The Smart Division #1
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| Writer | Zack Kaplan |
| Artist | John J. Pearson |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
A dark and modern sci-fi detective series set five minutes in the future. When a mysterious new predictive artificial intelligence program appears responsible for assisting someone in the perfect murder, a pair of unlikely investigators, a chaotic Gen-Z savant and a veteran FBI agent, must hunt down the killer by starting the FBI’s first AI crimes division.
• Creator Zack Kaplan (Kill All Immortals, Masterminds, Port of Earth) and Eisner-winning artist John Pearson (In Bloom, The Infernals, The Department of Truth) reunite for the first timesince their fan-favorite sci-fi horror series, Mindset!
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Capes & Tights - Justin Soderberg
Jul 28, 2026The Smart Division is a fantastic science-fiction mystery that eerily could be more fact than fiction. Writer Zack Kaplan delivers a timely detective tale exploring the use of modern technology in solving crimes. However, it’s the juxtaposition of John Pearson’s elegant brush strokes that makes story rise above the rest. Kaplan and Pearson’s creativity knows no bounds and The Smart Division is proof of that. Read Full Review
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10
Derby Comics - Patrick Savoia-Peterson
Jul 28, 2026I sat down with The Smart Division expecting a slick sci-fi detective story and walked away rattled about the world outside my window. That is the highest thing I can say about a comic right now. This is a perfect debut and one of the most relevant books on the stands, and I cannot wait to see where the case goes. Read Full Review
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10
Kabooooom - Matt Morrison
Aug 03, 2026The Smart Division #1 does everything the opening of a thriller should do. It hooks the reader immediately, establishing the world and its lead characters with ease. Add in some fantastic art, and you have a must read for all fans of murder mysteries and science fiction. Read Full Review
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10
Fanlight Zone - Richard Coryell
Aug 05, 2026The Smart Division #1 is a strong and confident debut that wastes no time establishing its identity as a gripping AI crime thriller. Zack Kaplan sets up a mystery that feels timely, unsettling, and full of potential, while John Pearson’s artwork gives the issue a slick visual style that perfectly matches the tension of the story. The combination of a murdered cyber security specialist, a powerful tech company, and a possible perfect-crime app gives the book a hook that feels both entertaining and uncomfortably relevant. This first issue answers just enough to pull readers in while leaving plenty of questions about Fusion, Mae Santos, and the larger role artificial intelligence may play in the crimes ahead. If you enjoy crime procedurals, techno-thrillers, or stories that explore the darker side of modern innovation, The Smart Division should absolutely be on your Pull List going forward. Read Full Review
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10
AIPT - Robert Reed
Aug 05, 2026The Smart Division #1 is a stellar start to a sci-fi detective story. Zack Kaplan and John J. Pearson execute the story beats to perfection, creating a delicious opening chapter. Read Full Review
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9.8
Comic Book Clique - Frank Jarome
Aug 06, 2026The Smart Division #1 is the best first issue I've read in months, introducing a scary-looking world that isn't too far from our own and an AI "antagonist" that is eerily plausible. It's got two strong leads that fit the classic "odd couple" trope without being cliches, and an intriguing mystery at its core. If the rest of the miniseries can maintain this level of quality, we're looking at a shoo-in for end-of-year "best of" list status. Read Full Review
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9.4
Monkeys Fighting Robots - Justin Munday
Aug 10, 2026A taut, intelligent, and worryingly relevant opening chapter to this AI-driven crime saga. Read Full Review
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9.0
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
Aug 05, 2026The Smart Division #1 introduces us to a world that is still catching up and understanding the real abilities and even threats of AI and technology. What if the wrong tech got into the wrong hands? Zack, John, and Hassan set us up for a new-age thriller in the best way. Read Full Review
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8.7
The Comic Book Spot - Adam Koppel
Aug 06, 2026The Smart Division #1 weaves an intriguing mystery filled with classic crime procedural/mismatched partner tropes mixed with our modern fears of AI run amuck. The issue doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the character moments and stylish art make for a compelling read. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Crusaders - Al Mega
Jul 31, 2026The Smart Division #1 delivers a strong opening case, an intriguing investigative duo and an AI threat that feels disturbingly believable. The issue does occasionally slow down while explaining its technology, but the central mystery and combustible character chemistry keep it moving. Kaplan, Pearson and Otsmane-Elhaou have built a smart cyber-noir thriller that understands the scariest machine is not one trying to replace humanity. It is one that already knows exactly how humanity will behave. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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Reading The Smart Division #1 gave me a legitimate moment of existential clarity: we are actually living in the future.
When foundational sci-fi like Blade Runner first explored autonomous tech, AI ethics, and automated crime, it always felt like a distant, far-off timeline. Reading Zack Kaplan and John J. Pearson’s take, however, doesn't feel like looking into a far-off century, it feels like looking at right now.
Kaplan delivers a tight, grounded narrative that taps right into the friction between human oversight and artificial systems. The sci-fi concepts here don't feel like speculative fiction; they feel like today's news cycle given a sharp, noir spin.
What truly elevates the book, though, is John J. Pear more+ Like • Comment
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