Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* In the future, everyone will have an alias. In a world where all online secrets have been revealed, people now adopt aliases and masks to hide their private lives; it's the perfect place for a private investigator, like PI. When his client is murdered hours after assigning him, PI and his assistants violently unravel a conspiracy bigger than any of them, aiming to change the course of society. Vaughan (Saga, 2012), known for his unique world building and suspenseful story arcs, has possibly outdone himself with this one. Combining the archetypes of a gripping noir mystery with commentary on contemporary obsession with social media, he tells a story as poignant as it is compelling. In one sense, calling this unique volume a graphic novel does not do it justice, as the oblong, widescreen format of the book makes it more cinematic than merely graphic, expertly mimicking the very film genres that inspired it. Martin's character design elevates this to breathtaking art, adding a richly colored, retro-futurist flare to every costume and backdrop. With stunning artwork, propulsive sequential-art storytelling, and a thought-provoking premise, this is truly one of a kind.--Blenski, Peter Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Vaughan (Saga) and Martin (Batgirl: Year One) team up for a noirish SF adventure that's as absorbing as it is gorgeous. Decades after "the cloud" bursts, pushing everyone's secrets into the open and destroying all semblance of online security, the Internet is no more and people have become obsessed with privacy: all adults wear masks in public. The press and police have combined into the armed Fourth Estate. When P.I., a paparazzo, is hired by a woman who rapidly turns up dead, he and the client's sister dive headlong into a conspiracy that could threaten the privacy (and lives) of everyone they love. Vaughan and Martin's vision of the future is chilling in its realism, but fascinating in its hyperbole. Martin's art-accentuated beautifully by Vicente's colors-handles thrilling action and contemplative scenes equally well, allowing Vaughan's script to dig deep into identity, the balance between liberty and security, the role of technology in our lives, and the implicit trust we place in it. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
In 2076 United States, everyone has a secret identity. Decades earlier, Internet security was breached, and people's private information was shared with the world, ruining lives. So the World Wide Web was abolished, and privacy is society's paramount concern, with most wearing masks or costumes in public. A Los Angeles woman named Taj hires an outlaw private -detective code-named "P.I." to investigate her, to find out if her secrets are buried deep enough-but when Taj is murdered, P.I. is in the crosshairs of a powerful figure with an unthinkable plan. Vaughan's public -libraries unfortunately have circulation -records less privacy-sensitive than those at this -reviewer's current library (though Vaughan's -librarians protect their patrons' information with deadly force). On top of his -engaging thriller plotline, Vaughan presents many compelling (if sometimes outrageous) speculations about his projected future society: for instance, without the Internet to distract them, engineers and inventors started making actual practical advances in fields such as renewable energy and magno-cars. Martin's depiction of future L.A. is appropriately colorful but seedy. VERDICT A cool, satirical, thought-provoking futuristic noir for adults.-S.R. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
