The medium of comics have found some fertile ground in the golden age of Hollywood.  These stories are told in a crime noir format, but also take a chance to look at Hollywood as a microcosm of society (including modern society) for a time and place that were different but not very different.  Thus series such as The Fade Out and Satellite Same have become critical successes.  While there is something nostalgic about this period, it also begs the question why other periods might not have received any attention.  With Red One, this change of focus finally takes place, across a significant change in this setting, away from crime noir and into the realm of superheroes.

The action instead focuses on the 1970s and the golden age of cinema has been replaced by the age of pornography in the era of Linda Lovelace.  The porn stars act as the destroyers of society, and the opposition to them is just as strong as it is in other sources.  While this acts as an interesting concept for a comic, this series goes a long way further.  Someone is murdering the porn stars, and furthermore this vigilante is being hailed as a hero, or even a superhero.  In a bit of an illogical non sequitur plot a Soviet super assassin, who also happens to be female, is to be sent to the USA to battle the menace that is killing the porn stars in the name of protecting American society.

If it sounds to be a bizarre premise it’s because it is, and while it seems like it wouldn’t work, it strangely works pretty fluidly.  It is the super soldier program that birthed the Black Widow combined with Boogie Night wrapped in a costume that looks like a female Evil Knievel.  The issue takes most of its content to set up the complex story, but once it gets there it starts to run smoothly, specifically in its meta-take on the superhero genre, referencing Batman and Superman in their role in the American psyche.  The concept is maybe far fetched, but the story doesn’t attempt to cover this up but rather revels in it.  Those that look a little deeper while simultaneously removing their logic cap will probably find a worthy read here.

Story: Xavier Dorison Art: Terry Dodson
Story: 8.6  Art: 8.6  Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Image provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review