Sleeper Vol. 2: All False Moves [Paperback]

Ed Brubaker (Author), Sean Phillips (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the second story arc of Sleeper, a spy comic in which the colorfully code-named operatives possess superpowers, the already ambiguous morality of its milieu grows murkier. The emphasis is on the dichotomized life of government agent Holden Carver, who infiltrates a shadowy, all-powerful criminal cartel. The suspense and the series' overarching paranoia are ratcheted up as Carver becomes more uncomfortable with his undercover role and grows more emotionally attached to his beautiful colleague, the amoral Miss Misery. Meanwhile, the mysterious mastermind of the crime cartel learns of his operation's infiltration and comes dangerously close to unmasking Carver. Writer Brubaker's intelligent plotting and gritty dialogue make the story work even when it skirts outrageousness, and Phillips' noirish art and skillful storytelling portray brutal action and talking-heads sequences equally effectively. As in Out in the Cold [BKL Mr 1 04], the protagonists' superpowers, even downplayed as they are, constitute Sleeper's least impressive element. But if couching intelligent espionage yarns in genre trappings makes them viable for today's mainstream comics readers . . . Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: WildStorm (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401202888
• ISBN-13: 978-1401202880
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,186,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best graphic novels out there, October 17, 2005

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sleeper Vol. 2: All False Moves (Paperback)

People go on and on about how great this series is, and the good news is, it completely lives up to the hype. I came to "Sleeper" after reading a few other titles Ed Brubaker had written, notably DC's deliciously revamped "Catwoman" (which is also a lot of fun)... I was skeptical, but I'm glad I took the plunge with "Sleeper," as it is one of the best comicbook stories I've read in a long while.

The action takes place in the WildCATS/Authority/Stormwatch universe, once a comicbook backwater that has recently been revitalized into a gritty and witty superhero noir... "Sleeper" tells the story of a superpowered secret agent, Holden Carver, who is placed undercover by a Machiavellian Nick Fury type to infiltrate a sinister spy network populated with superpowered, super-amoral bad guys. Brubaker uses the character's specific superpowers to flesh out their inner lives -- Carver's power is the ability to absorb any amount of bodily damage and transmute it into pure pain, which he can zap other people with. Meanwhile, he feels no pain himself and is practically unkillable, a situation that leaves him feeling dead inside and increasingly alienated from the true-believer idealism that lead him into military service to begin with. Brubaker borrows from the well-trod genre of spy fiction, but adds an extra layer with the whole superpower thing that is well thought-out and rewarding. Without getting into spoilers, etc., I'll just say that this was one of those rare comic series that I regretted getting to the end of... the world it depicted was so absorbing and textured that I was bummed I knew the story would end with Volume 4... (The entire "Sleeper" story is contained in four slim volumes, plus the prequel, "Point Blank," which sets the stage for "Sleeper" and should definitely be read as well...)

It should be mentioned that this is not a book for little kids: there are many of the same sort of "adult" elements as DC's Vertigo imprint -- semi-graphic sexuality and some extreme violence -- although to his credit, Brubaker includes these elements for a reason, and does it with far less of the "gee-whiz" gratuitousness that has made the Vertigo books become so tedious and repetitive. The sex elements cut to the heart of Carver's character, while the violence is used to show the seriousness of his predicament; they actually deepen the story and move it along and are not included merely to titillate readers or gross us out. That being said, I highly recommend this series.

(This review written by Joe Sixpack/Slipcue.Com)

5.0 out of 5 stars Nate, October 7, 2008

By 

Nathan Sutton "Nate" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sleeper Vol. 2: All False Moves (Paperback)

Ed brubaker is one of the best comic book writers out there today, and "Sleeper", is no doubt my favorite of all his books. Fantastic spy/espionage thriller, within a super-hero subgenre.

4.0 out of 5 stars Graphic SF Reader, September 2, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeper Vol. 2: All False Moves (Paperback)

Holden Carver continues to work his way up the ranks of the criminal organisation headed by Tao, a man more complex than is seen at first glance.

More problems happen for Holden as his relationship with the twisted minion of Tao, Miss Misery gets more and more involved.