Last year at San Diego, Crossgen had a number of announcements about comic-to-movie deals, and among them was their relatively new title Way of the Rat. After reading this first trade, it's not hard to see why, as Dixon, Johnson and the rest have really created a kung-fu action movie on paper. This is a well-paced story with great characters, amazing fight sequences and just a touch of humor, all set against a vividly-realized backdrop, and of course the artwork is up to the high standards that Crossgen has set for themselves.
Easily the best part about Way of the Rat is the fight sequences, as drawn by Jeff Johnson. The stances and sense of movement are simply amazing, seemingly drawn from real-life martial arts as much as the movies, taking the best elements of both to create fluid and kinetic sequences that leap off the page. Whether it's the initial fight sequence that sees Boon picking up the ring of staffs for the first time, the first time we see that Po Po is a monkey that can kick butt or the climactic final fight between Boon and the Khan, this is kung-fu action at its best.
While it's a great action comic, though, that's not all there is. Dixon has taken to the genre of faux Chinese mythology with ease, creating a story of potentially epic proportions. It does come across as a little by-the-numbers at time, with Boon being something of a stock character and the notion of a rogue who gains power becoming a noble hero thanks to destiny not being the freshest thing out there, but it's still an entertaining central concept. And while Boon's decision to become a noble hero seemed a little sudden for me, it's more than evened out by his overconfidence or his interaction with Po Po.
Dixon creates a pretty impressive cast for this first arc, and while I don't know how many of them will be sticking around for the long haul, I like all of them. Judge Xian is a little wilfully sadistic, all-too-aware of his villainous nature, but such an unrealistic take really doesn't push suspension of disbelief when we're dealing with such a fantastic genre anyway. And he's matched by a more honorable and far more interesting foe in the Khan and his warrior Nubotai. Just as Xian is but one of the villains, so to is Boon only one of the heroes. In addition to Po Po, the talking and kung-fu fighting monkey who was destined to be a fan-favorite from the moment he first hit the page, there's the mysterious Silken Ghost and the noble Princess Zheng (one in the same?), both of whom shine in their brief moments in this issue. And even the more minor characters, such as Boon's roguish mentors or the delightfully warped genius Ygor, have plenty to offer, sometimes comic relief and sometimes more.
Actually, Ygor was one of the most entertaining additions to the story for me, as it let Dixon bring in some elements not traditionally seen in this kind of genre story into the mix. The use of a custom cannon, and the implications of historic Russian culture to mirror the Chinese-type culture that defines Way of the Rat, speaks of a larger world, all without having to use the forced Crossgen sigil to make that connection. It seems worth noting that so far, Way of the Rat is the only Crossgen title where the sigil or the First have made no known appearance.
Way of the Rat is a great read, but I have to be honest and say that what made me fall in love with the book is the artwork. It's not just the fight choreography, although Johnson is probably one of the best artists in terms of that skill working right now. It's the depth and detail that go into the world-building. The costumes and characters are distinctive and imaginative, and the backgrounds are stunning. When you get a splash page, as with the first shot of Boon soaring over the city, the impact of Ygor's cannon on a city watch tower or the chaotic siege (by Whigham and Geraci) in chapter five, it takes your breath away. Crossgen has earned a rep for artistic excellence, and the work by Johnson, Ryder, Whigham, Geraci and Garcia certainly lives up to that rep.
