The Paybacks flew in under the radar a bit I think. So much so that it almost didn’t complete it’s run, which started with 4 issues from Dark Horse in 2015, and was concluded with 4 issues from Heavy Metal in 2016. Writer Donny Cates has enjoyed an increased profile in the last year, with top-selling runs on Marvel titles Dr Strange and Thanos, so hopefully this miniseries will find a broader audience soon, because it really deserves it.
The story rolls-out in a world where super-heroes are commonplace, and often find themselves having to take out loans to fund their crime-fighting careers. When the heroes default on those loans, they can expect a visit from The Paybacks, a team of super-powered bailiffs who are tasked with collecting debts by any means necessary. Effectively, it’s a mission-based dynamic, much in the style of Suicide Squad, but with the irreverence and self-awareness of the Deadpool movies. The plot kicks off when someone starts murdering the debtors of the team’s mysterious benefactor, Mr Pierce, and The Paybacks discover that plans have been set in motion against them by unseen enemies.
Cates is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers, and his script here is just as enjoyable as his work on Dr Strange and God Country that I read last year. I think I’m most impressed with how well he pulls off endings; The Paybacks is an excellent example of how Cates can round-out a storyline with pay-off, poignancy, and satisfying closure. There are a massive amount of ‘Easter Eggs’ hidden in this script, ranging from classic comics, to action movies, even to Futurama; which I think is why it appealed to me a great deal. This comic gets a very strong recommendation from me; Cates is a writer to look out for, and The Paybacks is a comic worth hunting down.
