Review: Deer Editor #2 (of 3)

Picking a book up halfway its run through can be a difficult aspect of my job, here at Crusaders. What have I missed? What is the vibe? Who are the players? These are all questions that require a little bit of attention, perhaps even more so when you consider that one of the major characters is a bipedal deer!

Bucky, the deer in question, has been missing for three months. In his absence his partner in journalism, Dan, has taken up the mantle at great personal loss as his obsessive need for the truth looks to destroy different elements of his. How can Dan look to write the truth when the truth has a habit of taking so much from him and where is Bucky anyways?

It’s been a while since I last looked at a Ryan K. Lindsay book. I have been a fan since Chum and Negative Earth. Having witnessed Lindsay write in different genres, including noir, sci-fi and the strange and other worldly, I am intrigued to see how how he merges two distinct elements together to deliver a greater whole. In Bucky and Dan, Lindsay has a pair of genuine Ben Urich’s; reporters looking for the truth and not just the headline. Honest reporters is almost as fantastical idea as a talking deer! Between the surreal elements, there is a mix of noir and seedy elements, vying for attention from the violent and personal drama. A heady mix of focuses which Lindsay handles with a deft touch and well paced interludes, allowing for natural progression of the differing aspects.

The art is supplied by Lindsay’s long-time collaborator in the fantastic Sami Kivelä. Here Kivelä’s lines are perhaps a little less darker than previously seen in books like Chum or Everfrost. Instead Kivelä delivers a thicker line for the most part, giving the book a slight comic strip feel, until the violence kicks in, literally. Kivelä also enjoys a range of panel designs, planned to pull you through the page, yet also supplies a high level of background which then makes you want to take it all in. Thanks for the contrasting pace! All kidding aside, the art works on every page, through the characters actions, reactions and situations. The colors are a mix of shaded blue on white, which seems and look to use but works effectively are provided by Lauren Affe; I certainly applaud this unique approach. Finally, lettering veteran Jim Campbell gets to flex his muscles with a some interesting font designs.

This book is great read that instantly makes me want to back track and find the first issue before next months conclusion. Hopefully Mr Lindsay remembers that he owes me a happy ending!

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Ryan K. Lindsay
Art by; Sami Kivelä
Colors by; Lauren Affe
Letters by; Jim Campbell
Published by; Mad Cave Studios

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network