![‘The Last Spartan: Red Tape’ Tyler Mane’s Gritty Comic Doesn’t Any Pull Punches [Review]](http://18.211.146.234/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/0a1c57f4-37ff-49cd-9122-91364704850e-1280x640.jpg)
You may recognize the name Tyler Mane from his memorable roles on screen, whether as Sabretooth in X-Men (2000), Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween films, or his recent return in Deadpool & Wolverine. What you may not know is that Mane has stepped beyond the screen to co-create a new comic, The Last Spartan: Red Tape. The story centers on Frank Kane, a character who bears more than a passing resemblance to Mane himself, as he finds himself entangled in the dark world of human trafficking while attempting to rescue a kidnapped teenage girl.
I first learned about The Last Spartan when I met Tyler at a Comic Con earlier this year, and thanks to him and the rest of the team behind the project, I was able to get my hands on a copy. Now, I’m excited to share my spoiler-free impressions of the book and whether it deserves a place in your comic library.
About The Last Spartan: Red Tape
Frank Kane, the last known survivor of The Last Spartans MC, walks a perilous path guided by ancient Spartan maxims, but his journey takes an otherworldly turn as visions and omens from the gods beckon him to break his parole and risk his freedom to rescue a kidnapped child from the clutches of Atlanta’s human trafficking underworld.
When determined decoy agent Amanda Harper crosses his path, fed up with government bureaucracy and on a mission to “save them all,” they both find an unlikely ally in a monumental showdown against an international cartel.
The Last Spartan: Red Tape
If it wasn’t apparent from the interior pages shared above, we’ll get the obvious out of the way right off the bat. The Last Spartan is not a “typical” superhero comic book. If you’re picking up The Last Spartan: Red Tape expecting spandex and secret identities, you’ll be disappointed. This isn’t a world of capes and superpowers; it’s a world that feels far closer to the streets we walk every day. The Last Spartan is raw, grounded, and it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities it’s addressing.
While I understand that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Some readers prefer their comics to be more Clark Kent and less Frank Castle, but that’s exactly what caught my interest. I’ve always appreciated comics that aren’t afraid to face the darker corners of society head-on. The Last Spartan plunges into one of those all-too-real shadows, human trafficking, and tells a story that’s unflinching, uncomfortable at times, and it’s all the more powerful because of it. This isn’t an escapism read; it’s a reminder of the evil that exists in the real world, wrapped in a tale of violence, vengeance, and reluctant heroism.
The Art
The visuals lean into a grounded, film-like realism. The heavy shadows and muted colors give the book that street-level tone. Much like the story, the art never shies away from the brutality of the story being told. Although the color palette used is muted, which aligns perfectly with the story being told, the art is still eye-catching. The character, Frank Kane, is drawn with intensity. He dominates the page in the same way the actor, Mane, does on screen. There is also plenty of variation in the page layouts throughout the entire book to keep things interesting as the reader’s eyes jump from panel to panel.
The Story
The primary story centers on Kane saving a kidnapped girl and the human trafficking world she gets pulled into. I applaud the creative team for being willing to shine a light on a dark topic such as this. But The Last Spartan: Red Tape isn’t solely about the horrors of trafficking. There is still plenty of action and moments of heroism that drive the story forward. Overall, I found the story compelling from start to finish. Each chapter pulled me in deeper, and I kept turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. Without giving away spoilers, I will say that the final pages of Chapter 3 are standouts: tense, surprising, and packed with twists I never saw coming, and they were some of my favorites in the entire comic.
The book also employs a distinctive storytelling approach that helps set it apart. It took me a little time to adjust, but once I did, it felt less like reading a comic and more like watching a film unfold across the panels. Without having asked Tyler Mane if this was intentional or not, I can’t say for certain, but given his background, it certainly seems like it may have been. For what it’s worth, in my opinion, I could easily see the comic being adapted to a film or series in the future.
One additional area that impressed me was the writing team’s attention to detail. The inclusion of real-world organizations and locations grounds the story. I appreciated the thoughtful use of footnotes sprinkled throughout the book. If an unfamiliar acronym, statistic, or reference appeared, a quick note ensured I wasn’t left in the dark. It’s a small touch, but one that speaks to the team’s care for the reader’s experience and their commitment to telling the story.
The Last Spartan Final Thoughts
The Last Spartan: Red Tape is a hard-hitting, unflinching story that blends the grit of a crime thriller and vigilante-style justice. Between its art, action, and willingness to confront real-world horrors like human trafficking, it earns its place alongside the darker, more mature titles in the medium.
The subject of human trafficking might make some readers uncomfortable, and that’s okay; it should. It’s a real-world issue that The Last Spartan faces head-on. What’s important to mention is that it’s not just a throwaway plot device. Tyler Mane and the creative team clearly care about the cause, and that shows on the page. In fact, the team is walking the walk as well, and a portion of the proceeds from the comic goes directly toward combating human trafficking through the organization DeliverFund. I find that type of real-world contribution to be fantastic and makes me appreciate the comic even more.
This isn’t a book for those seeking lighthearted adventures, but if you appreciate stories in the vein of The Punisher, you’ll find plenty to admire here. For me, it absolutely deserves a spot on the shelf of any reader who values this style of gritty, no-holds-barred storytelling in comics.
If The Last Spartan: Red Tape sounds like a comic you’ll want to add to your collection, you can pre-order from your local comic retailer now until September 22nd. You can also check out thelastspartan.com for more info!
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