The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine (2018)

The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine (2018)

Author: Peter Milligan | Illustrator: Colin Lorimer | Pages: 112

'I like to put at least two personas between me and my pursuers.'

Despite what the cover art of the individual issues might perfidiously imply, particularly the many variants, Patrick McGoohan isn't the protagonist of Titan Comics' continuation of The Prisoner (1967–68) TV series. He gets referenced more than once, in a way that feels wholly forced, but the story is about an entirely new character in a contemporary setting, albeit one that's also given the number 6 moniker - although, I don't recall him ever actually wearing the badge.

His true name is Breen, an operative for a division named 'Unit' within the British Intelligence (MI5). The majority of the first issue takes place outside of the stylised Village and provides a significant amount of backstory for Breen, compared to the earlier Number 6, who remained something of an enigma the whole time.

The level of detailing  may be at odds with the established formula, but it provides a solid base upon which to lay the subsequent twists and turns, functioning as both a compare and contrast mechanic as the levels of what's real and what isn't are explored. The following three issues try to keep the pace going, but in retrospect that first issue is arguably the best of them.

Before Breen can even get into the Village he must acquire knowledge that its leaders will want to extract from him. And once taken, whilst resident in the secret location, as Number 6 he has an agenda that's more than just escape. The two-fold plan is an interesting device, but as the story progresses the intrigue withers and by the end I was glad it was merely a limited series.

I adore the original TV series but fully acknowledge that in the latter half there are times when it felt like the writers were running out of fresh ideas. The comic tries to avoid that same situation, but ends up reliant on the same dependable conventions - the nurturing of paranoia is the most obvious example: are events part of an organised Village plan, or are the prisoners working unguided? And, for good or ill, it attempts to answer the ultimate question: Who is Number 1?

The book collects together The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine issues 01-04.

Individual covers. Click for FULL size:

And some of the variants that I mentioned above: