By: AJ Lieberman (writer), Riley Rossmo (art & colors) & Clayton Cowles (letters)
The Story: A bunch of triple-personality types with a nuclear bomb! What could possibly go wrong?
What’s Good: Cowboy Ninja Viking is something to enjoy every month because it is so different and unique. There simply isn’t another comic that has such a frenzy of weirdness going on month-to-month. The story is very deep and complex and rewards a reader who pays attention and isn’t afraid to pull last month’s issue out as a reminder of what happened. Some of this is because it is a very dense comic. The golden age format is put to full use to squeeze extra story in between the covers.
This issue continues several plots that have been stirring for months: the forces of good under Dr. Ghislain are searching for a lost nuclear weapon and our hero, Duncan’s is trying to regain his lost multiple personalities. There is satisfying progress on both of these plots and the story moves forward with the still enjoyable interjections from the oddball personalities (the roadie character is becoming a favorite).
Rossmo’s art continues to be a real star in this series. It is very unique style that in places is very sketch-like and scratchy, but the important details in panels receive the attention required to bring out the emotion of the characters. For example, the character of Oliva Nix takes a more starring role this month and she moves from be squiggles in the background to being a very sexily drawn character this month (with the point of this change becoming clear towards the end of the issue). It is very impressive work.
What’s Not So Good: There is very little holding this issue/series back, but the one problem is a big one: The narrative story is getting a little too complex and hard to track month-to-month. This is a comic that could truly use a recap paragraph or blurb. For example, it is a little hard to remember why (exactly) these crazy folks want a nuclear device. That is a pretty important plot point right now and without it the comic is reduced to very enjoyable zany antics with great art.
That seems a harsh criticism because it only requires a quick skim over past issues, but it would benefit this comic greatly to give a quick reminder about what is going on because the overall concept is so fresh and original that this comic doesn’t deserve to lose readers for being confusing.
Conclusion: Still one of the most original comics on the shelf, but the story is becoming a touch complex.
Grade: C+
– Dean Stell
Grade
Conclusion