B. Clay Moore's transplant of the noir detective genre into the exotic beauty and spiritual richness of Hawaii was a good idea the first time around, and it remains so with this second limited series. Fans of what Ed Brubaker has done with Slam Bradley in Catwoman will no doubt enjoy following the adventures of Byrd, private eye and trouble-magnet. What I'm most impressed about (and relieved to discover) is that Moore doesn't construct this new story on the foundation of his previous plot. Ths is a thoroughly accessible read. Readers who were intrigued by the Hawaiian Dick title but didn't make the leap can feel free to jump on board with The Last Resort.
When he's hired to get to the bottom of an ongoing effort to sabotage a new casino/resort on the island, Byrd finds himself caught in the middle of a gang war. On one side is Red Piano, a mob boss who's behind the new resort and Byrd's new employer. On the other is Danny Quinn, an Irish gangster who's got his own resort endeavor under construction just a short walk down the beach from Piano's. Meanwhile, Byrd's friends, cop Mo Kalama and Byrd's occasional administrative assistant, Kahami, tail their pal and enjoy some time off as at the resort.
The art here reminds me of the styles of such artists as Brian (Hard Time Hurtt, Kevin (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) O'Neill, Kieron (Last of the Independents) and Steve (Whiteout) Lieber. Griffin brings a softness to the characters and setting that's in keeping with the tropical, utopian qualities of the backdrop. The colors serve as the greatest strength of the book, though. There's a soothing texture and airy look to the watercolor-esque colors. Griffin uses them well to emphasize the nastier elements, but they're at their strongest when they focus on the picturesque, pastel beauty of the setting.
I love how the supernatural aspect of the plot isn't the main focus. It's just a little added color to an entertaining private-eye story, something else to set this book apart than just the setting. The ghost subplot makes for an interesting contrast with the main plot. The story is about two mobsters building monuments of corruption along a patch of paradise. The ghostly vision that helps Byrd is a reminder of something far more pure.
Speaking of contrasts, Hawaiian Dick seems to be about one man between torn between two worlds. The rough-around-the-edges Byrd fits in easily in the gangsters' world. Byrd's background would make it easy for him to follow the wrong path. But he's anchored to good by both his friends and the beauty in which he's immersed.
