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The Psycho #1-3
The Psycho
When a flying terrorist attempts to assassinate the president on Air Force One, it becomes clear that super-humans are living WMDs. A government agency is formed to monitor these "Psychos." Jake Riley is an agent assigned to watch them, but when he's betrayed by his own agency and his life is destroyed, Jake's only option is to become the very thing he hates: a Psycho.
172 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2006
49 people want to read
About the author
James D. Hudnall
162 books18 followersJames David Hudnall has been a professional writer since 1986. The majority of his work has been in the graphic novel field. He has had one television show made from his comics (Harsh Realm, Fox 1999) and has several comics properties in development.
His Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography has been called one of the best comics of all time by “Wizard Magazine.” It was cited in TV guide as an inspiration for an X-Files Episode.
He currently writes Blue Cat with Val Mayerik on art and Thracius with Mark Vigouroux on art for Acesweekly.co.uk.
His first novel is: The Age of Heroes: Hell's Reward. His book The Secrets of Writing is expected at the end of 2013
He is a professional writer and has been a writing teacher, lecturer, publisher, and software developer for many years. He’s also a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
He currently lives in San Diego, California.
His Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography has been called one of the best comics of all time by “Wizard Magazine.” It was cited in TV guide as an inspiration for an X-Files Episode.
He currently writes Blue Cat with Val Mayerik on art and Thracius with Mark Vigouroux on art for Acesweekly.co.uk.
His first novel is: The Age of Heroes: Hell's Reward. His book The Secrets of Writing is expected at the end of 2013
He is a professional writer and has been a writing teacher, lecturer, publisher, and software developer for many years. He’s also a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
He currently lives in San Diego, California.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 7, 2025
El arte increíble. La historia regular.
July 13, 2021
Fun story in the vein of Watchmen, but the art is the real star. Beautiful and gruesome with some amazing character designs.
January 29, 2024
I seem to recall absolutely loving this when it first came out. The art just blew me away and the story was just different enough that I had no idea what was going on most of the time, even though it is not that complicated.
Older, now self can still appreciate the art, though it is very much Brereton finding the style that becomes his a number of years later, and see that the story is still ok but at the same time just realise how flimsy it all actually seems overall. I enjoyed rereading this but it will be leaving my house pretty soon!
Older, now self can still appreciate the art, though it is very much Brereton finding the style that becomes his a number of years later, and see that the story is still ok but at the same time just realise how flimsy it all actually seems overall. I enjoyed rereading this but it will be leaving my house pretty soon!
March 14, 2023
I'm not the biggest fan of the art style. In my opinion, it's hard to look at for a long period of time. When I started the story, it was at 2 stars. I didn't have any interest in the political storyline and I didn't care for any of the characters. As I continued to read, it climbed up to 3 stars. Once Jake took the XDL, the story became much more interesting. I still didn't really care for any of the characters, though. I didn't like the Sonya plot-twist, either.
February 12, 2017
just a wonderful art in a great twist of watchmen legacy !!!!!
October 11, 2010
Written by James Hudnall with art by a young Dan Brereton, The Psycho is a blast from the past. It’s a bit like Watchmen, in that it blends the superhero genre with political intrigue, and the fact that it was released just a few years after Watchmen points out that influence. But that’s not actually a bad thing. This isn’t a simple rip-off of the most iconic superhero story ever. Hudnall writes in the foreword that he wanted The Psycho to be similar to Watchmen, but also include a lot of his feelings about the end of the Cold War and America’s first war with Iraq. Reading it almost twenty years later, I was surprised that it still holds up.
The story itself begins with Jake Riley, a government agent, is set up by his bosses and has to go on the run. His life is ruined and he’s forced to become an FCO (Freelance Costumed Operative) to get revenge. The story’s pretty basic, and it plays out like a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie (to me, Jake looks almost exactly like JCVD—he’s even considered dangerous because he knows a little karate). History is a little different also. Tons of FCO’s are running loose and they’ve had an impact on global politics since World War 2. America and the Communists are engaged in a genetic arms race, but on a little island called Aldaria, FCO’s are given tax-free citizenship. As a result, Aldaria’s shadow government quietly amasses an army of FCO double-agents loyal only to them.
Brereton’s artwork is unique and awesome, but you can tell that this was early in his career and he was still perfecting his craft. And like the story itself, the artwork reeks of the early nineties. This isn’t a bad thing. Brereton’s character designs are all weird and psychedelic, with creepy superpeople lurking around every corner. The story’s pretty basic, with Jake becoming The Psycho and going on a revenge spree, but the Brereton’s weird style and the mixture of political intrigue and early-nineties nihilism makes The Psycho a unique read.
The story itself begins with Jake Riley, a government agent, is set up by his bosses and has to go on the run. His life is ruined and he’s forced to become an FCO (Freelance Costumed Operative) to get revenge. The story’s pretty basic, and it plays out like a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie (to me, Jake looks almost exactly like JCVD—he’s even considered dangerous because he knows a little karate). History is a little different also. Tons of FCO’s are running loose and they’ve had an impact on global politics since World War 2. America and the Communists are engaged in a genetic arms race, but on a little island called Aldaria, FCO’s are given tax-free citizenship. As a result, Aldaria’s shadow government quietly amasses an army of FCO double-agents loyal only to them.
Brereton’s artwork is unique and awesome, but you can tell that this was early in his career and he was still perfecting his craft. And like the story itself, the artwork reeks of the early nineties. This isn’t a bad thing. Brereton’s character designs are all weird and psychedelic, with creepy superpeople lurking around every corner. The story’s pretty basic, with Jake becoming The Psycho and going on a revenge spree, but the Brereton’s weird style and the mixture of political intrigue and early-nineties nihilism makes The Psycho a unique read.
May 24, 2007
This is a really underrated graphic novel and a lot more people should take a look at it. It has a really interesting take on superheroes and a cool sort of immediately-post Cold War feel. One of the villains (this knife guy) is far too early 90's to be anything but laughable, but there is a Black Lagoon fishman wearing a business suit and that counts for something.
The art is great, every panel is a nice painting and the character design is pretty cool. If you like comics you can pick this up cheap off of amazon when you order a bunch of other crap, I wouldn't throw down the extra money to just ship this. It's a good title, a shame they didn't make more.
The art is great, every panel is a nice painting and the character design is pretty cool. If you like comics you can pick this up cheap off of amazon when you order a bunch of other crap, I wouldn't throw down the extra money to just ship this. It's a good title, a shame they didn't make more.
November 18, 2012
This series is what introduced me to the art of Dan Brereton, I've been a fan of his painted style ever since.
The story is also a good one and incorporates brand new characters. Just when you thought every type of superbeing had been created, something like this comes along and flips the superhero market for a loop.
Dan Brereton would soon follow this with his own take on multiple genres with his Nocturnals books
The story is also a good one and incorporates brand new characters. Just when you thought every type of superbeing had been created, something like this comes along and flips the superhero market for a loop.
Dan Brereton would soon follow this with his own take on multiple genres with his Nocturnals books
April 11, 2011
Leído de la edición de tres tomos que sacó Zinco a principios de los 90s. No subo esa edición para no partir la obra en tres. Dibujo y guión están bastante bien, con sus altibajos y todo, y te meten en una historia de lo más peliculesca, tanto en el buen sentido como en el malo. Cuando lo relea seguro me explaye un poco.
December 17, 2009
The story is pretty good (an alt world where America discovers how to make superhumans at the onset of World War Two and the impact of that 50 years later)...but the art is the reason this gets five stars. Brereton's panels are one painterly masterpiece after another.
June 24, 2014
Storyline might be compelling but it's Dan Brereton's art that enthralled me completely. His drawing and character design are amazing... I might be so bold as to say that it somewhat reminds me of "Watchman" in certain aspects, especially plot development-wise.
September 28, 2014
Sorprendente ucronía científico política que retuerce el filón de los superhéroes para crear una trama con sólidas raíces en la ciencia ficción y fuertes matices de intriga, presentados a varios niveles por el estupendo guión de Hudnall y el perfecto aporte pictórico de Brereton. De culto.
January 15, 2008
Favorite Books Ever!!! (Three Vols.)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews