejšie prepoja niektoré fragmenty, ktoré pri prvom čítaní pôsobili dojmom, ako keby nikam nezapadali...
Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...
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