Casanova #1 – Review

By Matt Fraction (writer), Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon (artists), Cris Peter (colorist)

Like most Good Things in comics, I would argue that we can blame this one on Warren Ellis.

See, back in 2005, Ellis created a comic with Image called Fell, an atmospheric detective story told in an experimental format that packed more content onto fewer pages for a lower cost. A completely satisfying reading experience for Value Menu prices–a worthy experiment to pursue, right? Fraction certainly thought so, and a year later he supported Ellis’ Slimline format with the release of Casanova, a psychedelic, genre-busting tale of espionage, music, and the multiverse. Under the Image banner, Casanova enjoyed fourteen glorious issues before going on hiatus while Fraction, Ba, and Moon went on to achieve super-stardom through other projects. But the times are, as Dylan keenly observed, always a-changin’, and after two agonizing years, Casanova has been brought under Marvel’s Icon banner where it’s good and ready to remind the world why it is one of the greatest American comics we’ve got going right now. No joke.

At its heart, Casanova is the tale of Casanova Quinn, a master thief and unscrupulous rogue whose very existence is an insult to his father, the head of a superspy organization called E.M.P.I.R.E. (nope, they still haven’t explained what the hell it stands for, but does it matter?). After Casanova’s sister, the apple of her father’s eye and an operative in his organization, is killed in the line of duty, Casanova is abruptly kidnapped from his dimension by Newman Xeno, the bandaged kingpin of a criminal organization called W.A.S.T.E. (nope, don’t know what that one means either, but whatever) and dropped into a parallel universe where he is dead and his sister is an evil bitch working for Xeno, who now wants our Casanova to work for him as a double agent in his parallel-father’s organization.

Got all that? Yeah, me neither. But that’s okay because Casanova is back to blow our freaking minds, and we need that kind of Weirdness in our comics.

This comic is about so many things: fathers and sons, love and hate, redemption, greed, egos and faith and the perils of screwing with time and space. And it’s a comic influenced by so many things: rock music, beatnik poetry, James Bond, science, religion, books, comics, the aesthetics of Genres and the ambiguity of Love. And it does it all with such brazen, assured coolness and ruthless swagger that you hardly realize it’s a story that’s trying to tell you meaningful things. It’s also a record of Fraction’s life, of the things that were on his mind and the ideas and music and comics he was feeling passionate about at the time he was writing each script. There’s a kind of honesty to the way he’s let us into his world that I really identified with when this comic first came out, and I’m really grateful to see that vibe continues here in the back matter of this issue.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Secret Avengers #2 – Although it had a few flaws on art and dialogue, the basic premise, the impending danger, and excellent, understated buddy scene between between Hank McCoy and Steve Rogers moved Secret Avengers #2 to the top of my week. I would have been more categorical about it, but I don’t think that Brubaker has yet found Valkyrie’s character, but hopefully that will come.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #5 – Although I’m drooling over the prospect of a Tim Drake/Damian Wayne beatdown (Damian’s obviously going to take it on the chin), Brightest Day #5, with its secret cover, is promising to reveal the truth behind the formation of the White Lantern! Sorry, I’ve got to go with the giant reveal!

Other Top Picks: Red Robin #14, JSA All-Stars #8, Batman and Robin #13, Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier #1, X-Force #28, X-Men #1

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Madame Xanadu #24 -Despite some big releases this week, Madame Xanadu stole this one.  Surprisingly solid artwork and a really anxious story made this a great done-in-one and fantastic start to a new “arc” that I wasn’t initially all that excited for.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #1 -Bendis and Maleev on a creator-owned project.  That alone is enough to get me pumped.  Factor in what looks to be a cool female protagonist and a dystopian near-future and I’m in.  The first issue isn’t even out yet and already I’m wishing this was a monthly.

Other Picks: Shadowland #1, Avengers: the Children’s Crusade #1, Casanova #1, Batman & Robin #13, Secret Six #23, Scalped #39, iZombie #3, Sweet Tooth #11

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Death of Dracula #1 – Sometimes it’s nice to have a lighter week in comics where something like Death of Dracula can sneak in and steal the cheese for top comic.  I bought this merely because I thought it would tie in with the new X-Men vs. Vampires story line.  It really doesn’t do that, but it gives an unexpectedly deep and rich overview of vampires (in all their forms) in the Marvel Universe.  I’d actually like to see more of this.

Most Anticipated: Amazing Spider-Man #636 – Out of ALL the big books coming out this week, I think I’m most excited to see what really happened when Spider-Man apparently died at the end of #635.  Having had two weeks to think about it, I’m pretty sure that it was Kaine in the suit.  Still, I read ~60 comics per month and I can’t tell you the last time a comic mystery was on my mind for weeks.

Other Top Picks: X-Men #1, Scarlet #1, Shadowland #1, The Walking Dead #74, Batman & Robin #13

Joe’s Top Picks

Best from the Past Week: Death of Dracula #1 – I had nothing but low expectations, both about this one-shot and the X-Men launch starting this week helmed by writer Victor Girschler.  After reading this well-thought out and beautifully pencilled one-shot, though?  I can’t wait to see where this story goes.  I almost wish this was the first issue of just a vampire-centric tale in the Marvel Universe without all the super-heroes, but I’ll take what I can get.  At least these vamps don’t sparkle.

Most Anticipated: X-Force #28 – Really, is there any other choice?  This is the penultimate chapter in the suberb Second Coming crossover, and it’s the final issue of Kyle’s & Yost’s X-Force series before it’s relaunched with a new creative team.  Throw in Mike Choi on pencils and you know this comic, the best X-Title in years, is going out with a hell of a bang.

Other picks: Irredeemable #15, Batman and Robin #13, Absolute Planetary Volume 1 HC, Brightest Day #5, Red Robin #14,
Secret Six #23, Walking Dead #74, Amazing Spider-man #636, Avengers The Children’s Crusade #1, Shadowland #1, Scarlet #1, Thanos Sourcebook, The Stand Hardcases #2, X-Men #1, X-Women #1