Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Sleeper #1

By Leroy Douresseau
November 23, 2003 - 09:48

Many professionals and readers have proclaimed Wildstorm's SLEEPER a must read comic since it's debut around the turn of the year. In fact, the series, written by Batman writer Ed Brubaker and drawn by the underrated illustrator Sean Phillips will see its first six issues collected in trade form (SLEEPER: OUT IN THE COLD) late in 2003.

Having never read the series and feeling slightly embarrassed that Wildstorm major domo Scott Dunbier noticed that I hadn't thus far reviewed any Wildstorm titles, I decided to go back in the day and give Sleeper #1 a look. Many have said that Sleeper is a slowly developing, slow roll out tale that really only shows how good it is over the long haul. That's the dangerous line that way too many comics tow today, and, honestly, after one issue, there's nothing that distinguishes Sleeper from a whole slew of well-written, professionally produced mainstream comics.

Espionage, double agents, subterfuge, etc. - it's all been done before, and after reading the first issue, I feel no compulsion to go back.

Maybe Sleeper is a good book, but maybe, like a lot of comics, Sleeper should be published in a longer format. Perhaps, it would make more sense for Wildstorm to publish it as a regular 48-page "prestige" format pamphlet instead of a 22-page one. I've heard it gets better, but I don't yet know that to be a fact. GRADE C

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51