Book Review: Under the Influence vol. 1

Undercover Federal Agent Cara Cole finds herself in a fight for survival and sanity after infiltrating "The Hot Dog Party," an online cult run by a washed-up viral internet sensation. What seems to be an open-and-shut case transforms into an identity crisis for Cara when The Hot Dog Party's cult leader Paul Kovac reveals himself to be trapped inside a web of his own making.

Under the Influence vol. 1 by Eliot Rahal, Stefano Simeone and Frank Cvetkovic will be published January 30, 2024. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

This was a really interesting story. The volume collects Under the Influence issues 1 through 5, quickly establishing a world that intersects the FBI with internet culture. If the story seems almost too real, it is because it easily could have been ripped from today's headlines. It does a wonderful job at mirroring the influences of social media, the quickly-out-of-control aspects of mob mentality, and the fragile nature of individuals seeking a sense of purpose and belonging.

The artwork is a bit different from what I usually gravitate towards in a graphic novel. It has a more muddied, slightly out of focus take. The colors are blurred and blotched. But, that actually works in tandem to the story itself. I think the impact would have been different if the art was clean, crisp and bright.

I am not sure if the creators plan to let this one stand on its own, or if they plan to continue the adventures Agent Cara Cole in another arc. Time will tell.