The Horizon Experiment: The Manchurian # 1
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Penciller/Colorist: Terry Dodson
Inker: Rachel Dodson
Letterer: Jeff Powell
Cover Date: September 2024
Rating: 
This week, I will examine “The Horizon Experiment: The Manchurian # 1” from Image Comics. Eisner and Harvey Award-winning creator Pornsak Pichetshote collaborates with an all-star creative lineup across entertainment, including comics, literature, film, and television. This series of five one-shot comic books featuring original protagonists from marginalized backgrounds set in a popular genre and inspired by pop culture highlights how each character’s unique background allows the stories to go in new directions. The story in this issue starts with the introduction of Calvin Law, a Chinese James Bond who’s running covert missions in America doing his best to keep his personal life separate from this work while protecting a woman selling corporate secrets to China.
When it comes to spy stories, some fans expect some explosive “Mission: Impossible”-level of action, this issue, however, takes a completely different route by leaning towards the influences of Ian Fleming’s 007 material as it not only pays homage to them but uses them to as inspiration to create something fresh and unique. I even like how Pichetshote manages to tap into Calvin’s human side, making him more relatable than ever when it comes to his panic attacks, not to mention his fractured relationship with his girlfriend. Pichetshote is very lucky to have both Terry and Rachel Dodson on art chores, with their work shining on each page to where it highlights the espionage aspects of this one-shot to great effect while making it as slick and stylish as ever as if most of it was ripped straight out of 1960s pop culture but with a modern setting; A brilliant yet engaging story that relies on character-driven moments rather than explosives and over-complicated elements one might find in a bombastic spy story, “The Manchurian” shows that there is a market for this kind of story that not only keeps the core audience intrigued with every step but with Pichetshote’s wonderful ideas on display, it leaves us wanting more of the world that Calvin Law has immersed himself into where we, as readers, would love to see where his story is headed but one thing is for sure, this is the type of concept that would make Ian Fleming proud.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around and I will see you all next time.
About Author
