Comixtribe 2015
Story by Tyler James & John Lees
Written by John Lees
Illustrated by Alex Cormack
Coloured by Jules Rivera
Who knew that a character introduced as dead in another series would come to be a fan favorite and one that would become someone that would be one of the most entertaining and crazy of villains to come along since the creation of the Joker. He’s kind of completely nuts and yet seems to have his own craziness under control and knows exactly what he’s doing and relishes in every last detail from killing someone to putting people in impossible situations to playing chess with people’s lives in the most unexpected ways.
Six months ago Detective Mary Clark experienced a horrific tragedy at the hands of Oxymoron as she watched him kill her partner and left her alive after playing with her mind telling she now had a part to play. Since then she’s been on leave and upon returning she’s back to being an Officer until she can prove she’s back 100% and then she can become a Detective again.
I really like what is happening here as the characterization is stellar and the emotion of her current situation and the anger and depression of all that happens speaks clearly through her attitude, dialogue and through Alex and Jules interior artwork. Ironically this has nothing to do with her being an angry black woman and instead it really is about everything she’s been through that chip she’s carrying around is more aimed at herself than anyone else and it’s a nice take on how we see Mary.
Mary get a new partner and the two go out for the first time and as luck would have it they are assigned a jumper in their area. Only this isn’t going to be you run of the mill jumper scenario, then again did you have doubt it wouldn’t be? This just keeps a downward spiral for Mary it would seem that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back as it were as and she’s basically sent home and told to let cops do real work not focused on some masked boogeyman.
Mary has a boyfriend named Dave whom she visits after the scene at the station. He wants her to move with him and his son to a small town where she can forget the city and get a job at the local sheriff’s station. Wouldnt’ it be nice if she could just do that let go of everything leave and never look back but after everything she’s been through she’s clinging to the city like a baby with it’s blankie.
The way this issue plays out to it’s finish is going to set the stage for Mary, how she is going to come through everything that’s happened so far and determines her future as well. It’s a Mad World is playing in my head right now and it’s a perfect compliment for what I’ve seen here. Now the stage has been set for Oxymoron and Mary’s little drama and the fun is about to truly begin.
There’s nothing about this issue NOT to enjoy the writing, pacing and characterization is fantastic and Alex and Jules work on the interiors bring it all to life wonderfully. There’s a sense of drama and urgency we get from the artwork that enhances the storytelling process and leaves a huge impact upon the reader. Plus we get a story centered around a good old fashioned sociopath who just wants to play. Missing something from the Big Guns then you’ll find what you’re looking for here.