REVIEW: Duo No.1

Earth M appears to be the place for me. Leave it to Greg Pak to make Mountain View, CA a place that more inviting than I remember it with the horror stories from the prison just overlooking Magic Mountain beside it. With the Milestone Universe being faithfully rebooted, it was only a matter of time before Duo made it’s way back into print.
Having only heard multiple re-telling of their origin during the 90’s DC/Milestone crossover and the early 2000’s Brave & The Bold, I was once more thoroughly entertained with the come-up of a Milestone hero, marking their stories as eternal in the lexicon of comic book history.

Starring a couple of romantically involved scientists with a thirst to change the medical field with Nano technology, they encounter the dangerous side of capitalism as their employer puts a hit out on them for their groundbreaking ideas. A freak accident ensues during the attempted hit causing the nanites and one member of the romantic couple to be absorbed into the body of the physically surviving scientist, setting the tone for the remainder of the series as the romantic Duo must use their intelligence to overcome their former employer and the deadly fingers attached to his hidden hand.

Comic book artist Khoi Pham displays the ability to make the couple incredibly sexy, yet human; while making the henchmen of their devious employer , Dr. Chung, absolutely grotesque, garish, monstrosities – all under the same pencil. The brain scape of the scientists is fascinating, making enthusiasts of The Sandman Universe’s “Books of Magic” only wonder if the relationship between Dr. Occult’s Richard and Rose halves could be illustrated one day with such romance.

“Duo” is every lover’s dream : to have their romantic counterpart live within their head , while adding twists of espionage, along with the bucking of corporate confines that could be best be found in one of Milestone’s other great titles with “Hardware”; “Duo” is off to a great start in the ever-expanding, rich, Milestone World.

Score : 5/5

(W) Greg Pak (A) Khoi Pham, Scott Hanna (CA) Dike Ruan / Erica Henderson