Solo #4: Howard Chaykin Review

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Solo #4


Reviewer: Andy Campbell
Story Title: Rogue War Chapter 2

Writer & Artist: Howard Chaykin
Colors: Michelle Madsen, Brian Haberlin, Trish Mulvihill, Dave Stewart, &
Dave McCaig
Letters: Pat Brosseau, Jared K. Fletcher, & Ken Lopez
Assistant Editor: Michael Siglain
Editor: Mark Chiarello
Publisher: DC Comics

If you’re unfamiliar with exactly what this Solo series is about, allow me
to ruminate. Each issue spotlights an accomplished comic book artist, who writes
and draws several short stories. These books have always been, at the very least,
a look into what makes these guys tick.

This issue centers around Howard Chaykin, and it’s my favourite thus far of
the Solo series. Howard crafts six short stories of several genres, and each
of them is not only excellently drawn (as you would expect), but also very cleverly
written. There is a story of Nazi-occupied France, a sci-fi tale, a western,
a spy thriller, a horror, and one that really defies description. The stories
are too short to give much of a plot synopsis without ruining everything, so
I won’t, but suffice it to say that they are all excellent, and I way pleansantly
surprised. I have enjoyed each issue of Solo, but this is the first to really
reach out and grab me, so to speak. Also, it is the first issue of Solo that
I can actually recommend that you buy; the $5 price tag is usually too steep.
In this case, though, I believe that it’s worth it. Check it out!