Cognition 0-4. Ken Reynolds (Writer & Letters), Sam Bentley (Art). www.facebook.com/CognitionComic (2018)

A very smart idea executed with tremendous confidence and skill. The British Occult Secret Service (B.O.S.S.) operating in investigate supernatural threatsVictorian England, false and real mediums, disappearances in marshlands, a demon dog. The threads of the story neatly twist together as myth proves to have a hidden history that threatens the present.
 B.O.S.S.has an unusual staff, Silas Pope is the Director, a man steeped in occult secrets. Hattie Griggs a mechanical engineer with a soaring talent. Calibre 507-'Cal' a robot built by Hattie Griggs inhabited by a displaced human soul and Sigma, a displaced demon in the body of a mouse tethered to Cal by the process that displaced them both.  In this case the Devil has the best tunes, Sigma is the most compelling character, demanding, sarcastic, hungry he pushes himself forward in the story and at the reader. Cal is pulled along by Sigma, a lost soul, his memories gone with his human form, he is aware and trying still to adjust to the circumstances. Silas Pope is given a wonderfully revealing moment in a single panel that highlights both creators depth of skill, Hattie Griggs is gets more space at the conclusion, she remains slightly underwritten.
The plot mechanics are great, the self contained chapters at the start give way to an longer narrative that uses continuity with skill and control. The plot mechanics are thoughtful and sharp, the story creates a sufficient problem for B.O.S.S. to be sorely tried and to be sufficiently successful to credit their brains and experience.
The supporting cast are engaging, the walk ons in the village pub and the cult members are always more than just set decorations, they move and breathe with energy that makes the reader notice them. They give depth to the context and the leading cast.
Sam Bentley's art is a joy to read and linger over, the details draw in the readers eye and the astonishing range that his black and white art delivers is wonderful. The stark contrast in the art captures the emotional tones of the story perfectly, this is a brutal unforgiving struggle that will allow no quarter. There are no shades of gray, just winning or losing. The cast are given lived in faces, Silas Pope wears his experience lightly but clearly on his face and in his body. Confident and capable, the weight of the game still rests on him. Hattie Griggs is not an awkward steam punk engineer, she is a gifted mechanical engineer who is a Victorian female and dresses like one. Placing a bowler hat and a cloak on a steam punk robot inhabited by a displaced soul is a master stroke, it gives an edge of familiarity to the robot that allows the personality shine without being distracted by the mechanics. Sigma is a mouse. A very clever mouse that hides the true shape and intent of the creature, the tension between both is vital to driving the story.
There are a number of back up stories that are used to cast a sidelight on the cast and context and they do so with tremendous skill. The allow for an alternative perspective that adds to the context and a different view of the cast that gives them greater depth without interruption to the flow of the main story.
Cognition is a great comic, story and execution show off the talent of the creators for the benefit of the readers. Read and relish.

Cognition Issue 1. Ken Reynolds (Writer & Letters), Sam Bentley (Art). (2016)

Very enjoyable and engaging steampunk supernatural investigation story with a great context and cast. The British Occult Secret Service (B.O.S.S.) are called in by the grieving brother of a man who has killed his children and himself. The man had been severely affected by the death of his wife the year before and his brother thought that his grief has lead him to strange and dangerous activities,. The B.O.S.S. team including Cal the stem robot and Sigma the demonic mouse investigate. The story unfurls very nicely, the reveals are very well set up and the conclusion is what it should be.

One of the substantial pleasures of this story is the way that it becomes clear that the Victorian era context is not simply set dressing. The social constraints and rituals of the time are central to the story, the much more contemporary voice of Sigma does not conflict with them, rather they mingle naturally to create a very convincing context.

The dynamic relationship between Cal and Sigma is displayed and demonstrated through the action in the story, the two very distinct personalities and attitudes emerge clearly. Ken Reynolds has developed the idea behind Cognition very nicely, the cast have emerged more clearly and the context had gained additional depth. One of the noticeable elements in the story that serves it very well is the way that Cal and Sigma, a steam robot and a talkative mouse are very much public figures, they present themselves as themselves to the people around them. Doing this means that they can function easily and naturally in the world, they are not oddities, they simply are agents of B.O.S.S. and accepted as such.
Sam Bentley's art is a deep pleasure to read, the multitude of details that emerge from the stark black and white is remarkable. The physical context is solid and grounds the action, the cast are wonderfully expressive. Humans and demons, all are allowed a range of actions and expressions, the confidence in the art is a pleasure. Both Ken Reynolds and  Sam Bentley are so confident in the delivery that the reader has the opportunity to simply soak happily in the story, there is no effort to convince the reader, it simply unfurls as it should.
What the Butler Saw, Ken Reynolds (Writer & Letters),
Ben Peter Johnson (Art) is a short story that gives a different perspective on the B.O.S.S. team. Ben Peter Johnson art is radically distinct from Sam Bentley's and this is a great benefit for the story, the view from the outside deserves a different approach. The butler in the B.O.S.S. offices is writing a letter and included in it are reflections on the B.O.S.S. team. There is nothing new in the reflections, the butler's voice is distinctive enough to gave them a sense of a different perspective.
Cognition is a smart story idea being engagingly developed by seriously talented creators, it has wonderfully enticing possibilities and is a deep pleasure to read.

Cognition Issue 0. Ken Reynolds (Script & Letters), Sam Bentley (Art). (2016)

A very engaging and enjoyable comic that introduces the agents of the Victorian era British Occult Secret Service (B.O.S.S) in three short episodes.
They Never See It Coming.  A couple are attending a séance to contact a dead relative, at the same time a shadowy figure is having a sarcastic commentary on the event. When the medium is exposed it becomes clear that two of the agents of B.O.S.S. are highly unusual, one is a steam driven, small robot named Cal the other a mouse, Sigma. When they encounter a second medium it becomes clear that the robot and the mouse are more than a novelty act.
The Devil's Fishing Hole, a haunted marsh is actually haunted by something very dangerous. When Cal and Sigma encounter it, Cal has to take a significant risk with Sigma to solve it.
Frame Breakers reveals that there are people who are more than willing to traffic with demons in order to get what they want.
Ken Reynolds has managed a number of difficult story tasks in this issue with flair and considerable confidence. The idea of a steampunk occult secret service is a genre staple at this point, getting a new way to imagine it and exploit the strength of the idea is tricky, Ken Reynolds makes it look easy and natural. The weight of the idea rests on Cal and Sigma and they carry it with ease, the bond between them is tricky, they each need the other and are frustrated at the limits this imposes on them. At the same time they have a clearly effective working relationship that allows them the space to  cooperate and to manage. Ken Reynolds has nailed the critical odd couple dynamic that makes they engaging and compelling.
The progression of the stories introduces the cast and each carries a reveal that shows more of the central situation between Cal and Sigma. The information needed to created the set up and establish the cast and the context has been very nicely divided up so that it never just an info dump for the reader. The set up is developed very naturally and the cast given a chance to demonstrate who they are and what they are fighting against.
The lettering for Cal and Sigma is used to clearly differentiate the two, this is very impressive as white letters on black are used for both. There is no confusion between the two due to Ken Reynolds' subtle mastery of the process, the links between the two and the differences between them are clear without ever being obviously declared.
Sam Bentley's astounding black and white art is a pleasure to read, the human cast are all strongly individual, their faces are expressive and their body language is clear. They fit into their context with ease, they never look like supermodels or superhero's, they look like humans going about their work. Cal and Sigma are equally expressive, Cal looks like a steampunk robot should, Sigma bristles with attitude. The art is comfortable with quiet dialogue and explosive action, the panel layout is cleverly done to control the pace of the story.
Cognition 0 is a great fun comic by very talented creators, the story idea is developed in engaging and happily unexpected ways.