Dark Circle Comics 2016
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Illustrated by Greg Scott
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Rachel Deering
Greg Hettinger, the masked vigilante known as the Black Hood, escaped the mean streets of Philly for the sunny shores of California. He needed an escape from the violence that took the life of his partner, Devon Allen. But Greg is learning that it’s not all sand and surf on the west coast, as he hides in plain sight among the local homeless population. Even as he tries to rebuild his life from nothing and leave the Hood for good, Greg discovers there is one thing he can’t escape: The Nobody—a ruthless assassin and an enemy Greg didn’t know he had--until now.
Surprisingly enough this is one of my favourite series and it comes as no shock that Duane is a major reason why. This run with Greg though is in my opinion an award winning team. From the way Duane has taken us through Greg’s (Hettinger) life and completed the first volume and started this second one is the kind of characterisation and storytelling that makes for the most dramatic and charismatic storytelling i’ve ever seen.
The last time Greg was on this coast he was getting clean from those pain killers and now he’s here to cleanse himself again though he just doesn’t know how. With everything that went down in Philly Greg came to the attention of The Nobody who managed to track his trek out west through paper clippings and news reports. Clearly impressed with Greg he’s followed him to pit his own skills against him to see not only how good he is but how good Greg is as well. It’s like he’s hoping that he’s finally found someone worthy of competing against. Greg however is lost and adrift and needs that push to get himself going again or it’s all over before it starts.
Then there’s Greg’s (Scott) work on the interiors. I’ve said it many a time and i’ll keep saying it the man’s a genius when it comes to his craft. His attention to detail is astounding and as we see Greg (the Hood) go from a pathetic shell to a man with a purpose you see it in the work he does. The body language the little moments that you see the spark reignite through visuals you might take for granted just shine here. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and those backgrounds really flesh out this story beautifully and give it that much more of a punch.
That Duane has conceived this story boggles my mind, the way that The Nobody not only tracked him, somewhat easy enough, and now that this issue brings them face to face and the reaction from that are not what I’d immediately expect. What happens is literally the next chapter in Greg’s life as he begins to understand himself and his role in the world now. He went from uncaring cop to vigilante to a broken individual and now he’s got to pick up all the pieces and reinvent himself all thanks to an outside influence.
Gripping, thrilling and surprising at every turn the human drama goes hand in hand with the violence that makes this one of the best reads around!