The Devil's Handshake: A Basil and Moebius Adventure - Softcover

Ryan Schifrin is a critically acclaimed, award-winning writer and director. His film, “Abominable,” opened in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, and it also premiered worldwide on the SyFy channel. A graduate of the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinema, Schifrin received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production. His comic book series Spooks, which included collaborating artists NY Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore and G.I. Joe creator Larry Hama, was released through Devil’s Due Publishing to critical acclaim. Ryan is currently working with “Men in Black” producer Barry Josephson to turn Spooks into a feature film.

The first thing I noticed about this book is the phenomenal art by Adam Archer. The action depicted is as varied as the colors are rich. Archer puts personality in not only the main characters of the story, but the background characters that would normally be overlooked by other artists. The scenery, which is a big part of this story, is vibrant as well. From the darkest parts of the jungle, to a volcano cliff, to a desert oasis, Archer fills each panel with variety and authenticity. He also draws some damn fine women.

The second thing I noticed about this book is the fact that it's got some very cool characters in the form of Moebius and Basil. Immediately after meeting this pair of adventurers, I wanted to know more about them, how they first met, and what kind of predicaments they can get themselves into. Like most pairings, they couldn't be more different. The best way of describing them is that Moebius walks between the raindrops while Basil steps in the puddles. Both characters work for an enigmatic character called The Collector, who sends the pluckish pair on adventures around the world.

The thing that appealed the most to me about this book was the fact that it read like an old school pulp, but it was set in modern times. There are definitely shades of Allan Quartermain and Indiana Jones at work here, but the mismatched buddy cop pairing brings an all new energy to it. The pair trots all over the globe in this 42-page graphic novel and like the INDIANA JONES films, the locales are as important as the stars. The intensity of the action is set high and this book doesn't offer a lot of time to breathe. It just barrels through giving this reader exactly what he was looking for...fun characters doing exciting things I haven t seen before.

Did I mention that there s also a supernatural, Lovecraftian element at work here? Well, there is. The undercurrent of the weird flows through this entire story, never overpowering the book, but enriching the story all the more with its enigmatic presence. And the Ghoul Brothers, a rival pairing of thieves who appear to be zombie monsters in trench coats and bandages, are as spooky as they are cool. --Aint It Cool News