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The first issue of Clue brings to mind many memories of the mid-’80s film. Most of the original characters from the film are back, such as Mr. Boddy and Mrs. Peacock; however, there are new characters, too, such as Dr. Orchid and Sen. White. It’s fun to see just how much this first issue resembles the opening of the film. You get the mandatory introduction of all the characters arriving at the mansion, as well as seeing them all interact with one another. The personality dynamics are quite engaging and fun to enjoy.



The key thing to understand is that this, like the film, is the butler’s story. The butler, Upton, narrates the first issue from beginning to end. We see the issue through the prism of his consciousness. If he thinks it, we hear his thoughts about all of these people. In fact, it seems Upton keeps files on every single one of them, too. His comments on Mrs. Peacock and Sen. White, especially, are the most fun to read. Upton has a distaste for many of these people he has to host, it seems.



One may understand how irritating it could be having to put up with so many difficult personalities when Upton has his own life to deal with. There’s a sense of familiarity with the banter between characters such as Dr. Orchid and Professor Plum. While Dr. Orchid is not a character from the original film, it makes sense that Plum would know her due to the fact they both live in the world of science. Throughout the book, the most unlikable character seems to be Miss Scarlett.



She’s not very happy and seems to complain more than anyone about everything happening at the mansion when there’s nothing happening whatsoever. Miss Scarlett considers most of the people around her fanboys while Mrs. Peacock thinks of everyone around her as the hired help. They both prove to be the most detestable of the lot. Colonel Mustard seems to be very intense in his demeanor toward others. Most of this first issue is the main characters interacting with one another at dinner and getting a sense of who each other are.



That is until Mr. Boddy drops dead. There are the usual accusations, and Mrs. Peacock makes a run for it when the group finds a gun in her purse. She’s interrogated, but there is found no connection she has to killing Mr. Boddy. What’s different in this adaptation is the inclusion of Detectives Amarillo and Ochre. There were no police in the original Clue, and it makes one wonder why to include them when you have Colonel Mustard who personally could apprehend Mrs. Peacock and interrogate her. It’s not a very strange choice but a peculiar one given everything else in the issue resembles that of the motion picture extravaganza.



Writer Paul Allor displays a lot of reverence for the original film and its source material. There doesn’t seem to be any question artist Nelson Daniel is having fun with the script Allor provided him. If you look at where this book has started and where it’s going, there’s no doubt there is a lot of good in store for all fans and aspiring writers and artists. The key to this book is it works as a mystery but also a drama.



Consider taking a chance on Clue. Maybe, you will find out what happened to Mr. Boddy. Did you do the crime?



Tommy Zimmer is a writer whose work has appeared online and in print. His work covers a variety of topics, including politics, economics, health and wellness, addiction and recovery, and the entertainment industry.

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Tommy Zimmer, Fanbase Press Guest Contributor

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