NETHERWORLD #1, the latest collaboration between Image Comics and Heroes and Villains Entertainment, sets the stage for an intriguing thriller focusing on a bounty hunter and a not-so-missing girl. 

 Ray Parker, no relation to the singer, is the bounty hunter and spends his days trying to make an honest buck tracking down criminals and other assorted scumbags. He may not play well by other people's rules but he does follow his own. Here we see him faced with breaking them when he's offered a job he just can't refuse. 

 Things quickly get dangerous for Parker as he finds himself mixed up in a rather complicated situation that only gets worse by the end of the issue. 

 The main character here reminds me a lot of Harrison Ford in Blade Runner. He comes off not only as a tough guy but also as a thinker. Delicately, he skims the edge of the initial proposal and he shows a great deal of contemplation when things start to get a little too coincidental. 

 Bryan Edward Hill and Rob Levin present a story that begs for attention. It's obvious that there's something more going on here than what they've revealed. What we have so far is a nice suspenseful adventure that teases with just enough hidden motives and weirdness to keep the book interesting. Meanwhile, we're tagging along with Parker as he navigates his way through this urban web. 

 The art by Tony Shasteen is remarkably suited to the comic but the real highlight is how well his scenes are accentuated by the colorists. Dave McCaig and Lee Loughridge did an outstanding job of providing the right level of ambiance. The buildings and city life fit perfectly. Together with Shasteen's lines they create a believable setting that helps to solidify the mystery that unfolds.  

 Playing much like a film on paper, NETHERWORLD looks to be something that folks who like non-superhero tales will surely enjoy. I suggest checking it out.