Brubaker has done it again for me with Velvet. I am hooked, and you will be too. And of course like any good drama, we end with an uncertain cliffhanger. I love when comics do this. Even if the series sucks, it keeps the reader wanting more. I have a feeling a lot more reveals are on their way too. I literally feel like I am repeating everything I think Erik would say about this issue or rather the series as a whole. Velvet is just a such a keeper for me. It amazes me how Brubaker can take us into the mind of a spy without actually taking us there. But if I know Brubaker at all, which I don't but wish I did, his series always get crazier. Jump on now in order to get caught up. I promise it will be a must read from then on. Read Full Review

Like all good spy stories, every character has a secret, and Velvet is no exception. Ed Brubaker has always been a writer that takes the genre he is working within very seriously, while never sacrificing what made that genre entertaining and effective in the first place. Velvet may be his best genre work to date. He has surrounded himself with a team of professionals that understand just how to present this story and character in a way that honors every aspect of spy fiction and the character herself. While this may not be the book to wade into the middle of on a whim, it is a certainly a book that is worth your time and attention and, in time, your respect. Read Full Review

Steve Epting returns for pencils in this issue with co-conspirators Elizabeth Breitweiser on colours and Chris Eliopoulos on letters. I remarked up top that the artwork here was fantastic, and that is certainly true. This issue is a riot of colours given that the festival being celebrated in Monaco is the Carnival of Foots where people dress up and wear masks, so the art team's imagination runs wild here. And Velvet herself is portrayed quite beautifully, and in spite of all the finery, Epting and Breitweiser let Velvet give a great account of herself in a close-up fight. Read Full Review

The quality of the book's artwork is nothing short of impressive. With chaotic action scenes and glamorized panels of the Carnival of Fools, artists Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser have created a special pleasure to the eye. Brubaker continues to show us why he's the man when it comes to noir stories, and why we shouldn't miss out on this one. Read Full Review

Velvet is just a wonderful comic series. The story is accessible and it is just enough of a twist on a classic spy story to keep it fresh. You really don't feel like you've read this before. The illustration is superb. Read Full Review

While not as awesome as the first three issues, the fourth issue of Velvet is another strong entry into the comic industry's premiere spy book. The mix of deep characterization and razor sharp plot progression makes for an awesome combination that is hard to beat. New characters are introduced, more pieces of history revealed, and new revelations shock our spy to the core in a book that has one of the best creative teams in comics clicking on all cylinders. Read Full Review

The one problem with this issue is that it's getting kinda hard to follow the story, which is weird, since there are not a lot of characters. Velvet got a lead, which led her to the last assignment, in which she went undercover, and that led her here, and once again she goes undercover to get clues. This repetitiveness makes the overall straight forward storytelling somewhat convoluted, we've been here before, so the additional information only gets in the way of the plot's progression. But aside from that, all is good in the neighborhood. Read Full Review

Velvet is one of those series that just nails it every issue. Every month you look forward to reading Ms. Velvet Templeton's adventures and this team of creators never disappoints. This is becoming a series like Saga, where you will go into every issue expecting quality storytelling and you can bet you'll get it. Velvet is one of the series you really need to be reading, it's a prime example of why people love comics. Read Full Review

Four issues in, it's Brubaker, Epting and Velvet that prove a force to be reckoned with. Despite a large number of strong books with female leads and A-list creative talent on stands right now, "Velvet" continues to hold its own as one of the best. Read Full Review

We only get a glimpse of Arc-7′s search for Velvet as the death of Stepanov and his wife and what Velvet is doing (if no clue as to the reason behind her actions). It will be interesting to see if we get more of her pursuit going forward or if the focus stays primarily on Velvet's search for answers. Worth a look. Read Full Review

The book's plot quite isn't the home run previous issues have been. Yet again, Velvet is following a lead that will hopefully shed some light on her situation, but the formula is starting to feel a bit repetitive. Velvet adopts a disguise, beats some people up, and gets a slim scrap of information that will guide her next step. At the end of this issue, the personal nature of that information (I won't spoil it for you here) brings the mystery full circle for Velvet, but the emotional payout of the revelation isn't quite there. Yet. Read Full Review

This really is a hard sell at twenty pages a month (or two, in this case) for a world that thrives on instant gratification. But if you take the time to read it, knowing what it is, knowing everythig isnt going to be answered all at once, then I really think you will enjoy it. I know that I certainly am. Read Full Review

There is a surprise twist at the end of this issue that would seem to set up some further revelations of Velvet's backstory for issue #5. While I thought the twist felt a little too "soap opera," I am still curious to see where Brubaker and Epting go in that direction. I also hope that they ratchet up the pace and give Velvet some great characters to complement Velvet. Read Full Review

Plenty of action, development and ass kickery in this issue. The art and colors are beautiful. The writing & characterization is excellent. jump on in, the water is warm.