HEAT SEEKER #1/ Written by CHARLES ARDAI/ Pencils by ACE CONTINUADO/ Inks by JOSE ZAPATA/ Colors by ASIFUR RAHMAN/ Letters by DAVID LEACH/ Covers by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, ACE CONTINUADO, CLAUDIA CARANFA & ANG HOR KHENG/ Photo Cover by JIM DONNELLY & GRACE MCCLUNG/ Published by TITAN COMICS

As far as the world is concerned, Dahlia Racers is a simple stage magician. More famous than some. More attractive than some. Few know that while Dahlia Racers is a master illusionist, her life is the biggest illusion she ever created. And not just because she’s not a real redhead!

Dahlia Racers’s real job involves making people disappear. If people want you dead, Dahila can make you vanish and conjure up convincing evidence the deed is already done. Of course that still leaves you having to start a new life and stay hidden, but if you can afford Dahila’s help, that’s probably not an issue. Unfortunately, Dahila’s latest gig may be too hot for even her to handle!

Strangely enough, my first exposure to Heat Seeker had nothing to do with my fondness for the Gun Honey series from which it spun out. I first heard about the book when my friend Grace McClung (aka Gracie the Cosplay Lass) posted some photos that were going to be covers for this series. That would be reason enough for me to purchase this book, even if it were not a fantastic read.

With Charles Ardai writing, we are in good hands. Ardai is rightly acclaimed as an crime author and has won multiple awards for his work. But unlike many authors who turn to comics, Ardai is a damn good comics writer, who doesn’t drown the page with dialogue or excess narration. Action is the name of the game in Heat Seeker and it is a joy to watch this master at play.

The artwork is of equal quality. I’ve not seen Ace Continuado’s work before, but I hope to see more of it in the future. The character designs are “aces” in my book, if you’ll pardon the intentional pun. Inker Jose Zapata takes a light touch, with spared shading that lets the original pencils bleed through more naturally. This gives Heat Seeker a distinctive look, different from Gun Honey, though the colors of Asifur Rahman and David Leach’s letters maintain some sense of visual continuity to the parent series.

With a number of variant covers by pros like Artgerm and Bill Sienkiewicz, one might think Heat Seeker has nothing under its hood. Don’t believe it! The covers may be hot, but the engine of creativity burns within this book, offering the reader a slick, smooth ride to adventure. A must read for all fans of Noir, I’d also recommend it to any Black Widow fans looking for something similar.

Heat Seeker #1 arrives in stores on July 5, 2023.