Review by Ian Keogh

Moth and Whisper were the world’s greatest thieves, respectively masters of disguise and stealth, until they disappeared six months ago. The world doesn’t know that, and nor is it known that a single person has assumed both identities.

That’s one hell of a high concept hook from Ted Anderson, and should it be a surprise that a writer best known for My Little Pony can so easily turn his attentions to a completely different style and mood? Rather than extend the mystery of who Moth and Whisper are now, Anderson drops an intriguing back story rapidly, and reveals the limitation under which the new version is operating. He can afford to be generous with the disclosures as the over-riding plot propellant is the mystery of what’s happened to the original Moth and Whisper.

Both Anderson and artist Jen Hickman value detail. This isn’t as obvious in Hickman’s case as the art varies according to need. The myth of Moth and Whisper is presented as ornate and decorative, but on closer inspection still concealing what should remain hidden. By contrast the ongoing search in the present day features an equally attractive, but more impressionistic style, with both benefiting greatly from the subtle attention Hickman pays to colour. The detail is also there as the search continues, attention drawn to the presence of urban cameras being ubiquitous as they gather facial identification data.

Because so many interesting ideas are presented up front the assumption might be that Anderson’s shot his bolt and the remainder will play out predictably. It doesn’t. Information is key to investigation, and the way it’s acquired is novel, but Anderson doesn’t rest with that, ensuring Moth & Whisper is a creative page-turner from start to finish. You’re never going to know where it’s heading next, and Anderson kept one mystery for back for a sequel that sadly never appeared. Yes, this is backlist, but you’d be better off with Moth & Whisper than with all but the best of newly issued crime graphic novels.