REVIEW: Barb Wire: Vol. 2 #8

STORY BYÂ Chris Warner
ART BYÂ Patrick Olliffe, Tom Nguyen

And now, the end is near; and so I face the final curtain… or maybe not.

The eighth issue of this second volume, chronicling Barb’s adventures, sees the current threats reach a conclusion as adversaries, friends and blue suited individuals come to ahead.Â But where does that leave Barb?

Written by creator Chris Warner,Â the issue shows a number of facets to Barb which should show her adaptability.Â However, it comes across that Barb is a guest star in her own story as things not only occur round her but she is also made out to be a bit naÃ¯ve and as such, used throughout the whole story.Â Now this run is the first time I have spent any real-time with Barb, but I feel like I have been sold a $3 bill.Â From what I did know prior to this run, I expected her to be much more capable than shown here.Â OK, I guess sometimes you have to knock down before you can build back up, but looking back, there seems to have been a lot of stuff happening, though nothing of any consequence born from it.Â Warner continues toÂ fill this Â world with enough stereotypes to make an action movie blush, from the big bad’s machinations, to chief blue suit gettingÂ caught with his pants down, all the way to Barb’s dialogue.

Pat Olliffe continues his consistent approach to the artwork.Â If anything, he is poorly served bet yet another round of talking head panels, although he does fill the panel with details such as cables and other computerised requirements.Â When it finally comes to the action, it’s shown in a quick and efficient manner. Tom Nguyen provides inks helping keeping the lines clear throughout the issue.Â Whilst we are taking art, check out the fantastic Adam Hughes cover, which has absolutely nothing to do with the issue.

I have to admit,Â when I started reviewing this series I kind of expected a different type of book, something a tad grimier a little bit more real world.Â After all, it does feature a bar, gang members and various bounty hunters.Â Â To have this arc includeÂ moreÂ technological clichÃ©Â has somewhat disappointed me.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

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