Boom! Box Boom! Studios 2016
Written by Hope Larson
Illustrated by Brittney Williams
Coloured by Sarah Stern
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Goldie is hot on the trail of Mr. Ludwig with Diane as the story races to it’s conclusion. I gotta say the more we see the two girls together the more they kind of express those I wish you were my girlfriend moments. I don’t know how old Diane is but it’s cute to see, and I love that she looks like Rizzo!
What i’ve really been enjoying from Hope throughout this adventures is not only Goldie’s determination, resourcefulness and willingness to break a few rules but the fact that she’s unapologetic about who she is. At this age she knows who she is and if you don’t like that is not her problem, okay i’m sure like all of us she’s got insecurities but she doesn’t let them get in the way of doing what needs done. She’s a great role model for folks of all ages to remind you being true to yourself and what you love is nothing to be ashamed of.
Brittney’s ability to tell this story visually with the flow of the story through it’s pages and panels by angles and perspective have been wonderfully done. I mean seeing the “bad guy” open the door when she knocks and comparing him, as we look up from her angle, he’s definitely got a different style to him that fits in with the overall style of the book and that she does this is great. It’s almost like knowing which were the old Scooby Doo villains by stance and sharpness of angles.
Well I do enjoy a good chase and a few unexpected turns of events and that is something I’ve come to expect out of Goldie. She’s not willing to give up or concede and will whatever it takes and gosh darnnit what she does here to lead Mr. Ludwig away from his Russian captors well that’s about as exciting as you can think of it being.
Now the way this arc is tied up well almost as we don’t see what happens to the Russians well come to think of it it really isn’t tied too neatly at all. A lot is alluded to be we don’t see it happen hopefully that will be next issue as we start another Goldie Vance mystery. It wouldn’t surprise me if this issue was revamped when it was announced this was now an ongoing series so that it could lead into the next issue and the next case. We do learn the identity of those in the copter and Goldie even turns down a once in lifetime job offer. Still she’s got Diane, her dad and a job to get back to well eventually.
So I can’t wait to see how father and daughter react when Goldie and her dad are given their jobs back because of the letter Goldie received. This takes the best qualities of Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars to create this perfect all-ages book where you can follow your heart, your dreams, break a few rules along the way and yes suffer the consequences for your actions but all the while just be true to yourself.