I love a mystery. I grew up on Scooby-doo, the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes. As an adult, Mike Hammer replaced Han Solo as my favorite anti-hero. In the hands of thriller writer Greg Rucka, Lois Lane’s solo outing is rapidly turning in that particular direction, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I normally wouldn’t say this so early in the story, but I’m all in, with both feet.

I hope it can survive all 12 issues without involving a meta-human in a costume. True, Lois has enlisted the Question to aid in her investigation, but that’s okay. Reneé Montoya has no powers, and spends as much time with her mask off as she does with it on. As a character, she has been under-utilized, and this is the perfect opportunity for her to shine.

However, I find the art a bit un-even. When reading a novel, I often mentally cast the characters. I shouldn’t have to do that in a comic book, but there’s a visual inconsistency to both Lois and Reneé. Montoya vaguely resembles Amber Rose Revah from the Punisher TV series, which would be great “casting” if the look were more consistent. Lois is even more erratic, seemingly variations on Erica Durance and Karen Allen.

Perkins’ layouts and storytelling techniques are not in doubt, and he has a fine attention to detail (perhaps too fine). Maybe he simply needs the assistance of an experienced inker to lighten his workload and cultivate a more cohesive visual presentation.