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The Private Eye #6-10
The Private Eye, Volume Two
Years after the digital cloud "bursts" and exposes all of our most confidential hopes and fears, THE PRIVATE EYE is set in the inevitable future where everyone will have a secret identity.
Following an unlicensed P.I as he's thrust into the most important case of his life, this sci-fi mystery explores the nature of privacy with frightening prescience.
Includes issues 6 to 10 of The Private Eye series plus material from The Making Of special.
Following an unlicensed P.I as he's thrust into the most important case of his life, this sci-fi mystery explores the nature of privacy with frightening prescience.
Includes issues 6 to 10 of The Private Eye series plus material from The Making Of special.
151 pages, ebook
First published June 17, 2015
3 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,056 books14k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 28, 2022
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Collected review for volumes 1-2 can be found here: The Private Eye
Notes: Review pending re-read. Collected review for volumes 1-2 can be found here: The Private Eye
October 3, 2021
8.5/10
The second ( and unfortunately last ) volume of "The private eye" is just as awesome as the first one!!
If you are looking something with mystery and suspense, i would suggest to read this and get into into this futuristic-noir world that Vaugh and Martin have created.
The second ( and unfortunately last ) volume of "The private eye" is just as awesome as the first one!!
If you are looking something with mystery and suspense, i would suggest to read this and get into into this futuristic-noir world that Vaugh and Martin have created.
November 23, 2015
We head one last time into Brian K Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente’s oddly un-futuristic future world of The Private Eye in this second and final volume.
60 years ago at the start of the 21st century, The Cloud burst, giving away everybody’s private information and internet was subsequently outlawed. Privacy became a primary concern, so much so that people wear Halloween masks all the time in public to keep their identities secret.
In this world, Patrick Immelmann, aka PI, makes a living snooping on others, gathering their secrets for sale. Until he’s approached by Taj McGill, a wealthy woman who wants PI to find out the identity of her sister’s killer. Little does he know that Raveena McGill’s death is linked to the mysterious terrorist DeGuerre and his plans to bring back… internet!
Brian K Vaughan - he’s something isn’t he? Easily one of the best comics writers around today, he’s a hitmaker who isn’t doing any books for Marvel or DC and hasn’t for a while, and still manages to outsell a number of their titles with his indie efforts. Saga is a runaway success, and he’s got two Image titles coming out this year: We Stand on Guard (just launched) and Paper Girls with Wonder Woman artist Cliff Chiang still to come. He even did a digital-only comic, The Private Eye, put it up for name-your-price (meaning you could pay nil) and made it a critical and financial success. He’s un-freakin’-stoppable!
Ok, that’s enough of that - back to the comic! The second half of the series plays out pretty damn well. PI and Taj are closing in on DeGuerre who’s sent his French assassins to kidnap PI’s assistant Mel from hospital. All points converge on the Wonderwall as the rocket satellite prepares to launch and change the world forever - or will it?
Vaughan delivers an action-heavy detective story that jumps from gunfights and car chases - drawn fantastically by Marcos Martin and coloured to perfection by Muntsa Vicente - to the usual genre tropes of breaking into places to find clues and roughing up informants for answers. It’s a very fast-paced and exciting read.
Vaughan also throws in some key scenes for PI, developing his character’s backstory. There’s Mel and PI’s first encounter and a great scene between PI and his grandfather when PI’s a kid. It’s a delight to read a comic by a writer who knows how to tell a story and pace it just right.
Couple gripes (isn’t there always?) bothered me like how Gramps is written as the only guy who knows how to use early 21st century tech, and DeGuerre’s plan felt a bit underdeveloped so there wasn’t as much tension in the finale because it was a bit unclear what the goal was and what exactly happened. I’m not sure how DeGuerre would’ve gotten away with it given how involved he was too, a bit like a Bond villain stood next to his death ray laughing maniacally - it’s like he wanted to be caught.
These are minor complaints though and I really enjoyed reading the finale to this terrific series, especially seeing PI’s fate and that brilliant last page. Love Martin’s art - the amazing mask designs, the action sequences - and how it’s laid out to be read on a tablet even though it’s story is very anti-tech. Vicente’s colours are as bright and beautiful as they’ve been throughout the run. I read this on my iPad and every page looked incredible on the screen!
The Private Eye is an excellent comic by a brilliant creative team. If you’re one of Vaughan’s many fans, you’ll love both volumes and will definitely want to check it out. Both books are available over at panelsyndicate.com for free download, or you can throw them a few bucks for their efforts - and why not, quality work deserves to be rewarded, right?
The good news is that while The Private Eye is over, the online experiment was a success and Brian, Marcos and Muntsa are returning with a new title soon! Even more good news - The Private Eye is coming to print at Image and it'll have a Walking Dead crossover!
60 years ago at the start of the 21st century, The Cloud burst, giving away everybody’s private information and internet was subsequently outlawed. Privacy became a primary concern, so much so that people wear Halloween masks all the time in public to keep their identities secret.
In this world, Patrick Immelmann, aka PI, makes a living snooping on others, gathering their secrets for sale. Until he’s approached by Taj McGill, a wealthy woman who wants PI to find out the identity of her sister’s killer. Little does he know that Raveena McGill’s death is linked to the mysterious terrorist DeGuerre and his plans to bring back… internet!
Brian K Vaughan - he’s something isn’t he? Easily one of the best comics writers around today, he’s a hitmaker who isn’t doing any books for Marvel or DC and hasn’t for a while, and still manages to outsell a number of their titles with his indie efforts. Saga is a runaway success, and he’s got two Image titles coming out this year: We Stand on Guard (just launched) and Paper Girls with Wonder Woman artist Cliff Chiang still to come. He even did a digital-only comic, The Private Eye, put it up for name-your-price (meaning you could pay nil) and made it a critical and financial success. He’s un-freakin’-stoppable!
Ok, that’s enough of that - back to the comic! The second half of the series plays out pretty damn well. PI and Taj are closing in on DeGuerre who’s sent his French assassins to kidnap PI’s assistant Mel from hospital. All points converge on the Wonderwall as the rocket satellite prepares to launch and change the world forever - or will it?
Vaughan delivers an action-heavy detective story that jumps from gunfights and car chases - drawn fantastically by Marcos Martin and coloured to perfection by Muntsa Vicente - to the usual genre tropes of breaking into places to find clues and roughing up informants for answers. It’s a very fast-paced and exciting read.
Vaughan also throws in some key scenes for PI, developing his character’s backstory. There’s Mel and PI’s first encounter and a great scene between PI and his grandfather when PI’s a kid. It’s a delight to read a comic by a writer who knows how to tell a story and pace it just right.
Couple gripes (isn’t there always?) bothered me like how Gramps is written as the only guy who knows how to use early 21st century tech, and DeGuerre’s plan felt a bit underdeveloped so there wasn’t as much tension in the finale because it was a bit unclear what the goal was and what exactly happened. I’m not sure how DeGuerre would’ve gotten away with it given how involved he was too, a bit like a Bond villain stood next to his death ray laughing maniacally - it’s like he wanted to be caught.
These are minor complaints though and I really enjoyed reading the finale to this terrific series, especially seeing PI’s fate and that brilliant last page. Love Martin’s art - the amazing mask designs, the action sequences - and how it’s laid out to be read on a tablet even though it’s story is very anti-tech. Vicente’s colours are as bright and beautiful as they’ve been throughout the run. I read this on my iPad and every page looked incredible on the screen!
The Private Eye is an excellent comic by a brilliant creative team. If you’re one of Vaughan’s many fans, you’ll love both volumes and will definitely want to check it out. Both books are available over at panelsyndicate.com for free download, or you can throw them a few bucks for their efforts - and why not, quality work deserves to be rewarded, right?
The good news is that while The Private Eye is over, the online experiment was a success and Brian, Marcos and Muntsa are returning with a new title soon! Even more good news - The Private Eye is coming to print at Image and it'll have a Walking Dead crossover!
February 27, 2017
I enjoyed this comic with its insane premise and crazy narration. Always taking you by surprise. And best, you pay what you wish for it. In any case, Brian K Vaughan is on a streak!
July 21, 2016
I love Brian K. Vaughan's stories, but this installment, is definitely not one of my favorites. It wasn't bad, it isn't good either.
So volume 2 collects issue 6-10 of Private Eye that you can get for free, or if you want to donate, you can do that too. To get it, visit this site: http://panelsyndicate.com.
Going back, I'd have to say I loved the first volume because of how unique the concept of it is.
Life without the internet. Hmmmm. Seems like a life I wont be able to live with. Internet has now become of every day life. A lot of people use internet, some even use it for work. So imagine if all of that was gone for a long time. Private Eye is set in a world without internet, where people hire PI to find out more about their family, history and stuff. But this is illegal, at least a decade.
Okay so here are my mini thoughts on this volume.
1. I loved the world-building.
2. I loved the characters.
3. It has a weak villain.
4. He illusrations were good with bright colors.
5. It will keep you at the edge of your seat.
6. The climax was a big surprise. I did not expect it at all.
7. I really wish it has a deeper story than this.
Overall, I still think this is a great graphic novel and would recommend it to everyone.
So volume 2 collects issue 6-10 of Private Eye that you can get for free, or if you want to donate, you can do that too. To get it, visit this site: http://panelsyndicate.com.
Going back, I'd have to say I loved the first volume because of how unique the concept of it is.
Life without the internet. Hmmmm. Seems like a life I wont be able to live with. Internet has now become of every day life. A lot of people use internet, some even use it for work. So imagine if all of that was gone for a long time. Private Eye is set in a world without internet, where people hire PI to find out more about their family, history and stuff. But this is illegal, at least a decade.
Okay so here are my mini thoughts on this volume.
1. I loved the world-building.
2. I loved the characters.
3. It has a weak villain.
4. He illusrations were good with bright colors.
5. It will keep you at the edge of your seat.
6. The climax was a big surprise. I did not expect it at all.
7. I really wish it has a deeper story than this.
Overall, I still think this is a great graphic novel and would recommend it to everyone.
July 6, 2022
It was a very good series!
August 18, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan never ceases to amaze us;he is like Christopher Nolan of comic books
February 8, 2016
Another brilliant comic by my new story telling god B.K.V.
Insightful and beautifully drawn, this comic plays with format in the way great books play with structure. The 16:9 aspect ratio makes this ideal for tablet reading or even viewing on a PC/laptop.
It deals with issues that are particularly relevant today such as privacy, and in true B.K.V. style the cast is as diverse as they are interesting.
B.K.V. writes fantastic dialogue, Saga is not a fluke, The Runaways was not a fluke, and The Private eye is not a fluke. B.K.V. consistently demonstrates a mastery of this form of story telling and the fact that he is able to do so while keeping the themes and worlds he explores so fresh is refreshing to say the least.
Since it is available for free (although I do suggest you pay even just a small amount if you can afford it because it is truly brilliant) from http://panelsyndicate.com/ there is no excuse for missing out on this brilliant comic.
I really enjoyed the making of segment too, that was a wonderful touch.
Please do give this comic your time, it will without a doubt reward you for doing so.
Insightful and beautifully drawn, this comic plays with format in the way great books play with structure. The 16:9 aspect ratio makes this ideal for tablet reading or even viewing on a PC/laptop.
It deals with issues that are particularly relevant today such as privacy, and in true B.K.V. style the cast is as diverse as they are interesting.
B.K.V. writes fantastic dialogue, Saga is not a fluke, The Runaways was not a fluke, and The Private eye is not a fluke. B.K.V. consistently demonstrates a mastery of this form of story telling and the fact that he is able to do so while keeping the themes and worlds he explores so fresh is refreshing to say the least.
Since it is available for free (although I do suggest you pay even just a small amount if you can afford it because it is truly brilliant) from http://panelsyndicate.com/ there is no excuse for missing out on this brilliant comic.
I really enjoyed the making of segment too, that was a wonderful touch.
Please do give this comic your time, it will without a doubt reward you for doing so.
December 29, 2015
End of this real good colored-noir crime story. It emphasise on privacy after The Cloud of Information blew up and f***** everybody's life. More interesting for the background than the story itself
July 24, 2015
I love this series and I can't wait for it to be published later on this year.
May 17, 2020
The story continues with PI's attempt to stop DeGuerre's plan that would change the world once more. DeGuerre doesn't shy away from violence and kidnapping while PI has little proof for most of the story. His big reveal is delayed by having to save a dear friend. The final outcome isn't what I expected, but it's pretty realistic.
January 27, 2021
The fact that I've read some one-offs by him notwithstanding, I am not used to reading such short stories from BKV! Clocking in at only ten issues long, this one is over. Feels like it was over before it even began. Be that as it may, it was a fun story, and an interesting examination of privacy in the Information Age.
Vaughan would write this story. He's old-school. Yes he pops in on social media from time to time, but for the most part he's a pariah of the digital world. The Private Eye being his vision of the near-future, and ultimately a plausible look at America post-privacy, is very on-brand for him. And, of course, it's very well done. It wasn't my favorite, but it's certainly worth a read for any fans of BKV looking for more.
Vaughan would write this story. He's old-school. Yes he pops in on social media from time to time, but for the most part he's a pariah of the digital world. The Private Eye being his vision of the near-future, and ultimately a plausible look at America post-privacy, is very on-brand for him. And, of course, it's very well done. It wasn't my favorite, but it's certainly worth a read for any fans of BKV looking for more.
November 5, 2018
This probably doesn't need much of a review, since if you read volume one, you'll want to read volume two.
The action in this volume is quite fast-paced. Things move along quickly, and the story comes to an exciting conclusion. The themes developed in the first volume (around surveillance, privacy, etc) continue to develop in this one.
The artwork is just as good here as in volume one. I really like Marcos Martin's work here.
The action in this volume is quite fast-paced. Things move along quickly, and the story comes to an exciting conclusion. The themes developed in the first volume (around surveillance, privacy, etc) continue to develop in this one.
The artwork is just as good here as in volume one. I really like Marcos Martin's work here.
September 5, 2019
If the previous volume was a 5 I guess this is technically a 6 star book. While not as fun as the first volume because the world has already been introduced and plumbed deeply, volume 2 reveals the plans of the bad guys, unleashes the metaphor in a triumphant way and then does something I can only call plot rhyming. From a technical, plotting standpoint, this is wonderful.
February 7, 2021
The second half of Vaughan’s “The Private Eye” is less Blade Runner and more Watchmen, but it sticks the landing. The characters may remain ciphers, but the storytelling is compelling, the central plot captivating, and even the ambiguity of it all works well. A fitting end to a great sci-fi jaunt.
July 21, 2017
So good. It's a little bit ironic that I was reading this on an iPhone. BKV continues to impress me.
July 30, 2018
4.5 out of 5, fascinating premise and so well executed.
February 28, 2020
Interesting. Some original SF predictions and social commentary, okay story. Nice and colourful artwork, with reminiscences of Moebius (although far from being on his level).
July 26, 2020
Half way through the series and I still find surprising plot twists. The tech and pop culture references are little nice touches.
April 25, 2021
Immediately escalated the story in such an interesting way. Great series with a classic ending.
April 9, 2024
Shit gets real
June 17, 2025
Liked the fast paced action of the latter half of this book.
November 4, 2015
Absolutely fantastic.
Taking the idea of masks and secret identities so prevalent in comic books, Vaughan projects a future where privacy is sacred, and people do not use their real names, nor reveal their faces in public. Police and journalists are one and the same, and libraries are places of information, following the dissolution of the internet, due to a massive information dump wherein everyone's information, from their search histories to their credit card details were revealed to the world. It's like Big Brother of the future, except, instead of everyone monitoring each other, they've made sure to be unmonitorable.
It's a reaction to the current culture, of information freely available online, but interwoven with a detective mystery. It's well formed, with characters as lively as real people - I particularly loved PI's grandfather, who is a remnant of today's culture - and a world that is thoroughly believable.
The strangest part about this is that it is freely available online. Not through piracy or illegal downloading, but made free by Vaughan and Martin. If readers are so inclined, they are able to donate in order to receive an e-copy of the book, but that is by no means a necessity. Somehow, against all capitalist reasoning, they have made art, or at least this book, freely available online. Which is someone ironic, considering what the book is about. But it's a fantastic way of reading something for people without access to comic book stores. And this book is nowhere available in print.
Taking the idea of masks and secret identities so prevalent in comic books, Vaughan projects a future where privacy is sacred, and people do not use their real names, nor reveal their faces in public. Police and journalists are one and the same, and libraries are places of information, following the dissolution of the internet, due to a massive information dump wherein everyone's information, from their search histories to their credit card details were revealed to the world. It's like Big Brother of the future, except, instead of everyone monitoring each other, they've made sure to be unmonitorable.
It's a reaction to the current culture, of information freely available online, but interwoven with a detective mystery. It's well formed, with characters as lively as real people - I particularly loved PI's grandfather, who is a remnant of today's culture - and a world that is thoroughly believable.
The strangest part about this is that it is freely available online. Not through piracy or illegal downloading, but made free by Vaughan and Martin. If readers are so inclined, they are able to donate in order to receive an e-copy of the book, but that is by no means a necessity. Somehow, against all capitalist reasoning, they have made art, or at least this book, freely available online. Which is someone ironic, considering what the book is about. But it's a fantastic way of reading something for people without access to comic book stores. And this book is nowhere available in print.
July 23, 2016
Desarrolla grandes partes de la trama, quiza para algunos su final abierto (almenos en cuanto el destino de algunos de sus personajes) resulte exasperante, lo veó como un gran refuerzo al mensaje que sus autores quieren destacar, me resulta sumamente irónico y gracioso que usen el medio para divulgarse y darse a conocer, pues es el mismo medio que atacan (no tan directamente, pero se siente algo de sin sabor al sopesar algunos hechos en cuanto las opiniones de los personajes) por demás es una obra que en mi caso note la elaboración digital es de colores en altas saturaciones, firmes, no hay muchos gradados, tiene excelentes recursos narrativos y se destaca por su ritmo, la eficaz contextualización y uno que otro acierto en cuanto a la neutralidad de las marcas que abordaron (mucho Apple para mi gusto, pero al menos hablaron de MS con Zune)
Recomendado, es una lectura breve, con un análisis moderado, con algunas referencias a otras lecturas.
PD: En mi cabeza resuena tanto ahora con el boom de #MrRobot, #Snowden #NSA y casos más locales como chuzadas telefonicas, etc, etc.
Recomendado, es una lectura breve, con un análisis moderado, con algunas referencias a otras lecturas.
PD: En mi cabeza resuena tanto ahora con el boom de #MrRobot, #Snowden #NSA y casos más locales como chuzadas telefonicas, etc, etc.
April 22, 2016
The second half of the brightly-coloured future noir world that has obsessively embraced privacy, and the difficulties of being a PI in a society where everyone wears masks. Our heroes' quest for a killer has lead him to a conspiracy to bring back, of all things, Internet. Murder and mayhem and pointed commentary on whether a hyper-private or a hyper-public world will end up making everybody more self-obsessed and generally useless. Fabulous art, sharp writing, and a brilliant climax. Good stuff.
December 28, 2015
I've never really been a fan of short stories - give me a long heart-wrenching romance, and I'm hooked - but when it comes to comics, sometimes less really is more, like in the case of The Private Eye. This limited series of a not so distant future where there is no internet and privacy is the most important law was very interesting to read, even if part two wasn't as gripping as part one. Still, the idea is great, the art is very good and the colours are amazing, so all in all, this remains one of my favorite KKV's works.
Read
June 28, 2015The second half of the comic about a privacy-obsessed post-Internet future came out during a series of high-profile leaks (Sony, the Apple cloud &c), and perhaps it's that sense of the present snapping at its heels which makes this feel much faster-paced than the opening issues. I missed the level of worldbuilding that more leisurely speed allowed, but the breakneck feel here certainly makes for an exciting finale.
September 1, 2015
Loved it. Interesting world and characters. An exciting ride right to the last page. Beautiful art and design. Top notch pacing. It's going to be released soon as a fancy physical book, think I might plunk down the cold hard to own it in meatspace. If there is any better way to show my support I haven't found it.
December 18, 2015
Brian K. Vaughan has written another lovely comic. Set in a strange futuristic setting whereby the Internet has imploded on itself, Vaughan writes an tech-noir-y story whereby humans shield themselves with various masks/personas to protect their personal identities. There's the P.I. There's the dame. And a murder case. All you need, along with Vaughan's writing--what's more to like?
November 15, 2016
Highly recommended. Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin are two of the best comics creators in the business and this is a great example of their work.
You can download the digital version at www.panelsyndicate.com and pay what you want for it. Or you can the buy the gorgeous, oversized hardcover edition so you can have a nice physical copy for your bookshelf.
You can download the digital version at www.panelsyndicate.com and pay what you want for it. Or you can the buy the gorgeous, oversized hardcover edition so you can have a nice physical copy for your bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews