Dark Horse Comics 2015
Written by Chris Warner
Penciled by Patrick Olliffe
Inked by Tom Nguyen
Coloured by Gabe Eltaeb
Barb has a reality television show that isn’t really bringing in the bucks, but it is asking for her participation in death-defying events that might not actually defy death—and she’s been tasked (by two fierce street-gang leaders) with bringing in the biggest bounty of her life: crazy, drunken superpower Wyvern Stormblüd. Going after Stormblüd will be what television wants, what the gangs want, and—if Barb can survive the job—it will get Barb what she wants too . . .
I really like how this story has been playing out. Everyone has been pushing Barb in one direction for the same reasons and with her own reputation and the bar at stake she’s decided she needs to do it. Forget the pressure from others and what they want because it’s Barb and that she can use them to her advantage down the road is great but it’s ultimately about what’s best for her. She’s strong, independent and incredibly smart this a woman you don’t want to underestimate.
So Barb and her television crew find where Stormblud is laying his head at night and do what smart people do. Stake out the joint set things up to keep an eye on him and wait till he’s vulnerable to strike. Catch him unaware and off guard and you have a much better chance at subduing them, at least that’s the smart play. This Wyvern Stormblud however well we’ve seen him in action and somehow you just know it isn’t going to be that easy. Which is fine this a story after all and who wants it to end here?
While we don’t know much about Stormblud like where he comes from or how he’s so insanely powerful but that’s okay. Chris let’s us use our imaginations and hope that he’s really some Viking God come back to wreck havoc. If it weren’t for Patrick, Tom and Gabe we wouldn’t be thinking that in the first place regardless of how interesting his dialogue is. His drunken ravings mixed with the very Olde English wordage, which I kind of miss to be honest with you, give you all the old world feel you need to make the logical conclusion jump.
I love what we get this issue my biggest regret is that we don’t get to see what they do on the camera’s. So if Patrick feels like drawing that out i’ll gladly take it. Still this drunken rambling fool is a madman whose dangerous and completely entertaining. That the others watching him have mixed reactions to hsi rantings just showcase how diverse we are as people to listen to something and see how we feel about it. Something that offends one deeply touches another while a third person will listen and see both sides. That’s what makes free will so interesting to see in action.
Okay that one is at least gay and wants to watch the things Wyvern is doing makes me want to see those actions all the more. I mean page eleven c’mon what a tease! Oh Barb versus Wyvern round one come see what your missing or revel in what they bring us because this is why people love the genre and why Dark Horse continues to be a place I turn to for incredibly good and well done books.