Mad Cave’s Sanction: What This Bottom Line Is

Mad Cave’s Sanction is a pretty compelling mystery about how the Soviet Union likes to keep secrets. Through two detectives on a murder case, readers witness the Union’s different sides: one for its ideals and the other its realities.

Mad Cave’s Sanction on the Union

It’s no secret that the Soviets were a major power, going through an industrial revolution at a breakneck pace. But there were just as many secrets that the Soviets tried to hide. Mostly the ones involving the only people who thrive in these states, the officials. Any critics were silenced or seen as public enemies, often hiding the truth through any means necessary.

Ray Fawkes uses these two clashing sides of the Soviets through detectives Pavel Smirnoff and Boris Dimitrovich. Pavel is a decorated cop with a chip on his shoulder who solves cases quickly. But he acts high and mighty so readers instinctively don’t like him. Or at least, not at first.

They’re more than willing to follow his partner Boris who is willing to put in the work to solve cases with quality. Despite his record of unsolved cases, he isn’t stupid since he knows the KGB are acting on this case. It looks like that’s going to cause trouble down the line, mostly on these partners’ dynamic.

This set up shows a compelling display about what the Soviet Union actually is against what everyone raised on it were led to believe. All without being preachy and giving it a layman’s approach by focusing on its effects rather than who’s in the right.

Which Side Is The Fairy Tale?

Throughout the mini series, there’s an air of social anxiety. A lot of authority waving to get things done. Even Boris does this on a minor end just trying to get distractions of his case out of the way. But then there are the meetings with the officials and Pavel’s reactions. While the suits say that crime rates are down, Pavel’s reactions show that these are lies. Even though he’s ready to throw covers around for promotions.

Pavel isn’t even unique with this approach. Just about everybody is trying to kiss up to officials to raise their social standings. That’s what connects a lead, side characters, victims, and killer. Everybody feels safe doing bad things as long as they answer to a higher authority. Leading to one of the most intense, pulse-pounding standoffs in the final issue.

Some Vodka For The Cold

Antonio Fuso makes the city of Leningrad look overcrowded with its architecture, cars, but no sign of life. With newspapers and garbage flying everywhere, the former capital of Russia feels like a trophy collecting dust.

The most notable scenes are when there are empty spaces to mark important shifts, often the arrival of the detectives. Compared to the cold and dull looking colors of the city, Emilio Lecce at least makes Boris stand out in his black parka. Out of everybody there, he stands out the most, just as much as what he finds under a red shoe as the panels shift around like a puzzle. That evokes the feeling that this isn’t as open and shut as the case starts out. Almost like the city killed the murder victim.

Mad Cave’s Sanction Is No Threat To You

Mad Cave’s Sanction is a compelling clash between harsh reality and hard truths. In a time of secrets and living up to ideals, the effects of both get a digestible direction. Like a perfectly made cocktail that isn’t too strong and subtle enough to get a feel for. Although the pacing might require the full album to appreciate. This gets 8/10.

Thanks for coming to the end and as always, remember to look between the panels.