SECRET SERVICE reviewed

Mark Millar is a one man comic empire responsible for KICK ASS, THE ULTIMATES, WANTED, THE AUTHORITY and the truly special THE UNFUNNIES. Dave Gibbons is known for illustrating one of the greatest comic mini-series of all time, WATCHMEN. The two have combined on a new Millar masterpiece, SECRET SERVICE. And, like much of Millar’s work, it is rather over the top!

The book starts with a mysterious group kidnapping Mark Hamill. The Secret Service arrives and, in bloody fashion rescues the aged Luke Skywalker actor. Unfortunately, the snowmobile they are riding in has a bit of a defective parachute. Yeah…Mark Hamill won’t be coming down for breakfast after this incident. And Hamill isn’t the only one, as we learns that actors from DOCTOR WHO, STAR WARS, STAR TREK and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA have all been kidnapped. This is where Jack, a James Bond type secret agent steps in and gets to act as mentor to his nephew Gary who defines hooligan. From here on out, it’s mostly about Gary and his transformation from street punk to secret agent. Through it all, there is also the existing subplot involving the celebrity kidnappings. Add in a bizarre case of mind control resulting in 100 brides and grooms murdering each other and you’ve got the makings of an Ian Fleming novel gone mad.

Gary’s tasks range from the sublime to the absolute ridiculous. At one point, he decides the go back to his old stomping grounds…with his uncle’s sports car in tow. While he has some of the highest scores in history, he just can't seem to make himself who he needs to be.

This is one wild and strange comic. Not as over the top as KICK-ASS and not as anti-authority as SUPER CROOKS, but it is typical Millar as the angry writer. Dave Gibbons art is just amazing, as always! Give it a try. I think you’ll like it just for the inside jokes.