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The Losers

I can’t even begin to tell you how geeked out I was when I heard that The Losers was being made into a movie starring Jeffery Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba and the delightful Zoe Saldana. Originally a graphic novel series by writer Andy Diggle and artist Jock, the series follows a group of Black Ops soldiers trying to find out who tried to kill them (officially, they are listed as K.I.A); they team up with a mysterious woman who also has a beef with the agency that tried to kill them.

Check this out! The series is comprised of five books; the movie is based on the first one: Ante Up. We are introduced to the team, their strengths and roles, and how they set about tracking down the mysterious “Max”, who is behind the plot to eliminate them. The second book, Double Down, starts by checking in on the team as they take some much needed R&R; after this relaxed opening they track down a lead in an abandoned villa in Montserrat. In the last book, Trifecta, the team ends up in Qatar and the Middle East as the political situation deteriorates; however, they are closer than ever to finding out who and what Max is. The last two books, Close Quarters and End Game, wrap up the series as The Losers discover how deep the conspiracy goes, and show how they end it all.

The drawings in the series are both vivid and minimalist; much is conveyed in a cocked eyebrow or the touch of a hat. The dialogue is also excellent: they are not a talkative bunch (with the exception of Jensen, the computer expert) and this idea is taken to the extreme by Cougar (the expert marksman); so much is conveyed in their actions and through the exposition provided by secondary characters. While Jock is the primary artist throughout the series, other artists add their own takes in the second and third books. With any luck, there will be sequels. It’s an exciting, action-packed series, perfect for summer blowing-things-up movies.

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