After reading through the first seven issues of BOOM! Studios‘ Suicide Risk, I was tempted to review the latest and greatest, as is typically expected. However, I’m going to shake things up a bit and dial it back to the fifth issue, a stand-alone comic titled Instant Access. In this world, heroes and villains exist as part of everyday society, but the villains are quickly outnumbering the heroes, and law enforcement is losing control. The cop protagonist of the main storyline, Leo Winters, strikes a deal with a low-level street duo that own a tool capable of unlocking/awakening/providing one’s superpower.

This particular issue centers on Ada Robins, a downtrodden woman with a deadbeat husband and two children in high school, one pregnant and one dealing drugs. Forced to take fewer hours at work, and constantly avoid advances by her slimy boss, she’s just about had it with life until she meets that same duo and acquires an ability that changes…everything.

A stand-alone story five issues into a series is an interesting–and bold–choice in the lifecycle of a comic, but one that works perfectly for Suicide Risk. However far out creator Mike Carey envisioned this world, he made the genius move of taking a side step to show one story, in one town, about one person. He packed enough depth and potential in its pages to create a full length feature film or fiction fable (book, not fable, I got carried away with the alliteration). With an unconscionably powerful gift, watching Ada’s descent into darkness is like rubbernecking a horrific traffic accident…you just can’t look away.

Where would a dark, revenge tale be without the artistic talents of the infallible Joëlle Jones? The shadowy corners and rooms lit by television screens and harsh lighting create a brooding atmosphere, almost in preparation of the panels to come. Nevertheless, my biggest complaint, through no fault of Ms. Jones, is the cover art. It is a dull, uninteresting illustration of the aforementioned duo holding their power-dealing device. Talk about missed opportunities. Why not show a close-up of Ada’s face, one half sullen, depressed with stringy brown hair, and the other half glowing, impeccable with lips drawn up in a wry, evil smile? Cover artist Tommy Lee Edwards is almost always on point, but in this case, he missed a chance to create an evocative cover piece.

I’m still undecided as to whether Suicide Risk as a whole is a read or buy. It has a great premise, but can sometimes be bogged down by the ubiquitous heroes and villains and their often corny names (i.e. Just A Feeling, seriously?). Regardless, I clearly recommend this issue, so go get it and decide for yourself if you want to take a risk and delve into Carey’s suicidal world.

Story: Mike Carey Art: Joëlle Jones
Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review