Review: Artemis and the Assassin #3
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Doctor Who just didn’t give a damn when it came to her time travelling exploits? Well in this book from AfterShock that kind of disregard is firmly in place as an assassin and a spy try to kill each other. Throw in a ninja and some cowboys and you are just starting to understand the sort of crazy you can expect.
Maya has abandoned her mission protocols. Therefore it’s up to Akechi (the ninja) along with Toby the assassin to put Maya back on track. However, being stuck in the wild wild west; the actual one, not the horrendous Will Smith version, creates a whole different set of problems. Still Maya has a somewhat unorthodox and unplanned solution to being tracked. Now if she can only avoid being filled full of lead, she might have a chance!
Writer and creator Stephanie Phillips is known for working with the past. With that in mind, this book then feels like an academic having a bit if a moment and stuffing the facts into the shredder! By taking this approach, Phillips gets to ignore the “rules” in favour of a fun energetic story. Phillips may be taking liberties and sending up clichés left, right and centre, giving this book a slightly different feel to some of her more serious work. It is by no means less enjoyable than her previous books, its just different. It would help if you have read the previous issues, though with this being the third issue, there is still the opportunity to go back in time and pick up the first two. The dialogue is interesting, with the various characters focus being quite singular, at least at the moment.
The art is provided by Francesca Fantini in style that reminds me of Norm Breyfogle in the accentuated almost elongated body styling seen especially in the action scenes. This is replaced by some stagnate poses at times, but the overall feel of movement is clearly there. Panel layouts work well, keeping the reader’s attention. The colors are supplied by Lauren Affe who gives the book a painted look that really works in the cowboy town. A Larger World’s Troy Peteri is on the letters and does a solid job, though at times the balloons seem too big for some of the text.
Given the state of the market place and the ongoing idea that “it’s all about the event” I think books like this are a breath of fresh air. There doesn’t need to be a mega-crossover with wallet breaking chapters; comics can be just straight up fun, of which this is a great example.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4.5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 4.5 Stars
Written and created by; Stephanie Phillips
Art by; Francesca Fantini
Colors by; Lauren Affe
Letters by; A Larger World’s Troy Peteri
Published by; AfterShock Comics
Author Profile
- 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
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