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Sleeper
Sleeper, Vol. 1: Out in the Cold
As an undercover agent in a complex super-villain organization, Holden Carver has become caught in a web of moral uncertainty. With the world believing him to be a traitor, Carver must find a way to survive and regain his identity.
160 pages, Comic
First published January 1, 2004
10 people are currently reading
1916 people want to read
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,797 books3,030 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 94 reviews
June 11, 2018
Even 10 years later, this is still a brilliant comic book. It's a spy novel set in a superhero universe. Holden Carter has been undercover in Tao's organization for the last 4 years. Now the only person who knew the truth is in a coma. Brubaker's does such a fantastic job of dragging Holden through the muck while trying to tow the line of not hurting people. Phillip's art has a smoky, dingy look that fits perfectly with the tone of the series.
April 2, 2012
Enjoyed the series. It's dark and gritty. Clever and well-executed.
And while it does have superhero-type characters in it, it's not a superhero comic. It's more of a spy novel set in a world where superpowers exist.
And while it does have superhero-type characters in it, it's not a superhero comic. It's more of a spy novel set in a world where superpowers exist.
February 16, 2015
I am going back to this because I like other Brubaker-Phillips series such as Criminal, and Gotham Central, and as I have said before with respect to Fatale, I sort of prefer the straight up Criminal to these mashups (Fatale as noir horror, Sleeper as thriller super hero). I know what they would say: Listen; you already got a bunch of crime graphic novels, you already have plenty of thriller mysteries! It's a new century, let's try to bend and interweave the genres! Have fun with the stuff! And Brubaker is a great writer, and he's right, why not play, and the dialogue and invented world here is pretty intense and terrific, it really is… really creative. I just at this point prefer Criminal and Gotham Central to this. So far. First volume. But will read more.
This one has a guy who is a "sleeper" infiltrating a terrorist organization killing people for an evil guy. In order to not blow his cover, he is supposed to kill someone… how will this get resolved? We do find out in this volume an answer to that question. But if that isn't enough story for ya, the one guy in the government who knows our hero is not the enemy is in a coma… and if that in't enough, he has a superpower (he can't feel pain, and when he is temporarily injured, he can transfer the pain elsewhere…) and if that isn't enough for ya, others also have superpowers… and if that isn't enough, our hero/anti-hero falls for Miss Misery… so it's a lot, and its gritty and beautifully realized by Phillips and maybe a bit too much invented world for me. Like Top Ten, in a way, with all the super powers. More on that series again soon.
This one has a guy who is a "sleeper" infiltrating a terrorist organization killing people for an evil guy. In order to not blow his cover, he is supposed to kill someone… how will this get resolved? We do find out in this volume an answer to that question. But if that isn't enough story for ya, the one guy in the government who knows our hero is not the enemy is in a coma… and if that in't enough, he has a superpower (he can't feel pain, and when he is temporarily injured, he can transfer the pain elsewhere…) and if that isn't enough for ya, others also have superpowers… and if that isn't enough, our hero/anti-hero falls for Miss Misery… so it's a lot, and its gritty and beautifully realized by Phillips and maybe a bit too much invented world for me. Like Top Ten, in a way, with all the super powers. More on that series again soon.
May 8, 2025
Sleeper: Out in the Cold is a slick, cerebral dive into the world of shadowy allegiances and moral murk. Brubaker blends noir grit with superhero espionage, crafting a story that’s as tense as it is stylish. It’s packed with slow-burn tension, layered characters, and a constant sense that things could go sideways at any moment. Sean Phillips’ art is the perfect match—moody, textured, and full of atmosphere. If you like your thrillers dark, smart, and a little bit twisted, this is a series worth sinking into. I couldn’t get enough!
March 13, 2021
Story continues where prolog left of, and brings interesting mix of world of superheroes and 'illuminati' which is quite refreshing take on spy genre. Carter is double agent without master, trying to survive and lie his way out of situations on the edge. Phillips' art is quite rough and dark, not something we are used to from newest work, but still suits theme pretty well.
January 27, 2025
At first I found the superhero aspect a tad awkward, but it adds some levity and fun to the script. I do also appreciate seeing how this criminal organization can exist within the Wildcats/DC universe.
Some of the earliest comics created by Brubaker/Philips. Even here you can see they are a dream team.
Some of the earliest comics created by Brubaker/Philips. Even here you can see they are a dream team.
April 18, 2023
Welcome to the world of Sleeper.
Holden Carver is DEEP undercover. Holden Carver is working for Io, basically to help protect people and he goes undercover to inflitrate Tao, a man who runs an empire of evil fucking people basically. And as he gets deeper into this world of crime, murder, and more he learns he's losing his mind in it all.
Feels very much world building this first volume with the first two issues or so being a lot at once but you get the idea by the end. The story really starts to blow up on the third issue onward when we get to know the players, the game we're playing, and how high stakes this whole operation really is. By the end, we're on the fence who's good and who's bad finally and a fucked up choice that can leave Carver in bad shape.
I loved 90% of this. Took a bit to get into it but once I did, I wanted more. A 4.5 out of 5.
Holden Carver is DEEP undercover. Holden Carver is working for Io, basically to help protect people and he goes undercover to inflitrate Tao, a man who runs an empire of evil fucking people basically. And as he gets deeper into this world of crime, murder, and more he learns he's losing his mind in it all.
Feels very much world building this first volume with the first two issues or so being a lot at once but you get the idea by the end. The story really starts to blow up on the third issue onward when we get to know the players, the game we're playing, and how high stakes this whole operation really is. By the end, we're on the fence who's good and who's bad finally and a fucked up choice that can leave Carver in bad shape.
I loved 90% of this. Took a bit to get into it but once I did, I wanted more. A 4.5 out of 5.
September 18, 2020
Lo primero que diré respecto a "Sleeper" es que Brubaker es un maestro en el storytelling. Él tiene una gran habilidad de tomar un personaje y, desde su carácter y personalidad, contar su historia de vida, sus motivaciones y formas de ver el mundo. Entonces, en "Sleeper", veremos multitudes de pequeñas historias dentro de la trama central donde tendremos a Holden Craver intentando escalar en una organización criminal como agente encubierto, pero que en el camino se entera de más y más cosas que lo dejan "atorado" en su misión, por decirlo así.
El género detectivesco está bien combinado con los post humanos, personas con algún poder especial, además de teorías conspiratorias del Orden Mundial. Ya veremos a dónde nos lleva todo esto.
En el apartado gráfico, se trata de un cómic donde predomina la ilustración semi realista, con trazos definidos y tonos oscuros, lo que refuerza esa sensación de novela noir. La ilustraciones de los covers tienen un mejor detalle y me gustaron mucho.
A ratos, sentí que la narrativa visual y el manejo de los dialogos de los personajes era una extraña combinación entre The Preacher (Ennis) y 100 Bullets (Azzarello).
El género detectivesco está bien combinado con los post humanos, personas con algún poder especial, además de teorías conspiratorias del Orden Mundial. Ya veremos a dónde nos lleva todo esto.
En el apartado gráfico, se trata de un cómic donde predomina la ilustración semi realista, con trazos definidos y tonos oscuros, lo que refuerza esa sensación de novela noir. La ilustraciones de los covers tienen un mejor detalle y me gustaron mucho.
A ratos, sentí que la narrativa visual y el manejo de los dialogos de los personajes era una extraña combinación entre The Preacher (Ennis) y 100 Bullets (Azzarello).
August 15, 2019
Noirish crime thriller meets superhero? I was sold, but it didn't quite manage to live up to my expectations after how much I loved Fatale and The Fade Out.
April 3, 2019
The story gets a pretty good start and keeps you on the edge. The main character's thoughts are in the first person, making the experience intimate for the reader. He is a good guy, but must risk his life many times over to bring down the criminal organization.
Holden is a post-human with superpowers who was tasked by Lynch with infiltrating and dismantling Tao's criminal organization which employs post-humans. Lynch, the only one who knows of the mission, is now in a coma, so Holden's is naturally worried. The only thing he can do is focus on the mission to prevent being killed by either side.
Holden is a post-human with superpowers who was tasked by Lynch with infiltrating and dismantling Tao's criminal organization which employs post-humans. Lynch, the only one who knows of the mission, is now in a coma, so Holden's is naturally worried. The only thing he can do is focus on the mission to prevent being killed by either side.
February 1, 2023
Ogn tanto tocca fare la rilettura
March 3, 2023
Muy grata sorpresa toda la colección. Muy rexomendable
September 18, 2011
This is a review of the entire series not just this book. Not a super hero book but the characters are super human. A government agent goes undercover in a terrorist organization and the only goverment official who knows he is a plant is attacked and put in a coma. Now the protagonist has no way to prove he didn't go rogue and is trapped as a member of this terrorist organization.
One of the things I enjoyed about the TV series 24 is the character was often forced into morally questionable situations where there were no good choices and instead of miraculously finding some third option to get out of the situation, the lead character actually had to choose one of the impossible options and live with the consequences. This book provided that same drama but unlike 24 it didn't go on for 8 or 9 seasons and keep replaying the same plots. As the lead character Holden is forced to act like a terrorist and begins to lose hope he will be able to extricate himself from the siutation. He develops friendships with some of the terrorists and cares about what happens to them. Although he often tries to disrupt the terrorist plans in many cases he can't and has to kill innocent people. He justifies these actions by convincing himself that, if he brings down the organization it will be for the greater good. Ultimately these acts of violence get easier to commit and Holden isn't sure if he is one of the good guys any more.
The book has lots of action, interesting moral dilemmas, and some great plot twists. If you like the TV show the Shield or the early seasons of 24 you will enjoy this book!
One of the things I enjoyed about the TV series 24 is the character was often forced into morally questionable situations where there were no good choices and instead of miraculously finding some third option to get out of the situation, the lead character actually had to choose one of the impossible options and live with the consequences. This book provided that same drama but unlike 24 it didn't go on for 8 or 9 seasons and keep replaying the same plots. As the lead character Holden is forced to act like a terrorist and begins to lose hope he will be able to extricate himself from the siutation. He develops friendships with some of the terrorists and cares about what happens to them. Although he often tries to disrupt the terrorist plans in many cases he can't and has to kill innocent people. He justifies these actions by convincing himself that, if he brings down the organization it will be for the greater good. Ultimately these acts of violence get easier to commit and Holden isn't sure if he is one of the good guys any more.
The book has lots of action, interesting moral dilemmas, and some great plot twists. If you like the TV show the Shield or the early seasons of 24 you will enjoy this book!
March 28, 2014
Deep cover agent Carver is so deep he's not sure what's up or down. Originally a 'good guy' spy, now working for the #1 'bad guy' group, high up in the organization, his body count is insane, and the only person who knows he's actually one of the White Hats is in a coma, not likely to wake.
This could have been a cheesy B-Movie or a horrible book in the wrong hands, but Brubaker and Philips are just solid gold.
Carver is also a post-human, which means he has powers, from experiments done on him by the 'good guys'. He's nearly indestructible, which makes it difficult to hurt him, as he cannot feel pain really. He's still trying to figure out how to take out the bad guys, but doesn't really know if the good guys would do anything different than the bad guys if they had the knowledge/control.
Throw in the usual Ed/Sean femme fatale, and you've got the makings of James Bond crossed with Electro.
I'm looking forward to following this up with Vol. 2, where things should hopefully get even more jacked up and claustrophobic for our "hero".
This could have been a cheesy B-Movie or a horrible book in the wrong hands, but Brubaker and Philips are just solid gold.
Carver is also a post-human, which means he has powers, from experiments done on him by the 'good guys'. He's nearly indestructible, which makes it difficult to hurt him, as he cannot feel pain really. He's still trying to figure out how to take out the bad guys, but doesn't really know if the good guys would do anything different than the bad guys if they had the knowledge/control.
Throw in the usual Ed/Sean femme fatale, and you've got the makings of James Bond crossed with Electro.
I'm looking forward to following this up with Vol. 2, where things should hopefully get even more jacked up and claustrophobic for our "hero".
December 1, 2009
A spy with a pretty unique super power goes deep under cover in the super villain community, only to have his contact in the spy network get injured and end up in a coma.
Now, he is on his own, as the villains don't entirely trust him, the rest of the spies think he's a traitor and he has to figure out how to walk this tight rope before one side or the other kills him.
Somewhere between the 'Sopranos', the 'Bourne Identity' and 'The Legion of Doom'. It's dark, gritty, there's a double cross every five minutes and we get to learn about some of the secret conspiracies running the world.
Our hero is trying to do the right thing, while at the same time knowing he can't really trust anybody and is fighting to keep from just sinking into the dark side.
Doesn't really fit in well with the rest of the Wildstorm Universe, but when it stays in its own little corner it creates an interesting world and cast.
Now, he is on his own, as the villains don't entirely trust him, the rest of the spies think he's a traitor and he has to figure out how to walk this tight rope before one side or the other kills him.
Somewhere between the 'Sopranos', the 'Bourne Identity' and 'The Legion of Doom'. It's dark, gritty, there's a double cross every five minutes and we get to learn about some of the secret conspiracies running the world.
Our hero is trying to do the right thing, while at the same time knowing he can't really trust anybody and is fighting to keep from just sinking into the dark side.
Doesn't really fit in well with the rest of the Wildstorm Universe, but when it stays in its own little corner it creates an interesting world and cast.
April 22, 2010
With "Criminal", Brubaker writes these intimate character studies that are terrific, in "Sleeper" he is looking more at the inner workings of a crime syndicate, and it just doesn't grab me the way the "Criminal" stories do. On the whole, "Sleeper" seems very cartoony -the super powers and the bars that serve heros or villians -- it's all a little goofy. I think his work is much stronger when he stays with the gritty "true-crime" type stories of "Criminal".
The artwork by Sean Phillips is stellar, as always.
The artwork by Sean Phillips is stellar, as always.
June 15, 2016
This started off real slow with a shaky plot and a layout that baffled any kind of flow. But once it went beyond the superheroes, or "post humans" as I should say, and started being a story about an elaborate crime ring and a good guy stuck behind enemy lines it really started to gel. Also the way they handle the "post humans" was interesting, reminded me more of Gaiman's handling of characters in American Gods than anything else I've read since. Will totally check out further volumes.
September 6, 2016
It started a bit slowly with all this illuminati-controls-the-world business but then it turned really great and addictive.
August 28, 2018
Usually a fan of Brubaker, I didn't connect with this one. Will continue the series and hope that it comes around for me.
Read
September 13, 2015puto brubaker eh
May 15, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the series as a whole) 4.5/5
My Boy Brubaker does it again. I've had the Sleeper sitting on my shelf for something like a year now, after purchasing it at considerable expense on the secondary market, which is the only place and the only price you'll pick up this book for, at the moment at least. And like every other really good book I have sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, I was doing all within my power to not read it. Each time I read a few average books in a row, I knew all I had to do was pick up a Brubaker book and all the bad story blues would just fade out, pun intended. But seeing as how you can only read something for the first time, once, I was admirably succeeding in keeping this little, no doubt gem, unread. But what the hell, it's Christmas, and I deserve it. And I do have a few other Brubaker books sitting there I haven't spoiled yet. Though for how long...
Whilst it took a little while to get going, I really wasn't a fan of the first five issues. Neither Brubaker's writing or Jim Lee's art were really clicking for me. All that changed once the book got going proper, and Mr Sean Philips entered the scene, to smear his beautiful noir chops all over the pages. These two men really do make beautiful music together, and the rest of us get to sit back and admire the results.
Whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of the superhero aspect of this book, finding it a unnecessary, a little ham fisted at times, especially during the (pretty bad) origin stories. Though Ol Ed might have been writing them with tongue firmly in cheek, everything else was pretty much pure gold, and gave me one of the greatest characters to grace the pages of a comic book in Miss Misery. Never before has a Femme been so Fatale, pun intended. I obviously won't spoil anything about her, but hot damn! Whilst she worked amazingly as a secondary character in this story, and likely wouldn't quite come off the same way in her own spin off series, I would kill for some Jennifer Blood type Sleeper spin off starring this twisted and titillating little lady.
Slight gripes aside, this is just yet more proof why Brubaker is the greatest writer still working in comics today. Or still performing at his peak, anyway. Aa few of the old guard float in and out, although most are past their prime. Sleeper might not be my favourite Brubaker story. Hell, it might not even crack the top three, although the fact that its still fucking awesome just goes to show the strength of this man's back catalogue. Get the softcovers if you have to, just make sure you read it. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
My Boy Brubaker does it again. I've had the Sleeper sitting on my shelf for something like a year now, after purchasing it at considerable expense on the secondary market, which is the only place and the only price you'll pick up this book for, at the moment at least. And like every other really good book I have sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, I was doing all within my power to not read it. Each time I read a few average books in a row, I knew all I had to do was pick up a Brubaker book and all the bad story blues would just fade out, pun intended. But seeing as how you can only read something for the first time, once, I was admirably succeeding in keeping this little, no doubt gem, unread. But what the hell, it's Christmas, and I deserve it. And I do have a few other Brubaker books sitting there I haven't spoiled yet. Though for how long...
Whilst it took a little while to get going, I really wasn't a fan of the first five issues. Neither Brubaker's writing or Jim Lee's art were really clicking for me. All that changed once the book got going proper, and Mr Sean Philips entered the scene, to smear his beautiful noir chops all over the pages. These two men really do make beautiful music together, and the rest of us get to sit back and admire the results.
Whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of the superhero aspect of this book, finding it a unnecessary, a little ham fisted at times, especially during the (pretty bad) origin stories. Though Ol Ed might have been writing them with tongue firmly in cheek, everything else was pretty much pure gold, and gave me one of the greatest characters to grace the pages of a comic book in Miss Misery. Never before has a Femme been so Fatale, pun intended. I obviously won't spoil anything about her, but hot damn! Whilst she worked amazingly as a secondary character in this story, and likely wouldn't quite come off the same way in her own spin off series, I would kill for some Jennifer Blood type Sleeper spin off starring this twisted and titillating little lady.
Slight gripes aside, this is just yet more proof why Brubaker is the greatest writer still working in comics today. Or still performing at his peak, anyway. Aa few of the old guard float in and out, although most are past their prime. Sleeper might not be my favourite Brubaker story. Hell, it might not even crack the top three, although the fact that its still fucking awesome just goes to show the strength of this man's back catalogue. Get the softcovers if you have to, just make sure you read it. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
June 14, 2024
Aunque es genial toparse con los trabajos de Ed Brubaker en los dos grandes universos de super comic book, siempre insuflando su característica carga noir o de exploración de personaje en situaciones o eventos más "anclados a al tierra". No se puede negar que el hecho de que en la crisis del comic USA 90" se diese desbandada de artistas creando sus sellos propios para tener tanto control total sobre los royalties de sus obras como creativo, era algo que grandes mentes como Brubaker sí que aprovecharían. Por encima de los otros compañeros de profesión que tiraban de ese macarrismo y excesos gráficos hiper forzados como reclamo comercial facilón para las juventudes de la época.
Así seguimos topándonos con SLEEPER. Una propuesta que a pesar de integrarse en el Universo Wildstorm se siente en todo momento a su aire. Libre e independiente para focalizarse en el personaje protagonista y su particular situación de agente doble en los submundos criminales y de poder de este universo donde hasta el mayor grupo de héroes dista mucho de ser un ejemplo de virtud.
Si bien los entresijos del universo Wildstorm siempre han cimentando la importancia de las tramas sociopolíticas, detectivescas y de espionaje industrial. Estaba claro que sería alguien como Brubaker quien de verdad mostrase una verdadera historia de estas temáticas. Desde la primera página, se engancha al lector a una narración de sabor clásico pero impacto actual. Holden Carver se encuentra totalmente metido en la boca del lobo de la, quizás, mayor mente criminal de este mundo. Teniendo que ser un agente leal de TAO que en realidad está en una misión secreta para un cabeza de organización secreta que ya dura años. Si sus habilidades particulares ya le obligan a estar diariamente recibiendo daños físicos y devolviéndolos incrementados. Su personalidad de criminal en ascenso directo al poder también le está pasando factura. Lo que no ayudará que su verdadero jefe quede "fuera de juego". Dejándole totalmente a ciegas en un momento donde los mismos cimientos del mundo podrían cambiar por su propia mano.
El tándem de Ed Brubaker y Sean Phillips se encuentra aquí para ya establecer un "campo de pruebas" creativo del que se vislumbran los tantos años de trabajos en común que seguimos disfrutando. Pero SLEEPER demuestra ser algo más que un trabajo tirando a tosco del que superarse creativamente. El contar con una "estructura televisiva", definida por "temporadas". También dota de otra capa de estilo y ritmo a una historia que conviene (re)descubrir.
Así seguimos topándonos con SLEEPER. Una propuesta que a pesar de integrarse en el Universo Wildstorm se siente en todo momento a su aire. Libre e independiente para focalizarse en el personaje protagonista y su particular situación de agente doble en los submundos criminales y de poder de este universo donde hasta el mayor grupo de héroes dista mucho de ser un ejemplo de virtud.
Si bien los entresijos del universo Wildstorm siempre han cimentando la importancia de las tramas sociopolíticas, detectivescas y de espionaje industrial. Estaba claro que sería alguien como Brubaker quien de verdad mostrase una verdadera historia de estas temáticas. Desde la primera página, se engancha al lector a una narración de sabor clásico pero impacto actual. Holden Carver se encuentra totalmente metido en la boca del lobo de la, quizás, mayor mente criminal de este mundo. Teniendo que ser un agente leal de TAO que en realidad está en una misión secreta para un cabeza de organización secreta que ya dura años. Si sus habilidades particulares ya le obligan a estar diariamente recibiendo daños físicos y devolviéndolos incrementados. Su personalidad de criminal en ascenso directo al poder también le está pasando factura. Lo que no ayudará que su verdadero jefe quede "fuera de juego". Dejándole totalmente a ciegas en un momento donde los mismos cimientos del mundo podrían cambiar por su propia mano.
El tándem de Ed Brubaker y Sean Phillips se encuentra aquí para ya establecer un "campo de pruebas" creativo del que se vislumbran los tantos años de trabajos en común que seguimos disfrutando. Pero SLEEPER demuestra ser algo más que un trabajo tirando a tosco del que superarse creativamente. El contar con una "estructura televisiva", definida por "temporadas". También dota de otra capa de estilo y ritmo a una historia que conviene (re)descubrir.
December 5, 2019
A good guy deep undercover as a bad guy starts questioning who he really is as the line between his two realities start to blur. This is further complicated by the only person who knows he is a good guy currently being in a coma.
That is basically the story of Sleeper vol 1 in a nutshell. What is interesting about the book is that it confronts the topic of identity head on. Especially when you tack on the emphasis on needing to constantly "prove" yourself to the bad guys by doing... well, bad things. At what point do the acts stop constituting the intent? Even our main protagonist starts questioning his role in the grander scheme of things as he has literally runs out of allies. Now its a race to somehow clear his name, bring bad guys down, and not die or be arrested in the process.
I loved the sense of foreboding and danger that the book illicits. The atmosphere is a noir-ish approach to a mystery thriller, wrapped up in super powered wrapping. The art perfectly encapsulates the tone by providing deep shadowy inks over somewhat sketchy pencils.
Brubaker really peaked my interest with this topic. I really like where this book is headed. Onto vol 2!
That is basically the story of Sleeper vol 1 in a nutshell. What is interesting about the book is that it confronts the topic of identity head on. Especially when you tack on the emphasis on needing to constantly "prove" yourself to the bad guys by doing... well, bad things. At what point do the acts stop constituting the intent? Even our main protagonist starts questioning his role in the grander scheme of things as he has literally runs out of allies. Now its a race to somehow clear his name, bring bad guys down, and not die or be arrested in the process.
I loved the sense of foreboding and danger that the book illicits. The atmosphere is a noir-ish approach to a mystery thriller, wrapped up in super powered wrapping. The art perfectly encapsulates the tone by providing deep shadowy inks over somewhat sketchy pencils.
Brubaker really peaked my interest with this topic. I really like where this book is headed. Onto vol 2!
July 2, 2020
I have long been a fan of Ed Brubaker's noir crime graphic stories, and had missed the Sleeper series somehow. This story gives us the answer to the question of what could have happened if Raymond Chandler had written superhero comics.
Set in a world with superheroes and supervillaims, the main character went from a human secret agent to being a weirdly-empowered agent, sent deep undercover. The problem, of course, is that in typical spy-movie fashion, the only person who knows that he's really still one of teh good guys gets attacked and is in a coma, so the deep-cover agent can't come in from the cold...thus, the title of this volume.
Since he has one of the most intruiging and unusual superpowers ever, the ways both his good and evil bosses have found to use him are fascinating. Since the strength of his power is also a huge personal weakness, it gets very weird, very quickly.
This is a good story for fans of very dark spy literature, but since it's set in the same universe as The Authority and several other comics, it's an even darker look at that world.
Set in a world with superheroes and supervillaims, the main character went from a human secret agent to being a weirdly-empowered agent, sent deep undercover. The problem, of course, is that in typical spy-movie fashion, the only person who knows that he's really still one of teh good guys gets attacked and is in a coma, so the deep-cover agent can't come in from the cold...thus, the title of this volume.
Since he has one of the most intruiging and unusual superpowers ever, the ways both his good and evil bosses have found to use him are fascinating. Since the strength of his power is also a huge personal weakness, it gets very weird, very quickly.
This is a good story for fans of very dark spy literature, but since it's set in the same universe as The Authority and several other comics, it's an even darker look at that world.
January 19, 2022
I had forgotten how freakin' dark this is. Rereading it now, it's great to see the start of the Brubaker-Phillips collaboration, but this story (and IIRC the sequels) is much more focused on the nasty world of deep cover espionage than on the building of relationships and characters seen in series like Criminal. Our protagonist, Holden Carver, is undercover in a criminal organization that attempts to mastermind the world. His handler is in a coma, he lacks direction, and he kills innocents (including other undercover agents) to keep his position safe. Moreover, the post-humans he works with (think superheroes without the trademark) are usually selfish, sadistic sorts. Add to all this Carver's superpower (he's immune to almost all feeling, but can transfer his pain to others), and it's a bleak, bleak work.
But Brubaker seldom wallows in bleakness. Noir, sure, but not bleakness, and the result is a fast moving book with great dialogue and sometimes, at least, the illusion of hope for Carver.
But Brubaker seldom wallows in bleakness. Noir, sure, but not bleakness, and the result is a fast moving book with great dialogue and sometimes, at least, the illusion of hope for Carver.
January 2, 2018
This may be the early work of the Brubaker/Phillips team but it still stands tall as one of, if not the best thing they have ever done. I mean this as no insult to the rest of their work together, most of which is 5/5, but as real praise for this.
Managing to blend superheroics with Brubakers love of crime fiction to create a tale of a man deep deep undercover in a criminal organisation with no apparent way of getting out (the only man who knows he is undercover is now in a coma).
This first part of the first season is dark and violent but is also incredibly gripping. Sleeper is a real treat from start to finish and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of season 1 and the going straight onto Season 2.
I am a story man and am often not bothered by the art if the story is amazing as this but Phillips has a style that really fits the darkness and the shadows that are part of the story. This really is a team that works together to create a seem less whole
Managing to blend superheroics with Brubakers love of crime fiction to create a tale of a man deep deep undercover in a criminal organisation with no apparent way of getting out (the only man who knows he is undercover is now in a coma).
This first part of the first season is dark and violent but is also incredibly gripping. Sleeper is a real treat from start to finish and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of season 1 and the going straight onto Season 2.
I am a story man and am often not bothered by the art if the story is amazing as this but Phillips has a style that really fits the darkness and the shadows that are part of the story. This really is a team that works together to create a seem less whole
December 31, 2025
as a brubaker glazer, it brings me great joy to finally get my mitts on their origin series (we could count scene of the crime but phillips as the artist here is zoo wee mama) - i knew my local comic shop was selling these but for a shorter first vol i debated just ordering a trade or the omni + they were so thin i knew i was setting myself up to struggle with shelf shuffles
this was like if brubaker wrote ennis' the boys except there's more of a plot focus and less dark humour however, i anticipate it will ramp up given that this was made in 2004 and one of the characters is literally named "genocide jones"
brubaker does a stellar job at giving the reader enough to go on whilst not revealing too much in holden's internal monologue. i absolutely would read more and small doses of this will save me from a reading block i guarantee
but team game so
3.5/5 stars
this was like if brubaker wrote ennis' the boys except there's more of a plot focus and less dark humour however, i anticipate it will ramp up given that this was made in 2004 and one of the characters is literally named "genocide jones"
brubaker does a stellar job at giving the reader enough to go on whilst not revealing too much in holden's internal monologue. i absolutely would read more and small doses of this will save me from a reading block i guarantee
but team game so
3.5/5 stars
March 21, 2018
A few years back, Wildstorm was the mack-daddy for intelligent, challenging adventure comics. All of those Marvel and DC readers who complain about wanting progression and change in their characters should've been reading Wildcats Version 3.0 and Sleeper, because these books were showcasing some innovative and exciting ideas without ever letting up on the "fun" of the adventure comic milieu.
What surprises me about Sleeper is that for being such a dark book on the surface, I laughed out loud several times while reading these books. Sure, the humor is pitch black, but it's still there and it's damn funny. The situations are believable in their moral complexity, every choice that Holden can make is a shade of dull charcoal grey.
Sean Phillips art is killer, and Colin Wilson may be even better.
What surprises me about Sleeper is that for being such a dark book on the surface, I laughed out loud several times while reading these books. Sure, the humor is pitch black, but it's still there and it's damn funny. The situations are believable in their moral complexity, every choice that Holden can make is a shade of dull charcoal grey.
Sean Phillips art is killer, and Colin Wilson may be even better.
March 1, 2025
Aquí comenzó un idilio entre guionista y dibujante que posteriormente iría sembrando el mercado de obras de una enorme calidad. Una historia dentro del universo Wildstorm que deja en la periferia el asunto superheróico para desarrollar un relato clásico de esencia noir. Un agente doble que pierde su único seguro de salida y queda atrapado en el bando de los villanos sin posibilidad de retorno. Espías, mujeres fatales, amistades que traicionar y asesinatos a mansalva en un caso del máximo nivel, con el destino de la civilización en juego. Historia, tono, grafismo y acción en perfecta sintonía para crear un cómic absolutamente adictivo, de esos que no puedes ni quieres dejar de leer. Una maravilla.
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