Good as Dead #1 is an issue where there's a lot to keep track of. The comic is packed with characters, twists, reveals, conspiracies, it feels like an X-Files episode but the cast is multiplied by 10. It's a debut you need to pay close attention to so you can keep track of everything going on and everything laid out. It's also an issue that actually surprises, it goes in unexpected directions and delivers a concept that'll appeal to folks who like a good conspiracy. Read Full Review

'Stray Bullets' fans will find something a bit more involved and demanding, and that's generally a good thing (so far). Read Full Review

Messy but magnetic, Good as Dead is a crime drama that thrives in the gray areas, delivering a feverish and enthralling read. Read Full Review

Good As Dead #1 has all the makings for a stellar and memorable tale of crime, family drama, and personal strife all rolled up into an intriguing small-town mystery package. But it doesn't stick the landing in some crucial areas, making it hard to recommend considering the price. Read Full Review

David Lapham returns to the scene of the crime with 'Good As Dead', a jet-black thriller that looks set to elevate the kind of intricate, character-filled storytelling that made his 'Stray Bullets' an all-time great series.

The debut issue is a packed 48 pages that introduces a wide cast of characters led by Sherriff Calhoun, head lawman of the small border community of Port Linden. His rival is the Valade family, a clan of wealthy bastards with a finger in every bit of dirty business and the town in the palm of their hand thanks to their control of the only bridge connecting the (presumedly) island community to the mainland.

Lapham sets his stakes HIGH with this introduction: When a man self-immolates on the town's bridge, it kicks off an investigation that seems ready to touch just about everybody in town. That would be enough for a great premise, but Lapham and his team, including co-writer and wife Maria Lapham, amp the threat level even higher with a truly shocking tragedy that leaves Sherriff Calhoun walking wounded and the entire town grappling with what may turn out to just be the opening salvo in a battle between two families that could tear Port Lindon apart.

There are shades of 'Twin Peaks' and 'True Detective' in Lapham's North-Western noir and if his follow-through is as good as his setup, I'm in for the long haul. more