Yes Chaykin, you need COLOR.
Image Comics continues to provide an extremely diverse field of creative comics, but not all of them are accessible to casual readers. Here’s a look at some of this week’s offerings .
CENTURY WEST : Fans of Howard Chaykin have followed his work over a wide spectrum including American Flagg, The Shadow, Dominic Fortune, and of course the infamously controversial Black Kiss. Two inarguable facts about Chaykin’s work is that he loves doing period pieces and when it comes to square-jawed men and voluptuous women, Chaykin definitely has a knack for drawing them. Chaykin has been on a creative roll in the last year with “Black Kiss 2” and “Satellite Sam”, but the absence of color in those series makes them slightly more difficult to get into. “Century West” is an original graphic novel, again set in a period setting, but beautifully colored by Michelle Madsen. Chaykin’s artwork definitely benefits from bright primary color and this book is a prime example. The actual story is a rollicking adventure set in the Old West, with a number of odd and eccentric characters. Chaykin tackles themes of racism, antisemitism, bigotry, and a touch of feminism, all with a blend of humor and intriguing storytelling. The majority of characters in this book are easy to like and they all capture the reader’s attention immediately. Definitely worth a look.
THE BOUNCE #5 : If I could recommend this issue just on the strength of David Messina’s artwork, I would. Unfortunately, this issue is no jumping-on point for new readers. Having only looked at this issue, I really have no clue what writer/creators Joe Casey and Sonia Harris are trying to say with their story. It’s extremely jumbled and the characters make little to no sense. This one issue involves a flashback sequence, a character using drugs to warp between realities, and not one but two dream sequences (one of which involves a beautiful nude woman expertly drawn by Messina). Reading this one issue several times does nothing to tell me who any of the characters are. If you haven’t already been following since the first issue, waiting for the trade paperback would be a better option.
APHRODITE IX #5 : This issue marks the end of a story arc, but fans who have been with this series from the start should be very pleased. The artwork by Stjepan Sejic is captivating, and writer Matt Hawkins has crafted an intriguing storyline involving warring factions in a futuristic society. A lot of the key staples of science fiction can be found here, including animorphic characters, cyborgs, and well-drawn spaceships. The lead heroine is certainly likable, with a backstory worth following. Hawkins also adds some additional material to explain his central themes of religion in science fiction.
CYBER FORCE #6 : When Image first launched 20 years ago, Todd Macfarland’s Spawn and Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon took the spotlight, while other titles were overshadowed. Marc Silvestri is still in the game at Image and he has an interesting story to tell with Cyber Force. This issue does fairly well with introducing the uninitiated to a wide array of characters, most of whom involve “volunteers” forced into acquiring cybernetic parts. Unfortunately, Marco Turini’s artwork could use a little more polish. Even with finishing by Stjepan Sejic, it still feels choppy. Still, the actual story shows a lot of promise for future issues.
