SCARLETT COUTURE: THE MUNICH FILE #1, from Titan Comics on 8/9/23, returns to Scarlett Carver and CID’s mission to stop a clandestine group of tech criminals from becoming the world’s next superpower.
The Details
- Written by: Des Taylor
- Art by: Des Taylor
- Colors by: Des Taylor
- Letters by: Des Taylor
- Cover art by: Dan Panosian (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 9, 2023
Is It Good?
SCARLETT COUTURE: THE MUNICH FILE #1 revisits Des Taylor’s action-adventure/crime thriller about an agent tracking down malicious hacker code and the criminal mastermind who wields it to influence corporations and governments. Filled with adrenaline-pumping action and relentless pacing, Des Taylor’s latest chapter is sure to get you on the edge of your seat.
Taylor’s script centers on the escape from Argentina with the encoded disk containing Simon Klass’s secrets. When the agents return to America, the race is on to decode the files before Klass’s world-class assassins can kill anyone with hacker skills strong enough to get the job done.
What’s great about this issue? Taylor smacks you in the face (in a good way) with car-chasing, bullet-flying action from the first page to the last. The energy levels are off the charts as each of the agents runs, shoots, fights, and kills in a relentless race to get away from Klass’s forces and decode the files. Even when the ladies have a moment to rest, you barely get a beat to breathe before the action starts again.
What’s not so great about this issue? If you haven’t read the previous arc, Project Stardust, you’re going to be partly or completely lost. There is a preface page to lay out some of the characters and background, but if you’re new to this series, you’re going to feel like you’re playing catch-up for most of the issue.
How’s the art? Des Taylor’s art is fine for what it is. Taylor’s style has a strong animation vibe that looks like screen captures from a Netflix animated series, that’s not necessarily a problem as a style choice, but the overly-bright, overly-clean visuals lack the grittiness that you’d expect from a story of this sort. Imagine reading a graphic novel of Donald Westlake’s Parker series drawn in the style of Superman: The Animated Series. The tone doesn’t quite fit the subject matter.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an adrenaline-fueled chase through the streets of an Argentinian city. Scarlett and her bevy of allies are beating separate paths through the city to get to a helicopter extraction. Scarlett holds the disk containing Klass’s encrypted files. The team barely escapes with their lives.
Back in America, Scarlett speaks with the head of the CIA and her boss to discuss turning over the disk. The CIA intends to employ one of only two people available with the skill to crack Klass’s encryption. As soon as the call is done, Scarlett’s office explodes in gunfire.
We conclude the issue with dead bodies, specialized assassins, and a deadline.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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SCARLETT COUTURE: THE MUNICH FILE #1 is a high-octane, non-stop action fest to get your blood pumping. Taylor’s pacing is impressive, and the plot development will have you on the edge of your seat. That said, new readers will be lost without having read the prior arc, and Taylor’s animated art style is an odd fit for the gritty script.
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