Sarah Ross’ godlike powers made her an awesome thief. She’s able to switch powers as needed but with each comes a weakness as well. Using them to steal, she’s got one last heist before retires and settles down with her boyfriend and his kids. But, she’s stolen from the wrong person and is now marked for death. The Madness #1 is an intriguing start to a series that mixes superpowers, international relations, and moral ambiguity.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, The Madness #1 is a solid start. Straczynski creates solid tension bookended with some action and drama. We don’t know a ton about Sarah. We know she has powers. That she can use only one at a time. That creates vulnerabilities, and she’s pissed off the wrong people. Unfortunately, the people she cares about have been caught in the revenge plot against her.

What’s solid is the moral debate Straczynski puts into the comic. A Middle Eastern leader threatens US leadership to get them to do his dirty work in killing Sarah. Should the US do it? We’re taken through not just that debate but also who should carry it out and their reaction to the proposal.

At its core, The Madness #1 isn’t that new of a story. The basics we’ve seen so many times before. It’s a revenge story where the wrong person is killed. But, there’s that moral aspect about it all that’s sure to come back and something teased at the end. It’s not explained but is sure to make things rather interesting.

The art by ACO is solid. With ink by David Lorenzo, color by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettering by Sal Cipriano, the comic looks great. The action is quick and entertaining and the moral debates and emotional moments pack a punch. There’s a tension in the visuals that really build and the comic just nails that so well. Visually, this is top notch work.

The Madness #1 is John Wick but replace a dog with a fiancé and kids and a criminal syndicate with the US government, superheroes, and a Middle Eastern leader. It’s not complicated, yet, it’s somewhat predictable, but it’s really well done. A solid start that adds just enough detail to make it stand out.

Story: J. Michael Straczynski Art: ACO
Inker: David Lorenzo Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

AWA Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Kindle