I've read the first trade paperback of Way of the Rat, but haven't read the second arc, so I wasn't sure if #13, the start of a new story, might leave me a little confused. Not at all, as it turns out, as Dixon imparts the one key turn of events from the previous arc in a "previously" blurb as well as within the story, and while that speaks to the sluggish pacing that plagues some Crossgen books, it also speaks to their accessibility, so I have to call it a positive in the end. At any rate, #13 upholds the high standard I've come to expect from Way of the Rat, with some fun character interaction between Boon, his monkey Po Po and several other characters, further developments along the lines of the political situation in the city of Zhumar and an intriguing new threat against which Boon can test his magically-honed martial arts in the next issue.
Part of the charm of Way of the Rat is Boon as everyman hero, and Dixon is clearly continuing that tradition, even as Boon begins to get accomplishments under his belt such as defeating a warlord and a giant dragon. Boon's reaction to the spectre haunting him this issue is hilarious and reminiscent of his first reaction to Po Po in the first issue, and his general approach to magic also speaks to his wariness about the unusual things that have entered his life. I also like that despite their talents, be they magic or martial arts, Boon's friends remain in the realm of relatively normal and easy to relate to in personality, despite their outward appearance or abilities.
The other element that has been present since the beginning is the politics of the world, and specifically the city, and this issue introduces a new complication in that area as well. The new character who comes to take over Zhumar is interesting in that he could easily have been played for laughs, as the buffoonish and spoiled politician unready for the realities of a border city, but instead his penchant for threats and law and order has a sinister tinge to it. It's clear that he is going to have a major effect on the city when all is said and done.
What really impressed me about the artwork of Jeff Johnson and Tom Snyder originally was how fluid and engaging their action scenes were, but this issue is pretty light on those, instead focusing on character development and setting up plot for the rest of the arc. Mind you, I was still impressed, because Johnson and Snyder are just as skilled with character expressions and the beautifully-designed settings as they are with kung-fu action. They also get the chance to show off a little bit with the flood of spirits that emerge to challenge Boon, a worthy successor to the big dragon that was the impressive enemy of the previous arc.
Way of the Rat is what Dixon has become known for, the action book with solid characters to back it up. It offers something you can't find elsewhere in American comics, and does it in a way that can compete with the manga in the genre, and it's probably my favorite of all of Crossgen's titles.
