Tripwire Reviews Mad Cave’s Mugshots#1

Criminal Enterprise

Tripwire’s editor-in-chief Joel Meadows reviews Mad Cave Studios’ Mugshots#1 out in May…

Mugshots#1
writer: Jordan Thomas
Artist: Chris Matthews
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Mad Cave has had a very interesting year so far in 2024. Expanding its line to include Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy and Gatchaman, it has also begun to publish creator-owned works like Mugshots. Mugshots is a crime series written by British creator Jordan Thomas and drawn by artist Chris Matthews. The pair launched Mugshots as a one-off ashcan for Thought Bubble back in 2022 and now Mad Cave are publishing the entire story as a four part series.

Set in Brighton on England’s south coast, Mugshots is a modern-day crime series with hardman Chris Bannen at its core who finds himself embroiled at the centre of a conspiracy that involves local gangsters and bent coppers.

Thomas has written Frank At Home On The Farm but also collaborated with Shaky Kane on surreal sci-fi series Weird Work published by Image while Matthews works as a professional illustrator. Visually Mugshots is incredible: the artist channels Darwyn Cooke but also Bruce Timm and Alex Toth. There is a dynamism, a kineticism and a cinematic energy to his work which draws the reader in. The duotone colour scheme employed here also works to mark it out as something different and unique too.

Thomas has constructed an appealing and exciting British gangster tale with classic British crime movies like The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, Get Carter and even older works like Brighton Rock as part of its creative DNA.

Mugshots#1 is a very strong opener for a four parter and again it displays why Mad Cave is ahead of its competitors in the market currently. Thomas and Matthews are names to watch too.

JOEL MEADOWS