Slots #1 from Image Comics comes out this week. It’s an all-new series from creator, writer, and artist Dan Panosian.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Stanley Dance is a total scumbag. He’s a fifty-three year old charmer living scam-to-scam. Finding himself in a tight spot, and out of luck, he heads back to Las Vegas looking for a new gig.
We don’t know many things for sure about our main character’s previous adventures. Panosian lays the first round of clues to Stanley’s checkered past in a cleverly subtle fashion. This isn’t going to be a book that spells anything out for readers. Stanley clearly has some sort of connection to “Lady Luck”, whether it be manipulation or random we’ll have to keep reading to find out.
The issue is broken up into four chapters, introducing us to a handful of instantly likable supporting characters. Slots being a book that takes place in Vegas, the cast should blur the line between caring and chaos. Panosian flawlessly unveils a cast of lifelike people, all damaged in their own special way.
The visual style of the book is one of the strongest elements. Its dirty pulp appeal us a perfect match for the setting and atmosphere. There should be a lot of strong jaw-lines and spectacular wardrobe choices. Slots feels like a movie that George Clooney would be dying to direct if he hadn’t already starred in the Ocean’s movies.
There are mysteries at every turn. From the truck tailing Stanley around town, to the buried box of sentiment and bullets, little tasty narrative crumbs litter the whole book. The only thing for sure is that I’ll be checking out the next issue, color me hooked.
I was delighted to reach the end of this first issue and find no supernatural or demonic reveal. If this first issue is any indication, Slots can survive by being the sleazy Sin City pulp that it is, and I sincerely hope that Dan Panosian knows that.
