flr_120309IoM was recently given an opportunity to read the first issue of Top Cow Comics new Pilot Season for 2009/2010.  This year, the Cow is doing things a little differently from previous years.  While the concept is basically the same as it’s always been; that is, voting the best of a series of comics, which would eventually go on to be a full fledged mini series; this year is different in that all of the series are written and created by the same two guys: Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri.  We make no bones about our love for Kirkman (in fact, we have people who refuse to talk to us based on the title of the episode alone), so this years Pilot Season is definitely an exciting prospect.

The first title in this year’s Pilot Season is Murderer, a unique concept about a mind reader who can’t control his powers.  He constantly hears the thoughts of others and the only time he can get silence from the constant barrage of thoughts is in the final moments of someone’s life.  So what’s a guy to do?  Well…the title of the comic is Murderer, after all.

Check out my advance review of the book, which is due out 12/9, and the first six pages, after the jump!

It doesn’t take long to realize that this isn’t the Robert Kirkman we’re used to seeing in Image books.  Sure, the guy has always had some humor in his book, and even a touch of sick humor every now and then, but Murderer reads almost like Mark Millar’s Wanted, in that the character’s aren’t necessarily likeable and, even though the ultimate “murder” is relatively heroic, it doesn’t feel like a heroic act.  The concept itself is pretty interesting and, while at first I wondered how it would work in an ongoing series, or even as a mini series, I think we all know Kirkman well enough to know that the guy probably has at least two years worth of stories already written for the character.

The Nelson Blake II art is actually really great.  I’m not too familiar with his regular work, but I think his art works extremely well in a title like this.  It would fit perfectly in a superhero book like Invincible, but has enough of an edge to it that a street-level antihero like Murderer fits the style perfectly.

It’s hard to say if Murderer would work as more than just a one-shot, but the one-shot itself is pretty strong, and I’m interested to see what would come up from the further adventures of the main character.  Murderer is an entertaining read and a mature title, and I definitely recommend picking it up when it comes out next Wednesday!  This could be the start of a pretty awesome Pilot Season!

Check out a six page preview of the book below!

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