REVIEW: 'No Mans Land' #1 by Szymon Kudraski

 

No Mans Land #1

Writer: Szymon Kudraski

Artist: Szymon Kudraski

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: September 17, 2025

Cover Price: $3.99

MINISERIES PREMIERE

Diomede Islands.For three months each year, you can walk from the USA to Russia across an ice bridge—a frozen path known as the Ice Curtain.In 1963, when the body of a young woman is discovered on this icy no-man’s land, the already fragile relationship between the superpowers threatens to collapse. With nuclear tensions rising, an FBI agent and a KGB operative must solve the murder—before the ice melts…and war ignites.From SOMETHING EPIC and BLOOD COMMANDMENT creator SZYMON KUDRANSKI comes the must-read thriller of the year.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

The debut issue of No Man's Land delivers a confident blend of sharp writing and striking visuals.  Dialogue is crisp and believable, with a clear sense of direction and purpose. A consuming political thriller that sets the stakes and plots the mystery with great execution.

The art is equally accomplished. Rendered in a photo-realistic, noir-inspired black-and-white style, it captures the grit of Cold War espionage with remarkable precision. The use of light, shadow, and composition builds a tense atmosphere. From dramatic interior exchanges to the stark beauty of Alaska, the visuals ground the story in a realistic but unique setting. It harkens back to a time when the Cold War was frigid which lends to the uncomfortable relationship between the two agents of each country amid the murder investigation. The U.S. government was skeptical and suspicious of their counterparts unlike the fawning over the Russian leader that goes on today. 

Collins emerges as a reluctant hero on the verge of retirement only to be immersed in one last job. He's defined by the personal sacrifices of his work, while Director Harris and Agent Cody round out the cast with authority and humanity. Together, they create a dynamic interplay that keeps the story engaging and accessible. By the end of issue one, the reader is ready to dive in to the details of the crime.

Moody, tightly written, and visually striking, this first issue succeeds both as a gripping Cold War thriller and as a thoughtful exploration of the personal cost of espionage. It’s an engrossing debut that sets a high bar for the series ahead.