Jay Faerber writes a strong private-eye story, and I hope this isn't the last we'll see of Webster Dodge. The plot is an intriguing one, and the only way in which the script falters is that it gets a little obvious at times when it comes to the red herring. Overall, though, this is a strong story, but what holds the book back is the artwork. Francis's figures are inconsistent at times. The action doesn't flow as smoothly as it needs to, and some of the character designs are a bit too similar. I'm pleased to see Image Comics dedicating resources to original graphic novels, though, with not just this one, but The Black Forest seeing release this week as well.
Webster Dodge is hired by an out-of-town gentleman to help him track down his birth father, and all he has to go on is an old picture and a more recent photograph clipped from a local newspaper in Seattle. Dodge employs some tricks of the trade and kisses the right asses in his question for information, but he soon all is not as it seems in this case. For one, his quarry is not living under the same name he was given, and Dodge is soon given reason to distrust his client. Meanwhile, Dodge meets an attractive young lawyer who shows a great interest in his work... and maybe more.
Francis's work here reminds me of the vague style of Vatche (Spider-Man/Wolverine) Mavlian. It seems as though the artist is aiming for a gritty look, but instead, the art comes off as sketchy. The backgrounds are often lacking as welll, making it seem as though parts of the story are unfolding in some sort of limbo. In other words, it works against the realism that Faerber is trying to convey. There's also a surprising number of older, male characters with mustaches in this book. Francis doesn't differentiate among them nearly well enough.
The love interest for the hero of the story appears from out of nowhere, and she's clearly held up to be a red herring in the mystery. Her dialogue is awkward and obvious, and her role in this story really isn't that important. Furthermore, the supposed connection between her and Dodge doesn't work. There's no indication why they're drawn to one another other than the plot wants them to be. I'm sure there's room for such a character in Dodge's life, but there's really no place for her in this story.
Faerber offers up a fairly standard P.I. story but a fun one. The best bits come when we see Dodge's thoroughly plausible methods of information gathering. It's clever and realistic, and I enjoyed the fact that Faerber bucks the conventions of the genre while embracing them at the same time.
