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Deadline
"Chasing a Killer Story can be Hazardous
to your Health"
Marvel
Comics trade paperback review by : Jamie
Tarquini
Writer:
Bill Rosemann
Artist: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Greg Horn
More
Info: www.marvel.com
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When
I first heard of the concept of this story I decided that
since it was going to be a mystery/crime comic that if it
turned out to be good I'd wait until the trade came out. I
prefer to get stories of that genre in one big dose because
trying to figure out "who the killer is" is much more difficult
over a four month period than is in a forty minute period.
But just to get a feel for it I picked up the first issue,
and not only I was immediately hooked but I found myself picking
up all four issues at they hit the stands.
"Deadline"
is about a freshman reporter named Kat Farrell who is unlucky
enough to get the capes beat at the Daily Bugle for her first
assignment. This means that she gets to report on the exploits
of favorite heroes and villains, which sounds exciting but
is more of a hassle that it is worth. Her dream job is to
have her own column in the Bugle and be like her idol, veteran
reporter Ben Urich. Kat finds out she could get a promotion
to the crime desk if she lands a big story within a week,
which leads her to tracking down the super-hero killer that
has been skulking around Manhattan for the past few months.
Enter: The Judge - a mysterious specter that has the underworld
watching their backs.
Within the first few pages I was enthralled with our main
character. Kat is easily flawed and comes across so realistic
I'm convinced that Rosemann is basing her on someone he knows.
She is cute but certainly isn't a supermodel, has trouble
with guys, her mother won't stop breathing down her neck,
and even has a little pet named Bilbo. Despite all of this
Kat is convinced she can make it as a reporter in NYC, and
certainly has the attitude for it. She's mature enough to
get along with other reporters and cool enough to hang in
the dive bars and other joints only the cape crowd is supposed
to know about.
The
real magic here is Rosemann's ability to keep turning the
tables on us. Trying to pin down the killer is like trying
to follow an episode of Law & Order. Once you have it all
figured out the rug is pulled out from underneath you. None
of it would be nearly as good without the motives and actions
of the entire supporting cast, which are all genuine and believable.
The Judge is one of the most original new additions to the
Marvel Universe in a long time. Throw in a cliffhanger at
the end of each issue and you already have the making of a
great story. Rosemann must be a fan of Marvel books because
he drops characters and names like Barry Bonds hits home runs
- none of which is too much for the uninitiated Marvellite,
but for those of you that already know your history will get
an added bonus.
From the cover to the last page each issue was well put together.
The logo has a newspaper similarity to it and hovers over
four Greg Horn covers, who creates some of the best pinups
in the industry today. Each cover has a realistic feel that
draws the reader in, and makes you wonder if you are staring
at a photograph or not.
Guy
Davis was meant to work on this book. Crime stories should
have more of a dark and gritty feel to it and Davis's style
fits that mold to a T. Davis controls the pacing by using
plenty of panels and saving the splash pages for the moments
when they make the most impact. Backgrounds are as well rendered
as each character in the forefront too. The coloring in this
book is just as important as Davis's heavy inks. Everything
is done in an orange/earthy tone and this makes Kat's red
hair and the Judge's pale white complexion stand out from
everyone else.
The
bottom line is that you can't go wrong with this book. It
is suspenseful, humorous, and can be enjoyed equally by comic
fans or simply someone who is looking for a good story to
enjoy. "Deadline" is scheduled to ship as a trade this month,
so pick this one up for yourself or a friend and show them
what comics are capable of.
Jamie
Tarquini once enjoyed dressing us as the Joker on Halloween
and scaring little children. Visit his website at http://www.pmpknface.com
or drop him an email at: pmpknface@hotmail.com
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