Dark Circle Comics 2014
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Illustrated by Robert Hack
Colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Rachel Deering
I really am such a huge fan of what Duane is doing here. As a character Greg really is one of a kind and he's so much fun to read about and watch. You know one of those pretty boy cops who thought he had his life mapped out for him till a tragic accident took his looks away. Then dons the hood of the man who took down he takes up a crime-fighting lifestyle while hooked on pills and everything goes to pot. Fresh out of a stint in rehab he's running around with the hood back on trying to take down criminals and he is so unbelievably bad at it. Watching him go through his life is kind of like a watching a train wreck but more interesting. I'm really not sure you could throw in a bunch more stereotypical origin stories into one character and have it work as well as it does here.
The way this issue opened is a perfect example of how much further Greg really have to go in order to be more effective as the Black Hood. Sure he's a cop but that doesn't mean he's got the fighting prowess of a boxer or a martial artist. As a matter of fact he's pretty bad at hand to hand combat.I think this is one of the things that makes him more appealing is that he really does seem to literally be stumbling his way through all this. By no means do I want him to become this hugely superbuff kind of guy but a little more biting training or in a boxing or training would be something I'd like to see. Possibly a little more in the detective training as well would be good for him too.
That he still so defined by his looks and what happened to him is nice to see because it means he's not getting over that anytime soon. So there's still plenty of room for growth in his character.I think the insecurities that he has are heightened by his looks but wearing that hood gives him a sense that he can overcome just about anything. Just because it gives him that sense doesn't mean it's true I mean this Doug that he's fighting this issue really took him to town.And also set up a perfect example of just how much Greg still have to learn about what the hell he's doing.
I do like the development that happening with Devon because the man is not stupid.He knows his partner is up to something and when he's ready to tell him he's there to listen but in the meantime this man has his eyes open.Also I think that as a partner and a friend and an asset he's more important to Greg then Greg realises. Jesse on the other hand does know a secret and God forbid she catches him wearing that hood one more time.You think being in her profession she'd understand this better or be more compassionate especially since she came to him was a kind of cop related problem that well needs the not so by the book attention.
Okay I love the sidebar that happening here with these people and the kids in the cages and the whole thing that Greg now is investigating. Something big is going to be going down and I can't wait to see what it is and what this little kid Hector has to do with it.
Robert and Kelly are doing some amazing work on the interiors here too. I like that there's this attention to detail and it's very similar to the original run the book yet distinct enough to that Robert apart. They even managed to make Greg handsome even with the scarring and that is pretty darn good.
I have to say this is probably one of the most innovative, fresh and exciting series to be published today.