Dark Horse; $19.99 

Edward Hale is a video game designer who has grown tired of being just a cog in the machine at Blazestar Games. At a video game convention, Edward solved a puzzle put forth by the Masterminds, a mysterious and powerful organization that helps its members succeed by any means necessary.   

Edward is invited to play a series of games to prove if he is worthy of becoming one of the Masterminds. The games are extreme – starting with Edward walking into a room of bloody dead bodies – and will test his intelligence and mettle. Fortunately, he is getting some help from Angie, his Blazestar coworker. Unfortunately, the two of them quickly face life and death scenarios, even though the games have just begun.  

Masterminds is a fun, stylish thriller comic. The creative team of writer Zack Kaplan, artist Stephen Thompson, and colorist Thiago Rocha clearly put a lot of time and thought into the story. The puzzles are complicated and exciting with Edward and Angie determined to complete them despite the metaphorical "danger" sign looming over their heads.  

The pacing in the book is so quick that the reader feels like they are in the race too, but that doesn't mean it's light on story or art details. A lot happens surrounding Edward's ambition, the way that the powerful can be sadistic, and the blurring between reality and the game.   

The creators weaved one heck of a twisty story in which it's hard to decipher what is real from what is a fabrication or a trick. Kaplan wrote a cat and mouse suspense tale with Edward and Angie stumbling to keep up with the game. 

The art has been awesome, anchoring every setting with fine detail, and using a variety of panel angles, long shots, and close ups to heighten the drama and style. Thompson and Rocha utilize video game elements by designing panels and whole pages to look like game puzzles and challenges.  

–Amanda Sheriff