Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Goliath: Part 2
Written by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Jock
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Assistant Editor: Zachary Rau
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertgio > DC Comics
I don’t remember another time in comics when so many excellent series launched at relatively the same time. In just the past three months, Outsiders, Teen Titans, Arrowsmith, Empire, Superman: Birthright, Superman/Batman, and Fallen Angel have all been launched by DC or one of their imprints. Oddly though these aren’t all of the titles, there are still more, this is just a nice sample. Each has been of excellent quality, and most have seen very healthy sales. The Losers though is one of the best of a very strong lot.
This is another top-notch series from the cutting edge folks at DC’s Vertigo imprint. Andy Diggle and Jock have the beginnings of a classic on their hands. The Losers are a group of ex-CIA specialists, with a strong emphasis on “exâ€. Their superiors now assume the team dead following a double cross by the same. The Losers employ their various skills as they seek retribution in this super cool heist storyline.
Andy Diggle hasn’t disappointed me yet with the well thought out “jobs†the group has pulled. This issue picks up from last months cliffhanger, with Jensen knee deep in security guards. Diggle continues his funny, but dark, storytelling by letting Jensen unleash his telekinesis on the unsuspecting guards. Did realism just go out the door? No the telekinesis isn’t real; it’s actually a hilariously staged ploy with another of the Losers.
The second of this four-part arc moves along nicely, as the Losers next step towards setting things right unfurls. The whole team is heavily involved in yet another well laid out adventure. Diggle’s really got a handle on pacing and the setup. The books evocative of a lot of movies and tv shows. I’ve heard this mentioned as being reminiscent of the A-Team, MacGyver, or even Ocean’s 11. They’re all accurate, but the characters, with their pop-culture references, and flashy but cool demeanor definitely have that Quentin Tarantino vibe as well.
When I reviewed issue one, my fears were largely about the somewhat unrealized cast. The story was a lot of fun, but the heist stole the show. The characterization was a little lacking, but there seemed to be a lot of potential. The potential hasn’t been squandered though, as with each issue Diggle realizes these characters more and more. With the exception of Aisha, the Afghani freedom fighter, the characters are pretty standard fair, but they’re a lot of fun and interact well.
Some people out there are going to say, I just don’t have room on my pull list to pick up any more books. Trust me, my heart goes out to you. With so many superior series on the market, my list seems to expand every week. If nothing else, give The Losers a shot for the first arc, then take it from there. The art by Jock is amazing, and Diggle’s storytelling prowess is highly polished. Did you kick yourself for missing out on the launches of Fables and Y: The Last Man in the last year or so? Well don’t make the same mistake with this book!
If you’re interested:
Check out DC’s mini-site for The Losers to find out more about the book. Including an interview with Diggle and Jock, and preview pages.
