Rating: 
Summary: An Original On Par With Stan Lee
Review: As I read this book, I kept thinking "this is the best I've seen since Stan Lee". But this isn't a "super-hero" book, it's very unique. Nevertheless, this is comic book storytelling at its finest. The artwork is absolutely magnificent, the dialogue is intelligent and is superbly woven into the art with a skill I haven't seen since the 1960's Marvel line, but it's done with a very modern production quality worthy of the 21st century, with very high gloss paper and color work that is magnificent. The "Ruse" series takes place in a fictional town that's a Victorian England or perhaps America, but with an ever-so-slight suggestion of fantasy - gargoyles fly like bats, for example. The premise: Emma Bishop is the sexy and smart - but still green - assistant to the brilliant but distant Simon Archard, a sort of dashing and very serious Sherlock Holmes type. As much as Archard's brilliance is widely respected, nobody but Emma knows why he often escapes harm's way, not even Archard ... This book is the republished edition of the first 6 comic books from "Ruse", a monthly comic series published by the new company "CrossGen". "Ruse" lasted about 25 or 30 issues, when the storyline concluded, and the characters were taken into other books. Since this book is the reprint of Ruse issues 1 through 6, it contains plots that resolve, but subplots that continue into issues 7 and beyond - which are also reprinted in books like this one. This particular book, "Enter the Detective", is the starting point, and comes in two different editions. Both are bound paperback, graphic novel style. One is the "traveler edition", which is a smaller version - meant for travelling, I guess - but because this artwork is so absolutely beautiful, I found myself wanting the other edition, which reprints the comics in their original larger size. As a collector of comics from the early days of Spider-Man, and a fan of the old artwork of the early Marvel Conan the Barbarian, I have to say - this is THE FIRST production I've appreciated since those days (other than Alex Ross' work). And it's brilliant without being foul - so many of the new comics are filled with R-rated material or lower. I found myself so caught up on the story and the art with this that it wasn't until much later that I realized - this is actually fine for kids. (Strange that you have to consider that with comics, but that's the way it is nowadays.) Sexy but not raunchy, intelligent and engaging, dramatic yet credible story lines, this has it all. Mark Waid wrote all 6 issues. Butch Guice was the artist for issues 1 through 5, and Jeff Johnson was the artist for issue 6. Johnson's work is not QUITE as good, but still well done.
Rating:
Summary: An Original On Par With Stan Lee
Review: As I read this book, I kept thinking "this is the best I've seen since Stan Lee". But this isn't a "super-hero" book, it's very unique. Nevertheless, this is comic book storytelling at its finest. The artwork is absolutely magnificent, the dialogue is intelligent and is superbly woven into the art with a skill I haven't seen since the 1960's Marvel line, but it's done with a very modern production quality worthy of the 21st century, with very high gloss paper and color work that is magnificent. The "Ruse" series takes place in a fictional town that's a Victorian England or perhaps America, but with an ever-so-slight suggestion of fantasy - gargoyles fly like bats, for example. The premise: Emma Bishop is the sexy and smart - but still green - assistant to the brilliant but distant Simon Archard, a sort of dashing and very serious Sherlock Holmes type. As much as Archard's brilliance is widely respected, nobody but Emma knows why he often escapes harm's way, not even Archard ... This book is the republished edition of the first 6 comic books from "Ruse", a monthly comic series published by the new company "CrossGen". "Ruse" lasted about 25 or 30 issues, when the storyline concluded, and the characters were taken into other books. Since this book is the reprint of Ruse issues 1 through 6, it contains plots that resolve, but subplots that continue into issues 7 and beyond - which are also reprinted in books like this one. This particular book, "Enter the Detective", is the starting point, and comes in two different editions. Both are bound paperback, graphic novel style. One is the "traveler edition", which is a smaller version - meant for travelling, I guess - but because this artwork is so absolutely beautiful, I found myself wanting the other edition, which reprints the comics in their original larger size. As a collector of comics from the early days of Spider-Man, and a fan of the old artwork of the early Marvel Conan the Barbarian, I have to say - this is THE FIRST production I've appreciated since those days (other than Alex Ross' work). And it's brilliant without being foul - so many of the new comics are filled with R-rated material or lower. I found myself so caught up on the story and the art with this that it wasn't until much later that I realized - this is actually fine for kids. (Strange that you have to consider that with comics, but that's the way it is nowadays.) Sexy but not raunchy, intelligent and engaging, dramatic yet credible story lines, this has it all. Mark Waid wrote all 6 issues. Butch Guice was the artist for issues 1 through 5, and Jeff Johnson was the artist for issue 6. Johnson's work is not QUITE as good, but still well done.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Artwork...
Review: But the storylines leave something to be desired. Simon and Emma solve their cases quickly and without much elaboration regarding the process. This doesn't exactly make for an engrossing read. I think this book would have been better if they had focused on solving only one mystery and providing details and character development rather than presenting 3 underdeveloped mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: Ruse: A fresh perspective
Review: I picked up the original comic books (issues 1-9) from the
store because issue 1 hooked me. The art by Butch Guice
is amazing: I've seen his work over the
years (on early Flash, Birds Of Prey), and can say without
a doubt this is his best work. The coloring, which you
typically don't "notice", is striking. The art is smooth
and tells a tremendous story. And let's not forget the
writing: brilliant! This is a very fresh perspective on
the Holmesian type character. To say anymore would spoil
it.
Lest I sound like a zealot, I simply wish to say that
I have enjoyed the series immensely, and I think you will
too.
Rating:
Summary: Ruse: A fresh perspective
Review: I picked up the original comic books (issues 1-9) from the
store because issue 1 hooked me. The art by Butch Guice
is amazing: I've seen his work over the
years (on early Flash, Birds Of Prey), and can say without
a doubt this is his best work. The coloring, which you
typically don't "notice", is striking. The art is smooth
and tells a tremendous story. And let's not forget the
writing: brilliant! This is a very fresh perspective on
the Holmesian type character. To say anymore would spoil
it.
Lest I sound like a zealot, I simply wish to say that
I have enjoyed the series immensely, and I think you will
too.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Victorianesque Series
Review: I'm not much of a comics reader in general, but this collection of the first six issues of the "Ruse" series caught my eye. The setting is Partington, the capital city of a place very much resembling gaslight Victorian England. The hero is super-genius detective Simon Archard and his stubborn blonde assistant, Emma. Archard is kind of a Sherlock Holmes character, capable of stunning feats of deduction-but with the body and dexterity of an athlete. Emma is a smart, tough, witty, and beautiful, but continually frustrated by Simon's condescension to her. She also possesses the magical ability to stop time, although for reasons that remain murky, she's not allowed to use it. The two interact in a remarkably witty nonstop banter, much in style of the screwball comedy films of the '40s, with Simon inevitably getting the last word in. Their adventures in this book begin with a relatively simple murder investigation, which ties into a drug-smuggling operation masterminded by a beautiful foreign baroness. The stakes mount and mount over the first four chapters as the baroness brings the city's most influential citizens under her power and Simon is framed and forced into hiding. The fifth chapter finds Emma alone to confront a series of grisly prostitute slayings (a la Jack the Ripper), and to contemplate Simon's disappearance. The last story introduces the Simon's enigmatic archnemesis, in a teaser to set up the next big storyline. The artwork is unbelievably rich and detailed-every panel is excellent, and many times unusual perspectives are given to the most mundane scene to make it interesting. The panel flow can be a bit confusing at times (a couple times I had tostop and figure out if I was supposed to read across the both pages, or continue down the left-hand page), but it's a small price to pay for the inventive paneling. The level of detail on clothing, architecture, and interiors is just amazing, and the colors work perfectly in conjunction. My only quibble is that the last chapter uses different artists and the look is completely different, much thicker and simpler lines, and much more drab coloring. Overall, however, it's great artwork with a compelling storyline and well worth checking out.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Victorianesque Series
Review: I'm not much of a comics reader in general, but this collection of the first six issues of the "Ruse" series caught my eye. The setting is Partington, the capital city of a place very much resembling gaslight Victorian England. The hero is super-genius detective Simon Archard and his stubborn blonde assistant, Emma. Archard is kind of a Sherlock Holmes character, capable of stunning feats of deduction-but with the body and dexterity of an athlete. Emma is a smart, tough, witty, and beautiful, but continually frustrated by Simon's condescension to her. She also possesses the magical ability to stop time, although for reasons that remain murky, she's not allowed to use it. The two interact in a remarkably witty nonstop banter, much in style of the screwball comedy films of the '40s, with Simon inevitably getting the last word in. Their adventures in this book begin with a relatively simple murder investigation, which ties into a drug-smuggling operation masterminded by a beautiful foreign baroness. The stakes mount and mount over the first four chapters as the baroness brings the city's most influential citizens under her power and Simon is framed and forced into hiding. The fifth chapter finds Emma alone to confront a series of grisly prostitute slayings (a la Jack the Ripper), and to contemplate Simon's disappearance. The last story introduces the Simon's enigmatic archnemesis, in a teaser to set up the next big storyline. The artwork is unbelievably rich and detailed-every panel is excellent, and many times unusual perspectives are given to the most mundane scene to make it interesting. The panel flow can be a bit confusing at times (a couple times I had tostop and figure out if I was supposed to read across the both pages, or continue down the left-hand page), but it's a small price to pay for the inventive paneling. The level of detail on clothing, architecture, and interiors is just amazing, and the colors work perfectly in conjunction. My only quibble is that the last chapter uses different artists and the look is completely different, much thicker and simpler lines, and much more drab coloring. Overall, however, it's great artwork with a compelling storyline and well worth checking out.
Rating:
Summary: The Game's Afoot!
Review: In the graphic novel, RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE, Simon Archard is the world's most brilliant detective. The world of Arcadia, that is. The World's Greatest Detective, as he as known by, lives in Partington, one of the largest and most successful cities on the planet. Archard is an inventor, a trained thinker; his detective work is a passion, possibly the only one he has ever developed, according to Emma Bishop, his aide and chief confidant. In ENTER THE DETECTIVE, Archard is asked to investigate the murder of a blind and near-deaf ex-ship's captain down in the city's docktown area. In no time at all, Archard and the beautiful Emma are off in hot pursuit. The twisting and treacherous trail leads the investigators to their near-deaths in a burning ship filled with rats, to the murder of a good friend and trusted ally, and the exhumation of that friend's body later. In the meantime, Archard himself suddenly becomes an enemy of the Partington Police Force after he is framed for murder. The fifth chapter in the graphic novel deals with Emma's search for a serial killer of young prostitutes while Archard remains conspicuously absent. In chapter six, Archard and Emma confront Lightbourne, the detective's last partner before Emma's arrival. The murder of a man while in a trick Harry Houdini made famous is the bait that draws Archard into the trap set by his archrival. Mark Waid has written hundreds of comics for DC and for Marvel, and he's been nominated for several awards. Several Eisners were nominated for his work on the on-going monthly series, RUSE, from which this graphic novel was taken. He had a long run on DC's Flash comics series, creating several concepts and character takes that the series still uses, and created IMPULSE, a very successful book while Waid brought his trademark humor and sense of adventure to. With Ron Garney, he re-created the Captain America franchise for Marvel Comics for a while. And he wrote JUSTICE LEAGUE YEAR ONE, a fan favorite, and several issues of the JLA monthly series before signing exclusively with CrossGen Comics. Butch Guice got his start doing pages for Marvel Comics' IRON MAN, but quickly moved on to fan favorite of the 1980s, MICRONAUTS. He worked on THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, but really hit his stride with BIRDS OF PREY, which has since gone on to become a TV series. RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE is a slam-bang ride for Sherlock Holmes fans, Victorian England period lovers, and many mystery buffs. Waid always succeeds in creating original yet familiar characters, then imbuing them with real personalities, and the problems and successes that stem from those personalities all on their own or when combined with others. Waid's dialogue, simply one of the best of his many talents, fires on all cylinders, pushing the plot along, establishing character and history panel after panel. The action is quick and dynamic, the plotting deft and razor-sharp. He has paired his hero and heroine well, giving them both strengths and weaknesses and secrets that readers will eagerly await to see in action. Butch Guice's pencils are absolutely jaw-dropping beautiful. The research he's done on the time period shows, and the RUSE issues could actually be used for reference material for anyone. The work he does on the streets and docks of Partington are breathtaking. His panel breakdowns for the action that Waid calls out in the script are filled with blistering action, and the reader can feel the wind in his or her face. The colorist and inker, Laura DePuy and Mike Perkins, excel at their crafts and make Guice look like a natural wonder. Fans of Johnny Depp's FROM HELL movie or Alan Moore's graphic novel of the same name will enjoy RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE. Waid and Guice fans will definitely want to pick up this graphic novel for their collections as well because the book showcases some of their best work.
Rating:
Summary: The Game's Afoot!
Review: In the graphic novel, RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE, Simon Archard is the world's most brilliant detective. The world of Arcadia, that is. The World's Greatest Detective, as he as known by, lives in Partington, one of the largest and most successful cities on the planet. Archard is an inventor, a trained thinker; his detective work is a passion, possibly the only one he has ever developed, according to Emma Bishop, his aide and chief confidant. In ENTER THE DETECTIVE, Archard is asked to investigate the murder of a blind and near-deaf ex-ship's captain down in the city's docktown area. In no time at all, Archard and the beautiful Emma are off in hot pursuit. The twisting and treacherous trail leads the investigators to their near-deaths in a burning ship filled with rats, to the murder of a good friend and trusted ally, and the exhumation of that friend's body later. In the meantime, Archard himself suddenly becomes an enemy of the Partington Police Force after he is framed for murder. The fifth chapter in the graphic novel deals with Emma's search for a serial killer of young prostitutes while Archard remains conspicuously absent. In chapter six, Archard and Emma confront Lightbourne, the detective's last partner before Emma's arrival. The murder of a man while in a trick Harry Houdini made famous is the bait that draws Archard into the trap set by his archrival. Mark Waid has written hundreds of comics for DC and for Marvel, and he's been nominated for several awards. Several Eisners were nominated for his work on the on-going monthly series, RUSE, from which this graphic novel was taken. He had a long run on DC's Flash comics series, creating several concepts and character takes that the series still uses, and created IMPULSE, a very successful book while Waid brought his trademark humor and sense of adventure to. With Ron Garney, he re-created the Captain America franchise for Marvel Comics for a while. And he wrote JUSTICE LEAGUE YEAR ONE, a fan favorite, and several issues of the JLA monthly series before signing exclusively with CrossGen Comics. Butch Guice got his start doing pages for Marvel Comics' IRON MAN, but quickly moved on to fan favorite of the 1980s, MICRONAUTS. He worked on THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, but really hit his stride with BIRDS OF PREY, which has since gone on to become a TV series. RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE is a slam-bang ride for Sherlock Holmes fans, Victorian England period lovers, and many mystery buffs. Waid always succeeds in creating original yet familiar characters, then imbuing them with real personalities, and the problems and successes that stem from those personalities all on their own or when combined with others. Waid's dialogue, simply one of the best of his many talents, fires on all cylinders, pushing the plot along, establishing character and history panel after panel. The action is quick and dynamic, the plotting deft and razor-sharp. He has paired his hero and heroine well, giving them both strengths and weaknesses and secrets that readers will eagerly await to see in action. Butch Guice's pencils are absolutely jaw-dropping beautiful. The research he's done on the time period shows, and the RUSE issues could actually be used for reference material for anyone. The work he does on the streets and docks of Partington are breathtaking. His panel breakdowns for the action that Waid calls out in the script are filled with blistering action, and the reader can feel the wind in his or her face. The colorist and inker, Laura DePuy and Mike Perkins, excel at their crafts and make Guice look like a natural wonder. Fans of Johnny Depp's FROM HELL movie or Alan Moore's graphic novel of the same name will enjoy RUSE: ENTER THE DETECTIVE. Waid and Guice fans will definitely want to pick up this graphic novel for their collections as well because the book showcases some of their best work.
Rating:
Summary: Holmes never had to investigate Waston...
Review: One of the wonderful things about the CrossGen line is that there really are books for fans of any genre -- "Negation" for hard sci-fi fans, "Sojourn" for the Tolkienites, "Route 666" for horror buffs, "Way of the Rat" for Kung-Fu lovers... "Ruse" is the book for fans of a good old-fashion Sherlock Holmes-style mystery... but with some big twists. Holmes and Watson were never the mysteries themselves, after all. Our heroes are Simon Archard, the brilliant detective of the city of Partington, and his assistant (or partner, depending on whom you ask), the beautiful Emma Bishop. This initial case introduces our heroes, Archard's cadre of "agents" he employs from time to time and also is a very good murder mystery. But our heroes are mysteries themselves, ones without easy answers. Emma has strange powers that she hides from Simon, and while this book does not appear to feature a "sigil-bearer" (the superpowered protagonists of many CrossGen titles), Simon himself discretely wears the sigil on his clothing. Why? The whole CrossGen universe is a mystery. "Ruse" gives it a detective. The best question left is, will the audience solve the puzzle before Simon and Emma?
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