Image Comics is releasing two linked series in February. The first is The One Hand #1 written by Ram V with art by Laurence Campbell. The second is The Six Fingers #1, written by Dan Watters with art by Sumit Kumar. Both tell one side of a twisted murder mystery.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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The One Hand #1 And The Six Fingers #1 Advance Review:
In The One Hand #1 we meet a detective about to retire after putting the same serial killer away twice. That is until that killer starts killing, again. Meanwhile, in The Six Fingers #1 we meet a young man who may or may not be that serial killer, and find out what he discovers as he’s pursued by the police.
“Lee Loughridge is designing the books, the layout of the books, the layout of the covers,” added host Alex Zalben. “But otherwise, it has two different writers, two different art teams, but they’re very much tied together and showing us opposite ends of the [story]. I think this is a phenomenal experiment that I’m so excited to follow. Both books feel very distinct, but of course [are] tied together in terms of the plot, and they are both worth following on their own merits.”
Justin Tyler agreed calling it “such a fun stunt to be doing these at the same time. It’s like a little mini-universe, I guess you could call it a one-story universe. And you’re getting to see two very different perspectives on the same occurrences. And I’m skirting a little bit just so we don’t spoil anything. But I thought these were great. I’m equally interested in both of them.”
Pete LePage made it a hat trick adding, “Yeah, I really love this… I love the creative idea. And the execution, this is really done well… I would love to see more stuff like this, where you read along and have these ideas connect in ways that you didn’t see coming. So I think it’s very unique and cool.”
LePage on the other hand expressed some concern about plot points (keeping spoiler-free) in The Six Fingers that seem to reveal what’s going on in The One Hand. However, Zalben felt, “there are mysteries to come from both of them. I think what we are getting in these issues is not necessarily what’s happening. They’re both, by the way, noir mysteries that are sci-fi. They’re both set in the future in a fictional city. So there are a lot of elements of that [are] not quite Blade Runner, but it’s skirting that a bit.”
In terms of the experiment of it all, Zalben also added it reminded him a bit of what is currently happening on Radiant Black, where we’re following two almost multiverse-style takes on the same story. “Let’s get more [projects] that try things with the comic book format. I love that Image Comics is allowing them to do this. I love that Ram V and Dan Watters are doing this together, two great creators [who] are on a roll right now and have the ability to try something absolutely wild. They’re also two very different feeling series, at the same time. So really good stuff. Definitely check this out. Definitely pick them both up.”
The One Hand #1 hits stores from Image Comics on February 7, 2024. The Six Fingers #1 hits stores on February 21.
The One Hand #1 Official Synopsis:
Neo Novena detective ARI NASSER is about to retire with an enviable record, until a brutal murder occurs, bearing all the hallmarks of the “One Hand Killer”…which should be impossible, since Ari already put him away not once, but twice in the years before.
What follows is a deadly cat-and-mouse game as Ari pursues his quarry down the rain-soaked streets of Neo Novena. Ari will stop at nothing to unravel the secrets and ciphers of this case, but each revelation only leads further into the dark heart of his future-metropolis and Ari’s own beleaguered soul.
Grippingly written by award-winning writer RAM V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Swamp Thing) with hauntingly atmospheric art and covers by LAURENCE CAMPBELL (Old Haunts, BPRD: Hell on Earth) and LEE LOUGHRIDGE (DEADLY CLASS), THE ONE HAND is a miniseries that will keep you guessing until the very end.
For fans of Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and Black Mirror.
The Six Fingers #1 Official Synopsis:
Neo Novena archaeology student JOHANNES VALE has always been so very in control of his life. But when he commits a brutal murder using the M.O. of a historic and notorious serial killer, everything begins to spiral out of control…primarily as Johannes doesn’t remember doing it.
What follows is a deadly cat-and-mouse game as Johannes seeks refuge in the rain-soaked streets of Neo Novena. He will stop at nothing to unravel the secrets and ciphers of what he did and why he did it; but each revelation only leads further into the dark heart of his future-metropolis and Johannes’ own heartbroken soul.
Grippingly written by writer DAN WATTERS (HOME SICK PILOTS, Loki) with hauntingly atmospheric art and covers by SUMIT KUMAR (Man-Bat, These Savage Shores) and LEE LOUGHRIDGE (DEADLY CLASS), THE SIX FINGERS is a miniseries that will keep you on the edge until the very end.
For fans of Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and Black Mirror.
