REVIEW: Midnight Task Force #1

Up and coming comics publisher Mad Cave Studios has a creator contest kicking off this weekend to find new writing and art talent on upcoming series, so what better time to shine a spotlight on their latest new series Midnight Task Force. Here’s a sneak peak:

So, at first skim, it looks like the type of thing we’ve all seen before: Aiden McCormick is an ex-military special operative turned cyborg detective who uses his unique skills to stop crime and help people, albeit in unconventional ways. Rough around the edges, voices in his head, drinking problem, the works. Sounds like Moon Knight or Batman or Jessica Jones, right? Well, at least I thought so, at first.

As the story unfolds, we discover that a string of meticulous serial murders is plaguing Detroit and Aiden is the best man for the job, with a little help from his friends. I really didn’t feel like this story was all that original, with governmental goons, a paranormal killer on the loose, a mysterious shrouded villain, and a broken hero with some sort of Dissociative Identity Disorder. It felt like all sorts of comic cliches were thrown in a hat and the writer pulled out elements at random. However, it was the last page of the double sized comic that made some things click into place. The title. The significance of the introductory flashback. His multiple personalities. I had to go back and reread to be sure that there is more to this than what is on the surface; well, there is and I feel the best is still yet to come.

Mark London currently runs Mad Cave Studios and writes both titles they have on shelves. His other series, Battlecats, is a unique blend of Thundercats and a Dungeons & Dragons quest that I also recommend. Reading these two books, it shows that Mark has range and can handle both the all ages and older comics with ease. There are a couple of moments that are wedged in to fill gaps in the story without fitting well, but given the nature of the new world building and limited space, I get it. MTF is a mature read without being too graphic, with struggles of PTSD and ghosts of the past, sexual situations, gore, and plenty of adult language. As for the art, Alejandro Giraldo does an excellent job across the board. I was especially blown away by his grasp of three-dimensional layouts, with realistic perspective and vivid coloring. He draws, inks, and colors the book, while Christian Ospina letters.

Set in the year 2055, Midnight Task Force blends science fiction with investigative crime drama to really pull the reader in. I was slow on the uptake, but all the clues are there from the beginning as to why Aiden is so great at being a detective. I only blame myself for not catching on sooner. This is not a funny comic, but the intriguing characters and strong story (with art to match) outshine any lack of cheap laughs Mark could have written in. As far as sophomoric debuts go, Midnight Task Force is a damn good one, and issue two is primed to crank up to 11.

4 outta 5 Stars.

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Be sure to check out their other new titles, in comic shops now, and for anyone interested in entering the Mad Cave talent search for writers/ artists, click HERE! As always, follow me on Twitter (@bamfingbob) and until next time, check Comic Crusaders regularly for all the best on comic news, reviews, and previews. BAMF!

Author Profile

Robert Anderegg

Robert joined Comic Crusaders in 2016 as contributor, but has been an active online voice through social media for almost ten years. His hobbies include reading and collecting comics, attending theme parks, making music, and driving his wife insane. Deadpool and Nightcrawler are his two favorite superheroes, and while his preference is Marvel, he dabbles in every major and indie label in the comics community. He graduated from UTPB in 2013 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently seeking employment in that field. A southern boy at heart, he currently resides in the Midwest.