The Losers #10 Review

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Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Island Life: Part 2

Written by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Jock
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Assistant Editor: Pornsak Pichetshote
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics

The Losers is an ongoing, action packed, heist series mixed with strong conspiracy elements. The characters have that almost-believable, but in the end larger than life, ultra-cool sensibility and hip speaking style filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, and Robert Rodriguez have made chic in Hollywood. Writer Andy Diggle also instills just a touch of humor making The Losers one of the most enjoyable and entertaining comic stories in years.

The worst thing about Tarantino, Rodriguez, and Smith’s movies is that they end. The Losers continues the adventures of the cast, not in a potential sequel years down the line, but the following month. Once you pick this book up it’s utterly impossible to put it down. Don’t think this is some guilty pleasure action craptacular either. The Losers, much like the films of the men mentioned above, has memorable moments that stick with me long after I’ve put it down.

The Losers are made up of four ex-CIA operatives that were sold out back in 1999 by a higher up codenamed: Max. The characterization of the guys on the team (especially in the last arc where they had some individual moments to shine) is developing quite nicely. Adding some real spice to the group is the sexy, Afghani, Aisha. She’s got her reasons for being there, but for the most part, she’s a loose cannon that has got serious problems following the directions of Clay, the team’s leader. I’ve thought of Aisha as “the breakout character” since the first issue, and she continues to be one of my favorite elements.

After a brief vacation (issues 7 and 8), last month the team got back on the trail of Max. This month the Losers’ have got to dig down through the volcanic remains of Montserrat in hopes of finding what’s so important to Max there. Diggle has the team engage in some entertaining black-ops-magic setting us up for some potential answers next month.

Diggle also continues to build the governmental conspiracy aspect of the book this month. Max was supposedly shutdown (i.e. killed) by the government some time ago, so they’re more than a little puzzled by the whole deal with the supposedly dead Losers, hunting down the supposedly dead Max. Diggle’s got a whole bunch of forces aligned, and when they collide there is going to be hell to pay.

Jock once again brings forth moody, cinematic artwork that blows me away. His use of shadow is among the best in the industry, and his ability to catch characters in dynamic action moments, that don’t seem like posed shots are fantastic. Jock carries out the action and the mood that Diggle’s script demands.

It seems impossible that a book originally envisioned as a heist mini-series has grown into a story that not only has strong action and caper elements, but one that’s bringing us well-written ever-evolving characters that sizzle with life. Andy Diggle continues to introduce exciting plot threads and The Losers is only getting better as it nears the end of its first year. This book’s in my top five reads every month, and I don’t see it losing its grip anytime soon. The Losers isn’t eye candy that’s goes in one eye out the other; $2.95 spent on this book is some mighty fine usage of your entertainment dollar.

If you haven’t started reading the book yet, then pick up the recently released The Losers: Ante Up. It collects the first six issues, and costs a mere $9.99. You won’t be sorry!