Devil’s Due/1First Comics 2016
Created by Mike Baron & Jeff Butler
Written by Mike Baron
Penciled by Tony Akins
Inked by Val Mayerik
Coloured by Paul Mounts
Lettered by Willie Schubert
Alright I am absolutely thrilled by this series so far. For new readers this is an excellent example of character building, development and characterization for long time fans it’s like a refresher course setting up the character for a modern setting. With our world full of instant gratification this series doesn’t give that instead it’s doing things in a way that really gets you into the mind of Sykes, how he ticks and what he’s about before shoving him in a costume. It really is some of the best character development writing we’ve seen and that it takes it’s time doesn’t bother me at all and honestly I wish more people would write like this.
So that Sykes has these multiple personalities is one of those things that opens up the kind and amount of characterization we get. This issue opens with some of that on display and honestly I’d love to see more of this one as it’s pretty much the direct opposite of the Badger and yeah i’d kind of like to see this personality in bed with a lover. I do like that he’s in this institution and he befriends Thorndyke. Ah yes this is what i’m talking about here the dialogue, characterization of Hamilton Thorndyke just adds something incredibly good to the mix here that continues to flesh out the story.
So as the story plays out we learn a lot about Hamilton Thorndyke. It’s basically something of an origin story for him and that involves him telling this to Sykes and Dr. Fields well it really goes to show that you can write a great interesting and thrilling story that doesn’t have to involve the man in tights beating the you know what out someone. His story is also one that just reinforces why I love comics because you can take a character insert him, or her, retroactively into history and weave it so that it seems completely credible. Not to mention his greatest shall we say adversary is Rasputin, though he has gone by many names, just adds to the interest factor here.
As incredible as you find his story, which also weaves in the Vikings finding North America long before anyone else, and as much you want to scoff at what he says it’s Dr. Fields who is there to do that for you. She’s easily relatable to and is seems to be the voice of reason here and will definitely need to be convinced of the validity of what is said. It’s going to be one hell of an interesting ride I can guarantee that even more after we learn who is Hamilton’s biggest rival. That while shocking is also one of those moments you realize the genius behind the writing as it would tend to explain so much in the real world.
The interiors here are simply perfect. The style and attention to detail just make me happy as it feels very much like a comic book should. The page and panel layouts are incredibly effective at keeping the flow of the story moving. Then the facial expressions and even the difference in body language for Sykes different personas make it easy to see, follow and understand what’s going on. Then there’s the glory of the last page of the story that just wows and makes your eyes pop with anticipation of what’s to come.
This my friends needs to be on your list of monthly books. Everything old is new again and this has never been better!