Hickman has only provided us with the most superficial glimpses inside the heads of these characters, but what he's provided just whets the reader's thirst for more information. This first issue essentially offers up a mystery. The question isn't "whodunnit?" so much as "whydunnit?" We're left in the dark as to Steadfast's motivations and operations, and I can't wait to find out more. The accountant and lawyers are clearly driven by greed and other base desires, so I can't help but think we're going to learn justice, greed or some kind of twisted social conscience drives the Steadfast characters. It could be something much darker as well, and I suspect the fun of the series will stem more from learning about these characters even more than watching them skilfully manipulate and investigate in convincing yet incredible ways. Read Full Review

The hook is set! Due to its skillful use of pliers and Hickman's past track record, there's no reason not to come back for the second issue. Violence and conspiracies are a powerful mix! Read Full Review

Jonathan Hickman does it again. How many new series can he write? As you would expect, he creates a new world and characters and pulls you in. Because information is such a hot commodity, people will do pretty much anything to get it. Hickman explores the world of private security. There is plenty of mystery and he presents the new world in an interesting fashion. Bodenheim's art and Garland's colors were the right choice for this story. You might not know where the story is going but that's part of the fun. Hickman and Image are on a role and he knows how to constantly give us something different. Read Full Review

If you are a fan of Hickman's work, you won't be disappointed here. Secret will sink its teeth into you and drag you along for the ride. Let's just hope it takes us somewhere we want to go. Read Full Review

The art from Ryan Bodenheim is solid and executed with a real eye towards cinema. Bodenheim uses color more as a gel over the eye of "camera" on each panel. The figures are black and white but the color scheme is different to match the emotion of each panel. It's a very effective, in a minimalist way, of getting the story across. It's brutal, slick, and very film noir. As of right now, Secret could go either way. It could travel a road to greatness or shit the bed entirely. Issue one gives me enough hope that I'll move on to issue two. Read Full Review

I was very impressed by the chemistry that this team has. I almost can't believe it wasn't a single person who wrote and illustrated this book. The art compliments the story great. Thescenes are never illustrated in full color, but accent colors being employed reallyhelp to tell the story. While Dunn is being assaulted, the panes are red. When the scene shifts to the next day, there are colors of yellow and orange illustrating Dunn's uncertainty and fear. While there is nothing monumental that happens in this issue, it sets up very nicely for next month's issue. There is minimum character development, but the eyebrow raising moments keep me in the story. I am anticipating May's issue and I hope formore twists and action. I give this an 8/10. Read Full Review

The cover alone would make me want to give this book a try, as it is extremely evocative and attention-grabbing. What I really like about this book is the gritty nature of the characters, and the scenarios in which they have been placed. There is a lot being developed in this series, and Hickman has definitely proven that he can deliver. Read Full Review

Secret tells the first part of a pretty well done corporate espionage story, but that story circles so widely around what its actual point or agenda is that becomes hard to understand why you should read it instead of other espionage stories. This is a book that is going to have to get its momentum from readers' faith in Jonathan Hickman instead. Fortunately, I think he has earned quite a supply of faith for his storytelling payoffs in other books. I am probably included among those readers. While this isn't the strongest first issue, I believe Hickman will build up to something that may not be apparent yet. Read Full Review

Secret #1 jumps around so much while introducing all the storylines, that I'm not sure if I like the overall story or not. I am intrigued enough to keep going. It has the potential to be really good. There is plenty of action, so don't worry about being bored. What I was more disappointed in was the coloring. I like the drawing style, but the coloring style just seemed random. I like originality, but the coloring shouldn't be distracting, like in this series. It doesn't ruin the comic, by any means. It just bothers me. The bottom line is that this is an interesting read, that could lead to bigger things in issues to come. I recommend that you check it out, especially because it is available for free (digital copy) at the link below. Read Full Review

Unfortunately, nothing any of those three characters does is endearing in any regard. Furthermore, there are no world-shattering revelations, but there are some eyebrow-raising moments in this issue that are trademarks of Hickman's writing. Those moments are enough to set a subtle appointment for the next issue, but the moments themselves might fade away before the next issue hits. The real draw to this series is Hickman and Bodenheim. There's nothing in this story worth cheering, but the craftsmanship exuded by the duo is worthwhile for fans of either creator and certain to create fans of both. Read Full Review

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did " and I hope that I can look back on issue #1 a few months down the line and see the beginning of a lot of great things. I hope Hickman continues to pull on the threads found here, and I hope what unravels is something more interesting than what I'm seeing so far. Read Full Review

Secret #1 is a solid debut. Nothing extraordinary, and still without a firm direction, but bold and gritty enough to stick out in the current market. I look for the co-creators to improve on a commendable start, and hopefully when, and if, they get to the meat of this story I'll be there with them. Read Full Review

The Secret is a classic case where the creators are known entities and the book will have to be given some room to come together. Hickman isn't going to give away everything in the first issue. Patience is the key. The problem is I have to judge the book based on these contents and not what I hope to see down the road and there really isn't a whole lot in here. It's a very ordinary spy book where the bad guys seem to be security experts that basically bully customers to sign up. I hope the series takes off next month. Read Full Review