Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: The Pass: Part Two
Written by: Andy Diggle
Illustrated by: Jock
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Asst Editor: Pornsak Pichetshots
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics
This book is cool. There is no doubt about that. Every month I feel that way. I myself am not a cool person. But when I read this book, I feel cool. You know how when you’re watching 24 or Alias, or an old episode of The A-Team, and it just feels cool. That’s what this is like. I mean, look, it’s drawn by a dude that goes by one name “Jock”. Few people can pull that off. Madonna can. Prince can. Carrottop can’t. But Jock can.
This is the second part of a sort of origin story for The Losers. We find out how and why they became such Losers and why they went rogue from the CIA. And it’s a doozy.
Now, it seems most Vertigo books read better in trade format. And I’m betting that is the case with The Losers too. Because this story is not really episodic in nature. It doesn’t have much of a beginning middle and end. It has a cliffhanger, sure. But you can tell it’s simply part of a larger story. That’s not bad though. because the whole story seems like it’s pretty good so far.
A lot of people have said this book feels like an action movie in comic form. And they’re right. There are no superheroics here, and a lot of stuff blows up and people get shot. The characters say those cheesy action movie lines. But for some reason, I buy it here. You know why? Because they’re cool.
I’m not saying anything groundbreaking or even smart here, I know. And I’m probably not going to. I don’t need any more reasons for reading this book, other than that fact that it’s cool. I suppose I could talk about the great characterizations in the book, or the throughly compelling plot, or the outstandingly stylish art. Or the equally great coloring word in the book. I could talk about all those things. But not in this review.
This has been one of my favorite books since I picked it up a year and a half ago, and it continues to be to this day. It’s great fun every month. I’ve tried to convince everyone who likes comics to pick it up. It’s worked on a few. One friend was not interested after the trade. He said “Why should I get this when it’s basically just the A-Team?” Well you know what? The A-Team isn’t on anymore.
Final Word: Coolest comic out there.
