The Losers (Vol.1): Ante Up [Paperback]

Andy Diggle (Author), Jock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

In the hard-hitting tale of espionage and betrayal THE LOSERS: ANTE UP, an elite U.S. Special Forces unit is targeted for assassination when they unintentionally uncover the illegal and immoral practices of the C.I.A. Believed dead and with nothing to lose, the team of wet works operatives regroup and begin a mission of revenge against the organization that betrayed them. Only as the team goes after a corrupt oil conglomerate with ties to the C.I.A., do they truly begin to realize the depths of the conspiracy they have discovered and the impossible odds of survival that they face.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After witnessing one too many covert atrocities, a CIA Special Forces Unit stops taking immoral orders, but it isn't long before their consciences get them killed in a helicopter "accident" far from home. At least that's what the CIA thinks. In fact, the unit survived, returned to the U.S., and is taking down the CIA's dirty operations one heist at a time. British comics veterans-and coauthors of 2000 AD-Diggle and Jock aim to bring the best parts of the 1980s action movie aesthetic to comics with this work, and they largely succeed. But in this first story arc, they rely too heavily on its tropes. Corrupt CIA? Check. Infiltration of a secure office building? Check. Speedboat chase climaxing with a jump off a conveniently placed ramp? Check. Diggle adds a number of fun new touches to his crew of misfits, particularly with some fresh takes on old action movie characters. For example, Jensen is the prototypical hacker, but also a barely repressed actor who patters through even the tensest scenes. Cougar, the strong, silent sniper type, epitomizes cool without saying a word. Jock's art-with its deceptively simple, shadowed figures-is atmospheric and dynamic and shows a flair for inventive layouts. His raw talent could use a little refinement though, as his depiction of action sequences sometimes sacrifices clarity for novelty. These are small quibbles, however. With this work, Diggle and Jock have made sure readers come out ahead on the classic bang-for-buck exchange.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401201989
• ISBN-13: 978-1401201982
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.3 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BETTER than Hollywood., May 3, 2004

By 

Guy L. Gonzalez "Malcontent" (Bloomfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Losers (Vol.1): Ante Up (Paperback)

Comparing The Losers to a Hollywood movie does it a great disservice. The dialogue in most movies doesn't even come close to what Andy Diggle serves up in this poignantly paranoid and timely series. He's Tarantino with talent. Scorcese with restraint. And Jock's bristling visuals absolutely jump off the page, bringing each character and location and emotion distinctively to life. Hollywood analogies fall short here. The Losers is a must-own, not just for fanboys and action-junkies, but for anybody that appreciates great graphic storytelling.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, Hollywood, You Paying Attention?, January 5, 2006

By 

Lewis Kennedy "TownshipRebel" (California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Losers (Vol.1): Ante Up (Paperback)

The best way to summarize Ante Up is that it's a what a great action movie should be except on paper and with the extra goodness that comic books bring to you that movies can't (like an artist who's art can be described as stylish, cool (and not the MTV- forced cool), and original). It's a very good start to a series and immediately hooks you. At the same time, don't expect the next Watchmen or some other "classic" story. This is a good, solid story that will make you come back for more.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Read!!!, September 7, 2005

By 

A.Elbendari (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Losers (Vol.1): Ante Up (Paperback)

I initially picked up the first volume of this series because of the dynamically posed woman on the cover. Flipping through the book, I noticed interesting use of shadow and rough, yet structured art. While reading the summary, however; I became sceptical of the story. My initial thought was that of a story which has been told many times before - good guys who refuse to do what is asked of them, and in turn, are believed to be assassinated, only to later seek revenge for being exiled. Who hasn't heard that one already?
But once I began reading The Losers, I could not believe the rush I got. The story was action-packed and suspenseful. The whole graphic novel plays like a full-featured film that has one climactic moment after another.
Andy Diggle did a fantastic job writing dialogue which adds mystery, suspense and a dose of complexity that adds realism. Most of the action is very cinematic, yet believable, because the panels flow smoothly and interestingly. This composition makes for a very fluid read.
No other book on the stands compares to this one, especially if you enjoy CIA and government mysteries or if you just like good comics in general. I definitely recommend this volume and the others as well!