Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Eman Casallos
Coloured by Adriano Agusto
After last issue’s intriguing introduction to this series with those amazing characters and bringing us to a masquerade ball was a brilliant way to grab our attention. I love that we pick up at the masquerade ball since we just left it only this time around let’s add to the ranks of people we meet shall we.
It’s 1978 and Miss Fury makes her appearance but this isn’t the one i’m used to that’s for sure. The attitude and the costume are similar but the woman inside definitely isn’t. I am certainly intrigued here by this young woman she certainly seems more the cat burglar than the reluctant heroine with a chip on her shoulder large enough to make a nice dent in the moon. She’s here for a heist the money she can make here can help a lot of people but she’s interrupted by another costumed woman and the obligatory fight ensues. Actually Miss Fury is trying to rob the joint so it is understandable here and when the skull guys come in and they realize they don’t have to be enemies well then things take a different turn.
First up we see Miss Fury’s origin tale unfold. Indeed a young woman of colour whose family was destroyed by racial issues and the rich preying upon the poor. Inspired by events told to her by her Aunt growing up about the 30’s Miss Fury she took up the mantle herself to become a modern day Robin Hood. Trying to help this poor and disenfranchised. Her new friend well turns out she’s a literal legacy as her grandmother growing up poor and struggling to eat every day became the Black Sparrow. After a chance encounter with the Shadow and an understanding and she retired. Though she took up the mantle herself honouring her grandparents and she too helps others and herself along the way.
As their conversation turns slightly heated the Black Sparrow gives Miss Fury her space as she’s here to meet friends. This is when the two women find what this party is all about. Eman and Adriano do remarkable work here showcasing the effects this Queen Bee’s plans inflicted on the party guests it’s definitely gruesome and yet not over the top which is appreciated. I love that it’s Fury who rushes to the main party when they no longer hear music or revelry and a trail of the dead along the way it really kind of showcases her potential and Cullen has that ability to really show us who a person is at their core by their actions.
Arriving at the main floor the see Lady Demon and the Spider.
When doing a sequel to such a big story using all these characters past and present you really have to deliver something extraordinary and Cullen does just that. With new characters and new versions of old ones all finding themselves entwined in one huge cross temporal adventure in such a good way takes his status as a writer to a whole new level. With a longer introduction to the players you’d think we’d have less time to really tackle the bad guy, the Queen Bee in this instance but we’re already getting plenty of clues so it’s really moving along story wise at an excellent pace.
Dynamite is the home of the past, present and future of characters that leave an impact throughout time. Older readers remember, new ones get introductions to long forgotten heroes and both get the best possible stories available today.