An interesting series that focuses on a future where the dead wander aimlessly and police are charged with dispatching them.  Hotwire: Deep Cut #1 stands out not for the story, but instead, the use of colors is impressive.  The entire issue glows in neon with the use of almost fluorescent colors.

Detective Exorcist Alice Hotwire is back! After the events of Hotwire: Requiem for the Dead, the city’s only supernatural investigator is taking some much needed R&R. But when a Blue Light from her colored past appears in front of her door, it sparks a series of events that lead Hotwire and Mobey across the city attempting to stop the results of a secret government project from turning the city into another living nightmare. With backup from Coroner Love and Metro Police, can Hotwire and Mobey save the day one more time? Join groundbreaking creator/writer/illustrator Steve Pugh for a glimpse into Alice Hotwire’s past and peer through a gateway into her future.

Created by Steve Pugh and Warren Ellis, written and art by Pugh Hotwire is definitely an entertaining series.  I haven’t read the previous arc, but was quickly caught up and didn’t feel like I missed anything.  The characters are interesting and art and coloring definitely unique.  Overall, this is one of the other Radical Publishing comics for the week that I’d recommend checking out.

Plot: The series starts off with a bang and gets you right into the action with little set up.  New readers are caught up through flashbacks, none of which is jarring and fits seamlessly.  My only issue with the plot and probably why I’m not rating this a “buy” is because it’s all set up.  There’s only three issues to work with here and you need to get the story going.  This issue is all set up and flashbacks with little when it comes to even hinting at who the villain is.  And most frustrating, the issue just stops.  It’s an abrupt and jarring ending to the first issue.  It’s still intriguing and might be for you.  Rating: 7

Art: The art here is pretty solid with some very cool scenes and amazing use of color.  The art alone almost makes this a buy.  There’s a very consistent and fitting hue that permeates the entire book and some very cool scenes (the car crash and arm growing stick out to me).  The fact that Pugh does double duty in writing and art is impressive, and I’d love to get a behind the scenes of how he pulled it all together.  Rating: 9

Overall: The story is pretty unique and coloring definitely stands out.  Overall, I really want to like the series and I’m sure as I move onto the second and third issues I might totally be won over.  I’m really close to recommending this as a buy, but something just barely holds me back.  I definitely think it’s one you should check out at the store as you’re browsing this week’s releases.  It’s worth checking it out at least and seeing if it’s something that might interest you.  Overall rating: 7.5

Recommendation: Read

Page count: 32 pages    Price: $3.50    Release Date: 7/28/2010

Radical Publishing provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.