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WAY OF THE RAT #3
Recommended (8/10)
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CrossGeneration Comics
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Pencils: Jeff Johnson
Inks: Tom Ryder
Colors: Chris Garcia
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Price: $2.95 US/$4.75 CAN |
Way of the Rat continues to impress on just about every level. Dixon's instilled it with humor, intelligence, mysticism and excitement. And Johnson and his fellow artists have backed the writer up in ever one of those facets while presenting us with a cityscape and culture that's mesmerizing. Again, CrossGen has hit upon a story featuring an unusual society, filtered through the eyes of a grounded, interesting personality.
Outside the walls of the City of Zhumar, a warlord, Bhuto Khan, is honing his skills, waiting for his chance to attack the city and usurp the corrupt Judge X'ain's power for his own. Khan wants three magical items that will grant him victory. X'ain wants them. And they want the head of the young man who possesses two of them: Boon Sai Hong. But Boon must first figure out who has the third item -- the Heart of the Phoenix -- before he makes his next move. Meanwhile, Khan introduces a new ally to Nubotai, his adviser.
If the only thing Johnson did well on this book was his depiction of the majesty of the city, of the intricacies and artistry of the architecture, that would be more than enough to get me to sing his praises. If the only thing he did well was the choreography of the action, it would be enough. If the only thing he did well was instilling such strong personality and subtlety of emotion in the faces of the characters, that would be enough. This stands out as the best work I've ever seen from Jeff Johnson, and the vibrant colors that are characteristic of CrossGen books make it all look even better.
If there's one thing that CrossGen does better above all else, it's the meticulous construction of a world of wonder for each of its titles. Worlds that are familiar yet alien at the same time. Worlds that are exotic but boast elements the reader can appreciate and relate to. Dixon has carried on that trend here. One gets the impression of the vastness of culture, tradition politics and even everyday life in Zhumar as s/he reads this comic book. Here, we see another culture, in the form of a single weapons merchant, creep into it, and it makes for a catastrophic -- but intriguing -- result.
What continues to draw me back to this book, though, is the personality of its reluctant hero, Boon, and the Abbott and Costello dynamic he has going to Po Po. These two characters serve as the strong core of this title. One can't help but enjoy them and cheer them on.
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