Mary Jane & Black Cat #3 Review

 

Mary Jane & Black Cat #3 Review

Writer: Jed MacKay

Artist: Vincenzo Carratù

Colorist: Brian Reber

Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 3.99

Release Date: 2/15/2023

 

Cast into Limbo, Mary Jane & Black Cat agree to brave the Screaming Tower and bring Belasco back his soulsword. In return, the former ruler of Limbo will send the gals back to Earth. So can two of Peter Parker's favorite ladies pull off this hellish heist? Let's leap into Mary Jane & Black Cat #3 and find out.

 

Story

Meet S’ym. The demon has an axe to grind. Why do Earth people always run Limbo? Shouldn't one of its native inhabitants—such as, um, himself?—have a shot a ruling the underworld? The gals agree to team up with him, figuring he’s their best shot at making it to the Screaming Tower. But once they’ve got the sword, all bets are off! So the girls must watch their backs while fighting everything Limbo throws against them. But it's also an uneasy partnership for another reason: Black Cat still hasn't told Mary Jane about her growing relationship with Peter Parker.

 

Writer Jed MacKay keeps the tone fun and light with witty banter between the would-be sword thieves. As they face dangers that would make Indiana Jones hesitate, they learn about each other. Meanwhile, Mary Jane experiments with her superpowers. She's new to them and hasn't learned to control them yet. Black Cat's proximity also seems to affect how they manifest. All this makes for a lighthearted underworld romp, as neither thief fully trusts the others. But wait: S’ym mentioned a Guardian, the only Limbo spawn more powerful than him. What'll happen when they run into him?

 

 

 

 

Art

Artist Vincenzo Carratù consistently delivers recognizable and endearing portrayals of our two Earth gals. S'ym convinces the gals he'll betray them, but I wonder. Could the demon just be playing a role? Vincenzo builds lots of character into his visions of Limbo: from head-sized eyeballs in dark, ribbed tunnels to Hydra soldiers, punk rockers, and monsters guarding a Jenga-like Soultower. Although Mary Jane, Black Cat, and Sym face different dangers than Frodo’s fellowship, their underworld battle with hellish forces brings to mind the Mines of Moria.

 

“Everyone: watch out for the cave troll!”

 

Colorist Brian Reber also keeps you turning the pages. Our thieves pop with Mary Jane’s red hair, S’ym glowing skin, and Black Cat’s white hair. Yes, white is a color, and he makes it pop in the surrounding darkness. All the light sources and shadows create depth and atmosphere and convey reality to the characters. There's nothing muddy or unclear in Mary Jane & Black Cat #3. Each panel shines with graduated colors and hell-loads of contrast.

 

Letterer Ariana Maher makes this issue easy to read with upper-case lettering. Bold lettering reveals voice inflection, while sound level shrinks or grows the letters. The latter seems restrained, with slight decreases or increases in size, which make their point known without straining the eyes or detracting from beautifully drawn and colored scenes. Ariana also includes colored narrative boxes with white lettering to share our Earth gals' thoughts. Mary Jane's narrative boxes receive a red background. As for Black Cat: do I need to tell you what background color Ariana chose?

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

This latest chapter in the Dark Web series is a real winner. Characters learn about themselves and each other as they navigate labyrinths and brave nightmarish monsters. If you’re not smiling as you read every page of Mary Jane & Black Cat #3, call 9-1-1 immediately. There's something wrong with you!

 

Rating 9/10

 

To view the preview pages see my review at Comic Book Dispatch

Hellboy In Love #3 Review

 

Hellboy In Love #3 Review

Writer: Christopher Golden

Artist: Matt Smith

Colorist: Chris O’Halloran

Letterer: Clem Robins

Cover Art: Matt Smith

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 22, 2023

 

After attending a black-tie reception at Anastasia's London museum, Hellboy accompanies her to Turkey to investigate the origins of Shadow Puppetry. Can their budding romance survive the horrors of the supernatural? Let's dig into the mysteries and mayhem in Hellboy In Love #3 and find out!

 

Story

Impish archeologist Anastasia likes to get her way. Friends and fellow scientists urge caution in her work and associations, but Anastasia shrugs aside danger. She arouses Hellboy's interest with witty innuendo and breadcrumbs from her research. Enthralled, he accompanies her to Turkey without knowing the reason for their trip. By the time they reach an excavation site near Bursa, she’s briefed him on what roused her interests. Neither knows what they'll find there.

 

Having watched a shadow puppet performance in England, I can imagine how the ancient Turks embraced this unique art form. Set in 1979, a brief interchange with his father underlines Hellboy’s growing maturity. The chemistry between Hellboy and Anastasia eases you through Golden’s story of history, magic, and the supernatural. If only it didn’t end on a cliffhanger!

 

Art

Characters are appealing and consistently represented. Heavy inking and silhouettes create mood and enliven foreground action. While art can vary widely in Hellboy stories, and this issue lacks a heavy emphasis on occult architectural details, Smith's representations of Hellboy and other characters remind me of Mike Mignola’s.

 

Chris O’Halloran’s limited color palette imbues each page with a Bronze Age comic sensibility. The only thing that drew me out of Hellboy In Love #3 was how light variations affected objects and people. While colors usually darkened, sometimes characters take on a blue--or even ultraviolet--cast. I found the differences striking and wondered how Hellboy could rapidly transition from bright red to maroon to ultraviolet. Aside from that, I thought O’Halloran did a fine job.

 

Clem Robins also gives this comic an old-school vibe with simple upper-case block lettering. Spherical dialogue balloons and rectangular narrative boxes—most with a white background—don't distract from the story. Colorful sound effects are infrequent and restrained. Thus, when he exaggerates the sound effects and the dialogue balloons, both enhance the sense of danger.

 

Final Thoughts

After reading trade paperbacks and omnibus editions on Hellboy, the B.P.R.D., and Abe Sapien, I thought I’d read enough of the Mignolaverse. But Hellboy In Love #3 lured me back in, and Hellboy’s engaging relationship with Anastasia also helped the issue stand out. I appreciated how I could jump into the middle of this five-part series, readily identify with characters and their situations, and effortlessly accompany them on an adventure that explores the supernatural dangers of Human imagination.

 

Rating 8.2/10

 

To view the preview pages see my review at Comic Book Dispatch

Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 Review

 

Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 Review

Writer: Tini Howard

Artist: Vasco Georgiev

Colorist: Erick Arciniega

Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: Erica d’Urso & Matthew Wilson; Peach Momoko; and Otto Schmidt

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 4.99

Release Date: February 22, 2023

 

Betsy Braddock now holds the mantle of Captain Britain. With her friend Rachel Summers by her side, she protects all the inhabited planets in the multiverse. Has she bitten off more than she can chew? Let's teleport into Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 and find out!

 

Story

Betsy and Rachel fly to the aid of tyrannosaurus Britannicus Rex on Earth 99476. Amid a devastating Impact Event, they battle a superhero-hunting Fury. Betsy's brother Brian—who formerly held the title Captain Britain—brings the girls up to speed on the Furies' development. Thus they visit the Fury homeworld, a mix of Dark Cybertron and the Harkonnen world Giedi Prime.

 

Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain #1 introduces characters like her brother Jamie Braddock, Brian's fairy wife Meggan, and shrinking mutant Scott Wright. British mythology comes to life with mentions of Arthur and Merlyn, the sword Excalibur, and the introduction of Lady Morgan LeFay. Forces such as STRIKE, the Coven Akkaba, and the Fury Kingdom assemble, maneuver, and clash. It's a lot to take in for a newcomer to Marvel's contemporary mutant books. Fact sheets on Brian and Betsy's history as Captain Britain, the Braddock family, and the mechanical cybiote Furies help. As we watch Betsy and Rachel's relationship develop, we also get insights into all the other Captain Britains defending the mighty Marvel multiverse.

 

As this series gears up for universe-threatening events, Tini Howard helps us understand the heroes and villains through dialogue and action. She doesn't address why Betsy carries the name Captain Britain but isn't the nation's protector, but she initiates that discussion. She weaves together opposing threads of magic versus science, history versus mythology, and organic versus machine intelligence into a long, absorbing read. While I'll admit to eye fatigue by the time I finished reading, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and following the plots in this vast tapestry of marvelous mutant mayhem.

 

Art

Vasco Georgiev brings Betsy, her friend Rachel, and the rest of the Braddock family to life in a fun and consistent manner. Transformers or old-school Cylon Warriors merge with Abe Sapien to imbue the Furies with a uniquely menacing appearance. Humans and dinosaurs are expressive, and body language conveys motion well. Uniforms and costumes are appealing, and upholstery and carpets show designs and wear. Detailed landscapes and interior spaces fill every page, and each panel commands your attention.  

 

Erick Arciniega fills each panel with a wide variety of soft complementary colors. Shadows and reflections enhance surfaces. Graduated colors merge across a spectrum to show sunsets and how windows glow from interior light. Betsy and Rachel dissolve in a swirl of sparkling white when they teleport. Scott Wright leaves after images of graduated bluish-white as he shrinks down to Micromax-size. Erick complements Vasco in creating captivating scenes in which compelling characters talk, embrace, and fight.

 

If I had one problem with this comic, it was with Ariana Maher’s lettering. How much of this is her fault is debatable, as Marvel’s mutant books all seem to use small upper-and-lower-case letters. The small font is more stylized than simple block lettering, and she shows intonation with bold or italicized words. Lowered voices get yet smaller lettering. Even reading this extra-long comic on my computer at 150%, my eyes felt strained long before I finished.

 

Ariana displays emotion and artistry with cloudy dialogue balloons accentuated with an X-pattern and linked to the character with a lightning bolt. Colored narrative boxes, sometimes with colored print, introduce characters and places. Colored sound effects enhance the soundtrack, and the Furies speak with black narrative boxes and white lettering. While pleasing to the eye, it's also quite taxing.

 

Final Thoughts

Betsy Braddock: Captain America #1 crams appealing characters, history and mythology, and lush, gorgeous art into a highly-enjoyable issue that feels more like a graphic novel. While you'll probably need a break after reading this beautiful and involving story, you'll have met lots of interesting characters and be itching to watch all the X-Men movies over again.

 

Rating 9/10 

To view the preview pages (and catch fearsome Britannicus Rex in action!) see my review at Comic Book Dispatch

Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 Review

 

Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 Review

Writer: Mark Evanier

Artist: Sergio Aragonés

Colorist: Carrie Strachan

Letterer: Stan Sakai

Cover Artist: Sergio Aragonés

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 22, 2023

 

In Heaven, the gods try to escape an eternity with Divine Groo. On Earth, the priests of Diothos plot to convert Groo's believers and end his heavenly reign. Can Divine Groo and Earthly Groo survive the fray? Let's leap into Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 and find out!

 

Story

So opens the third issue of this four-issue story arc, which concludes an epic storyline that began in Groo: Fray of the Gods and continues in Groo: Play of the Gods. Writer Mark Evanier throws you into the midst of this multi-faceted story without much introduction. Here’s the situation. Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 involves three countries: Mexahuapan, Iberza, and Tlaxpan. Mexahuapan has gold, and Iberza and Tlaxpan want it. The story mirrors the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Evanier's light, engaging style mixes different peoples, periods, and regions into a fun gooey mess of comic humor.

 

Groo’s ascension to godhood reminds me of Terry Pratchett’s novel Small Gods, in which the strength of worshippers' beliefs sparked a god's birth, determined One's importance within the pantheon, or consigned that particular Almighty to oblivion. (Does anyone still mourn for Adonais, Star Trek fans?) Aside from all the fun and games involving a selfish Queen, intriguing priests, an imprisoned court jester, and much more, this issue speaks to how our beliefs determine our reality and empower others.

 

Art

Sergio Aragonés crams more art into each panel than most artists put in a page. With his pencils and pens, he creates epic scenes involving old-world ships and architecture, populated by a cast of thousands. Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 may not compare with Cecil B. Demille’s The Ten Commandments or David Lean's Lawrence Of Arabia, but it's a MAD epic pitting the clergy against the laity and even their deities. Wise Men quote philosophy amid political scheming. As nations war against nations, even the gods leap into the fray. Their lives in the clouds might not be fit to adorn the Sistine Chapel. But then, if Sergio had lived during the High Renaissance period, who knows?

 

What’s so wonderful about this is that Groo remains untroubled by it all. Although everything revolves around him, he's not interested in any of it. While he likes the statues they've erected and will readily accept their gifts, he's just interested in living life on his terms, the free and easy way I think we'd all like to live. And then, of course, there's his delightful dog Rufferto who truly is a god’s best friend.

 

Long-time colorist Tom Luth may have retired, but Carrie Strachan does an admirable job in this issue. Her extensive color palette breathes life into all the people and animals. The tones are soft and pleasing to the eye, and nothing ever looks muddy or unclear. There's not much light sourcing aside from the dungeon scenes. Perhaps more shadowing would increase each scene's overall depth and better convey the reality, but her light touch fits the art's cartoony appearance.

 

Given his success with Usagi Yojimbo, it may surprise new readers that Stan Sakai still letters Mark and Sergio’s Groo stories. His upper-case letters may not have exactly even spacing between letters, words, and lines of text. Nor do variances in darkness readily indicate sound level or intonation. Still, the fact that he hand-letters each issue strengthens Groo: Gods Against Groo #3’s classic vibe. Narrative boxes unfurl like banners to set scenes, and Rufferto’s thought balloons resemble puffy clouds. While a few sound effects could have enhanced the story, colored musical notes accompany anyone singing.

 

Final Thoughts

While it will take the first-time reader a few pages to get up to speed with all the intricately woven subplots, there's so much going on here that you won't mind being a little lost as you follow along. The densely packed, multi-faceted story invites laughs and contemplation. Each panel of art invites serious study. Those seeking a five-minute-read or more mature fare should look elsewhere. I don't usually recommend reading a comic or book when you're feeling angry or down. But without hesitation, I can prescribe the high-spirited farce of Groo: Gods Against Groo #3 to chase even your deepest and darkest blues away.

 

Plus, there’s a one-page silent story focusing on Groo’s dog Rufferto and a letter column! Comic Book fans: does anyone mourn letter columns?

 

Rating 9.5/10

To see preview pages see my review at The Comic Book Dispatch

Star Wars #31 Review

Cover by Stephen Segovia & Rain Baredo

 

Star Wars #31 Review

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Andrés Genolet

Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 3.99

Release Date: February 15, 2023

 

WARNING! Amilyn Holdo’s Nihil Path engine has trapped Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, and Lobot in No-Space. DANGER, STAR WARS READER! While our heroes escaped the dreaded Killdroids, their Kezarat rescuers forced them to throw away their weapons. Can they protect themselves and return to the Rebel Alliance, or are they forever LOST IN NO-SPACE? Engage your hyperspace engines, fly with me into Star Wars #31, and let’s find out!

 

Story

Captain Blythe transports our heroes to the Kazarat colony and tells them his people’s history. Forvan--the boy who caught Luke’s lightsaber when he flung it from the rescue ship in the last issue—arrives. Our heroes request their weapons’ return. Captain Blythe—who also runs the colony—isn’t keen to do so. While he seems caring and sympathetic, he's wary of newcomers who might pull a Fletcher Christian.

 

The stakes have never been higher for Luke and his friends. There seems to be no escape from No-Space. Even if they could find a way to return, they'll need help, and it will take months or even years until Captain Blythe trusts them with anything important, let alone dangerous. Can the Rebel Alliance keep fighting the good fight without some of its most vital leaders?

 

Star Wars #31 focuses on our heroes. We learn about the Kezarat and their unending war with the Nihil. I like how Charles Soule drew inspiration from the recent Han Solo movie for his portrait of Lando. I also like how Soule treats Lobot more sympathetically than in Marvel’s 1970s and ‘80s series. Additionally, I like how Soule is bringing Amilyn and the sacred Jedi texts from The Last Jedi into the original trilogy timeline. I don't understand why Luke places such importance upon these ancient writings when he should be back on Dagobah finishing his training with Yoda. But as I've only followed this series for a few issues, I've likely missed that explanation.

 

 

40th Anniversary Return of the Jedi Cover--Chris Sprouse

 

 

Art

Andrés Genolet portrays our characters with a light-hearted touch. While less detailed than some of Marvel’s other Star Wars titles, it’s more realistic than Groo. Characters are always recognizable. Their bodies and faces reveal their thoughts and feelings.

 

Genolet illustrates the Kezarat's history from the fuel convoy's arrival in No-Space to the present. The continual Nihil attacks recall how the Kazon plagued Captain Janeway and her crew in the Delta Quadrant, but the Kazarat and the Nihil have been fighting for centuries. Meanwhile, Captain Blythe’s relationship with young Forvan suggests he's tough but fair. I suspect he's a tender-hearted Cyclops, despite his spiky armor.

 

Overhead lighting tinges Captain Blythe's green skin yellow and casts highlights and shadows upon our heroes' faces. Young Forvan’s awe of Luke certainly shines through. Characters not beneath interior lighting take on a purple hue. It's an unexpected touch from Colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, but it's not unappealing. Glimpses of star-filled No-Space, the favela-like homes and buildings, and the lightening and darkening of every corridor and room: all this helps us feel like we're there, with our heroes, in the Kezarat colony.

 

Clayton Cowles’ long history as a letterer shows in Star Wars #31. His upper-case letters, with slight increases and decreases in size, make this All Ages title easy-reading. Occasional bold words stress what's important to the speaker. Chewbacca's large and bold letters remind us of the big furry oaf's passion and zest for life. And then there are the sound effects that help us hear and feel the Killdroids' destructive fury.

 

 

Incentive Cover--Caspar Wijngaard

 

 

Final Thoughts

Star Wars #31 lets you accompany Luke, Leia, Lando, Chewie, Lobot, and their friend Amilyn Holdo as they meet their Kezarat rescuers and learn the dilemmas they face. Poor in rapid-fire action, this slow-paced story is rich in world-building and character development. There's an undeniable appeal to a series about people who genuinely care about each other, want to see the best in themselves and others, and work together to achieve a common goal. Charles Soule's Star Wars series has quickly become one of my favorites. Perhaps it could become one of yours as well?

 

Rating 8.5/10

To view the preview pages, see my review at The Comic Book Dispatch

Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3 Review

 

Cover B by Leirix

Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3 Review

Writer: Jordan Clark

Artist: Miriana Puglia

Colorist: Ellie Wright

Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: 3.99

Release Date: 2/15/23

 

A horde of nightmares invaded her domain and forced Hell Sonja to flee to Earth. An uneasy truce with Red Sonja allowed her to battle her pursuers. Trapped in her new human body, can she survive being captured by her enemies? Let’s raise our swords, leap into Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3 and find out!

 

 

Cover D by Rebeca Puebla

 

 

Story

Abandoned by Red Sonja, Hell Sonja lies on a table, tortured by her captors. As the surgeon carves into her flesh, she glimpses temporal life anew. The former Queen of Hell feels mortals' fear, pain, and insignificance. Does she want to live if she can no longer wield the power of an Eternal?

 

Humbled by her loss of significance, she wonders at the value of continued existence. What does she have to show for her life after all? Perhaps she deserves to be captured, tortured, and killed.

 

Red Sonja may feature in this issue, but Hell Sonja owns Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3. She must face the seeming pointlessness of resistance. Will she opt for an easy exit or find a reason to remain vital? Much happens to her in this issue. Her newness to fear and pain, and the visions that overwhelm her, make her passive stance understandable. Would we prove more resilient were we in her place?

 

Cover J (Retailer Exclusive Virgin) by Michael Linsner

 

 

Art

Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3 opens with an aged leather cover bearing the imprint of Hell Sonja crowned in her former glory. This suggestion of European Medieval religious beliefs abruptly shifts to Nazi Germany's holocaust horror. Immobilized, Hell Sonja watches as a Human with tentacles spilling out from a devilish mask cuts into her. Demonic spectators look on as a blood-splattered surgeon reaches into her and pulls out a horned baby.

 

This metaphor—that she is an infant to her humanity—accompanies her newfound compassion. Visions of life in all strata of Medieval Europe are colored in shades of red, suggesting humanity’s temporal flesh-and-blood nature. A glimpse of a cosmic entity intrudes upon these visions, reminding her of her former grand place in the supernatural order.

 

Consistent and lifelike portrayals of Hell Sonja and nightmarish monsters draw the reader in. Light sources—particularly in the operating room--create glowing objects and over-exposed surfaces. Shadows remind us of the harsh lighting. Color gradations breathe life into characters. A cosmic intelligence in a colorful star-filled space invokes as much awe as Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. The blood and gore in this issue shock but do not overwhelm. Fanciful visions of Hell are worthy of anywhere Skeletor places his throne.

 

We share Hell Sonja’s thoughts thanks to flaming white narrative boxes outlined in red. Red-outlined dialogue balloons reveal her words. The large and black upper-case letters are rarely bold, and the sound effects are few. Yet strangely, we never feel their absence. 

 

 

Cover E Cosplay

 

 

Final Thoughts

New readers may find it hard to wade into the crimson waters of Red Sonja Hell Sonja #3. Readers expecting Red Sonja to dominate this issue may want to give it a miss. With Hell Sonja cast in such a passive role for much of the comic, a quick flick through—and the late appearance of their flame-haired Hyborean heroine, may not justify adding it to this week’s reading pile. But take a deeper look at this introspective horror comic. Hell Sonja's trials rival the inciting events that made Red Sonja an unrivaled heroine of any Age.

 

And don’t worry: not all the blood spilled in this issue will be Hell Sonja’s.

 

Rating: 7.5

 

P.S. To view more covers and the preview art, see my review at The Comic Book Dispatch

Gunslinger Spawn #17 Review

 

Cover A by Simone Bianchi

Gunslinger Spawn #17 Review

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artists: Brett Booth & Adelso Corona

Colorist: Ivan Nunes

Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

Cover Artists: Simone Bianchi & Franchesco Tomaselli

Publisher: Image

Price: 2.99

Release Date: February 15, 2023

 

Thrust through time into the present day, Gunslinger Spawn learns that some of his enemies still live. Yet the forces of Heaven and Hell hound him. Can he survive their constant attacks? Let’s charge into Gunslinger Spawn #17 and find out!

 

Story

With narrative boxes, dialogue balloons, and helpful footnotes, writer Todd McFarlane brings us up to speed on Gunslinger Spawn's past without slowing down his battle with the Heavenly Host. Sound effects help us feel the pulverizing impacts as angels deliver blow after punishing blow. Reeling from the attacks, he interacts with someone from his past. This hallucination brings to mind Jake Lonergan in Cowboys & Aliens. 

 

 

Gunslinger’s taken a host body and a name: Javier. He’s gained an ally in the hero Focus. He feels guilt for those he failed and concern for friends in danger. He may not be a good man—let alone a hero—but he protects those he cares about if he can.

 

McFarlane grounds this titanic battle in real-world events. Earthly politics and war take on a supernatural flavor. This air of heightened reality may not convince atheists, agnostics, or even most believers of Judeo-Christian teachings. Yet it links this series with our chaotic times.

 

We hear of someone named McCormick. How does he relate to all this? And what about Javier's desperate final act? Is it fanciful or believable? Who cares? It's fun!

 

Art

Yellow upper-case letters in brown narrative boxes ground us as the battle tears the ground apart. Clad in Romanesque armor, the angels remind us of the stylized heroes and villains that propelled Image to Number One thirty years ago. So what if the angels can unleash their heavenly fury upon Gunslinger Spawn? Spurts and jets of blood show their vulnerability. Exposed portions of their faces reveal their pain as Javier fights back.

 

Direction lines trace pulverizing blows that never obscure the furious detail of their muscles and wings. Javier’s ally Focus seems a creature of living metal, all shades of blues that reflect light and absorb darkness. Colorful, dynamic dialogue balloons hint at the power and emotions of each combatant.

 

 

A fusion of rock guitarist Slash and Soloman Kane on acid, Gunslinger Spawn’s brown and black clothes bristle with arms, chains, and skulls. A black Top Hat rides his head and a red jacket flutters and whips as he rebounds from constant attacks. Yet he’s no Stephen Strange. We glimpse his burned, scarred face thanks to a torn mask. His eyes blaze with ethereal light as he slashes with his knife and fires his six shooters. Is he a nightmare or the living embodiment of fury?

 

Perhaps a few panels could have sacrificed detail for clarity. One character--seen only once--may come off more as a type than an individual. But those seem like minor concerns against panels and pages choked with larger-than-life characters and such astonishing art.

 

Nor does coloring take a prayer break in Gunslinger Spawn #17. Ivan Nunes weaves a rich tapestry of color that adds reality to the characters, the cloudy sky, and even the rocky ground on which Javier and the angels battle. Speedster Focus tears blue lines in the air and leaves rivulets of blue flowing in his wake. Green light hazes and crackles off Javier’s white glowing eyes, and areas of skin, clothing, armor, and weapons reveal degrees of illumination and shadow. White streaks accompany direction lines from angelic blows. Javier’s boots cast the dirt beneath his feet into the fractured air like paint splatters. Brett Booth, Adelso Corona, and Ivan Nunes deliver a masterful blend of characters, actions, and settings that hurtle you through twenty pages of coursing, writhing energy. 

 

Final Thoughts

Gunslinger Spawn #17 rends asunder the veil separating contemporary events from supernatural struggles. Jaw-dropping art rides a revelatory story for a rock-and-roll thrill ride that will leave you breathless, reeling, and gasping for more.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

P.S. I apologize for the lack of preview pages. They really are astounding. To see Cover B by Francesco Tomaselli, see my review at The Comic Book Dispatch. At $2.99 for a terrific 20 page story with a cardstock cover, Gunslinger Spawn #17 is a Can't Miss Bargain!