Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Frank J. Barbiere
Artist: Toby Cypress
Release Date: July 2, 2014

Mystery. Espionage. Violence. Thrills. Action. Just a few words you could use to describe this fascinating tale by Frank J. Barbiere and Toby Cypress. History books tell the events of the Cold War one way, but Barbiere gives you a new way to think about what may, or may not have gone down. No one ever knows the clandestine groups or missions our government sends individuals out on, so for a writer of Barbiere’s caliber it’s pretty much free reign on whatever he can come up with. Who’s good, who’s bad, and are they really doing what’s best for our country or, just what they think is best?

This is the thrilling conclusion to this 4 part series, and the build up to this finish is not without resolve. The identities of the major players are brought to light, some will surprise and some will just fall right into the plot seamlessly. It’s hard to give an accurate synopsis without giving away too many details, just know that all is finally revealed, and the end… well is it really the end?

Frank J. Barbiere is quickly approaching must-read status for me, it seems no matter what he touches, to me it’s pulp fiction gold. Whether it’s a tale of noir such as this or tales of action and adventure with Five Ghosts, he never disappoints. The story developed for this series, while only a 4 issues, is incredibly well thought out and well told. For parts of the story you are left with your own assumptions as to who and what the White Suits actually are and whether or not Prizrak is really an ex white suit or a victim like Ms. Anderson. Each issue brought up new questions to keep you guessing and while at times it seemed to cloud, the story by the end it all became clear and the mastery of the story telling is evident.

The artwork for White Suits, at first glance, is not necessarily a style that appeals to the eyes in terms of detail and finesse, but that’s why it’s the perfect fit for this story. Toby Cypress’ use of color is  a phenomenal addition to the story telling, using mainly black and white art with splashes of red thrown in to either show the violence of a panel or the difference between characters. The artwork itself is gritty and at times there’s so much going on it’s tough to follow, but that only adds to the mystery and thrill of the story itself. I’m not sure any other artist would have been the right fit for such a story. Cypress does a fantastic job, keeping the reader guessing with the artwork as much as they are guessing about the story.

So, if you like your stories full of everything that makes a good thrill ride – with a touch of espionage and a load of senseless violence thrown for good measure – then this is definitely a series you want to check out. Keep an eye out for The White Suits; they may be out there…

Rating: 4/5

The writer of this piece was: Shane Hoffman (aka “Hoff”)
You can also find Hoff on Twitter.