Written by: Joe Casey
Art by: Jim Mahfood
Publisher: Lion Force Comics and IDW
Miami Vice was a buddy cop TV show from the 80’s that followed detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs as they wore flashy suits and took down criminals. This show was wildly popular, running for six seasons and spawning a 2006 film adaptation starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. The Miami Vice movie was a failure, but this didn’t stop the franchise’s popularity. Now, Lion Force Comics and IDW are publishing a comic take on the Miami Vice universe called Miami Vice Remix. This new version features a unique art style, self-censored swear words, and an interesting story set in a more modern Miami.
The second issue of Miami Vice Remix follows Crockett and Tubbs as they attempt to infiltrate the criminal underground and track down a new illegal drug. A new player in Miami is distributing this drug, and the duo need to stop him before all hell breaks loose. If the drug hunt wasn’t enough of an issue, Crockett and Tubbs also have to find a young girl for Lt. Martin Castillo before the seedy underworld sucks her in. Both of these missions take an interesting toll on the detectives as they try to make a new partnership work while butting heads on issues, maintaining their cover identities, and dealing with a member of the Rivera clan that wants Crockett dead.
Unfortunately, this new drug causes all manner of problems for the detectives, including a run-in with a strange enemy. During a routine trip to the precinct, the detectives come across a man who has taken a zombie-ish turn and started chewing on random pedestrians. The battle with this creature is the first step toward solving the mysterious drug problem, but it does cause some relationship issues between Crockett and Tubbs. However, this battle also results in a really fun moment where Tubbs uses the zombie’s head as batting practice.
Miami Vice Remix is one of the more entertaining comics that I have read in a long time. Joe Casey crafts an interesting new take on Miami Vice’s story with a crazier storyline. The new drugs, weird voodoo tie-ins, and zombies keep the issue surprising and fun to read. Plus, the self-censored swear words add a little hilarity to the entire scenario.
One fantastic aspect of Miami Vice Remix is the art style created by Jim Mahfood. The oddly shaped characters fit in well with the bright colors and painted look. Sure, the text is occasionally difficult to read because of the styling, but everything else is quite enjoyable. Crockett and Tubbs, in particular, are two of the best looking characters around. The fancy sunglasses and bright shirts make everything in the issue better, and Crockett’s constant smoking is a nice little touch.
Miami Vice Remix is a great continuation of the franchise, and issue #2 is a fun story well worth reading.
