GVN Talking Comics Review: Mad Cave Studios ‘Sanction #1’ By Ray Fawkes And Antonio Fusco – “True Detective – Russia Style”

With the Russian police, there is one detective who is known for his ability to solve crimes quickly: Detective Pavel Smirnoff. His reputation is built on that record. However, his fellow detective, Boris Domitrovich, is not as well known. He is a good detective, but he tends to get bogged down in the details of a case. This usually precludes him from solving cases as quickly as his colleague. Which often means that Boris gets the cases that Smirnoff doesn’t want or feels are beneath him.

A Simple Case

This was the case with the dead woman found on the street in Leningrad on January 1st, 1987. Smirnoff was the first detective on the scene, which would normally mean the case was his. But it was his initial assessment that the victim was a working girl, mainly because she was found naked. Street trash he deduced. Instead of investigating further, he called in Boris to take over the crime scene, explaining that Boris needed to have a solved case on his resume. He was doing him a favor by turning over such an obvious crime. “Just find some drunk derelict that lost his temper, and he was most likely the culprit,” Smirnoff said, suggesting a simple resolution and, for once, a solved case file on Boris’s desk.

Upon Closer Examination

Upon closer examination, it appears to Boris that the victim’s neck was broken. She didn’t appear to be the victim of sexual assault; however, an autopsy would reveal that. It also appeared that the assailant was physically strong as she was carried outside, most likely already deceased. In addition, while she wasn’t wearing any clothes, she did have one shoe still on. A small scrap of napkin was attached to the shoe. When questioned, the other officers on the scene reported not finding the other shoe or any apparent footprints in the ice and snow. Although Boris thought this was more a matter of them not looking. After excusing the police officers, Boris found the other shoe some distance from where the body was found. Something about this case seemed familiar…

Victim Identified

Five days later, an ID on the victim was reported. She was an 18-year-old runaway and a suspected thief. As far as Pavel was concerned, that just backed up his feelings about the case. And it was all the more reason to pass it on to Boris. Speaking of that, the police commandant Major Egorov called Pavel into his office to have him explain why he had done that. As first arriving Detective, the case should have been his. He once again explained that he was doing Boris a favor by giving him such an easy solve. Regardless, Egorov made it clear to Pavel that if Boris got caught in the details again and didn’t solve it, he would blame Pavel.

Following a Lead

While Pavel and the Major were discussing things, Boris went out to follow a lead. The small scrap of napkin found on the victim’s shoe. It led him to a neighborhood bar and as it turns out, the bartender needed a policeman. He had a customer who had been coming into the bar and disturbing his patrons. The man kept crying about some woman named Irina. But every time they would escort him out, he would return the next day and start all over again.

Irina

As Boris approached the man, he was shown a picture of Irina. She looked like his victim. The man was still upset, saying that the woman in question was supposed to marry him. But she had disappeared. He was convinced she was somewhere in the bar. Perhaps even with one of the men at the establishment…maybe even WITH Boris! With the man getting more frantic, Boris calmly escorted him out of the bar and sent him home. But not before asking where the girl lived and worked. He told him that Irina worked at the Kirov. After the man left, Boris re-entered the bar. The bartender told him that if the man returned, he would call Boris. Mainly to avoid trouble. Boris left him his card to contact him.

The KGB Involvement

Later Boris was telling his wife what went on. He explained that most of the men in the bar were KGB. That is why he left his card. Better for them to already know who he is than to have them ask about him. Also, the picture proved that the police misidentified the victim. If not for him following up on the napkin, he might have not stumbled on this evidence.  But it opens a whole new bunch of questions. The victim somehow disappeared from under the notice of the KGB. Her corpse was misidentified, and they initially wanted Pavel on the case. Someone who is known for closing his cases quickly. Whether they be right or wrong. What they didn’t want, was for someone like Boris to be on the case.

The following day, Pavel is assuming that Boris has solved the crime and is moving on. Surely a time to celebrate. He would be wrong. Boris knows there is a killer on the loose. More than likely there are other victims involved. Instead of being a time to celebrate, it is a time for them to really get to work.

Thoughts

One need only to search your current cable television guide to know that murder mysteries continue to be popular. That has been the case even as far back as my days with Perry Mason, Columbo, etc. But mix with a different locale and investigative procedures and you add to the mystique and the need to see what will happen. That is the case for Mad Cave Studios intriguing new series Sanction, written by Ray Fawkes and with art by Antonio Fusco.

In Sanction, Fawkes and Fusco explores the workings of policework in 1987 Leningrad, focusing on the death of a young woman and how it might tie into previous unsolved cases. The possible involvement of the KGB only heightens the mystery and the danger for his protagonist, Detective Boris Domitrovich.

Detective Boris Domitrovich

Domitrovich is the central figure in the investigation and one who worries more about solving a case correctly as opposed to doing it quickly. It’s not as glamorous as or attention getting as his co-worker Pavel Smirnoff’s method. His goal is to find a quick and tidy solution and move on. But as Boris continues his investigation, he believes that his attention to detail is exactly what those who perpetrated this crime don’t want. This becomes especially evident when obstacles seem to be laid in front of him. Such as the victim being misidentified. Regardless, this only serves to motivate Boris more.

True Detective, Russia Style

Sanction gives the feel of True Detective, Russia style. Two polar opposites with distinctly different methods, who must find a way to work together. It will be interesting how Fawkes and company navigate the narrative and how much head clashing will result between Pavel and Boris. Will this just become another unsolved case on Domitrovich’s desk? In Mad Cave’s Sanction, it is just getting started.

Mad Cave Studios Sanction #1 by Ray Fawkes, Antonio Fusco, Emilio Lecce and Dave Sharpe is available now where great comic books are sold.