Zero #11 Review

Written by: Ales Kot

Art by: Ricardo Lopez Ortiz

Publisher: Image

Ales Kot just gets it. He understands why comics offer some of the best ways of telling cinematic stories, and he somehow seems to know immediately who would be the perfect artist to depict each issue of Zero. Every line of dialogue rings true and each panel seems to carry some unknown weight, like an invisible Sisyphus pushing a story along uphill. 

When this issue begins, Edward Zero is still in Iceland, living the quiet life. Kot has stated in numerous interviews that if you want the gloss and tongue-in-cheek humor of James Bond, then you can keep on looking elsewhere. Zero  is a spy story, but it’s also about relationships. And death. Other relationships. Double-crosses. Governments. Arms dealing. More death. The danger yet inescapable nature of an unclean conscience. And yes, more death. Edward’s Icelandic getaway can’t last, but I appreciate the way that Kot and Ortiz bring us into Zero’s new life, while forcing readers to feel the suspense increase with each passing page. Nothing good can last in this violent life, but Edward and Siobhán are determined to enjoy what time they have together. Their interactions are brief, but memorable. I especially enjoyed their time with the chickens (“The eggs got better since we started spending morning time with them.” “Do you genuinely believe it matters?” “I do.”). This entire issue is full of little snippets like this one, all revealing a bit about their idyllic life while also ratcheting up the tension because this is not a love story. This is the story of a spy, whether in hiding or not, and the world won’t let Edward Zero forget this.

Speaking of snippets, I also want to mention the graphic sex scene here. I don’t think it was gratuitous or over the top, but what I do find interesting is that there has been no outcry. Comixology no longer allows users to download comics directly through their app (so Apple can’t collect any money from the purchases) so the controversy surrounding Saga #12 probably won’t be repeated here. Comixology and Amazon aren’t going to censor themselves, but I do like that Kot and Ortiz are pushing those boundaries and they’re perhaps revealing the hypocrisy concerning the censorship of Vaughan and Staples’ book. A meta comment on the industry, perhaps.

I’m not familiar with Ortiz’s previous work, but upon first glance I’d compare him to Riley Rossmo (think Proof era, if you’re familiar with that book). There’s not a ton of action this month, but even in those quiet moments Ortiz does a great job of conveying emotion, movement, and thoughtfulness.

Spies—they’re just like us

When there is action, it looks fast and violent, though some parts can be a bit “cartoony” which can be an uncomfortable juxtaposition with the book’s somber plot.

10 items or less…to the face!

If you have been enjoying this book as much as I have, then you will find more to love in this month’s issue. If this book hasn’t been your cup of tea since the beginning, then this one probably won’t change your mind. Zero is being called back to the “game,” but I’m sure he’s not going willingly. In this sense, this latest issue reminded me a bit of the Bourne movies, except Edward Zero remembers everything he has done and everything that has been done to him, so in that way he’s probably even more dangerous.

As always, Kot includes some great dialogue in the form of transcripts at the end of the issue. This time, we learn more about Siobhan and Edward’s quiet life, which also seems to have been a time when Zero became more human as well. Human in the sense that he is finding creative things he enjoys, like movies, and connecting with someone outside of the program. We learn that Siobhán is actually a lot tougher than she seems at first though, which is one more way that Kot is challenging stereotypes found throughout the spy genre. In closing, you should be reading Zero. Kot and his many collaborators are taking a long, hard look at war (and all of war’s brethren—secrets, boundary control, weaponization, the disenfranchisement of people, etc.). The least we can do as conscientious and progressive readers is listen and pass it along to others.