The Mission #5

Written by Jon Heober and Erich Hoeber
Art by Werther Dell'Edera

I really haven't seen this series get much love on the internet, and that's a huge mistake, as The Mission is continuing to evolve into one of the most interesting comics that I read every month.  Basically, this successful business and family man named Paul has been recruited into a mysterious war between the forces of good and evil by a man named Gabriel.

So far, Paul has killed a couple of people, stolen an ancient artifact, and had to lie to his wife and employers repeatedly.  Now, having lost the artifact he stole last issue, having been threatened with divorce from his wife and the loss of his job, Paul decides to stop following Gabriel's instructions.  What he doesn't know, however, is that there will be serious consequences to his decision for both himself and his children.

I like the way the Hoeber's write the scene in the doctor's office where Paul learns just what will happen if he doesn't continue with his mission.  His arrogance at knowing his fate disappears completely once his children enter the equation.  Dell'Edera draws the scene wonderfully.

The Mission really has my interest right now.  We know so little about the nature of the war that Paul has become involved in, and why he was chosen.  I appreciate that we have been seeing things from his perspective alone, and look forward to having more revealed as the series continues.  If you are looking for a new, intelligent and taut thriller, you should give this series a try.

The Mission #4

Written by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber
Art by Werther Dell'Edera

I'm really enjoying this title.  The Hoebers are making very good use of the single issue story to build upon a larger storyline, and are very slowly portioning out some information, leaving the reader to guess and puzzle together what is going on.

In The Mission, a man named Paul has been contacted by a man (or perhaps angel?) named Gabriel.  For the second time now, Gabriel has given Paul a mission, without explaining why he needs to do it, or what the greater purpose is.  The first time out, he commanded Paul to kill someone.  This time, it's a much simpler task - Paul is to steal a carved ivory box from a small town museum.

The problem with this whole set up is that there is another side to whatever war Paul is fighting, and as he tries to complete his mission, he begins to run into the people from that other side.  Really, reading through this issue, I'm beginning to wonder if there is anyone who isn't a part of this great war.

I like the way the Hoebers are keeping Paul, and by extension, the reader, in a state of confusion.  I'm curious to see where this title is headed, and how long Paul is going to be able to keep his activities a secret from his wife.  Dell'Edera's doing a fine job on the art, and the writing is pretty sharp.

The Mission #3

Written by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber
Art by Werther Dell'Edera

I was impressed enough by the opening two issues of The Mission to want to keep coming back, but with this third issue, I am convinced that this is a title that belongs on my pull-list.

The Mission is about a man named Paul, who was contacted by a man named Gabriel, and ordered to kill another man.  He was told that there was a secret war taking place, and that he has a role to play in it.  Obviously all of this sounded nuts, but when the man  he was supposed to kill shot up a courtroom and kidnapped his daughter, Paul decided to complete his mission.

Now, in this issue, the strain of everything that has been going on is starting to show.  Paul's relationship with his wife is suffering, and they are in couple's therapy.  Paul is beginning to question his own sanity, and his systematic approach to figuring out Gabriel's identity is turning up little evidence.  A new character, a homeless man, is introduced to the series when Paul sees him and Gabriel talking, but very little is clarified for either him or us.

I like the concept behind this.  It's like Mission: Impossible, but Paul is working for an angel.  What we don't know is whether or not Paul is working for the right side, or what all this conflict is about.

Dell'Edera's art is quite nice here.  I'm used to him drawing much darker series, but there is a lightness about his pencils.  I still don't know if this is a mini-series or an on-going (it's been solicited up to issue 6), but I do know that I'm going to be sticking with it.

The Mission #1

Written by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber
Art by Werther Dell'Edera

With it being such a large comics week, I really didn't need to add an impulse buy to the pile, but Image has been putting out some really interesting series lately that have been flying under the radar, and I've usually enjoyed Werther Dell'Edera's art when I've come across it on series like Loveless and GI Joe Origins, so I thought I'd give this a shot.

The Mission opens on your general everyman character getting a check-up.  He's a guy with a wife and two kids, decent job, blah blah blah.  As he's getting in his car, a strange man approaches him, calling him by name, and telling him that he has a mission to fulfill as part of a gigantic war between good and evil that is being waged invisibly all around us.  His mission is to kill some guy within 48 hours.

His reaction isn't all that different from what yours would be (unless you're crazy - I don't really know who reads this site), and he more or less ignores the whole thing.  Eventually, he's convinced to at least check his target out, and we get swept up into what is more or less a Spider-Man origin retread.  It works though, as I found that I got pretty interested in trying to figure out just what is going on at the end.  Interested enough to pick up the next issue?  Probably; we'll have to see.