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Thief of Thieves #1 review

By Dan Horn
February 10, 2012 - 15:08

With Thief of Thieves, Robert Kirkman of Walking Dead and Invincible fame invites readers along for the ride in his take on the "Bullpen," an old-school collaborative effort between writers and their art team. For the opening arc of Thief of Thieves, we see writer Nick Spencer (Morning Glories, Iron Man 2.0, Infinite Vacation) developing scripts for Kirkman's heist saga.

The debut issue of the series finds its protagonist, Redmond, a master thief, with a caper already in progress. The scene unfolds beautifully, incorporating some rather sensational aspects of blockbuster heist cinema while also slyly elucidating an integral component of the supporting cast. As the issue advances past the opening sequence, the characters take full, dimensional forms, which is no small feat for a single issue of a comic book.

Nick Spencer's scripting is crisp and smart. Chapter title cards make even flashback exposition seem like standalone components of a brisk crime anthology. Dialogue is organic and witty, and Spencer's use of one-sided sexual tension and the pressures of completing one more big heist create an uneasy aura of foreshadowing, even as the final page sets all of those components into motion against Redmond.

Artist Shawn Martinbrough ushers readers swiftly through this first issue, using panoramic panels that fill the pages not unlike film storyboards. Martinbrough's work is sleek and systematic, but suffers from the detachment that obvious digital-rendering can sometimes elicit. One or two instances where the artwork finds itself awkwardly shadowed or colored also become an issue that is as easily overlooked as it is noticed. The gorgeous Martinbrough and Serrano cover more than compensates for any interior shortcomings.

Overall this is a fantastic and incredibly well-scripted beginning, if not entirely representative of the plot that follows.

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12