Advance Review: Old Dog #1

Being something of an Ol’ Timer myself, having a book called Old Dog brought a smile to my face. Hearing this was a sort of amalgam of influences including The Winter Soldier, Mission Impossible with a Bourne twist just added to my interest.

Jack Lynch has seen a once promising career dwindle towards retirement. When things go south on his last case, Jack ends up in a coma, waking up years later to an interesting offer from a pair of black suits. Why are they interested in Jack and who do they have as is new partner? The intrigue starts here.

Declan Shalvey is a kind of do it all creator, writing the book and providing art and colors. Taking the writing first, Shalvey spends time establishing Lynch and his place in the world, in relatively short order. This is important for a number of reasons. First of all we have to care about Jack, otherwise the whole thing falls apart. Secondly, key elements have to happen in the first issue, effectively resetting the table in order to move the story along an into the second issue. Shalvey handles this pacing well and coupled with some terse dialogue delivers a solid spy-fi story thats a busy first issue.

Shalvey’s art reminds me, in places at least, of Barry Windsor Smith especially in the faces. Given the tone of the book, facial elements have to work; Shalvey accomplishes this well; there are a number of talking heads but those scenes do not bore or drag the rest of the book down. Shalvey uses a color scheme to indicate past and present. Regarding this effect, I was a little confused first time through the book, the redacted style of lettering doesn’t help that. Clayton Cowles is a letterer who is un afraid to try new styles and fonts in order to get the message and vibe of the book across, whilst also getting his name on the cover.

An impressive first issue, that if you are a Declan Shalvey fan or a fan of the espionage elements, you should enjoy.

Old Dog #1 is due to ship on September 28th.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art -4 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; Declan Shalvey
Art & Colors by; Declan Shalvey
Letters by; Clayton Cowles
Published by; Image Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network