The Secret Service opens up

Next month, the new look CLiNT comic will include the start of the new Mark Millar / Dave Gibbons series The Secret Service, but for those of you who want to read it early head down to your nearest comic shop this weekend. Out now is the first issue of The Secret Service limited series published by Icon, the Marvel imprint for creator-owned projects, and $2.99 (roughly £2.50) will get you all 23 pages of chapter one.

In truth, this is a comic that needs no promotion from me as I'm sure copies will be flying off the shelves but I've known Dave Gibbons for 30 years and followed his work even longer than that so it seems only natural that I should give it a plug. If, like me, you've enjoyed Dave's artistry on everything from Harlem Heroes and Watchmen to Give Me Liberty and The Originals this new series won't disappoint. 

This is the first time that Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons have worked together so on that basis alone it was always going to be an appealing enticement to see what they'd produce, and the end result delivers the goods. Initially cloaked in secrecy (appropriately enough) The Secret Service is now revealed, and it's an interesting tale of how the high life and low life come together in mixture of spy thriller and kitchen sink drama. Put like that, it probably sounds terrible, but trust me, it works. Both creators are on form here and Mark Millar's script has the usual elements of snappy dialogue, violence, dark comedy and great pacing. Mention must also be made for Angus McKie's superb colouring. Angus has been in the business a long time and he's still at the top of his game.

And that's all I'm going to tell you about it because I feel to reveal more would dilute the enjoyment of reading the comic. There are more in-depth reviews online so seek them out if you wish, but personally I found the experience of reading the comic more fun by ignoring the reviews and coming to it fresh.

The comic is also being developed as a movie by X-Men First Class director Matthew Vaughan (who co-plotted the script of the comic) so this is going to be massive. Get in on the ground floor and buy The Secret Service No.1 from a comic shop today.