This new series from Dark Horse utilizes a common enough premise, that of the assassin living a double life as someone else, with those in the other life blissfully unaware of the character’s violent actions.  However, while this premise is common enough, its implementation here is not, making this assassin’s double life that of a meticulous housewife in the 1960s, thus channeling a bit of Mad Men to go along with the assassin action.  The main character here is Josie Schuller, and is first introduced as an Avon Lady traveling door-to-door to make a sale.  Things quickly take a darker turn though as the character is interested in more than selling cosmetics to her first client.

There are a lot of different influences here to draw the reader into the 1960s, from the well-drawn linoleum floors to the Playboy style social club.  After the success of Mad Men on television, others have tried to capture the same charisma from the era, though to differing successes.  While this series might not be one that enters the wider consciousness of popular culture, it is nonetheless one which does indeed capture what is characteristic to the era, at least from a stereotypical standpoint.

It is sometimes the case when artists bridge the gap to writing that there is a bit of a disconnect, but it is not the case here as Joëlle Jones makes her first major entry into writing and hits the ground running with an interesting premise and a script that doesn’t let go from start to finish.  While there is a bit more gore than might be necessary for such a story, this is really the only complaint that one could have for this issue.  It is not a great comic, as its premise is not that groundbreaking to give it consideration in such a way, but it is still a fun attempt at a new story, and one worth checking out.

Story: Joëlle Jones and Jamie S. Rich  Art: Joëlle Jones
Story: 8.6 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.