Review- BEDLAM

BEDLAM (Image, 2013; Softcover)

Collects Bedlam No. 1-6 (cover dates October, 2012- April, 2013)

Writer: Nick Spenser

Artist: Riley Rossmo

Colorist: Jean-Paul Csuka

Wow, this is pretty disturbing. Fillmore Press was the mass murderer Madder Red, responsible for the death of over 2,000 people. Believed to be dead, he is taken in by a mysterious “doctor” and supposedly rehabilitated and given a new identity (Press is his new identity). Heavily medicated and haunted by his past, he finally finds some meaning in his life here in the city of Bedlam: helping police Detective Ramira Acevedo unravel the mystery of a new serial killer in town.

The ghosts of Fillmore's past ends up kicking up some dust, and his behavior begins to become questionable. He does stop the murders, though...for now. There are still some questions left unanswered, such as why there is The First, some form of armored superhero in the city of Bedlam. The character adds a fantastical element to what would otherwise be a more realistic story. I'm curious as to why they feel the need for that and hope that it will be addressed in future issues.

I hope that there are future issues, because things are teetering on the brink of catastrophe. I love seeing a house of cards fall apart. Image has been on a roll over the past year or two. Their creator owned titles have been taking chance after chance and succeeding on all counts.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Image makes nice trade paperbacks.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. Thick coated stock paper with a sheen to it.

Binding rating: 4 out of 5. Glued binding is par for the course for softcovers.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 4 out of 5. That dull matte finish coating on the cover...sigh. It seems that almost every publisher is switching to it these days. It must be cheaper because it is certainly not better.

Buy BEDLAM TP at InStockTrades!