Reviewer: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title: Secret Origins
Written by Howard Chaykin & David Tischman
Penciled by: Lan Medina
Inked by: John Stokes
Lettered by: John Costanza
Colored by: Sherilyn Van Valenburgh
Editor: Shelly Bond
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
Last issue, Harry’s wrestling friend Tiny Tim was tossed out of his window, onto the sidewalk below. Harry just happened to witness the body land. This issue Harry goes searching for answers and who better to spill the beans than some lesbian wrestlers who happen to be a couple? Harry gets the answers he’s looking for, the hard way. After that Harry goes to work, at comic book publisher Starburst comics, where we works on the origin of Doctor Dream, Starburst’s biggest character. The origin inspires Harry to bring Tim’s murderers to justice… himself.
Harry then stops by his old fling Mindy Martin’s for a quickie. The next day the police come to Starburst to question him about a couple of bodies that turned up. However, since Harry is always one step ahead, he has an airtight alibi. It also appears that constantly traveling Harry has finally found a place to call home.
Chaykin and Tischman created a great character in Harry. When you read the stories you were always wondering how everything was going to tie together and how things were going to be resolved. Chaykin and Tischman always delivered with the goods. The dialogue was always clever and pitch perfect. They even manage to give Harry a decent ending, by allowing him to find a place to set up a life. I am really going to miss this book.
Medina and Stokes did another great job on the issue. They have a gift for portraying the ordinary. Nothing is too exaggerated. Their use of different angles also really added to the issue. It’s kind of sad that the series ended with a guest penciler, but it looked great nonetheless.
I urge everyone interested in a great read to buy this book. The previous issues shouldn’t be too had to find, and you won’t regret it. It has everything: sex, violence, comedy, drama, action, and usually sex again. I am so going to miss this book.
