The Quarter Bin

Top Cow‘s Pilot Season 2008 continues! The latest comic to enter is Alibi, the story of an assassin who never gets caught. It was written by one of last year’s Pilot Season winners, Joshua Hale Fialkov. Hit the jump to read more, as well as get a sneak peek at a few of the pages. Remember, you can view any image in glorious Expand-O-Vision by clicking on it.

Pilot Season: Alibi #1
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Jeremy Haun
Cover Artist: Jeremy Haun

I would like to start by saying how much I am enjoying this year’s Pilot Season. It gives readers a chance to get in on the ground floor of some new comics and read something totally new and fresh. Also, thus far all of the entries I’ve read have been not only enjoyable, but so different that it just doesn’t get old. What I’m not looking forward to so much is seeing only two comics win out, but not to worry about that right now. At the moment, I’m glad that Top Cow has given me a chance to read all of these issues.

As mentioned previously, Alibi tells the story of an assassin and his colleagues, and gives a bit of insight as to how they work together. They are extremely careful, they always cover their tracks, and most of all, our killer always has an airtight alibi, so he never gets busted. However, now things are different. Someone is on to them, and things will never be the same.

Alibi thankfully doesn’t start off with any lengthy explanations, but instead throws the reader right into the story, assuming he or she can follow along. Fialkov understands that showing the reader is more important (although usually more difficult) than simply telling the reader, and luckily he knows how to make it work. Even though it’s a serious story, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the small moments of humor are much appreciated. The story is intriguing and the dialogue is well written; it’s pretty much all you could ask for in a new book.

However, I’m not really sure where the story is going from here. The surprising ending seems to have taken the comic in a new direction entirely, and it’s only the first issue. I’ll trust that the writer has it all planned out, and I would certainly be interested in reading the next issue to find out what happens next.

Every page seems to be completely jam-packed with action and story, so it’s a good thing artist Jeremy Haun can keep up. Whether it’s amazing feats pulled of by the assassin or “punching a bitch in the throat” (you’ll see), everything is illustrated very nicely.

I now get excited every time I get a new Pilot Season book from Top Cow. This is definitely a tough competition this year. Can’t wait to see what’s next!