Nemesis: Money, mayhem, and mystery

 "What if Batman was the Joker?" was the question asked by writer Mark Millar (Wanted, Kick-Ass). This was also the only preface I had when I picked up a copy of "Nemesis". As it turns out, this is all I needed to know to jump head-first into this re-imagining of the classic archetype. Coincidentally it was also enough to keep me from putting it down.


Set in Washington D.C., chief of police Blake Morrow receives a business card reading, "Blake Morrow, March 12th at midnight, Flatline still counts. He knows this chilling message and it's delivery to be the modus operandi of the famous international masked cop-killer known as Nemesis.

Blake knows that he has little to no time before his city, his family, and everything he loves is a pawn in a game for his life. The book starts with a very hands on intro in Tokyo. Nemesis in his most natural element; with a police inspector tied up on the train tracks. With some classic Bond-Villain bragging, pointless destruction, and a very messy end for the good inspector, he is off to the Americas to do it over again.

The book looks very much like a good old super-hero comic with all off screen gore not only added back in but glorified. Steve McNiven pulls no punches when showing off the antics and depravity of Nemesis. From the fountains of blood to the smirk, Nemesis maintains realism while providing a cinematic feel.
 
I personally love the character of Nemesis. He has all the great assets of Batman: the wealth, the physical form, the pre-emptive nature, the gadgets, a cool car, even a cape and cowl, but none of the conscience. Following him is a laundry list of dead cops and civilians, and those who manage to stay alive aren't much for the better. He wears an entirely white costume, and insists on getting it covered in blood. He keeps a motorcycle in his Audi. He even has a pile of cocaine on his table that would make Scarface sneeze. And when confronted he says he's "rich and bored".

And if it isn't well enough to stain the pages of the comic, Nemesis may be bringing the blood and guts to the big screen. Screenwriter Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, The A-Team) has finished the script for the currently in development Fox studios film. Mark Millar even goes as far to say this about the script, "Nemesis is one of the most relentless and powerful screenplays I’ve ever read. I was actually SHELL-SHOCKED after reading it, thinking about it for hours afterwards and discussing it with the family. As a movie, the Carnahans have crafted something we’ve never actually seen before and I feel like someone in Julia Phillips’ office must have felt when Schrader’s TAXI DRIVER script first landed on their desk. This is going to be one of the best movies of the decade."

Whether or not we get a chance to see "Nemesis" in the theaters, I would recommend checking out the book. It's four issue limited run makes for a great short read, and leaves itself wide open for another set. So get on board with the next big psychopath and give "Nemesis" a shot.

 By Logan Thomas Dillon