When I think of a comic written by Ande Parks I expect an action-packed story and that is exactly what we get with Bad Thoughts from Ignition Press. This explosive debut issue has all the makings for a unique story with a terrifying new kind of hero.
He knows every terrible thing you’ve done. And he’s coming for you.
Jack Coates can look inside your mind and see every awful thing you’ve ever thought or done. It’s painful, but it serves him very well at his private security firm that deals with difficult situations and even more heinous people. He’s a good soldier with a good team that he trusts… but he’s about to find out what happens when you put your trust in the wrong people.
Parks sets the tone of the series with this first issue and he is not messing around. Setting up our main character and his unique ability with the first few pages before the issue turns deadly and explosive. While only touching on the full capabilities of Jack Coates, Parks gives us just enough to know that Coates is an integral part of these missions and his skills are one of a kind, but the story is so much more than that.
On top of the intense battle, Bad Thoughts features some emotional and intimate moments that add another level to the story which balances out what you’d expect from a comic such as this. Sometimes these type of comics can be action heavy, missing out of the more tender moments. This premiere issue features just enough to strike a nice balance.
Parks is only part of the reason Bad Thoughts caught my attention, the other being artwork by Dave Watcher…which is superb. Like Parks and his blending of intimate moments and explosive action, Watcher does the same with his artwork. The explosions are massive and intense, and those emotional moments are serene. The book has almost cinematic feeling which lends itself well to this type of storytelling.
Bad Thoughts comes out swinging in the debut issue. Equal parts high-impact and emotionally grounded, setting the stage for a story that is cinematic in feeling as much as it is explosive. Military-style stories are not usually my jam, but Bad Thoughts was a ton of fun and only made better with Ande Parks and Dave Watcher at the helm. If this first issue is any indication, this is a series worth keeping a close eye on.
Bad Thoughts #1 hits local comic shops on May 27, 2026 (FOC: April 20) from Ignition Press.
Bad Thoughts #1 Covers
