With this issue, the initial story arc of Deadline comes to a close in a satisfying fashion, tying things up nicely for the Judge and Kat Ferrell but leaving plenty of room for future tales. I know, I'm speaking of this as if it were an ongoing series rather than a four-part mini, but after the strength of the Rosemann/Davis collaboration, Marvel would have to be crazy not to offer up another helping of Deadline in the future.
What strikes me this issue, and has really stuck with me throughout, is how well Rosemann conveys Kat's voice. She reads like a real woman and a real reporter, and that reality is what draws me to the story and makes the outlandish setting and plot details work. Kat's self-examination as the cops go through her life, wondering if she is intruding on her subjects in the same way, was an interesting insight, and her reaction to Ben Urich's little talk was funny and honest as well. The phrase "work orgasm" was definitely a favorite. While I'm certainly fascinated by the idea of how journalism works in a super-heroic world, Kat Ferrell would be a strong character with or without such flashy trappings.
Rosemann has spun an interesting mystery in this first four issue arc as well. In fact, he spun more than one, although until this issue I had thought the ongoing story with Kat's fish and her dealings with the Judge were somehow related. The solution to this mystery is an interesting one, as Kat both stands on the sidelines for part of it and yet has to make a crucial decision, all without turning her into another unrealistic and cliched crusading journalist without fear that litter the pages of comics.
Davis continues to prove himself an ideal choice for this type of story, where the super-heroics are of a more gothic and small nature and the focus is on human interaction. His attention to detail helps the real world that Rosemann has crafted come to life, and his depiction of Kat is in no small part responsible for how well I connected with her. In addition, his realistic approach to the city of New York helps to ground the entire story in a more real setting as well.
Deadline is a good story, complete in four issues and certainly coming to a solid conclusion with the protagonist having been affected by the events. If there aren't any more in the future, the book will certainly stand on its own. However, it would be a shame if there weren't more Deadline, and soon, because Rosemann and Davis have struck gold in their portrayal of Kat Ferrell and the rest of the Daily Bugle, and there's a lot of potential in this concept yet.
