Masterminds #1
Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Stephen Thompson, Thiago Rocha
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 27, 2025
Cover Price: $4.99
When an ambitious and troubled video game programmer dares to audition for a secret society in the gaming/tech industry, composed of cutthroat, genius masterminds that promise to help their members achieve their wildest dreams, he and his rebellious co-worker find themselves in a gauntlet of real-life puzzles that quickly turn deadly. Are they truly smart enough to survive the mysterious game of the Masterminds?
Score:
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Zack Kaplan’s Masterminds blends puzzles, ambition, and corporate intrigue into a tense new thriller rooted in the world of video games. The debut issue wastes no time pulling readers in, setting up a mystery that feels both familiar and fresh.
Stephen Thompson’s detailed art, paired with Thiago Rocha’s striking colors, gives the book its edge. Puzzle sequences glow with neon menace, while Edward’s everyday life is painted in muted tones that highlight his monotony. It’s a clever contrast that makes the darker turns hit harder.
Edward himself is a strong lead—disillusioned by his “dream job” until the mysterious audition to a rival company reignites his spark. Kaplan wisely takes time to establish his character, making the high-stakes challenges ahead feel more personal.
While the concept inevitably recalls stories like Squid Game and David Fincher's The Game, Masterminds finds its own angle by digging into the culture and pressures of the gaming industry. The first issue ends on a sharp cliffhanger, setting the stage for bigger, riskier games to come.
With polished visuals, a gripping hook, and a central mystery that begs to be unraveled, Masterminds #1 is a confident start to a thriller that feels primed to level up in the issues ahead.
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