Maggie knows something isn’t right. Now she must navigate the twisted world of British intelligence if she’s going to figure it out. Your Major Spoilers review of John le Carre’s: The Circus: Losing Control #1 awaits!

JOHN LE CARRE’S: THE CIRCUS: LOSING CONTROL #1

Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Editor: Brett Israel
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: November 19th, 2025
Cover Price: $5.99

Previously in The Circus: Losing Control: The intelligence agents of the Circus are enmeshed in high-stakes acts that the average citizen would never notice. They protect Britain’s most sensitive secret. At the head of it all is Control. But now, Control has vanished.

DON’T

The Circus: Losing Control #1 starts off with a woman on the run from a pair of men, until she’s eventually cornered and apprehended. Elsewhere, Maggie wakes up and begins her day, which is a well-regulated routine she follows on her way to work at The Circus. At work, she catches wind that an agent named Mordred was killed and they’re blaming Maggie’s boss, Control. She makes her way through the office and tries to bring Control his morning tea. In his office, she discovers he’s not there, even though there’s a high-stakes operation ongoing that he needs to be there for. She suspects something is wrong, and while investigating his office, she discovers his phone with a single word on the screen: “don’t”. She then immediately goes into action, trying to figure out exactly what is going on while trying to cover her tracks, so she isn’t inadvertently finding herself on the wrong side of history.

DENSE AND GRIPPING

The version of spies and intelligence agencies depicted in John le Carre’s novels was always more subdued and complex than most other fictional espionage stories, and that remains true in The Circus: Losing Control #1. In fact, a lot of this first issue acts as a sort of crash course in all the lingo and key player,s as well as a sort of thesis statement about the brand of spy story the reader can expect in this title, which is more about deception and more traditional spy craft tactics than fancy gadgets and computers. Apart from one brief scene, the whole story centers on Maggie, which turns out to be a smart decision. When combined with the ever-present narration explaining things, the reader is both slowly introduced to this bigger espionage machine and how Maggie is unique within it, regardless of her small position within it. Where this issue really overachieves, though, is how it brings the reader into the well-established literary world without requiring that they have an extensive knowledge of over 50 years of novels and movies, but also sprinkling a handful of details throughout that people familiar with John le Carre’s books or the movie adaptations of them will recognize.

FITTING BUT A LITTLE BLAND

Like the writing, the visuals are also subtle, opting for more subdued facial expressions and only brief cutaways to glimpses of things more exciting than office work and errand running. While the art is competent and fits the story well enough, it lacks any sort of panache. It’s not bad by any means, it just doesn’t add much to the story other than giving a pretty by-the-numbers visual representation of what is happening in the story.

BOTTOM LINE: AN ENGAGING OPENER TO A DIFFERENT SORT OF SPY STORY

Making a comic book story set in the same world as tales like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy doesn’t sound like an immediate home run of an idea on the surface, but The Circus: Losing Control #1 defies the odds and is a tense and gripping story right off the bat. Smart narrative decisions and efficient exposition effortlessly usher the reader into a well-established world full of jargon and slang. We are also introduced to an intriguing main character who comes off as competent while not being as flashy as your typical spy story protagonist, making her all the more intriguing. 4 out of 5 stars.

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.