Boom! Studios 2018
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Tyler Jenkins
With Colours by Hilary Jenkins
Lettered by Jim Campbell
On a dangerous extraction mission in Pakistan, the Black Badge team is forced to see the terrible consequences of war, and the people who get lost in the battle of nations.
Well last issue the Canadians were sent as Overwatch on the group, so they were assessed and graded on the time they spent together. Which we knew wasn’t going to go well considering the events that took place but then again I felt like the Mounties were more jealous than anything else. Still the review they got means they have to stay at base camp and get some training in to recertify them. That is okay by me since they’ve got Willy and he needs a refresher course on how to work with these guys as a team considering he was placed with them in the middle of an op.
Matt is exceptional when it comes to how he structures his books. From the opening here where we see the reveal of their grade and their so-called punishment through to the last page I really like how the story flows. Also the fact that we see them training, sharpening their skills and bonding just a bit more is overdue. Also the fact that we get some nice characterisation through the work that Tyler and Hilary are doing is just an added bonus.
The one thing that has been constant so far is Kenny’s desire to find Jimmy the kid who supposedly died. The Mounties gave him some Intel that might help th4em actually find him. Which is why Kenny insist they go on a new mission. This issue kind of brings home the fact that Kenny is so preoccupied with Jimmy that he hasn’t been on top of his game. They appear to be sloppy and unfocused even with the latest refresher course. I like the kind of downward spiral they kids seem to be taking all because of a desperate search for one of their own who is presumed dead.
As usual the work that the Jenkins do is amazing. I really do like the stylised version of the work we see and how it is able to really set the mood tone and feel for this series. The linework is fantastic and the way we see the attention to detail is rather marvellous as well. We all know that I want to see more backgrounds utilised as we’ve seen in the past but in all honesty what we get is plenty good enough with or without them. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off such a magnificent eye for storytelling.
While I am not sure if the boys are like the Bad News Bears or not as they seem to somehow get done what they are supposed to but as they do that there innumerable obstacles that stand in their way. Sure all’s well that ends well but it is always the middle part that is the juiciest and the most fun to see unfold. I like that their world is going to become that much more complicated in the issues to come as they have to figure out what’s real and what isn’t. Who is the true threat and is the Black Badge organisation really what it appears to be?
With some of the best writing to be found today Matt takes us on an unexpected journey through the world of covert ops and secret spies consisting of kids that can barely legally drive. This is what the unexpected looks like so get used to it because every time you think you have it figured out Matt says no you really don’t.