By: J.T. Krul (writer), Geraldo Borges (artist), Marlo Alquiza (inker)
What’s Good: J.T. Krul’s name on the cover and Greg Horn’s cover art! These immediately drew me in, but from the first page, Geraldo Borges’ pencils blew me away. I haven’t seen his work before, but it’s well-proportioned, supple, fluid, and textured. In other words, Borges is just a fine draftsman. The fight scenes are moving and powerful with a lot of dynamism. Check out Prometheus on the first splash page: he looks like he’s leaping out of the book itself! In the same scene, you’ve got Arsenal’s ruined face and the devastating attack that maimed him (not for the faint of heart). I liked pretty much everything about the art. I also have to say I liked the not-so-subtle beginning of the return of Arsenal’s drug problem. You don’t see enough honest human frailty and temptation in the lives of comic heroes.
What’s Not So Good: J.T. Krul is a very good writer, one I turn to for solid character stories. He’s done some excellent ones for the Titans, but in this issue, I thought that the emotional feel of the story had missed its mark. Man loses arm and daughter. Man goes out and kicks the crap out of looters. Fair? No. Krul had some material here that most comic writers love to have: huge, automatic sympathy for the hero, and a ready-made audience *wishing* for revenge and *willing* to grieve with him. Obviously in a 4-issue mini-series, revenge and reconciliation are going to come later (especially considering Green Arrow already gave Prometheus something pointy to think about), but the grieving and sinking into despair that should have been the first reaction was short-circuited here. It was just rage. And while I can see where some rage would happen, it didn’t feel genuine to me, given how good a father Red Arrow was built up to be. Call this a lost opportunity.
Conclusion: I will keep reading this series. Krul has enough street credibility with my wallet that I’m willing to see where he takes this. Jump on this ride. I bet you Krul pulls out something good.
Grade: B-
-DS Arsenault
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