Once again, Kevin Munroe -- whose work on Dark Horse's El Zombo Fantasma impressed -- delivers a story that combines comedy, the supernatural and super-hero genre elements to arrive at a unique and unusual final result. One might expect the lighter and darker aspects of this book to clash, but actually, Munroe achieves an oddly interesting balance, shifting from one tone to the other smoothly. The other dichotomy in the book is the one that makes it interesting, though. At the heart of the two books are two protagonists who are polar opposites. One is a hopeful optimist, and the other a cynical and lonely hero cursed to a life of pain and solitude.
In the quiet suburb of Olympus Heights, unbeknownst to the regular people living there, monsters stalk the night, hunting for prey. Fortunately, there's a powerful figure lurking in the shadows as well, using a lifetime of skills and new technology to protect the oblivious populace. The monsters are tranformed into stone and dropped off anonymously at the local museum, and that's where Oliver Dobbs comes into the picture. He hates his boss but loves his job and his home. Little does he know that the weird old guy living next door is about to change his life forever.
It's not hard to see that Munroe's background is in animation. There's a strong sense of motion in his work. I like the design for Mr. Smith, but Oliver's look is, oddly enough, the most striking. One can see he's full of happiness and zeal. One can't help but like the character just by looking at him. The colors are especially effective when it comes to reinforcing an eerie, supernatural look. I particularly enjoyed the neon green light associated with Smith's weapons. The aspects of the art that didn't sit well with me were the designs of the monsters and Oliver's love interest. The girl came off as the generic bombshell/girl-next-door type, and the monsters are surprisingly lacking in detail.
Munroe does a great job of fleshing out just who Oliver is and what makes him tick. The writer provides plenty of background, and while some seems superfluous to the plot, it really brings the character to life. I love the delight with which he torments his boss and the respect he has for the others he works with. Oliver represents the playful side of the book as well. The humor revolves around him.
The most surprising aspect of the book is how Munroe humanizes the enigmatic (and no doubt divine in origin) Mr. Smith. He panics. He longs for rest. He's lonely. His fatigue -- physical and emotional -- really comes through in the script, and I found I could relate to this larger-than-life figure. Of course, Smith is a much mkore dynamic personality. Though the reader can relate to his pain, it's also exciting to see him in action.
