Graphic Novel Review
If The Boy Scouts Were Assasins
RATING
4/5
Black Badge Vol. 1
(Black Badge #1)
by Matt Kindt
Images From the Graphic Novel
Story Synopsis
An espionage series about a top-secret, elite branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions.
Meet the Black Badges, a top-secret branch of boy scouts tasked by the government to take on covert missions that no adult ever could. Among their organization, the Black Badges are the elite—the best of the best. The missions they’re tasked with are dangerous, and will only get worse as their leader’s attention is split between their objective and tracking down a lost team member. A member who disappeared years ago…presumed dead. Reuniting New York Times bestselling author Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and illustrator Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust) following their multiple Eisner Award-nominated series Grass Kings, Black Badge is a haunting look at foreign policy, culture wars, and isolationism through the lens of kids who know they must fix the world that adults have broken.
My Thoughts
Black Badge is an intriguing series. It is a combination of the down and dirty black OPS type narrative against the Boy Scouts’ wholesomeness.
“Your youth makes you invisible. Your cunning is unexpected. And your heart is not yet jaded.”
The premise of the story makes a lot of sense. Boy Scouts members spend a huge amount of time gaining a variety of skills. The Boy Scouts organization teaches life skills and wilderness skills; what better way to find the perfect type of recruits than to recruit from a pool of characters that do it for self-betterment. These agents/kids learn black ops skills to be utilized by a clandestine organization. They earn black badges/status/rank learning skills.
The writing is excellent, and the graphics are top-notch. They are simplistic but shows the intent of each panel. I would expect nothing less than outstanding from Tyler Jenkins. (I dug Grass Kings)
I think if you love espionage stories with a twist, this is the right thing to read. Check it out!
I’ve been interested in this one for awhile! Thanks for the review. Added to my TBR.