The Emissary Bridge has always connected the citizens of Port Lindon to hope and opportunity.? But when one man shockingly sets himself on fire, the bridge now brings something else to the town:? CERTAIN DEATH.? Good as Dead #1 kicks off a haunting story of crime, justice, death, and how far a small town will go to keep its secrets.?

Good as Dead #1 is an interesting start to the series packing a lot into the debut issue. The basic story is a town controlled by a corrupt family, a bridge that can break their hold, and a sheriff and a deputy with issues of their own. It’s a series where it feels like everyone has a secret and everyone is in on something. There’s also teases about aliens and conspiracies, a murder, and a whole lot more. Written by David Lapham and Maria Lapham from a concept by Chris Black and David Alpert, the debut issue is dense with details which helps and hurts the comic.

There’s a lot to like about Good as Dead #1. The town feels small with the crime ripped from classic films like Walking Tall. The characters often rely a bit too much on tropes with some fleshed out a great ton with others not so much, the latter being rather cookie cutter. Still, the comic is packed with reveals and twists that adds complication after complication to the story and an aspect which creates a ticking clock as to when it all has to be resolved.

The art by David Lapham is good with color by Dee Cunniffe. Lapham also handles the lettering though there’s at least one issue with it that stands out. The look of the comic is in Lapham’s style which fits the narrative and matches its rather frenetic pacing. I said it’s overall good as there’s a few page turns that don’t quite work where panels that have to do with the following page are at the bottom of the previous. It creates an odd flow at times.

Good as Dead #1 is an issue where there’s a lot to keep track of. The comic is packed with characters, twists, reveals, conspiracies, it feels like an X-Files episode but the cast is multiplied by 10. It’s a debut you need to pay close attention to so you can keep track of everything going on and everything laid out. It’s also an issue that actually surprises, it goes in unexpected directions and delivers a concept that’ll appeal to folks who like a good conspiracy.

Story: David Lapham, Maria Lapham Art: David Lapham
Color: Dee Cunniffe Letterer: David Lapham Created by: Chris Black and David Alpert
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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