‘King of Spies, Volume 1’ TPB (review)

Written by Mark Millar
Art by Matteo Scalera 
Published by Image Comics

King of Spies hits like a bullet to the conscience—and I mean that in the best way. Mark Millar and Matteo Scalera’s four-issue miniseries takes a killer concept—what if James Bond got old, realized he’d wasted his life serving corrupt empires, and went full scorched-earth in his final days?—and turns it into a stylish, emotionally devastating spectacle of action and regret.

But what really pushes this book from great to unforgettable?

The man sent to stop this rogue spy legend is his own son. That single, brilliant twist transforms the story from explosive revenge fantasy into a deeply personal, Shakespearean tragedy soaked in blood and buried guilt.

Why I Loved Every Page:

1. Old Man Spy With Nothing to Lose
   Roland King is a force of nature—aging, terminally ill, and totally unshackled. But underneath all that fury is vulnerability. His pain and disillusionment are what drive him, not just a thirst for revenge. His final mission is a confession wrapped in a body count. And it hits like a gut punch.
2. The Weight of Regret
   This isn’t just about settling scores. Roland’s violence is cathartic, yes, but it’s also deeply sad. Every name he eliminates is someone he once protected or enabled. This is penance in the most brutal form—and he knows he belongs on the list too. That self-awareness makes the carnage resonate.
3. The Father–Son Showdown
   This twist elevates everything. The son isn’t just chasing a traitor—he’s reckoning with a childhood shaped by secrets, training, and abandonment. The emotional tension is off the charts. Every confrontation is dripping with history and unspoken damage. It’s not just a mission—it’s an unraveling.
4. Action That Slaps
   Matteo Scalera’s art is a masterclass in kinetic, visceral storytelling. From gunfights to hand-to-hand chaos, every panel has impact. You feel Roland’s age and experience in every movement. Giovanna Niro’s colors shift the tone with eerie precision—from cold bureaucratic blues to searing reds of vengeance.
5. Legacy and Fallout
   The explosions are loud, but the questions this book asks are louder: What’s left behind after a life in shadows? Who carries the cost? What if you’ve become the very evil you once fought? King of Spies tackles these themes head-on, and the emotional debris it leaves behind lingers long after the final page.

Final Thoughts:

King of Spies is more than just a violent, stylish spy story—it’s a tragic, exhilarating meditation on legacy, failure, and the desperate hope for redemption. It’s smart, bold, and brutally effective from start to finish.

Five out of five stars. I couldn’t put it down. If you’re even slightly into espionage, family drama, or vengeance-fueled storytelling with real emotional weight, this one’s essential.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)