Cyclops #2

Written by Matz
Art by Luc Jacamon

I find it hard to believe that this comic was originally published in 1998 in France.  With this story, Matz has really captured so much of the current zeitgeist, that I would assume this book is only a couple of years old if it's not brand new.  That he was anticipating the development of so many aspects of modern culture thirteen years ago is surprising.

Cyclops is about a man, Douglas Pistoia, who has begun to work for the UN-sanctioned military contractor organization Multicorps Security, Inc (the story is set in the future).  On his first mission, he performs a recklessly heroic act as he rushes through sniper fire to rescue his injured Captain.  Since all of the Multicorps missions are broadcast live on international television (the name of the book refers to the camera in each soldier's helmet), Pistoia quickly becomes a star.

To cement their control of him, his bosses quickly send him on a mission of dubious moral purpose, and then promote him and offer him his own television show.  This issue finishes setting up the series (remember, when originally published, issues one and two would have been a single volume), and I'm curious to see what Matz does with the military reality-tv angle.  As always, Jacamon's art is terrific, if a little murky in its over-use of the colour purple during night operations.