By Paul Tobin, Alberto J. Albuquerque, Marissa Louise & Marshall Dillon (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 978-1-61655-959-5 (TPB/Digital edition)
There are many fabulous smartly entertaining stand-alone comics collections on the market these days, offering readers a single done-in-one hit of graphic entertainment without the grief of buying into massive back-history or infinite cross-continuity.
One of the best I’ve ever seen compiles a fierce, frenetic and funny 4-issue miniseries from 2015, starring the most infallible detective of all time. No sequel yet, but I live in hope, which is a rather apposite thing to say here…
As crafted by American author Paul Tobin (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, Plants vs. Zombies, Bandette, Colder) and Spanish artist Alberto Jimenez Albuquerque (Les Fugitifs de l’Ombre, Letter 44, Generation X, Wakanda Forever) – with colours by Marissa Louise and letters from Marshall Dillon – this slim, sleek, slick yarn simply screams for more enigmas to be excitingly unravelled by this sleuthing star in waiting.
Like any ancient city, London has its fair share of unique characters and unsolved mysteries, but that’s never the case whenever Trine Dorothy Hampstead sets up her “office” on the pavements and begins chatting…
The effusive, ebullient young woman has an incredible gift. She knows the answer to any question she’s asked. Instantly and infallibly. “Where are my keys?” “Did Dad leave a will?” “Where is my missing son’s body…?”
All inquiries get an instant response and every answer is correct!
Trine is a local celebrity in her community, not only for the fact that she’s never judgemental or exploits her gift, but also because everyone knows there’s only one mystery the poor lass can’t solve: how she got her uncanny power…
Trine has an immense taste for life at full throttle and abiding desire to help those in need: regularly consulting with local private eye Alfie and aiding her perpetually sceptical boyfriend Ken Bloke – a Metropolitan police constable – in his work, even though he refuses to believe in her gift…
Her already extraordinary life takes a big step into the unknown when ancient DNA specialist Jovie Ghislain comes to Trine with a fascinating query. The biologist had been researching a 1930’s expedition to the wild Sakha region of Siberia. In the notes of the fabled Weimar-Steinberg trek, the explorers detailed how they uncovered a frozen mammoth carcass so perfectly preserved that the meat was still fresh and edible. Their records are tragically incomplete and Ghislain – desperate to secure viable DNA from the deceased giant – wants to know where the rest of the body is now…
The answer is not immediately forthcoming. In fact, Trine refuses to say anything unless she can join Jovie’s new expedition to personally show the scientists where it is.
Trine thrives on new experiences and this time her gift pays a huge dividend. As preparations are made, she shrugs off all questions from friends and acquaintances, but does confide in her pet budgie Candide. The reason that mammoth meat was so fresh is obvious. It hadn’t been dead long. Now she’s off to see its kin in the only place on earth where the mighty beasts still live…
Sadly, the original expedition – and its journals – are also the subject of a search by wealthy and far less friendly folk. However, when a mystery billionaire commissions a psychopathic hitman to find and secure all the original journals and stop the new expedition, even deadly Linford is taken with Trine. Foregoing his usual callous efficiency, the murdering mercenary takes his time, insinuating himself into the life of all her friends. It’s all working out just fine until the Mystery Girl is asked about her pal’s latest boyfriend and suddenly “knows” all about the new beau – including his actual profession.
Miss Hampstead’s plan to deal with him is shockingly effective, but doesn’t go nearly far enough…
Believing the coast clear, Trine and Jovie head for the Arctic Circle, blissfully unaware that their trail is being dogged by Linford’s sinister paymaster or that the killer himself is down, but not out. Instead, he has devised a cunning method to turn his opponent’s gift against her…
Even so, the obsessive hitman has underestimated Trine’s power, ingenuity and ruthless resolve. However when finesse fails, he can always fall back on overwhelming firepower and direct action…
With the steadfast explorers nearing their frozen El Dorado, the bad guys make their move, revealing what’s actually behind all the death and destruction. Now it no longer matters if Trine is asked the right question or not…
As the ghastly truth of the Weimar-Steinberg expedition is exposed, their heirs and inheritors prove willing to commit mass murder to keep the bloody secret covered up. Happily, Trine asks herself a different question and a life-saving solution pops into her head…
Fast-paced, spectacularly action-packed, witty and superbly balanced as hero and villain play cat-&-mouse around the world, Mystery Girl is funny, imaginative and savagely uncompromising: a superb introduction to a potent and engaging new female character who seems destined for greatness.
Also included are satisfyingly informative bonus features including a copious and heavily annotated Sketchbook section with commentary from Tobin & Albuquerque; concept to finished art examples; cover roughs: designs and unused cover art, all revealing the masses of effort that went into making this such a treat.
Don’t ask why you weren’t in at the beginning of her climb to stardom: get Mystery Girl and become someone with (some of) the answers…
Mystery Girl ™ & © 2015, 2016 Paul Tobin and Alberto J. Albuquerque. Mystery Girl and all prominently featured characters are trademarks of Paul Tobin and Alberto J. Albuquerque.