Much buzz has been made about the NBC show, Blindspot, as it revolves around a woman, who has lost her memory, and has tattoos all over her body which leads to her uncovering a huger mystery about not only herself but ultimately a great evil. This concept, although interesting, is not wholly original; in fact, it has been replayed in movies and TY many times. As this same concept I heard about at the Archie Comics booth at New York Comic Con last year, when they were talking about The Shield, as this was about a superhero that has no idea who she is or why she is doing what she is doing. I remembered thinking then just how interesting the concept was and how excited I was. So when Archie Comics imprint, Dark Circle, finally announced the release of The Shield, I admittedly had to Google exactly what the plotline was.

Apparently, this character is a reboot, for a golden age comic, which I have not heard, which really is not a big deal, as I had not heard of the Green Turtle, before Gene Luen Yang, revived the character and introduced them to modern comics fans. Kudos to Archie comics, for reviving the character but also rebooting it by making the Shield, a woman. Apparently, the character was originally conceived to be based off of Captain America, but from the first few pages, she seems to a grittier and darker hero.

As the solicitation says:

Since the dawn of the republic, whenever her country faces its blackest days, she returns: a spirit of the revolution sent to fight for what is right. But when she reappears for the first time in a generation with no memories—not even of her own identity—and encounters an evil force expecting her arrival, all the Shield can do is… run!

The comic begins with the Shield on a mission during Revolutionary War, decimating a camp of British soldiers, before finally being defeated, and despite her state, looks at her captors, with defiance to the end and utters the words, “I am nobody, I am nothing, nothing but a soldier, nothing but a shield of the revolution”. Fast Forward to modern day Washington DC and modern version of the Shield is on the run from some government agencies and shadowy individuals while suffering flashbacks of her many incarnations over 200 years. She eventually realize who she is and what her purpose in this world is, which a government agent eventually confirms. By issue’s end, it seems as though she is concerned and defeated, but much like the opening sequence, I have a lingering feeling, that she overcomes.

In conclusion, an excellent story that by far, is a way better concept and story than what the show Blindspot, has shown us so far. The story by Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig, unfolds a spy thriller, hurling the reader the reader into a world of high stakes politics and secret identities. The art by Drew Johnson is luminescent and drawn with realistic tones, which serves this action packed narrative. Overall, probably the best comic to come out of the Dark Circle imprint and one that is long overdue.

Story: Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig Art: Drew Johnson
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Archie Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review