A series of gruesome murders reveals a world of supernatural intrigue and religious conspiracy to FBI agents Rodriguez and Petrillo, setting the trajectory for Praetorian, an original comic book from the newcomer publisher Outlaw Entertainment. Written by Jason M. Burns and illustrated by Ramon Espinoza, Praetorian establishes a clandestine mood of “whodunit” while sustaining an overall enjoyable pace, smooth dialogue, and fun art.
Praetorian’s plot opens in Portland, Oregon upon the discovery of a decapitated body, one that fits into a mysterious thread of similar murders. On the case are FBI agents Kasandra Rodriguez and Petrillo. The duo shares a quick-witted partnership, typically making jokes at the other’s expense. But their relationship doesn’t interfere with the grotesquely complex case on their hands, which eventually leads Rodriguez to enlist the help of Professor Julian, a local academic with an uncanny knowledge of ancient history. Through a series of events, the plot twists and turns, revealing that most of the characters are not who they initially seem.
Praetorian doesn’t skimp on the supernatural, as Julian belongs to a foursome of immortal soldiers existing since the days of Christ. And for anyone with a taste for Christian mysticism, Longinus’s legendary Spear of Destiny makes an appearance in the story, a tool that will help Julian and Rodriguez bring an end to the ritualistic murderers that have been troubling the world.
The overall plot of Praetorian is an entertaining mixed bag of graphic storytelling. The writing and panel transitions are smooth, giving the story a strong flow that fits in well with the mystery/thriller genre that is being utilized. Rodriguez and Petrillo are also charming characters; they toss banter back and forth that reveals a witty rapport between the two agents. It’s the kind of relationship that made the characters in Pulp Fiction and The X-Files so enjoyable, trading rude jokes one moment, while showing genuine concern the next.
The book wasn’t without some flaws, however; most of which were caused by the plot devices used. Pop culture (especially Hollywood) has been inundated with Christian conspiratorial stories for years now: The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, End of Days, and The Omen to name only a few. Praetorian fits in well with its predecessors, but it doesn’t offer anything shockingly new to set it apart from all that’s come before it.
There were also some awkward circumstances that bothered me. For example, there are two specific murders that take place: one on the front lawn of a suburban neighborhood and the other in an empty high school locker room. The murder that happened in the locker room was actually caught (by chance) on a cell camera by a stray student, while the murder that took place out in the open during the day went completely unnoticed. There are also times when the general plot falls back on destiny and bloodlines, which is a literary device more worn out than Jeph Loeb’s career.
Overall, Praetorian is both a fun and smooth read with richly colored art, but don’t expect the genres it employs to be shaken up much. However, the ending does feature a rather cool (not to mention monstrous) villain, which is always a deserving bonus. And for any of my concerns or gripes, the book was left somewhat as a cliffhanger, so perhaps all that bothered me will be corrected or even approved upon in the future.
This comic book review originally appeared on Comic News on 06 May 2009.
