Comic book review
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Cully Hamner
Titan Books / Wildstorm paperback
Release date Out now

Former Black Ops agent Paul Moses just wants to live out his retirement in peace. But when the CIA sends assassins to his house to kill him, his old instincts kick in and he heads to Langley looking for revenge…

Anyone coming to Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner’s comic-book off the back of the new Bruce Willis/Helen Mirren movie is likely to be in for a shock. Whereas the movie is a light but frenetic action-comedy, the original comic is a far more nihilistic affair.

The sharp, straightforward plot sees Paul Moses (renamed Frank Moses in the film) embarking on an orgy of violence, killing anyone who gets in his way as he seeks revenge on the CIA director who disturbed his retirement. It’s very much in the dark, ultra-violent vein of many of today’s comics, with an apparent attempt to draw parallels with the “War on Terror” towards the end.

RED may not be cuddly, but Ellis’s storytelling is tight and fast-paced, and Hamner’s clear and colourful art ensures the gory kills are realistic enough to make an impact. James Skipp

VERDICT: 7/10
A short, sharp shock of a comic book.

Click here to read Simon Furman’s review of the RED prequels in Comics Candy!