Black Mask Comics 2015
Written by Matthew Rosenberg & Patrick Kindlon
Illustrated by Josh Hood
Coloured by Tyler Boss
After the getting away from the drug dealer last issue and find a motel room that would give them a room the pair are relaxing, Maddie just out of the shower. For some reason, I actually wish we’d been able to see, the cops find them awfully quick and bust into the room. I find it mildly amusing to see Duncan remark on Maddie’s appetite and falling for the room service knock, because she’s right Motel’s don’t offer that service.
I still want to know how they were found so quickly and who’s in charge of chasing them that would be another aspect of the story that we as readers want to see. Okay so the comedy of errors that happen once they have go on the run again is fantastic. Duncan has no powers, he’s not special like he claims and he has a hard time thinking and acting under pressure. We see that here it’s abundantly clear he’s in love with Maddie and will do anything for her but he’s not like her.
Yeah Duncan really isn’t the brightest crayon is he and he panicked and Maddie it seems has a very short temper and that could possibly be the result of her powers and that they are being used more and more which is inadvertently having this effect on her. She’s a hormonal teenager don’t forget whose powers will undoubtedly trigger responses that could be considered odd or counterintuitive to her normal nature. Just a guess from me which could be totally off base but it’s something to think about and from what we see it would explain a lot.
The amount of characterization we get this issue is pretty amazing. I love seeing these two on the run trying to act normal while using a public bathroom to dress Duncan gunshot graze. Then going shopping for Maddie’s new clothes which is a total montage moment and I felt I was watching the Sweetest Thing for a moment and it was freakin perfect! The homage to the super-hero community at large and Maddie’s thoughts on each outfit were brilliantly done!
I like that they keep robbing drug dealers or the same drug dealer to get money so they can stay on the run, though it doesn’t seem like they go very far does it? Well that aside Duncan can be romantic and the two have the best day/date ever. It’s cute really that he can think of something like this while going through what they are and then on the flip side he does seem to always be fighting and getting his butt kicked so that she needs to swoop in and save him.
These kids are more complicated than you’d ever expect them to be and not because of the powers aspect either because psychologically they are damaged and somehow need each other to find their way. This is part of the reason that this book has been an instant runaway success, this solid, fascinating, and expressive writing.
That goes along with the interior artwork that seems to get better with each issue. The detail we get here is fantastic and for whatever reason, linework and colouring, their faces really pop this issue and define them as individuals extremely well. Josh and Tyler make an impressive team and they just throw down here making the writing more impactful and some moments just pop in your face while others are more subtle and tender. The work they are doing here is utterly fantastic.
There’s a reason this series has sold out already and if you can’t get any through your shoppe then get to Blackmaskstore.com and order them in either print or digitally today because you don’t want to be the one that missed out on this one!