A lot of what makes Archaia a great independent comic book publisher is there preference for publishing original ideas that do not just try and emulate the superhero stories the big two churn out month after month. Cyclops is the result of another one of those original ideas and its shaping up to be a great ride.  

Cyclops comes from the same creative team that created The Killer series, writer Matz and illustrator Luc Jacamon. That bit of information alone should have you excited for Cyclops as The Killer is one of the best ongoing series in comics. What you’ll notice about Cyclops though is Matz and Jacamon don’t rest on their laurels. Cyclops introduces us to a completely new world with its own mysteries and intrigue.  

In Cyclops the year is 2054. Douglas Pistoia is a graduate looking for work, but only a private security firm, Multicorps Security, has offered him a job. Soon after he signs up, the UN decides to outsource its peacekeeping missions, and Multicorps win the first bid. Douglas is now part of a war that is not his own, and his every move is being watched. Multicorps broadcasts the war worldwide, thanks to the micro-cameras in the soldiers helmets hence the name Cyclops. 

Originally published in 2005 in French Cyclops provides interesting and relevant social commentary on the role of private contractors in global conflicts and the role of the media in reporting war and our apparent voyeurism for destruction and death. There was outcry when Wikileaks released the video of the American attack helicopter but everybody watched and Cyclops takes that idea and shows us what can happen when the outrages dies down and war becomes just another spectacle of entertainment, the most watched show on the box.

Matz also does a good job of capturing the different personalities of his characters in his dialogue. Soldiers sound like soldiers, especially mercenary soldiers, politicians sound like politicians and corporate executives sound like corporate executives. Finally, Douglas sounds like a normal guy who just wants a job. This makes all the characters feel believable and helps to sell the world Matz has created.  

Jacamon implements a similar style to The Killer in Cyclops but it’s a lot darker book. Whenever we venture to a battlefield there is a lot of grey, black and tinges of dark blue and green. We are then treated to a contrast in the cities that are unaffected by war. There are bright and vibrant colours that demonstrate the cities are filled with life while the battlefields are only filled with death and gloom. About the only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the design of the Multicorps soldiers. Their weapons and armour did not particularly impress me considering they are supposed to be the best equipped guys around. Apart from that Jacamon’s brilliant art style and use of colour make this a great looking book.  

As a first issue Cyclops is hard to fault. Matz expertly introduces us to a world that could well be our very own in the near future and populates it with believable characters no matter how big or small there contribution. Jacamon then supplies that world with fantastic art and colour that adds extra meaning to what’s going on. A superb debut that I cannot wait to read more from.