Blackjack: There Came a Dark Hunter
Written by Alex Simmons
Art by Tim Fielder
Simmons and Company
This is one of those books which was not just off my radar, but was completely unknown to me.
That is of course one of the bonuses of doing some reviews, you get to take a read through some material you would not otherwise look at. In the case of Blackjack: There Came a Dark Hunter that is a good thing.
Blackjack is a definite pulp character, a recent creation by Alex Simmons, but with story lines set in the prime time of pulp, the per WWII days.
Simmons offers up a quartet of stories here, the first three in a more traditional comic book style, except the entire take is told from the perspective of the main character. It reads as though we are getting a look at Blackjack’s journal, with Tim Fielder’s art as accompaniment. The art fits the stories while not breathtaking.
The fourth story is more of a short illustrated novella, more writing, and only an occasional art panel. It is closer to the old pulps in approach and is a nice change-of-pace from the other stories.
The stories are solid pulp tales, meaning there is a blend of action and story, none of which is amazing. Of course you don’t read a pulp for the great writing. It is for the fun of action.
Overall, Blackjack was a pleasant surprise, as solid escapism.
Danger Girl Renegade #1
Written by Andy Hartnell
Art by Stephen Molnar
IDW Publishing
Danger Girl made some waves in the comic sector when launched back in the late 1990s illustrated and co-written by J. Scott Campbell. It had eye-catching art, and hot gals playing at being more than Charlie’s Angels, but less than James Bond.
Now we have Danger Girl Renegade from writer Andy Hartnell.
This incarnation is less a girl-team, and more an Abbey Chase lead, with a ragtag support crew.
Danger Girl the organization is gone, and Chase is freelancing as a thief, but with a good cause, raising the cash to follow a lead to find her long-missing father.
The story is a fun romp, not overly serious in tone.
Stephen Molnar’s art reminds of Campbell, so fans of the earliest series should be satisfied on that level.
Solid escapism, just don’t expect too much.
