The Monolith #6 Review

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Reviewer: Mathan “Fweet” Erhardt
Story Title: Friendly Fire: Part 1

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Penciled and Inked by: Tomm Coker
Lettered by: Pat Brosseau
Colored by: Chris Chuckry
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics

The Monolith is an avenging creature, in a good way, that former junkie Alice inherited from her grandmother. So now she has to deal with sobriety and a monster in her basement.

This issue begins with Bruce Wayne making an appearance in “Do or Die” Bed-Stuy, to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for homes to provide shelter to displaced Arab Americans. Alice and her roommate Tilt are both fawning over Bruce Wayne. Just as he’s about to cut the ribbon a bomb goes off.

Then we flashback to the previous Friday, with Alice at work, her boss invites her to the ceremony. But then he retires to his office to apparently deal with some secret.

Alice goes home and thinks about how she is similar to her clients. When she gets home the visits with the Monolith and lays down an important rule; no killing. Then he expresses his desire to learn so that he can communicate how he feels.

Then we go forward to the after effects of the explosion. Tilt mouths off to rescuer workers, and we learn that this is the work of a criminal named the Incinerator. Once the sun goes down Batman is on the scene to investigate. He tracks down the Incinerator, but so does the Monolith. They both attempt to take down the criminal but the slow-witted Monolith proves to be more of a hindrance. And the issue ends just is it began, with an explosion.

Palmiotti and Gray do a great job of dealing with the obligatory Bat appearance. His role is kept to a minimum. The story is really about Alice, just as it’s been thus far. They also handle villains very well. The Incinerator, apart from his name, sounds just like someone that could exist in reality. Basically they keep a comic book with one foot in reality, and should be commended for it.

Coker is phenomenal! I love Winslade’s work, but Coker knocked my socks off. His art resembles someone else, but I can’t place it, it’s on the tip of my brain. Regardless it looks amazing. Actually it’s kind of like J.H. Williams and Mick Gray. It’s equally realistic and heroic. All I can say is that he needs a regular gig ASAP. I love it.