SGAG Logo

SMOKE

smoke_cb_sa smoke_cb_ashes smoke_cb_tj smoke_cb_gbgu
 
Full Name: Rupert Cain
Nationality: British
Organization: Unknown
Occupation Agent

Creator: Alex de Campi
Time Span: 2005 - 2013

ABOUT THE SERIES

Rupert Cain is an assassin for the British government.

The adventures take place in the not-to-distant future, a largely dystopian world as shown by the fact that the section of London known as Soho is heavily barricaded and guarded, the interior area named The Walled City; passage through the gates is closely monitored and regulated and those inside are warned that passes are required to exit and, most interestingly, "beyond these gaes British law applies" leaving one to wonder whose laws are for those inside it. Inside the borders, all the weirdos and nutcases and nonconformists dwell. It is a place where someone like Cain fits in nicely.

Cain is first described as "the big albino" and that definitely fits. He is very tall, extremely thin with pale skin and long white hair normally tied in a ponytail. 30 years old when we meet him, Cain has been in the government hitman business for 3 three years.

Prior to that he had been a soldier in excellent standing with the British Army. As he tells it, he was "part of the big group that got sent to West Africa and the small group that came back". In a somewhat confusing transition, Cain was put into a situation where he agreed to become an assassin for the government. The deal he made was honored by both sides - for a while. Now Cain is out to make them pay for breaking the 'contract'.

Playing a vital role in the activities we follow in the recorded events is Katie, an investigative reporter for a major newspaper in London, still fairly new to the job and striving to move up the ladder. She will learn a whole lot more than she is supposed to.

Good Lines:
- Said by a very nasty powerbroker in the shadows to the current Prime Minister, "The voters are bored. We have to remind them how good their lives are under [your administration] by making them, briefly, quite a bit worse".

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:4
First Appearance:2005
Last Appearance:2013

1 Good Boys Grow Up Good Boys Grow Up
Published by IDW Publishing
Contributors: Alex de Campi (writer), Igor Kordey (artist)
Copyright: 2005

"In a futuristic London run by a government both morally and financially bankrupt, ex-soldier Rupert Cain signed his own deal with the devil. He works for the government as an assassin, in exchange for his girlfriend and her father being kept safe from harm. But when the father is murdered anyway, Cain has to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and cope with everything he walked away from three years ago. Meanwhile, London descends into crisis as an unusual terrorist group kidnaps the visiting OPEC president and ransoms him for quite peculiar demands."

2 The Judas The Judas
Published by IDW Publishing
Contributors: Alex de Campi (writer), Igor Kordey (artist)
Copyright: 2005

"When Cain's former employers turn on him, it's "Once Upon A Time in the West" country as a team of heavies is despatched by train to Devon to shut him up. As his allies evaporate one by one, Cain is increasingly beset by questions about just whose side his mentor was on. Back in a London brought to a halt by the oil crisis, the only person who can answer those questions is being held hostage by terrorists. And as the government sees its plans unravelling, it calls in a little American help to remove the thorn in its side: No-Face, the deadly Yankee dandy."

3 The Men On The Chessboard The Men On The Chessboard
Published by IDW Publishing
Contributors: Alex de Campi (writer), Igor Kordey (artist)
Copyright: 2005

"Abandoned by friends and ex-lovers, Cain is unwittingly used as a pawn by the government to track down his mentor's reclusive, powerful associates. Cain's only hope is to persuade Katie Shah, a journalist he betrayed, to help him. Caught between a desperate government and the mysterious Quiet Men, they race to uncover the ugly truths about Cain's past and London's present. But two steps behind slinks No-Face, borrowing a familiar identity and waiting for the right moment to end everything with a bang."

4 Ashes Ashes
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Alex de Campi (writer), Milton (artist), Felipe Sobreiro (artist)
Copyright: 2012

"No good deed goes unpunished: Katie, a former journalist, and Rupert, a former soldier, struggle with their lives in the years after they both had a brief brush with heroism. When an old nemesis is awakened half a world away, that struggle is about to get a lot more deadly."

5 Smoke/Ashes Smoke/Ashes
Published by Dark Horse
Contributors: Alex de Campi (writer)
Copyright: 2013

A collection of all 4 previously released adventures.

MY COMMENTS

It is odd but a part of me really dislikes dystopian futuristic stories like these and another part is fascinated by them! Things cannot really get that bad, can they? Well, don't turn on the news, I guess. This is really a serious satire on our world today by making us look at how things so easily could be. 

It sort of fits the criteria for membership in this compendium and sort of does not. Whatever! It is here and the graphic adventures are pretty darn fascinating. The artwork is unusual but really, really works. 

GRADE

My Grade: B

YOUR OPINIONS

Be the first to leave your own comments about this series.

Tell us what you think of the series. Give your grade and comments.

Your Grade:
Your Comments:

To give your opinion, you must be logged in.

Sign In

Register
Disclaimer
SpyGuysAndGals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, and links with the Buy from Amazon button are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.