Review - Dancer #1

Ever since The Bourne Identity was adapted to a film, there's been this place in media for stories about completely awesome operatives who can fight their way out of any situation, have an uncanny knack for weapons and always seem to be in the line of fire. It's a situation that plays fast and loose, bringing folks along for the ride. And it's something Dancer #1 capitalizes on as a brand new series.

Dancer #1 is published by Image Comics. It's written by Nathan Edmondson, illustrated by Nic Klein and colored by Jeff Powell.

Alan Fisher is a mysterious man. Quinn is a dancer, in love with a seemingly great man named Alan Fisher. Fisher is a former military operative with a talent for sniping; a talent that has caught up to him and put both he and Quinn in danger. The issue opens in Brazil, with Fisher on an assignment. It then takes the reader across the globe to Italy, where Fisher is living his life with Quinn, a ballet dancer with little knowledge of Fisher's true past.

The rest of the issue plays out with the couple running through the streets of Milan, desperately trying to escape being targeted by an unknown sniper. There are some close-quarters combat fighting, exploding headshots and first position scattered throughout the issue, with an ending that's a little unexpected.

Edmondson does espionage well, with his most recent work Who Is Jake Ellis released to much critical acclaim. Dancer is similar in that espionage aspect, but it's a little early to say whether or not it will be as good. The first issue really just sets Alan up as a man with a checkered past and Quinn as a woman in love with little knowledge of that past.

It's great that Alan is such a great fighter and that's what carries the issue. Since the two of them are on the run, the issue moves incredibly fast and is over before you realize it. That's not to say nothing happened, but the entire issue does feel like one chase scene within a longer film or story. It sets up Alan and his opponent at the end, the most intriguing aspect being who his opponent actually is.

Klein's art takes some getting used to. He uses zoomed out shots that offer little in the way of setting detail, although close-ups of characters are intricate. The entire issue is inked with very dark colors, which is fine since it's night, but makes it a little to difficult to see what's going on at times. There are a couple of panels that required multiple looks to get what was happening in them.

Fans of Jason Bourne will no doubt love Dancer #1. As it stands right now, Quinn is nothing more than a love interest of Alan's who will inevitably get dragged in further. Hopefully, she plays a bigger role than the damsel in distress character that's become all too familiar. And the battle set up for the rest of the series between Alan and his opponent definitely merits reading at least the next issue, if only to get an explanation as to what's going on.

Dancer #1 is available now and interiors are below.