Bedlam Volume 1

The city of Bedlam has seen it's share of horrendous acts of murder. When the flamboyant colorful Madder Red had his heyday the streets ran red with blood. But those days are gone. The city's protector, The First, does not have much to do, until the bodies start piling up again. Madder Red is not the culprit this time as he was reformed by a shadowy doctor with suspect motives. Madder Red now lives his days as model citizen, Fillmore Press, and feels the need to help solve the current wave of murders. He works with Detective Ramira Acevedo who suspects something odd about this oddball as she had a run in with Madder Red all those years ago.Nick Spencer certainly knows how to create a tense filled thriller with cliffhangers at the end of each chapter that leave you clamoring for more. His other major Image series, "Morning Glories" is of a similar vein but it seems every time one question is answered five more pop up making it quite the frustrating read. Spencer does not pull that trick in Bedlam, instead focusing on the main mystery at hand while planting seeds for story and character developments to be touched on when necessary. This series is also much more visceral and disturbing.Madder Red/ Fillmore Press is the protagonist here and he is handled wonderfully. We get glimpses of who he was (Madder Red) through well placed flashbacks and of his "treatment" to really understand where he came from. The why he was experimented on is an ongoing mystery that is one of the series big hooks that continues past this volume. He is kinda of like The Joker of this universe, as another reviewer mentioned, which is a a good analogy. But his Batman, The First, is still a huge mystery in this world and I hope he is examined more in depth as the series progresses. Detective Acevedo is the other major character. The good cop in a city gone mad and corrupt. She keeps everything on the up and up. The serial killer gets some good screen time, although intensely freaky. The battles that ensue with this serial killer, Madder Red, and The First left me wondering if these individuals were superhuman or not. This is not defined in this world and certain scenes bring that into question.Riley Rossmo is perfect for this book. Lots of jagged crazed lines but not too clustered to leave the viewer confused as to what is happening in the panels. Fillmore has the sweetest face yet it conceals the struggle of someone who has been violently reformed and their hostile personalty is bubbling under the surface. The choice to have Madder Red's word balloons traced in red is a great touch in illuminating what a mad man this killer is. It adds a brilliant effect when Fillmore snaps up every now and then and has his word balloon in red showing the maniac coming forward. Also, much credit to Frazer Irving for his chilling covers.Image is turning out a lot of excellent series to give comic readers a break from the DC/Marvel superhero romps and Bedlam is one of the best. Cannot wait for the next chilling and exciting volume.

When I heard about Bedlam, the biggest comparison I heard was "what if the Joker (from Batman) decided to be change for the greater good?"That basically sums it up. The story is about a man who was previously known as an evil villain that committed terrible crimes (including murdering children) and through scientific means was reformed to be a good citizen. Now he wants to help the police catch a serial killer who is terrorizing the whole city.During the story you get flashbacks of how the main character was reformed, and it's pretty twisted. The present story is just as twisted when you realize how crazy the killings are, and when the big reveal at the end comes. A great beginning to hopefully a comic series that continues to stay crazy as it it.The art is amazing! It has this style that makes it seem like a madman drew it, and compliments the whole insane mentality of the story perfectly! Patiently waiting for the second volume to come out this year :)

Nick Spencer is one of my favourite new (relative to my discovery of him, at least) writers in comics today. If you haven't already, you owe it to yourself to pick up Morning Glories, Spencer's other fantastic series. But first read Bedlam! It's an engrossing comic about "former" psychopathic criminal Madder Red, who once held the city in the grip of fear. Some reviewers here have compared Madder Red to The Joker, and I feel the comparison is pretty apt, until Madder Red "dies", and is reformed into the mild Fillmore Press, who now wants to help the city he lives in, and uses his special skills as a former walking nightmare to help the police solve a series of serial murders. Really top-notch writing here, and excellent art from Rossmo and Irving that really backs up the story. Highly recommended.

I've always enjoyed reading stories. Of these tales, the darker, even damaged heroes are my favorites. The men and women who have a horrific past, something that perhaps damaged their psychs. Or even their souls. They fight and struggle to do good deeds, while at the same time struggling with their own internal demons. It often makes me wonder, what would happen if the hero were to lose his internal struggle? How would this effect his outward battles?Madder Red is a great example of this. His view of the world is so different than a normal persons, but who sees it clearer? Does he see it as it really is? Or does the average person? I love how he struggles epically to do something as simple as communicate with a normal person. It's difficult for him to convey his meaning and you get the impression he has to translate his own views into 'normal person' thoughts. Great read, highly recommend.

An interesting little book. The premise, of a criminal helping the police solve the unsolvable, is pretty well-tread by now. The difference this time, is instead of being an ordinary criminal, the main character is a reformed super villain along the lines of the Joker. There are hints of some interesting takes on standard super hero comics in there, and the... unconventional treatment that reformed our main character paints a lurid, terrifying subtext. This wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but it had enough there that I'm eagerly awaiting more.

Brilliant storylne, disturbingly great artwork. Straight from the off you are drawn into the murky town that was once dominated by Madder Red, and the first few pages you find yourself hating him (for one reason in particular!). But as you go through the novel, you find yourself rooting for him. Something different to zombies and vampires.

Great comic but treat this as the only volume, it's follow up is lackluster and doesn't properly conclude.

Phenomenal, absolutely brutal and no holds barred. By far the most gripping graphic novel I've read in a while. Can't wait to get to the next installment

One of the best comics I've ever read. The premise is so new and gripping. The artwork Is almost sketch like and fits in well with the tone of the story. Have reread it twice now.

Bought this on recommendation's I read online and I wasnt disappointed.If your looking for something new to read this is it. Rather dark, and full of violence, lol, which got me some funny looks on the bus. But its great.Have read the 2nd one as well, also brilliantly done.Love the artwork and storyline. 10/10 :-)