Review- COLD WAR VOL. 1: THE DAMOCLES CONTRACT

COLD WAR VOL. 1: THE DAMOCLES CONTRACT (IDW, 2012; Softcover)

Collects Cold War Nos. 1-4 (cover dates October, 2011- January, 2012)

Writer and Artist: John Byrne

Michael Swann is a British spy...and not a British spy. This takes place during the 1960s, and is a fun variation of the James Bond riff. If you enjoy fast paced, action packed spy stories, then this should be right up your alley. I am definitely on board for any and all future Cold War books.

Byrne has been undergoing a creative renaissance over at IDW with his creator owned stuff. He seems to be having the time of his life marching to his own drummer. It's a pity that fandom can't forgive and forget, and enjoy these books. Byrne is like Kirby in the later period of his career; much derided, and once he passes away, everyone and their brother will celebrate the man's entire catalogue. Why not enjoy his new projects now, while he's still alive? 

The OCD zone- Super heavy duty, coated paper stock. These Korean printed books smell wonderful, likely the result of a mixture of asbestos tiles, lead paint chips, mercury from recalled thermometers, along with the secret ingredient: the tears of the Korean children working the printing presses. Couple that with paper (likely) made from virigin Amazon rain forest trees, and you have a scent that can't be beat!

I dislike how collections of Byrne's books all have the covers in the back of the book rather than in the chapter marker spots. The only reason that I can think of for this is that with all of the variant covers that they've had, a cover gallery in the back is the only feasible option.