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A Calculated Man
A verifiable math genius, Jack Beans used to run the numbers for the Pinafore crime family, until one day he ran them too well and concluded that the only way out of this life was in a casket or Witness Protection. So, he turned state's evidence and ran.
Now, the Pinafores are out to end their favorite accountant. Little do they know that Jack's skills with math and his perfect memory have made him a better killer than they ever could have realized. What follows is a journey full of murder, mayhem and mathematics.
Writer Paul Tobin (BUNNY MASK, MY DATE WITH MONSTERS) and artist Alberto Alburquerque (The Amazing Spider-Man, Savage Sword) unleash a master of math on a mission to eliminate a criminal empire for good.
Now, the Pinafores are out to end their favorite accountant. Little do they know that Jack's skills with math and his perfect memory have made him a better killer than they ever could have realized. What follows is a journey full of murder, mayhem and mathematics.
Writer Paul Tobin (BUNNY MASK, MY DATE WITH MONSTERS) and artist Alberto Alburquerque (The Amazing Spider-Man, Savage Sword) unleash a master of math on a mission to eliminate a criminal empire for good.
120 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2023
12 people want to read
About the author
Paul Tobin
930 books406 followersPaul Tobin is the Eisner-award winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Bandette, Colder, and many other comic books and graphic series.
Bandette, drawn by Colleen Coover, was awarded the Eisner Award for Best Digital Series in 2013, 2016, and 2017; and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature in 2016. His original graphic novel I Was the Cat was nominated for an Eisner in 2015.
The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat , first in his five-book series of middle-grade books, came out in 2016 from Bloomsbury Kids. It was followed in 2017 by How To Outsmart A billion Robot Bees , and How To Tame A Human Tornado in March 2018.
Bandette, drawn by Colleen Coover, was awarded the Eisner Award for Best Digital Series in 2013, 2016, and 2017; and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature in 2016. His original graphic novel I Was the Cat was nominated for an Eisner in 2015.
The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat , first in his five-book series of middle-grade books, came out in 2016 from Bloomsbury Kids. It was followed in 2017 by How To Outsmart A billion Robot Bees , and How To Tame A Human Tornado in March 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 8, 2023
If you believe that crime comics can be just as good as print format short stories and novels (as I do) then A CALCULATED MAN is a perfect example of that should you need evidence to support your testimonial. Tobin's story is so clever and entertaining that it's already been optioned for a potential video mini-series. Imagine if Marvel's Frank Castle/The Punisher had the same smarts as the main character in A BRILLIANT MIND movie.
Former accountant/number fixer for the mob Jack Beans has a mind for mathematicians. He sees numbers in colors and is a brilliant tactician. Realizing that he's got too many skills to put himself at risk, he asks permission to retire from the mob. Crime boss of the Keys gang agrees, provided Jack performs one last task - - - work up a plan to rub out his competitor. When Jack learns that he can never exit the mob, he goes into the Witness Protection Program and becomes an informant - - making him Enemy #1 with his former employer. He makes an error in Year 3 of his freedom and makes a public appearance where he is recognized by the mob.
Instead of fleeing, Beans works out a plan to eliminate all the major players of the crime family - - kill or be killed. Throughout the four issues of the series, Beans employs trickery and traps to overcome his numbers disadvantage. There's a twisty reveal in the final issue but things work out favorably for all.
Plenty of humor, a love interest, plenty of drama, plenty of action. Jack Beans is a very likable character and most readers will find themselves rooting for him. The art team of Alberto Albuquerque and Mark Englert is the absolute perfect choice to depict the action with a light-hearted touch that enhances the fun of this book.
I read this a second time. For further appreciation I imagined a former lawyer for a modern-day criminal as Jack Beans and watched with glee as he took out the various crooked associates and goons of his boss. The ending was so satisfying. It's not real life, but I can dream - can't I?
Former accountant/number fixer for the mob Jack Beans has a mind for mathematicians. He sees numbers in colors and is a brilliant tactician. Realizing that he's got too many skills to put himself at risk, he asks permission to retire from the mob. Crime boss of the Keys gang agrees, provided Jack performs one last task - - - work up a plan to rub out his competitor. When Jack learns that he can never exit the mob, he goes into the Witness Protection Program and becomes an informant - - making him Enemy #1 with his former employer. He makes an error in Year 3 of his freedom and makes a public appearance where he is recognized by the mob.
Instead of fleeing, Beans works out a plan to eliminate all the major players of the crime family - - kill or be killed. Throughout the four issues of the series, Beans employs trickery and traps to overcome his numbers disadvantage. There's a twisty reveal in the final issue but things work out favorably for all.
Plenty of humor, a love interest, plenty of drama, plenty of action. Jack Beans is a very likable character and most readers will find themselves rooting for him. The art team of Alberto Albuquerque and Mark Englert is the absolute perfect choice to depict the action with a light-hearted touch that enhances the fun of this book.
I read this a second time. For further appreciation I imagined a former lawyer for a modern-day criminal as Jack Beans and watched with glee as he took out the various crooked associates and goons of his boss. The ending was so satisfying. It's not real life, but I can dream - can't I?
August 20, 2023
This was phenomenal! I was intrigued by this book when I saw the solicitations for it in floppies originally, so I decided to pickup the trade when it came out. I didn’t know if this would be one of those books with a good premise that flopped or what, but I’m so glad I took the chance! This is like Rain Man meets John Wick meets The Departed and I couldn’t recommend this book any more to someone who’s looking for a good crime book. The humor in this one is fantastic and the art fits perfectly for this one. Plenty of dialogue in this one and for a four-issue book, this one took more time than usual to get through, which is always a good thing with a book this good! Great ending and bonus features in this one, as well!
February 4, 2023
Very funny, very violent and very fucking clever
February 10, 2023
The rating might be a little high (read as digital floppies), but wow the last issue nailed the surprise + satisfying ending (while leaving things open for more stories).
Jack Beans is a former mob accountant who has perfect memory and says he cannot lie. We meet Jack as the Federal Marshall responsible for monitoring Jack's time in the witness protection program is getting ready to retire and is introducing Jack to the Marshall's replacement. Jack plays by all the rules, but one mistake leads to the mob finding out where he is.
This is not exactly a revenge tale, and we see Jack use math and his brain to overcome insurmountable odds.
But, the ending-Wow. I did not see that one coming.
Jack Beans is a former mob accountant who has perfect memory and says he cannot lie. We meet Jack as the Federal Marshall responsible for monitoring Jack's time in the witness protection program is getting ready to retire and is introducing Jack to the Marshall's replacement. Jack plays by all the rules, but one mistake leads to the mob finding out where he is.
This is not exactly a revenge tale, and we see Jack use math and his brain to overcome insurmountable odds.
But, the ending-Wow. I did not see that one coming.
July 11, 2023
A good tale swiftly told, but the main character is perfect to the point of hubris, and the fall necessary to make the tale enjoyable never occurs.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews