OK, so I’ll admit it.
If I didn’t have a crush on Kristanna Loken this book would have stayed
on the shelf. Divided into two stories,
the art in the first by Juan Santacruz is passable and in the second by Sam
Lotfi subpar. The front cover by Amanda
Conner is somewhere in between the two. Sticking
with the art, main character Jane is – in the first story – two parts butch
cute (think Starbuck) and one part girl next door cute (think Amy Pond). In the second story, she’s all hard lines and
cartoonish – and not the good cartoonish like Batman: The Animated Series, the (almost) Popeye’s forearms kind of
crappy cartoonish.
Before I go on to the story itself, I want to point out
something else that is kinda the art and kinda the story. In the first one – the passable art one –
Jane’s nipple is viable in at least six panels across 7 of 20 pages of
story. I point this out because this
issue contains not one but two text pieces expounding how Jane is not just a “scantily
clad female” like her “bad girl” contemporaries. But rather a strong female character. Yet there in all its off pink glory is Jane’s
nipple for no other reason than for it to be there. I’m not whole against nudity – not even in
comics and not even gratuitously – Heavy Metal
has always been a major supplier of gratuitous nudity and I thoroughly enjoy
that title. My problem is in an issue that
features not only nudity for nudity’s sake but also a scene where another
character’s face is accidentally forced between Jane’s breasts, we are told she
isn’t just another comic book sex symbol.
Seems like bad timing to me.
As for the story itself, I was very happy with it. Concerning a kidnapping attempt on a Saudi
princess – who will likely be executed when she gets back home due to the
American Heiress inspired wardrobe she sports – the first story, by Jimmy
Palmiotti, is very engaging and Jane does come off as a strong female character
– though in several places she could use some more pathos. My biggest complaint is the dialogue – which at
times can be a bit contrived – too much the writer’s creation rather than a
naturally flowing thing – ironically a disease the TV series suffered often. Story two – “From the Beginning” – is a standalone
piece also by Palmiotti. Not as
compelling as the main story, this one – as with its art – is cartoonish in
feel. The opening scene makes little
since unless Jane has some previously unmentioned speed powers as she is
chasing down a speeding getaway car. The
sexuality in this story – while still taking a place at the forefront – is better
played and feels more like a fluid part of the story than the gratuitous stuff
from the first story.
Overall this was a very enjoyable comic. And my minor complaints – dialogue, out of
place nudity, cartoonish art in the back up – do not greatly detract from the issue
as a whole.
4/5 stars Excellent
Jumping On Point
Teen or Mature for Violence, Brief Nudity, and some Language
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