“A Calculated Man” is not perfect, but is definitely off to a promising start with issue one from AfterShock Comics.
A verifiable math genius, Jack Beans used to run the numbers for the Pinafore crime family, until one day he ran them too well and concluded that the only way out of this life was in a cas-ket or Witness Protection. So, he turned state’s evidence and ran.
Now, the Pinafores are out to end their favorite accountant. Little do they know that Jack’s skills with math and his perfect memory have made him a better killer than they ever could have re-alized. What follows is a journey full of murder, mayhem and mathematics. Writer Paul Tobin (Bunny Mask, My Date with Monsters) and artists Alberto Albuquerque (The Amazing Spider-Man, Letter 44) unleash a master of math on a mission to eliminate a criminal empire for good.
Colorist Mark Englert and letterer Taylor Esposito join Tobin and Albuquerque on the creative team.
The story and premise of A Calculated Man is fascinating and has extreme potential. However, it seems to be confused on what tone it wants to take. The first issue does a great job setting up the characters of the story and leaves us wanting to know what happens to Jack Beans, but can’t figure out if it supposed to be serious, sarcastic or a mix of both.
A Calculated Man leaves a good taste in your mouth and makes you wanting for more and that is what a book should do all along. So even if issue one wasn’t perfect, hope is there for the rest of the series.
Hollywood seems to like A Calculated Man as it was optioned by Hulu. Peter Calloway (Cloak & Dagger, Legion)is set to write and serve as showrunner on the project. AfterShock Media said that the streamer won the rights in a competitive battle. Calloway will be joined by Lee Kramer and Jon Kramer from AfterShock as executive producers.
