After "MIND MGMT" #6 -- in which main character Meru learns the truth about Mind Management only to then have her mind wiped of the events of the first six issues -- it would be a reasonable assumption that Matt Kindt would go in a completely different direction for "MIND MGMT" #7. But one of the great things about this series is its unpredictability, and that's on display once more in "MIND MGMT" #7.

Kindt has designed this issue as a good jumping-on point for new readers; not only has Meru once more been moved back to the proverbial starting point in terms of her investigation into Mind Management and Henry Lyme, but Kindt offers up on the inside front cover a great 20-panel summation of everything that's happened up until now. Kindt jumps back into Meru's life as a mysterious letter is shoved through her mail slot on a Sunday, one that leads her right back into her initial investigation.

One of the fun things about "MIND MGMT" is how well it uses the comic format. The first half of the issue has black and white drawings at the bottom of the page (down in the gutters) which tells an additional story about how the letters are delivered and their dangers, while another side has excerpts from a crime novel. It helps lend itself to the feeling that "MIND MGMT" as a series is more than just a story about strange things going on, but rather a puzzle in its own right to be picked apart and examined.

At the same time, though, Kindt understands that "MIND MGMT" needs to be more than just a clever usage of sequential art. Watching Meru chase down the origin of the strange letter that was shoved under her door is fun; it's a reminder that she is a good investigator (she almost circumnavigated the globe to find Henry Lyme in the first storyline, after all) and it keeps your attention moving. Likewise, when Brinks starts telling his past as an Ad Man, it's gripping; this isn't just an exposition dump. It's part of what keeps you coming back month after month to "MIND MGMT."

It doesn't hurt that Kindt's art still looks great, too. I love his gentle lines, ones that at times almost look like sketches drawn in ink with their graceful patterns and curves. Kindt has a great sense of page layouts, with panels bleeding into one another at just the right moments in flashbacks. Even the colors look great here; their soft hues look painted onto the page and they bring the world of "MIND MGMT" to life. This is a book that doesn't look like anything else on the market, and that's a shame for the rest of the market.

"MIND MGMT" continues to entrance month after month; Kindt's story and art pull you in effortlessly and make you desperate for the next piece to the puzzle. If you haven't given "MIND MGMT" a whirl yet, this is a great place to begin. Highly recommended.