- THE WHITE SUITS #1 – First appearing in a series of stories drawn by Luke Radl in Dark Horse Comics Presents, Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts) and Toby (Blue Estate) Cypress’ white suited protagonists are a mysterious group of killers last active during the height of the Cold War. They have become urban legend, but the trail of recent dead bodies they have been piling up makes them all too real for some on both sides of the law. What’s crafted next is multi-layer mystery of pure crime fiction, hard boiled, and noirish — full of slimy charm — involving Brooklyn gangsters, expert killers, an amnesiac mystery man, generally all around twisted mofos, and an FBI agent looking for answers. What the comic lacks in meaty story progression it makes up with cool action sequences and bloody fight scenes.
- (Cont…) Toby Cypress‘ art is the right kind of dirty, angular and edgy; and, while it may not appeal to everyone, it is very reminiscent both of Mike Huddleston’s work on the unfortunately short-lived Butcher Baker series and the highly expressive flow that made Blue Estate such a beautiful book to flip through. The black and White comic also splashes of wicked red violence, while other displays of color are sprinkled throughout to emphasize mood. Despite some instances of muddied and nearly indiscernable art, this book is a gritty double tap to the dome in the back alley behind your favorite dive bar. Hope you like your ales. 3.25/5.
Now, while I look for that white suit of mine, Cooke the Cleric stops by for a little godly rock n’ friggin’ roll guest spot. Take it away…
- LOKI: RAGNAROK AND ROLL #1 – From the cover by Alexis Ziritt to the opening credits page designed by Scott Newman all the way to the final page, this is a beautiful book. Jerry Gaylord knocks the art out of the park. And Eric? Eric M. Esquivel is pure rock and roll. His version of Loki is fresh and new. Does he owe something to the portrayal by Tom Hiddleston? Sure. I think most versions of the God of Mischief from now until the day I die will owe something to that. But he’s a living, breathing entity that feels right at home in a dark, dank world that Eric and Jerry Gaylord create in a quick and wonderful fashion. They give us a look into the world of the goth kids who worship Loki like the Jim Morrison meets Robert Smith he was always meant to be. This is a wonderful book, again, from start to finish, top to bottom, from cover to credits to last page. The party scene with all the different gods and god-like entities (including the Flying Spaghetti Monster!!) was incredible. BOOM! continues to astound and make waves with a large number of their first issues, and this does not disappoint. 5/5.