A Vicious Circle #1

A Vicious Circle #1

by Mattson Tomlin, Lee Bermejo (Penciller)

Shawn Thacker is a trained assassin from the future who seeks revenge on the only other man with his affliction -- each life they take forces them both to travel between vastly different past and future eras. Spanning from 22nd century Tokyo to 1950s New Orleans to the Cretaceous Era and beyond, the two mortal rivals are locked in a battle of wills that spans millions of years, all to alter the course of history.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Bande Dessinée, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Time Travel

50 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2022

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy FK.

Everything about this was PHENOMENAL.

Best comic I've read this year. Which means my life.

Artwork was brilliant, clever, gorgeous, richly detailed ... the story is nuts and compelling and I WANT MORE.

Absolutely brilliant!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 10/30/2024. Man I forgot how freaking good this was!! Let’s finally read issue 2!!

Man, what an intriguing first issue. It’s a nice teaser of what’s to come as it gives you just enough to hook you in. The art in here may be some of the best I’ve ever seen in a comic. It’s absolutely gorgeous and brings this story to life as the two main characters bounce around different periods in time. The art and the color changes with each new time they enter. The little bit of info you get in this first issue has me ready for the next issue right now.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Bermejo is one of the finest comic book artists today, and this work showcases his full range of talent.

Mattson Tomlin, a writer new to me, presents a captivating plot and narrative that held my interest from start to finish.

I eagerly anticipate where this story will go next.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supposed to be 3 issues, but the way it ends is quite jarring so I could be wrong.

Like JH Williams's recent Echolands, this script feels like a good excuse for Lee Bermejo to show his range. Starting in the 1950s with photorealistic artwork once the action starts we see a time jump. Each shift in time comes with a brand new art style, many photorealistic but lots of different cartoon styles too. Two people battle through time, each time a human is killed by either of them the time shifts. From space age, Nazi Germany, Cretaceous era, etc.

Well worth checking out for the artwork if the plot feels like one we've seen a few times before. It ends up feeling like just a plot device to service Bermejo's artwork.

[Fraser Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap. This was really damn good. A black man under Jim Crow has a secret in his basement, but when he returns home his life is upended. And boy is that an understatement. What follows is a SFF treat spanning multiple visual styles and some twists that keep things really interesting and fun. And that’s saying something because the art at the start is just phenomenal. Seeing it as something iterated upon is just jazz.

Now here is a title I was very happy to see nominated in the Eisners, because I doubt I’d have heard of it otherwise. Hoping for a hardcover that collects these three issues when it’s completed. It would be so nice.

[Panashe M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is exceptional, and the story has me clamoring for more.

[Phrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the best art I’ve seen in a comic, ever. Story sucked me in. We need more asap.

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5
Un style photo réaliste noir et blanc au départ, puis changement à chaque nouvelle époque ! Le pitch c’est deux assassins qui font des bons dans le temps à chaque fois que l’un d’eux tue quelqu’un… clairement c’est hyper violent mais j’aime bien l’idée, à voir la suite car pour l’instant un peu léger avec seulement 64 pages même si c’est frappant visuellement et plein de promesses !

[Lucas Savio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Com uma arte stupenda que pula dos quadris e um roteiro ambicioso e com uma proposta interessante fiquei bem curioso em continuar mas a arte é soberba de linda

[Tasso Kapetopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visually stunning 1st issue with a story you can't stop reading. The changes between art styles is done so well it's like reading five comics in one.

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different, but a great story and art. Time travel assassins.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es uno de los mejores primeros números que he leído en mucho tiempo. Desde luego que el arte de Lee Bermejo sabe generar unas atmósferas opresivas pero totalmente atractivas. Y esta historia inicia de este modo, con un hombre en pura época segregacionista estadounidense que tiene un secreto encadenado en su sótano. Pero pronto descubriremos que este par de personajes no pertenecen a ese lugar ni tiempo... y puede que a ninguno en específico. Ambos son lo único que los logran hacer permanecer en un momento concreto que solo se rompe cuando se derrama sangre y continúa ese ciclo que da título a la propuesta de Mattson Tomlin. Y lo malo es que uno de los personajes parece ser un peligroso psicópata homicida.

Así que en estas páginas tenemos una buena muestra de acción, misterio y ciencia ficción. Quizás hubiese interesado mantener ese estupendo contexto a lo "Matar a un Ruiseñor" todo lo que se pudiese en este 1º número y dejar el trasfondo espacio temporal como cliffhanger. Pero si no es así, es que el autor tiene un plan para esta historia que desde luego no puedo imaginarme cuál podrá ser. Y nada de eso desmerece un número que es pura emoción.

[Norman Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 Eisner Award finalist - Best Single Issue/One Shot, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art) (Lee Bermejo)

The art by Lee Bermejo is phenomenal, especially the black-and-white prologue. The story is good, fast paced and full of action. It seemed an awfully lot like Harlan Ellison's Outer Limits script, "Soldier" (1964) (which was likely ripped off by James Cameron for The Terminator (1984)). But it's hard to tell for sure, because this is apparently the first of three parts, but it's been six months since publication with no sign of the second or third issues. As such, it ends without resolution. Let's hope that Tomlin and Bermejo get a chance to finish it.

[Syncere N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing! I reread this a few times I enjoyed it so much. A different take on the assassin/killer trope that didn’t leave me feeling bored or rolling my eyes. It wasn’t too forward or wordy also it didn’t leave me feeling as though it was watered down. The art work has depth and played well as the characters jumped through time.

[Johnathan Breeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time traveling action

So first and foremost I have to say the drawing in this comic is some of the best I've ever seen some realism and the story and characters are just awesome this is a time traveling thriller I can't wait to read what's next

[Bus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 estrellas por el aspecto visual y porque me deja curioso. Pero vamos que cuenta poco, aclara nada y ni arranca. 20 euritos que vuelan y ni te has enterado. Seguiré en el próximo por ver si avanza y consolida o sigue siendo viñeta espectacular tras viñeta espectacular pero sin fondo ni sentido.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a visually stunning, time-hopping fever dream. The story drops you into a violent, looping mystery with big ambition and even bigger style. Lee Bermejo’s art is next-level—dynamic, cinematic, and worth the price alone. A bold, intriguing start. Excited to see where this goes!

[Chipper35 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff! Fantastic black and white in the early pages. Frenetic but compelling story.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. The only reason I didn't give it one star is the art which is superb.

[Erik Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet Jesus this art is stunning

I’ve been a long time fan of Lee Bemejo but he has outdone himself on this one- the style jumping and storytelling - wow!!

[Abel Montero · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a fever dream than a story.
Artworks are amazind as always.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this for free at a comic-con, and it was amazing!! The art was phenomenal, and the storyline was very intriguing.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I disegni però sono stupendi!

[Daniel Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

UM BOM COMEÇO
Suspense drama e ação na medida certa
arte soberba e poucas pistas do que podemos ver adiante.
elementos que tornam essa HQ tão interessante

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai beaucoup aimé, j’attends la suite avec impatience.

[Benjamin Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, visually stunning artwork by Lee Bermejo. Story has started something wildly interesting. Can't wait to read more!

[Ziyad Baksh · Rating 4 out of 5]

head trip

it sets the stage for Shawn's time travel revenge quest against Ferris but drops you in the middle of it.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read.

I highly recommend you check this book out now! Very unique and the art is superb. Do it now! You won't regret it.

[Nando Gigaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm absolutely captivated by Lee Bermejo's artwork. A new fan has been born.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

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