The Secret Review

The Secret
Dark Horse Comics
Softcover Trade Paperback
112 pages
$14.95 (2007)
ISBN 9781593078218

Contributors: Mike Richardson, Jason Shawn Alexander, and Clem Robins

Reprints: The Secret #1-4 (of 4)

Synopsis: Tommy Morris is not part of the in crowd.  He doesn't fit neatly into the fake high school social hierarchy and plans to skip town for college after graduation.  He somehow gains the attention of the very popular Pam who is attracted to his attitude and sick of the jock/cool guy mentality.  Tommy is invited to a party at Pam's house and all the kids are playing a prank phone call game.  

They call up a random number and tell the person who answers "I know your secret".  The prank backfires when a truly disturbed individual answers the phone and now the kids are the target.  When Pam goes missing all fingers point at loner outcast Tommy.  Can he clear his name and save Pam in time?

Pros: Painted art by Alexander is well done (reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz), Richardson's story is spot on for genre piece

Cons: Predictable

Mike Tells It Straight: Essentially an I Know What You Did Last Summer premise - excellently done by Richardson and Alexander.  It reads like a movie pilot and could easily be translated to the big screen with little or no differences.  Story itself is somewhat interesting, but mostly predictable.  It's a well done genre piece (teen thriller) and leaves opening for a sequel.

TO BUY and Recommendations: