DC Comics/Young Animal 2018
Written by Jon Rivera
Illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming
Coloured by Nick Filardi
Lettered by Clem Robins
It’s hard enough being stranded on a planet in the middle of an ages-long psychic laser war without being told you’re the prophesied saviour of one of the factions. Cave Carson’s never been interested in moral philosophy, after all, and there is a black, gooey substance he’s found that’s much more engaging...
The first run of this new franchise took the world by storm with it’s creativity and imagination not to mention it’s very offbeat and unique interior artwork. Now Jon and Michael continue the tradition and I have to admit it still very much lights up my imagination and brings a smile to my face when I think about it. Very few books any more have the kind of staying power this franchise does and it comes from all around, DC let’s it run it’s course and gives it okay advertising (could be better) and fans well they stick by it ensuring it isn’t going anywhere. This is the perfect storm and like the Red dot on Jupiter it’s sticking around for a while.
Jon does an absolute amazing job with the writing here. The way the book is structured so the flow is as solid as it is wonky just adds to the growing mystique the book has. Not only is this kind of wacky but it’s a wacky that actually works because it’s so strange and out there that it becomes too interesting to pass up. Some folks try to push but only go so far here Ron has this miraculous ability to push things to just the right spot and not go overboard taking it to the extreme. It really is a fine line and that not only can he find it but to land on it and just inch it a bit is amazing to see.
This father and daughter adventuring duo started off on rocky ground and while they may not be the most lovingly affectionate folks and they argue, which is natural for a father and daughter to do, but they’ve got each other’s back when it comes down to it. Okay I am not ashamed to admit I miss Wild Dog and wish he’d been brought back for season two because that was one hell of addition to the team and he has that certain joie de vive behind the gruff exterior that is still sorely missed. Heck he could’ve easily been an extended family member on the team and no one would’ve complained one lick.
Gail Simone asked a question recently about artists whose work that you didn’t like but grew to appreciate. It wasn’t until I was reading this issue that it hit me and Michael, along with the sorely missed Darwyn Cooke, fit that bill perfectly for me. I have never been a fan of this style of artwork and it always seemed too childish and never caught my appeal and yet seeing his work here it’s like looking at a masterpiece in action. It so perfectly embodies what this series is about and I cannot think of one single person who should do this instead. The way that page layouts are utilised and the angles and perspective we see in the panels showcase such a great eye for storytelling. The patterns, colours or lack thereof are brilliantly used and I love that nudity can be tastefully done and seem like nothing less than normal.
These are the adventures that seem so utterly random and yet have a place in the order of things that we cannot fathom yet. This is the definition of fun and quirky that is as entertaining and that’s why it’s a perennial favourite of all who read it.