Writer: Melissa Flores
Artist: French Carlomagno
Colorist: Mattia Iacono
Letterer: Becca Carey
Cover Artists: Rod Reis
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 27, 2023
Georgia has fielded reporters' questions since news leaked of Team Dead Lucky's demise. She can't even enjoy her morning workout or coffee without interruption. Have reports of Bibiana’s death been greatly exaggerated? Let’s charge into Dead Lucky #9 and find out!
Story
Her former friend Ghost spent the last issue convincing Bibiana that he hadn’t died. Instead, he survived the helicopter crash that ended her military career. In Dead Lucky #9, he spends more time convincing her that he survived. Only he doesn’t go by Ghost anymore. “Call me Pyre,” he insists.
At Morrow Corporation headquarters, Bibi braves Valentine’s ire. The company executive threatens to throw her in prison for not reporting in. But that doesn’t stop Georgia—the woman who designed Bibi’s suit--from welcoming her back home.
Does Bibi realize Pyre followed her home? Her reactions in San Francisco suggest surprise. Yet the final scene in Jordan suggests accord. At Fisherman's Wharf, Pyre and the masked mercenary Stoker are up to no good. Unlike Bibiana, they make no bones about taking down Morrow. The company’s peacekeeping robots seem as good a place as any to start.
After extending a conversation that should have finished in the last issue, Dead Lucky #9 still fails to explain what happened to Bibi’s team in Jordan. We haven’t seen them since issue #7. Did Pyre capture or kill them? Bibi suffered from PTSD after losing her special forces team. Yet she hasn't mentioned her former Salvation Gang soldiers for two issues.
Aside from her current teammates, Dead Lucky #9 fails to address a significant plot point involving her failed mission and Jimmi Morrow. The issue also mentions an ongoing character without reminding readers of her significance. Still, Melissa Flores excels when delving into Bibi's relationships and ends her story with a spectacular battle.
Art
Aside from the first few pages, French Carlomagno’s art provides compelling portraits of characters in realistic settings. Varied camera angles add interest and the streets of San Francisco beckon. Clad in their superhero suits, Bibi and Pyre have tremendous appeal. Perhaps some character movements look wooden, and a snapped cellphone image needed better resolution. Still, the climactic battle involving humans and robots crackles with power.
Mattia Iacono makes a strong case for why readers should pick up Dead Lucky #9. Vibrant colors energize action scenes and draw readers into drama. The nuanced coloring adds interest even to the occasional scene lacking backgrounds.
Becca Carey carries readers through Dead Lucky #9 with uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons. Exchanges between the robots appear as white letters in a red field or red letters in white ones. Sound effects are employed sparingly but rarely missed.
Final Thoughts
After a friend’s return from the dead rocks Bibiana’s world, he threatens to destroy everything she’s worked for in Dead Lucky #9.
Rating 8.6/10
To show Dispatch how much you enjoy my writing see my review at Comic Book Dispatch!
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