Tokyo Ghost #1 Review

Writer: Rick Remender / Artist: Sean Murphy / Image Comics Rick Remender is having a really good run with his creator owned work (probably why he’s halted his work for hire stuff for Marvel and DC) lately. As a rabid fan of Black Science and Low, I was immediately sold when my editor asked if I wanted first dibs on his latest series, Tokyo Ghost. But is it possible that the Deadly Class writer has finally struck out? Short Answer: Man, hell no. Set in 2089 Los Angeles, Tokyo Ghost looks like what would happen if everyone in Blade Runner were addicted to technology. And by “addicted”, I mean technology is essentially a drug that society is thoroughly dependent upon. Remender takes the “plugged in” commentary that The Surrogates was and takes it a step further at a time when the idea of us losing our analog connection to each other becomes more of a reality than ever. “Unplugged” Constable Debbie Decay and her addict partner Led Dent patrol this giant technological opium den on the trail of a cyber criminal that can hack anyone anywhere.

Think of the Puppet Master from Ghost In The Shell but far less self aware. Remender’s script is equal parts intense, fun and relentlessly fast paced. He keeps us engaged in his cyber dystopia while maintaining a focus Led and Debbie’s strange and complicated relationship. The only real complaint, script-wise, is that Remender doesn’t dig quite as deep with the techno commentary as we would expect from the writer of Black Science. Still, lay…