Red Movie Prequels
Published by DC/Wildstorm
So there’s this film coming out, called Red, and it’s based on a 2003 miniseries of the same title by writer Warren Ellis and artist Cully Hamner. I haven’t read it. I tell you this only because Wildstorm is now publishing four one-shot comics that serve as prequels to the film and if you’re expecting me to cast these books against the comics that originated the concept … I can’t. I can only judge them on their own merits.
And on those merits, they’re okay. Don’t run out and buy them if you’re unsure about the material, but if the concept – ex-CIA spooks targeted for assassination to cover up their wetworks past – sounds interesting or if the movie trailer really rocked your world, yeah, go for it. Each issue is plotted by the movie’s writers, Jon and Erich Hoeber, so these four little vignettes should dovetail nicely into what appears onscreen. Telling an effective little black ops yarn in 24 or so pages, each one-shot focuses on one of the movie’s four protagonists, giving some insight into their methods and their relationships with each other and the agency. It’s solid thriller stuff, with largely professional artwork.
Quick thoughts about issue:
Red: Joe
Story by Jon & Erich Hoeber
Script by Doug Wagner
Penciled by Bruno Redondo
Inked by Pol Gas & Redondo
Colored by Tony Aviña
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
Cover by Cully Hamner
1981, the man to be played by Morgan Freeman goes to the Soviet Union to debrief some agents, and things go very badly. Ugly things go down, and in the end, you see exactly how cold Joe can be. The comic is an effective little bit of espionage subterfuge.
Red: Victoria
Story by Jon & Erich Hoeber
Script by Jon Hoeber
Illustrated by David Hahn
Colored by Jonny Rench
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
Cover by Cully Hamner
1982, and Helen Mirren’s character’s in love. With a Russian agent. The most so-so comic of the batch, this issue comes closest to matching the campy humor of the trailer. David Hahn’s art gives it a more stylized look than the detailed, yet run-of-the-mill renderings that grace the other three.
Red: Marvin
Story by Jon & Erich Hoeber
Script by Erich Hoeber
Illustrated by Diego Olmos
Colored by Marta Martinez
Lettered by Wes Abbott
Cover by Cully Hamner
1987, Marven (John Malkovich in the film) is going a little crazy and gets in a fight with Frank Moses. Outside of establishing where his character is for the film, this issue doesn’t offer too much.
Red: Frank
Story by Jon & Erich Hoeber
Script by Gregory Noveck
Illustrated by Jason Masters
Colored by Carrie Strachan
Lettered by Wes Abbott
Cover by Cully Hamner
1994, and Frank Moses (protagonist of the original Red comics, and portrayed by Bruce Willis in the film) is running another job with a rookie agent, and you see how ruthless he is. Like Victoria, the film’s (presumable) villain gets a nice spotlight here, and the comic itself presents a solidly entertaining if mostly forgettable ride.
Overall, any of the four issues gives readers an enjoyable ride and should set up the film quite nicely (I’d hope – there’s plenty of room to expand on what’s here).
