Captivating – writer Matt Hawkins grabs readers’ attention from the beginning, and he does not let go.

Samaritan: Veritas #1 starts off with an explosive cover image by artist Atilio Rojo, showcasing what type of lead character is within the pages of this first issue. You see Samantha Copeland, also known as Sam and a super hacker named “Samaritan,” standing in front of a window of a high-rise building, while an explosion blasts debris behind her from the city below. The eruption from outside coincides with her finger pressing down on her cell phone, and the message is clear – she is not to be messed with. The red glow from the phone cascades up to her face, further providing an incensed expression to an already intense gaze.

Hawkins takes this rage felt from the cover page and translates it to the opening pages and throughout the entire first chapter. The opening scene triggers your adrenaline with an attack force team tracking Sam with a drone and a pair of helicopters. They close on her location. Soldiers rappel down lines from both copters, and they approach her hideout with weapons drawn. They see her, and then get the “target painted.” They are immediately given the go-signal, and you hold your breath wondering how the story can possibly end before it even gets started.

Samaritan is easy to read from a storytelling standpoint and is visually appealing, as well. The pages are filled with larger panels and include smaller panels on top of those images, guiding your line of sight, so you’ll easily know where to follow each conversation. The use of brown and gray hues make other tones like blue, orange, or pink computer screens, or a red gunshot wound, radiate with an enhanced glow. The structure of the artwork and the story help you flip through the pages quickly.

The satisfying first glimpse of this series is over before you know it, and it only makes you want more chapters to come, or the entire series all at once, so you can binge-watch it like a Netflix series. If ever a series were to grab your attention enough to want to add to your pull-list, this would be it – and if you don’t have one, it’ll make you consider getting one.

Veritas is created by Matt Hawkins and Rahsan Ekedal for Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics. Also, ComiXology gives this comic book an age rating of “15+ Only.”

Samaritan: Veritas #1 will be available on Wednesday, May 24, for print and digital release.