The anticipation for The Smart Division was high, partly due to the fact I have been eagerly awaiting for the creative dream team of Zack Kaplan and John Pearson to team-up again since the release of Mindset. Boy did Kaplan and Pearson deliver on the debut issue of The Smart Division with a modern detective mystery that is eerily relevant and exceptionally beautiful.
When a mysterious new predictive artificial intelligence program appears responsible for assisting someone in the perfect murder, a pair of unlikely investigators, a chaotic Gen-Z savant and a veteran FBI agent, must hunt down the killer by starting the FBI’s first AI crimes division.
The addition of modern technology in certain parts of life have been questioned since the beginning of time, but the use of artificial intelligence in some of the most important jobs lately has been scary to downright wrong. The Kaplan fingerprints are all over this comic with the writer doing what he does best, crafting a story that is entertaining, mysterious, as well as extremely timely in the world we live in.
With this debut issue, Kaplan sets the tone of the series, introduces us to some important elements, as well as the characters that make this story what it is. Some of these new characters are likable, some not so much. While technology is the core of this tale, it’s the people who opt to use it to commit crimes and ultimately attempt to solve said crimes that make the story special. By creating some relatable characters we care more about what happens.
Yes, Kaplan is a wonderful storyteller and doesn’t shy away from hot button topics, but it’s the artwork by Pearson that makes this comic a must-read. Kaplan’s technology filled story set against the imagery stunningly painted by Pearson makes each and every panel hit all the more harder. The decision to use softer imagery in a story filled with the square edges of modern technology was one that will set this story apart from the crowd. Pearson uses all the weapons in his arsenal to give us a stunning work of art. Not to mention the fantastic layouts that allow the story to move in fluid motion.
The Smart Division is a fantastic science-fiction mystery that eerily could be more fact than fiction. Writer Zack Kaplan delivers a timely detective tale exploring the use of modern technology in solving crimes. However, it’s the juxtaposition of John Pearson’s elegant brush strokes that makes story rise above the rest. Kaplan and Pearson’s creativity knows no bounds and The Smart Division is proof of that.
The Smart Division #1 hits local comic shops on August 5, 2026 from Dark Horse.
The Smart Division #1 Preview
