One of the most exciting publishers to have emerged over the past months is 21 Pulp. Their first miniseries, Hero Hourly is effortlessly funny, and is well worth tracking the eventual trade when it’s released.

Now before we go any further, this review will not be entirely spoiler free. I’ll do my best not to ruin the first issue, but if you want a completely spoiler free review, then you can check out the advanced review here. Or you can buy the book; it’s brilliant, and I’m going to tell you now that you’re going to want to add Imposter to your pull list.

I said in the advance review that the back of the comic says;

The Centipede is Black City’s crime vigilante. Captain Apex is Earth’s cosmic defender. Dr. Oculus is a sorcerer who fights demons from other realms. And Jungle Jack is the hero of the Wild Lands. All four of them are connected by a dangerous secret that could destroy the world, and Hale Barker just learned what it is.

And oh boy, what a secret! While I won’t tell you what it is (even in a slightly spoiler filled review, I still can’t bring myself to reveal what it is. The secret is revealed – or at least strongly hinted at – on the publisher’s website, however), what I will say is that the reveal is both incredibly well handled, and the secret itself is actually remarkably original. At least, as far as I’m aware; read the book, and if I’m wrong let me know in the comments below.

Imposter #1 is a very well written, brilliantly illustrated comic with a central plot point that I want to talk about that I want to discuss in at least a small amount of detail, but that’ll be in another review. To get a feeling of this series, the opening issue has an almost Batman like feel with an added dash of the pulp vigilantes from the 30’s, and yet the comic transcends that comparison in so many ways.

Having read the first issue of this series more than a month ago, I can honestly say that I was excited to open the digital file again for this review (and I’m really looking forward to getting two print versions on Wednesday – one for myself and one for a friend), only to find that the comic was as good as I remember it being. I especially  enjoyed the teaser of Jetpack Jump in the back of the issue, too, and it’s nice to see the first few pages of what looks to be an interesting comic.

This first issue of Imposter is every bit as good as 21 Pulp‘s other series Hero Hourly, which I have a LOT of love for. Despite being written by the same man, the only things that Imposter has in common with Hero Hourly is that they’re both bloody brilliant.

Story: James Patrick Pencils and Inks: Martin Szymanski Colors: Omscaro Valladao 
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Although 21 Pulp provided Graphic Policy a FREE copy for review, I’m buying it anyway.

This early review will be entirely spoiler free; so if you don’t want to read it, just go and ask your retailer to order it in for you. If you’ve been paying attention to Graphic Policy lately, you’ll have noticed that we’re big fans of 21 Pulp‘s inaugural comic book miniseries, Hero Hourly. That book is one that you need to track down, and as Patrick said in his review, it may be best to go directly to the publisher.

I’m going to tell you now that you’re going to want to add Imposter to your pull list. It’s brilliant.

I’ll level with you, now. I’m a Valiant man, and I have been for a year or so because the comics they put out are some of the best in the industry. For my money, the only publisher giving them a run for their money these days is 21 Pulp. Hero Hourly is without question the best action comedy series around (and easily one of the best comics), and Imposter is just as good.

But what’s the comic about, I could probably hear you ask if we were talking face to face? Well, dear reader, the back of the comic says that;

The Centipede is Black City’s crime vigilante. Captain Apex is Earth’s cosmic defender. Dr. Oculus is a sorcerer who fights demons from other realms. And Jungle Jack is the hero of the Wild Lands. All four of them are connected by a dangerous secret that could destroy the world, and Hale Barker just learned what it is.

Although the review itself is entirely spoiler free, the secret is revealed – or at least strongly hinted at – on the publisher’s website. Do not go looking for it. It’s so much better if you don’t know what it is when you open the book.

Imposter is a very well written, brilliantly illustrated comic with a central plot point that I want to talk about that I want to discuss in at least a small amount of detail, but that’ll be in another review. To get a feeling of this series, the opening issue has an almost Batman mixed with one of the pulp vigilantes sort of flavour, and yet the comic transcends that comparison in so many ways.

Get your retailer to add this to you pull list, and find out why 21 Pulp is putting out some of the best comics around. You won’t regret it.

Imposter #1  is out February 10th.

Story: James Patrick Pencils and Inks: Martin Szymanski Colours: Omscaro Valladao 
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

21 Pulp provided a FREE copy for review, but I had already asked my retailer to order a copy in for me.