Melissa Peake lives an interesting life. Thanks to her husband’s success she’s financially solid, no fiscal worries in her life whatsoever. But she’s also lonely. Her relationship with her sister is strained, her relationship with her husband is shaky – he’s so caught up in the idea of financial gain he’s incapable of seeing what he’s got standing in front of her – and her finest company comes from her dog, whom she opens her heart to on a regular basis. But the dull, uninspiring existence she knows is about to change.

We don’t know a whole lot about Orlando. He’s mysterious and he knows human behavior and mannerisms well enough to accurately summarize Melissa’s entire life. He comes on strong, and – married or not – Melissa begins falling for him instantaneously. But what’s the man about? Why does he appear to be something more than human? Who is he obviously recruiting Melissa for, and what do they plan to do with the woman?

All valid questions that will be answered with time. Right now is not the time. Right now, writer Peter Milligan is laying the groundwork for something special. Milligan is building the mystery, and it’s rather compelling. It’s nearly impossible to avoid being sucked into the cultish vibe of the book. There’s a lot of potential here.

I can’t praise Milligan without tipping my cap to Leandro Fernandez, who brings a straight forward, minimalized style to what promises to be a complex narrative. Fernandez is good. He’s successful in bringing in a certain flare without wasting a stroke of the pencil. You’ve got to respect that. You’ve got to respect both Chris Peter and Simon Bowland, who turn in strong showings working underappreciated positions as handling coloring and lettering, respectively.

There’s a lot of talent in this book. Image has been successful in launching a lot of fresh titles over the years, and this is no exception. If you’re looking for a new book to add to your monthly lineup, make it The Discipline. You’ll thank us later.

Order it here.

Rating: 4/5