Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer
23 September 16
Writers: Paul Levits and Sonny Liew
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
A welcome return to moral storytelling, Doctor Fate #16 teaches us that although we may search the streets
or the skies for our big heroic moment, what's ultimately more important is the
day-to-day struggle of living a good life. Comic book geeks everywhere
fantasize about pulling victims out of a burning building, talking someone off
of a ledge, stopping a mugging, or righting some other tremendous wrong. What
we often overlook is that not all heroes wear capes, and most acts of heroism
aren't so grandiose. Giving blood, donating time to a food kitchen, being a
good friend, and other small acts of kindness are examples of everyday heroism.
This comic will leave you with the warm and fuzzies without feeling like you've
been preached to.
Osiris, the judge of the living and the dead, has set his
sights on Doctor Fate, or more correctly on the mortal who dons his gilded
helm, Khalid. The Egyptian god is convinced that Khalid is a fraud, possessing
magical abilities that don't belong to him. With the awesome power of ancient
gods against him, Khalid has only the strength of his character and the
testimony of his loved ones to offer for his defense. The result is a contest
between deities and divine beings spanning across several pantheons with a
surprise ending.
This may seem like a small point, but I appreciated this
issue in part because it was a complete story. Too often after finishing a
comic, I have been left feeling as though I sat through the first ten minutes
of an hour long TV show before losing connection. In my opinion, each chapter,
episode, or entry of a story should have a full arc that contributes to the
larger narrative. This isn't easy, but this issue achieves it.
The artwork is fantastic. Osiris is ominous. His presence
has kept the sub from rising, and in many panels the only source of light is
the incredible power radiating off him. In contrast, the love Khalid’s parents
feel for him is effectively communicated through the visual storytelling. The
subtle body language of a concerned guardian is clearly shown via a gentle
embrace or an averted glance of anxiety to the floor.
The Verdict: Doctor Fate #16 is a return to form—a
taste of the olden days when a comic served as a small dose of moral teachings
to the American youth. As the medium evolved and became more accessible to an
older demographic, some of that moral motif was left by the wayside. This
beautifully drawn and colored issue is a refreshing reminder of what comics
used to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment