Subtext
“Out of the Past”
Written by: Chuck Dixon
Pencils by: Scott McDaniel
Inks by: Andy Owens
Colors by: Tony Avina
Lettering by: Phil Balsman
Edited by: Michael Wright
Published by: DC Comics
I reviewed an issue of this book a few months ago, and I think I said that it was a just “ok” book. And the same holds true this month. It’s a fun, quick book. I buy it because I love Chuck Dixon. I love love love Chuck Dixon on DC books. I count the days until he is hopefully back on a Batman book full time. Oooh”¦I think it’s next month in Nighwing”¦.close enough.
Anyways, when I get Richard Dragon each month I say two things. The first is, “oh, hey, neat”¦another issue”¦fine.” I’m never really excited about it. I don’t know who was really clamoring for this book to be out. I’m not saying that I’m not against it, but I’m just not really jazzed by it.
The second thing I say is “wow”¦this book is still being published?” Because I’m sure DC is going to cancel it soon. It’s not really pulling in the numbers, and the creative team has higher profile gigs to pursue. I also say that because I sort of forget about this book about 3 minutes after I read it and file it away each month.
This is an incredibly fast book to read. The pacing is extremely quick. It’s so fast, that I bet Rob Leifeld could get through an entire issue with no trouble. On the one hand, this is good. For an action oriented book like this, it has to be quick. But on the other, it’s so quick and fluffy that it seemingly lacks depths each month. It’s light on dialogue and thus far, on characterization. We know what Richard Dragon is like, but we don’t really get a sense of what he wants.
This issue is the start of a new story, pretty similar to the first arc, wherein Richard Dragon is haunted by his past (let’s face it, what superhero isn’t? Right?) This time it’s by the Bronze Tiger. And half the issue is in flashback”¦I think. I read it a few times (didn’t take much time) and still had a tough time figuring out what was flashback and what was current time. But we don’t see much of the “villain”. We see there is some corruption at the FBI (maybe) and the authorities break in on Dragon (for some reason). And I’m sure it’ll be much of the same fluff next month.
Now, I’m not gonna give this book a bad grade, despite my misgivings with it. Dixon and McDaniel make a nice book each month, and while it’s not their best work yet, it’s fine light entertainment. I don’t expect much from Richard Dragon, so I don’t get much. Loyalty to the creators keeps me coming back each month. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
