Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Phillips
and Jacob Phillips
Published by Image Comics
Perhaps one of the oldest tropes in modern media is the world-weary private eye that falls for the troubled woman. Nevertheless, it is a trope that never gets tired when portrayed correctly.
Ethan Reckless is a jaded private dick with a heart of gold that was common in the genre in the late 70s and early 80s.
It is the year 1980, and in Los Angeles, a city fueled by sex, drugs, and murder for the right price, your trouble is Ethan’s business.
Follow Me Down is the fifth book of Brubaker’s and Philip’s Reckless series, serving as a companion piece to the fourth volume, The Ghost in You, as Ethan’s adventure in Book Five runs concurrent to the story in the previous volume.
What sets this particular adventure apart from other books in the series is that it focuses less on the action and more of the inner turmoil and conflict within Ethan’s heart. While pursuing a woman named Rachel, Ethan gets entangled in a murderous revenge plot. He finds unexpected love in the arms of a woman just as broken, distant, and mangled emotionally as himself.
Follow Me Down begins with an intense moment of violence that is enhanced by the art of Sean Phillips and his son, colorist Jacob Phillips. The opening panels set in a playground full of vivid greens and blues, only to be marred by the bright orange and red man getting his head blown off as he drinks his coffee in his car.
Jacob Phillips eschews the usual muddy color of the previous books and opens on a bright and sunny day. Therefore, the art is a critical piece of the story and helps push the narrative to its thrilling conclusion.
Final Score:
5 out of 5
