Velvet Vol. 1: Before the Living End by Ed Brubaker (Trade Paperback)

Velvet Vol. 1: Before the Living End – Trade Paperback is a gripping, mature spy thriller from acclaimed creators Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting, the legendary team behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Set during the Cold War, Velvet follows Velvet Templeton, a sharp, middle-aged secretary at an elite intelligence agency—at least, that’s what everyone believes. When a covert operation goes disastrously wrong and a fellow agent is murdered, Velvet becomes the prime suspect.

But Velvet is not who she appears to be.

Forced back into a world of espionage, betrayal, and international conspiracies, Velvet reveals a past as deadly as any field agent’s. What unfolds is a tense, character-driven noir spy story inspired by classic espionage fiction, James Bond–era intrigue, and Brubaker’s signature crime storytelling.

Stylish, intelligent, and uncompromising, Velvet is a standout modern graphic novel for readers who enjoy grounded, adult comics with sharp dialogue and real emotional stakes.

📘 Book Details

• Format: Trade Paperback (TPB)

• Publisher: Image Comics

• Writer: Ed Brubaker

• Artist & Cover Artist: Steve Epting

• Collects: Velvet #1–5

• Genre: Spy Thriller, Crime, Noir

• Language: English

• Condition: New

• Recommended Audience: Adults / Mature Readers

⭐ Why You Should Read Velvet

• One of the best modern spy comics ever published

• Strong female lead written with depth and realism

• Perfect for fans of Criminal, The Fade Out, and espionage noir

• Standalone, easy entry — no continuity baggage

If you’re looking for a smart, stylish graphic novel that reads like a prestige spy thriller, Velvet Vol. 1 is essential reading.