It was the promise of Sleeper that made me read Point Blank in the first place, and the enjoyment I've gotten out of Sleeper that made me give the trade paperback a chance despite being somewhat disappointed in the single issues. Reading Point Blank all in one sitting, however, I've come to realize that I was wrong in my initial take on this dark mystery and tour through the Wildstorm Universe. Though I still wouldn't place it above Sleeper, this is a much better story than many (including myself) gave it credit for. Brubaker's strengths have always lain in writing mysteries, and Point Blank is exactly that, tinged with a heavy espionage flavor and a very dark and realistic portrayal of the underworld of spies.
Though Point Blank is in a thoroughly modern (even futuristic, in some respects) setting, the tone is classic noir. Grifter is the definition of a flawed anti-hero, with motivations and personality traits that mark him as somewhat anti-social and yet more moral and heroic than others around him by virtue of his loyalty and trustworthiness. In addition, the genre tradition of having the hero narrate the whole thing in a sort of sour, cynical voice is a defining part of the style of Point Blank. Through Grifter's own self-pitying (but not annoyingly so) narration, we learn of the history he and Lynch share, the basic personalities of each men and any other necessary backstory, tailored to the needs of the current story. In addition, the central focus of the series, showing Grifter as a reluctant and not entirely competent investigator whose skills are best suited to shooting people at others' direction, makes for some great characterization and noir style narration.
Though Point Blank is something of a prologue to Sleeper, it really does stand as a story on its own, and isn't necessary reading for Sleeper fans. However, I do think that the folks digging Sleeper would enjoy Point Blank, if only because some of the elements and themes are so similar. The flashbacks to military operations, the notions of loyalty to people you don't even like because they're one of the few people you can trust and the reminders that our protagonist can't really take anyone at face value in his business are as important as the psychic powers and cybernetics that help define the world.
One of the criticisms of Point Blank was that it was enmeshed deeply in Wildstorm continuity. Within the pages of this trade there are characters from and references to Gen 13, Backlash, Wildcats, The Authority and other tentpoles of the Wildstorm Universe. My sense was that this flood of characters might make the book less accessible, but when reading all of the issues together, I found that we learned everything we really needed to learn about the characters for their purpose in the story. I do think that Brubaker took the tour of the universe a little too wide (Gen 13 is something of an unnecessary reference, and The Authority's role also feels a little forced), but you don't need a Master's degree in Wildstorm-ology to follow the story.
Colin Wilson is a new name to me, but I'm given to understand that he's had a long career in Europe already. His work is full of beautiful detail and shadow work, and he stages action scenes and the dreary mundane reality of everyday life equally well. I did find myself wishing at times for a little more consistency in the faces on close-up, but his depiction of this gritty and borderline sleazy underworld gives the story the atmosphere that it needs. Of course, the work is sometimes a little too dark, partly thanks to the colors and partly due to Wilson's own shadowy tendencies. Some of his characters, in particular, look too much alike, sharing the same craggy features and blocky builds.
Point Blank also comes complete with a mind-f*ck ending that is perfect for the tone of the book. Some might find it a bit abrupt that the revelation of the murderer ties the book into a loop of sorts, but it was something I didn't see coming (even though I probably should have) and it was a big part of what made me re-evaluate the book and give the trade paperback a shot.
