I can sum up my initial interest in this book in two words: Phil Noto. But while Noto's beautiful and stylish art is what drew me in, that's not all it takes to grab me. Palmiotti serves up a fast-paced action story of revenge that answers enough questions to keep the reader interested but leaves enough of them to make the reader come back for the next issue. A female assassin out for revenge isn't the most original idea in the book, but the style of this book reminds me of 70s spy thrillers as much as some of the modern roots of Beautiful Killer like La Femme Nikita, The Professional and Alias. I'm a fan of action movies and TV, and though it's rare to find a good one, I'm a fan of action comics as well. Beautiful Killer is shaping up to be an action comic with some smarts behind it, and good looks to spare.
These days, I'm all about the espionage, but I've found that too many of the comics that are tackling the genre are taking a light, comedic approach that has more in common with Get Smart than 24. Not so with Beautiful Killer, which features a love affair shattered by the tricks of the spy game, a daughter orphaned and left with not much to live for but revenge and a cast of nasty adversaries who make for a good challenge to the obviously capable lead character.
Noto's work on this book is a revelation, reminiscent of the work of Tim Sale or Kyle Baker. It's highly stylized, with a sort of pastel color scheme that makes everything seem less real, but with an attention to anatomy that keeps things from being too unreal. Noto's design sense has been clear in his covers, and it's just as clear in his storytelling, with some amazing moments, including Brigit's leap from her sniper post or her entrance into a gas-filled room. I'm also very impressed with the color work, and I particularly liked the autumn tones of her father's last mission, and the retro feel of the clothing and cars in that sequence that make it clear we're watching a flashback.
Palmiotti sets up the story quickly for the reader, explaining about Brigit and her parents and the betrayal that has set her on her course, and then giving the reader a chance to get right into her revenge. Though she is emotionless on the outside, our insight into her thoughts shows us that she is human, with uncertainties about her mission and a difficulty in doing her job that makes her more sympathetic than an assassin might otherwise be.
Beautiful Killer is something that wouldn't be a rarity on network TV or in movies, but it is all-too-rare in comics. With a female protagonist who relies more on her skills than on a scantily-clad, unrealistic body and an approach to espionage that is more straight-faced, even while it is given a little artistic license, Beautiful Killer stands out as a solid action book. There are plenty of questions left about Brigit Cole's past and what she's doing with her future, but there's also plenty of characterization in this book to hook me and make me come back to see the rest.
