Review by Karl Verhoven
The consequences of Karina Santiago reporting gangsters to the Mexican police play out over the opening pages when armed men murder people at the dinner party she’s attending. She, though, escapes along with a friend Eduardo who managed to kill one of the assassins. Where will they be safe? They decide their best bet is to make for the nearby US border.
Jason Starr works hard on establishing characters over the opening chapter. Karina is observant and cautious, while Eduardo is unable to keep his opinions to himself nor capable of being gracious for the sake of politeness or diplomacy. The wild card is Raymond Colby Benson III, a godsend at the right moment enabling a safe crossing and respite at his family’s home. He’s really friendly, but there’s something strange about the aggressive hospitality he offers.
A naturalistic style applied to the cast by artist Will Conrad establishes them as real people in recognisable surroundings even if the horrific violence ensures it’s not a recognisable world for most of us. He’s not shy when it comes to the brutality, though, and a cast iron stomach is needed for some scenes, a requirement that only increases as Red Border continues.
There’s a truth discovered at the halfway point, and it sees Karina and Eduardo trapped between a rock and a hard place. From then on you’re going to have your suspicions about several matters, not least what’s going on at mealtimes, and Starr cranks up the horror into squirmingly uncomfortable levels. “Maybe you need to lie down sweetheart. Let Jesus fix you.” has an incredibly sinister undertone.
He’s dabbled with comics before, but Starr is a novelist by trade, which shows in the dialogue. He’s not mastered the contracted storytelling required by comics, but there’s a very cinematic feel to the way his plot and Conrad’s art combine, especially the ending. With her life at stake Karina devises a neat solution to her problems. There’s a predictability throughout, but that’s not always a bad thing, and Red Border hits those action bullet points.
