Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artists: Goran Parlov and Jose Marzan, Jr.
Publisher: DC/Vertigo
Another enjoyable issue as Brian K. Vaughan manages to walk the line between a pretty intense, decidedly brutal action story, and a fairly charming little character piece where Yorick manages to discuss the idea of how does the last man on the planet cope with the fact that he's the only game in town. Now the material dealing with Dr. Mann and the Sons of Arizona is one of the most intense moments we've received thus far in this series, as it's not often you get a major character of a title involved in a situation where one is able to cast aside the underlying belief that this character has to survive because they are a major character, but I found myself believing this issue was going to be the last we see of Dr. Mann. This section of the issue also allows Agent 355 to put on a display of her effectiveness as a trained fighter, as there's a truly brutal display of violence by the character, that will forever convince me that she's willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, though there's also a nice little moment where we see the character does hesitate when she's called upon to pull the trigger.
The rest of the issue is an entertaining discussion between Yorick and the latest addition to this book's cast, as PJ decides to come right and ask why Yorick hasn't taken advantage of his being the only rooster in the hen house, and the conversation is a very solid little character piece. In fact this conversation was so solid that I have to say this issue's cliff-hanger has left me on pins and needles, as I find I have to wait an entire month to find out what that gunfire means. The art of Goran Parlov is also quite well done as it's a very close match to the work of the regular artist, and it does a lovely job of maintaining the real world feel that has been established on this series.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!