Phil Hester – Writer
Jonathan Lau -Pencils
Ivan Nunes – Colors
Dynamite – Publisher
When Dynamic Forces, purveyors of signed comics, launched Dynamite Entertainment it seemed like it would be another short lived publisher that would try to capitalize on procured licenses with bad, very late comics. Fast forward five years and my belief is that Dynamite releases the highest quality comics of any current publisher. Sure they struggle with lateness, so do Marvel and DC, but it’s rare that I read an issue or trade that’s not immensely satisfying. I think it may have something to do with the Dynamite team’s involvement with the owners of the properties. Dynamite takes the stewardship of these characters quite seriously, and while they may reimagine, they never sully the characters they work with. I think Marvel and DC too often break something to tweak sales for the short term. Quality minds at Dynamite, and the license holders themselves, would never allow characters like the Lone Ranger, the Phantom, or the Green Hornet to be handled in a way that does not respect their roots or the stories that came before. This may seem like a love letter, but I wanted to express my deepest thanks to Dynamite for creating comics that I never worry about the cover price or how many other books I need buy to finally get some type of pay off.
I really don’t read many monthlies any more, so with the Green Hornet I decided to wait for the trade paperbacks. As the trades came out for the various series, mostly in the past few weeks, I decided that I can’t wait for the next trade. Green Hornet #11 is the first of the floppies I bought the day it was released.
This is an extremely odd title in so many respects. The Green Hornet movie is due in theaters in just a few weeks, yet this comic is based on the universe as recreated by Kevin Smith for his unproduced film. Even stranger, the adaptation of Kevin’s screenplay concluded in the last issue. Frequent Kevin Smith collaborator, Phil Hester, takes over the full writing chores this month with a veritable sequel to Smith’s work. Thankfully there’s no drop off in quality as we move away from the non-film territory, so I can say with conviction: buy this damn book!
Jonathan Lau’s artwork has progressed so much over the eleven scripts he’s illustrated. The art was strong from the start, but it was difficult to fully comprehend the action in some of the images. Lau has stepped up his game each month. This issue’s work is hyper-detailed with amazing care paid to the costumes as they flow through the brilliantly depicted fight scenes. Each of the characters is distinctive and full of emotion facially and in body language. Nothing ever comes across as static or non-living. Even Century City has a look and feel that makes it a character all its own. Lau is becoming a master sequential storyteller!
Even though Phil Hester’s the new writer it’ s not his first involvement with the series. Kevin Smith’s screenplay was adapted into comic scripts by Hester from the first issue. That was a well thought out move as there isn’t a tonal shift as the story breaks away from the source material. The characters all speak in the same distinctive tone they have the past ten issues. We are also not left with dangling subplots as Hester continues down the path we’ve been following.
The new storyline, entitled “Idols”, centers on a rogue branch of Catholicism named Santa Muerte. This group is tightly aligned with all manner of street crime. One brilliant aspect is the sale of absolution of sins for a tithe. The members of the church have deeply rooted beliefs and are willing to die at the drop of a Hornet’s hat. Hester obviously has a lot to say about the current state of religion in the world and what people are willing to do and say for their beliefs. Hester’s script establishes the status quo of living arrangements and other small details to advance the overall story of this Green Hornet and Kato.
All totaled this is one of the finest comic series currently being published. Phil Hester’s vision, for continuing on the themes that Kevin Smith developed, is nuanced and well thought out. Jonathan Lau is the glue that ties everything together rock solid. Even if you’ve never enjoyed the Green Hornet before there’s so much here to enjoy!
