Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Daryl Gregory
Illustrated by Brent Peeples
Coloured by Michael Bartolo
My love of the Green Hornet seems to follow and and ebb much like the ocean depending upon the creative people who are working on the project at any given time. I’ve already expressed how I feel about the use of Steampunk here for this character it seems that it is the most natural fit. Tik Tok while reminding me of the old television series villains for him and Batman mixed with our murderous little lord Fauntleroy however give a more unique and deadly world than it first appears to be. Daryl has won me over completely here with his vision and i’d love to keep seeing him explore this world with the Green Hornet.
I was watching Face Off on SyFy and they did a Steampunk challenge and what they said really applies you can’t just arbitrarily add elements that don’t make sense just for the aesthetic. Brent and Michael’s work on the interiors showcase how to do Steampunk the right way. There’s Tik Tok of course and he’s a perfect mechanicalized being then there’s the Hornet’s mask and the Zephyr’s and there are elements that already enhance what is and then there’s the upgrade in the Green Hornet’s suit that makes him more elegant.
I really enjoy the way Daryl has this story unfolding. The introduction of Chesterfield Grimes and Mae Jenson was done with purpose we know that but this is the issue where we see exactly what they are doing in town. As the story unfolds and they have the obligatory fight i have to admit that the reveal wasn’t what I expected and it was pretty awesome. So I didn’t miss the fact that things didn’t really progress much in the way of dealing with the Veiled Lady but seeing our bloodthirsty young Lord Homicide using the bat-signal trick was perfect.
HIs story is just as interesting and of course that his father was done in by the woman he married one after the blessed event was interesting. Little Miss Murder of course well the names run in that family extended and otherwise delightfully. What I do like is that she went on to put on a mourning veil and become the Veiled Lady. Tying this all together this way was something else I had expected and Daryl’s ability to continually keep the surprises coming makes this a must read book. Classic characters in a new setting with plot twists and turns that keep coming at a beautiful pace keep the reader guessing and coming back to see what he has in store next.
So while little Lord Homicide makes his escape while the two Hornet’s face off in one hell of choreographed fight the two teams find they have much more in common they thought. It also gives them ally’s in their quest to make things right and/or opens up the opportunity to move to another city in this world where we get a new story with the Golden Hornet. Well before they can go off to Breed Tower they have face off against little Lord Homicide and a few men he’s managed to collect since running off.
There is so much greatness going on and the creepy factor balanced with the funny stuff and then the whole unravelling the real power players is done while never going too far past that fine line into cheesey.