Composed By:
Writer: Jeff Parker, Art: Declan Shalvey, Colours: Frank Martin, Letterer: Joe Caramagna, Cover Art: Michael Del Mundo.
Story:
The Thunderbolts travel to London, England in the 1800s. Mr Hyde and Satana run away. Mr. Hyde starts to target and kill victims of ‘Jack the Ripper’.
Review:
It is a nice story in Thunderbolts #166 that like the last few issues takes you into an almost real historical moment and plays around with the mystery behind it. Its enjoyable to see an infamous figure, Jack the Ripper, played in this manner. Always been fascinated by it and him (her?), so I was pleasantly enjoying the read.
Jeff Parker really seems to know how to capture the mood and the attitudes of the time, the way that these murders had sent chills down the spines of police and bewildered many a folk whom attributed it all to magic and voodoo. His finger sits nicely on this. For the dialogue it speaks honestly for people in this time, it’s a hard thing to get right, but Parker does it well. It is never unbelievable what Parker writes into this issue, I can feel myself give in to it and that urgency that he places into the action plays out nicely with the dialogue that keeps it moving and makes us want to read further.
It is all more exciting and fluid for the artwork by Shalvey that is less confronting and exact this issue, unlike some that have come before. It is more concerned, as it should, with the way that the characters move and react with the moving action, and shows an attention to this, rather than being sacrificed for the tireless effort to get exact and precise facial looks and body renderings.
Instead, what we get out of this issue is a comic that looks not just to keep us reading for the witty dialogue and the exciting discoveries that are found along the way, but for the artwork that carries it all and delivers it before our eyes in a presentable fashion. Nothing is lost in this issue for not having the sharp and visually rich artwork it has had, quite contrary. It is quite befitting, and is a welcome break from all that we see on other titles, where it is often done poorly.
Verdict:
It is a issue that has a lot of merit. Parker has been solid with his writing, and this exhibits it well. Would not be a good place to start reading Thunderbolts but is interesting enough if you wanted to read it on its own.