Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Eman Casallos
Coloured by Adriano Augusto
It’s always interesting when a major mini-series event comes back for round two under the guidance of a new creative team but Cullen is no stranger to writing sweeping story arcs centering on such epic characters. While this starts in 1939 I do sincerely hope this isn’t going to be mucked up with too much time travel with characters and present, unless the story reaches into the future where they pick up the case anew in their time period. I would find that far more interesting to be facing the same foe by different sets of characters and their legacies than mixing things up with too grandoise a crossover attempt. We will have to wait and see though what Cullen has in store and if this issue is any indication we’re in for something good!
Eman and Adriano bring just as an impressive start with the interiors. It’s not always easy to capture the world as it was but they manage to get New York of the thirties (almost forties) extremely well. Mixing the clothing of the time, which I think we should be wearing when in public, with the skull masks on these bad guys just added something to the mix. It’s retro and modern all at the same time so kudos to how this is portrayed.
Ah I do enjoy seeing how these heroes react to one another and the Shadow has his own distinct way of dealing with things and it’s a way that the Green Hornet is all that appreciative of. Still the two talking is such a delight here that you can’t help but smile. Plus the Shadow’s kind of one liners are forever classic and honestly make me giggle and to be honest “Don’t mistake efficiency for Bloodlust” is one of the best lines i’ve seen in quite some time!
As if these two teaming up with these circumstances weren’t fabulous enough the Black Terror is added to the mix. His arrival and what happens should prove to everyone near and far that Cullen’s a force to be reckoned with his writing skills. Oh and by the by his appearance just reinforces the talent of the men on the interiors because this is one hell of an impressive image. Ah it does seem that the Shadow is under more scrutiny than anyone else but then he does hold his own and the dialogue here is phenomenal.
With what these three experience and the arrival of three more masked adventurers the plot begins to thicken even more. Ah the Spider, the Green Lama and Lady Demon oh my this is beginning to be one of those stories that really flows in a natural way as they all meet up following the same sources leading to a certain place and time. So the Green Lama reveals some vital information and the boys pin-up page image is far and away one of the most iconic things i’ve seen with so many heroes amassed. I like that Cullen doesn’t time and that the story has this great ebb and flow to it that. So that when we head towards the finale of this issue it’s a perfect set up for what’s next.
You don’t have to have read the previous Masks series nor do you have to be familiar with these characters to enjoy this book. For those unfamiliar pick this up and see the characters that my parents thrilled to in radio adventures and pulp magazines and see how they more than stack up to today’s heroes!
Nowadays without access to a store anyone who grab me a blank variant i’d be ever so grateful!