Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Gerry Duggan, art by Fernando Blanco, colors by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Buddy Beaudoin.
In Next Level: One Shot Issue 1, Deadshot is given a secret mission to find hidden drones within the superhero community. There is a very peculiar structure within this one-shot. Strangely, this is also the first time the comic’s format serves as the title. Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is one mission, and the one-shot concept works for Floyd Lawton, the pre-eminent assassin within the DC Universe. He’s an exemplary soldier and a marksman almost without peer.
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 brilliantly moves through time, opening with the excitement before venturing back to provide more context. Duggan actually explains who assigned Deadshot the mission on the first page, but witnessing the scene provides greater insight into how jittery and odd the whole interaction was.
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The first half of the comic is very energetic and intense, featuring aliens, clandestine operations, and more. And then Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 simmers down, with something even more sinister. The idea that the heroes of the DC Universe aren’t who they really are. Lawton visits many locations, trying to move quietly and under the radar to avoid detection from the most dangerous heroes. Having those potential cameos be included is amazing.
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 feels like Deadshot is creeping around the wider universe, and there are genuine consequences. When the idea of alien infiltrators is first formulated in Next Level: One Shot Issue 1, the initial thought was that Duggan was influenced by the first season of Peacemaker. However, the reveal at the end of this issue takes the story in a very different and drastic direction, as the final act ramps up the pace once again.
It is very unique to have a character like Deadshot at the helm of a story, and Duggan superbly explains why. Both he and Rick Flag, who assigns Deadshot with this duty, are incredibly mentally chaotic. Flag isn’t usually like that, but the way he speaks in Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is fascinating. He’s a nervous wreck, terrified and jittery. Even Deadshot is thrown by how strange the confrontation is.
Then when Deadshot is alone, there’s more of an understanding of his personality. Deadshot is a murderer, but he’s professional. He likes the idea of saving the world, but he couldn’t ever be considered a hero. He’s arrogant, celebrating his most successful shots like a sportsman. Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 spends a lot of time in the thoughts of Lawton, especially in the second half of the book. He observes heroes in their private moments, commenting on what he sees them do.
What makes Deadshot shine as a character is just how varied he is in this one-shot. When facing heroes and other characters, he’s ruthless, committed and tough. But there are also moments when he shows he’s a regular guy, one with many issues of his own. He can get repulsed by what he sees. He gets hungry. There is a general recognition that whilst Deadshot is a terrific shot, he is very much out of his depth for what is coming.
The art is fantastic because it conveys the messiness of the situation Lawton finds himself in. There are many occasions in which the comic has exceptional clarity, such as when the action is in full flow. The precision of Deadshot’s shots is important to the character and helps relay just how efficient he is at his job. With his mask on for much of the comic, Deadshot looks cool, emotionless, and a great action star.
Aside from a few scenes featuring other DC characters, Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is quite a lonely book. There is a strange peace residing over much of it, as we watch Deadshot observe his allies and travel between the cities.
Whilst Deadshot is checking in on the targets, the art makes it difficult to really know what’s happening and what Deadshot is even booking for. And that seems intentional. The enemy designs at the start of the comic are so terrifying and also varied. It means that when the monsters are revealed, there is no way to predict how they will appear, which generates a great deal of shock.
The colors are terrific. This is a dark, murky comic, and yet the pages remain light enough to see the action. There is the occasional use of bright light and more vibrant colors when a superhero appears, but this is very rare. Even though it is daytime when Flag and Lawton meet, the sun is going down, and the orange tone to the sky is unsettling. The colors are also fantastic for depicting the change in vision, as both Deashot and the villains look through different visors and spectrums of light.
The lettering has a brilliant efficiency. In the opening pages, there is a long document of Lawton’s full file. Whilst it’s bulky and the text is rather small, it succinctly reveals everything you need to know about Deadshot within one panel.
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is the beginning of something much larger. The story is small in scale, but the idea is that Lawton is stepping into something with enormous ramifications. The fact that so many characters are already involved, without even realizing it, makes the comic fascinating. The story is lively, filled with suspicion and unease, and also darkly funny at times. Lawton provides a cold, forensic look at what’s coming, and it’s going to sow distrust across the entire DC Universe.
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1
TL;DR
Next Level: One Shot Issue 1 is the beginning of something much larger. The story is small in scale, but the idea is that Lawton is stepping into something with enormous ramifications.
