MASTERMINDS #1 – New Comic Review

Masterminds #1, by Dark Horse Comics on 8/27/25, follows Edward Hale, a young game designer trying to make it in a corporate-run gaming world.

Credits:

• Writer: Zack Kaplan
• Artist: Stephen Thompson
• Colorist: Thiago Rocha
• Letterer: Hassan Otsman-Elhaou
• Cover Artist: Stephen Thompson (cover A)
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Release Date: August 27, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of MASTERMINDS #1:

First Impressions:

The mood is moody and the tone is instantly cynical about the modern gaming industry. It feels like an angsty developer’s lament, and it sets up a clear conflict between art and commerce. The art style feels grounded and the colors are subdued, matching the critical tone. This comic doesn’t pull any punches from the very first page.

Plot Analysis:

The story opens with Edward’s monologue about the nature of games and how they helped him cope with his mother’s death. He explains how his love for solving problems in games led him to create his own indie game about a bird, which received critical acclaim and awards. This success, however, landed him in a job at Blazestar, one of the world’s biggest game studios.

Edward’s narration shifts to a critique of the modern gaming industry. He observes that the industry, now bigger than Hollywood, focuses on merchandise, celebrity tie-ins, and microtransactions instead of the actual games themselves. He feels a sense of dissatisfaction and believes that nobody cares about the people who make the games. The corporate system is described as a “soulless money machine.”

The narrative moves to the Blazestar studio where Edward is working on a game. He is shown working with his colleagues under intense pressure to prepare a buggy game for a convention. Edward is focused on his work, particularly on creating realistic-looking trees, while his friend Max complains about the corporate grind and suggests that they are all replaceable. Edward believes his hard work will pay off and that he can still achieve something amazing.

The issue concludes with Edward receiving a text from a woman named Angie, who tells him she can get him into a meeting with Joe Hinata, the president of Blazestar. Edward decides to sneak away to meet with Hinata, believing it is his only chance to escape being a “boring Blazestar coder forever.” Edward’s gambit fails, but he runs into a real-life puzzle that opens the door to audition for membership in a mysterious and powerful group known as Masterminds. Edward soon learns that getting into powerful circles is a deadly game.

Story

The writing is a bit on the nose, relying heavily on a single character’s internal monologue to convey the themes of corporate greed and lost passion. The dialogue is limited, but when it’s there, it feels natural, especially the banter between Edward and his friend Max. The pacing is deliberate, taking its time to set up Edward’s motivations. It effectively establishes the character’s emotional state and the world’s cynical reality. The last page creates an effective moment of suspense.

Art

The art is consistent and clean. The line work is sharp, and the coloring uses a muted palette of blues and grays, which creates a somber, realistic mood that fits the story’s themes. The character designs are distinct, and the backgrounds are well-detailed. The use of splash pages and wide panels helps to establish a sense of scale, from the grand corporate headquarters to the busy gaming conventions. The art successfully conveys the emotional weight of Edward’s journey.

Characters

Edward is presented as a classic artist against the machine. His backstory is a bit of a cliché, but it quickly establishes his motivations and why he clings to his idealism. His friend Max acts as a cynical counterpoint, providing a dose of reality. The characters feel authentic, though the issue only scratches the surface of their personalities. The comic’s focus is on setting up the central conflict, so character development is minimal for now.

Positives

The comic does an excellent job of setting up its world and central conflict. The art perfectly matches the tone, with its clean lines and muted colors creating a realistic and moody atmosphere. The critique of the gaming industry feels sharp and relevant, and Edward’s emotional struggle is presented in a way that feels relatable. The comic’s focus is clear and it wastes no time in getting to the core of its story.

Negatives

The narrative relies too heavily on Edward’s internal monologue, which can make the story feel a bit static. There isn’t much action or plot progression until the final pages. The protagonist’s “tortured artist” archetype feels a little overdone, and his backstory, while functional, doesn’t offer anything particularly new or surprising. The limited number of characters and their brief interactions also make the world feel small.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

MASTERMINDS #1 is a solid debut that lays a strong foundation for its series. While it may not break new ground in terms of character archetypes or storytelling structure, it succeeds in crafting a compelling and well-drawn world. You have to wonder, though, if Edward’s grand plan will be a brilliant masterstroke or just another buggy mess. Let’s hope he can pull it off.

---

---

---

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.