Paknadel & Trakhanov’s Turncoat

This psychedelic yet grim post-alien dystopia by writer Paknadel (Arcadia) and artist Trakhanov (Undertow) sets a former NYPD officer against colleagues on both sides of a recent revolution. Until five years ago, the police force that Marta Gonzalez served, like all other sources of power, was controlled by the insectoid alien race known as Management. Life was good according to many, but Marta is conflicted about her past actions and has turned private detective. Her latest case is the search for a client’s son, Titus, whom Marta realizes must be a Management-human hybrid, despite the fact that all were supposedly killed—an act Marta herself was involved in. Trakhanov’s figures are both energetically rough-hewn and cartoonish, set in a backdrop that’s a mad fantasy of New York festooned with chiton and mold. This highly entertaining SF tale combines the best of high-octane thrillers and nuanced detective stories with thoughts on just what people will do to attain and maintain power. (July)