I’ll be the first to tell you that this new story arc for Skullkickers has been rough. I’ve stuck with it because the last arc was too good to bail on. This issue is a return to form and delivered in all departments. The story pacing is perfect, the dialogue isn’t overkill and the jokes are perfectly timed. Better yet the balance between the characters has finally been reached which gives the art enough space to shine on its own. It’s a 180 degree turn compared to the last issue. The first thing to point out is that a lot of what works here is because of the buildup of the previous issues. I’m not discrediting that by any means, but the previous issues where clunky and stumbled to get to this point. Now that we’re here though its smooth sailing and that’s great for readers like myself.
As for the story it picks up right where it left off with Dead Rolf… smashed. Don’t worry though he’s already dead. Hilarity ensues with the rest of this scene until they discover that the Glacier Giants are attacking the city and doing quite the number on it.
Jim Zub really delivers with this issue. What’s improved is the back and forth with the dialogue, rather than everyone taking a turn at talking it’s limited to when it’s important. This allows the comedy to shine and no longer are jokes stepped on by other jokes. This issue is leaps and bounds better than the last few and had me laughing quite a bit.
Edwin Huang has been as consistent as ever on the series, but as I stated in my last review the art never stood out. You want a comic to be consistent with the art, but you don’t want it to be so consistent that it’s dull or just going through the motions. Here Huang contributes to the humor and the action and with the dialogue toned down the panels and layouts really stand out.
I know a lot of this review has come across as my preference for how Skullkickers should be, but that stems from what the creators delivered in previous arcs and so this arc forced a lot of comparisons. Even with all the stumbles, it’s been a great arc. Any other series would have sent me packing, but with Skullkickers an average issue is better than most and a great issue, like this one, is way fucking better than the rest.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Jim Zub Artist: Edwin Huang Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital