Mister X: The Modern Age

January 1, 2018
Set in Radiant City, whose psychetecture, designed to enhance the inhabitants' states of mind, is driving them insane instead, Mister X was a 1980s cult comic book acclaimed for its retrofuturistic look, which melded influences raging from Art Deco and Bauhaus to German expressionism and film noir. Two decades later, creator Motter relaunched the series, delving deeper into the background of the city and the shadowy band of architects who created it, foremost among them, the titular Mister X, who defends the populace from political and criminal forces. The original run was remembered largely for early artwork by alt-comics stars Jaime Hernandez and Seth. For the revival, collected in this volume, Motter assumed the art duties himself, and his background as a graphic designer imparts a strikingly bold look to the futuristic cityscapes and hard-boiled characters (new additions to the supporting cast include a hard-drinking gal reporter and a robotic PI). The comics field is far more crowded than when Mister X first appeared, but it remains a standout for its dystopian vision and visual audacity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)