The major comic companies get enough reviews and press, it’s time for the creator-owned and indie series to get some love and judgment. Indie review takes up-and-coming indie and creator-owned series and puts them through the review process so you can confidently support the best of the small press and passion driven projects in the comic industry.

 

The Info Bit

Title: No More Heroes

Genre/s: Mystery/Suspense/Super Hero/Comedy

Writer: Gordon Mclean

Artist: Caio Oliveira

Colorist: Stas Leonov

Letterer: Kel Nuttal

Publisher: Self-published

Number of Issues: 2 (of 4)

Page Count: 22

Price:

 

The Review Bit

At the end of the last amazing issue of this self published masterpiece (yes I am aware that it might be a bit much to refer to it that way after only 2 issues, but oh well, we at SG2M LOVE this book) by Gordon Mclean the only real use he has for our boy Sid, is bait. So it’s no surprise that this is where we find Sid in this issue, sitting in a bar that is frequented by villains for hire (much like Marvel’s “Bar with No Name”) being used as bait to find Jack Slaughter.

This issue has several flashbacks to help not only introduce us to the sadistic insanity that is Jack Slaughter (blowing up a Polar Bear with a rocket launcher at a crowded zoo), but also gives us a look at the relationship between Dark Justice and Black Fury. I think this was an excellent usage of flashback transitions. This mode of storytelling has become so common place it’s almost a default and many times it’s just sort of thrust at you, often feeling completely unnecessary. Oliveira did an amazing job at creating these transition scenes, and really makes the flashback organic. For example, while Sid is having a conversation with one of the villains for hire in Sooze’s, the word “whiskey” is said and the next panel shows Black Fury (who is listening in on everything as Sid is wired) looking just completely broken, as we transition to a flashback of Dark Justice drowning his sorrows with a bottle of whiskey over an incident with Jack Slaughter.

I think one more shining example of the symbiotic chemistry that Mclean and Oliveira have is when Black Fury’s plan comes to fruition and Sid volunteers for a “job”. Being the ‘new guy’ his mettle is tested, as he is asked to kill the burned up legless former get a way driver for Jack Slaughter who is sitting by himself. As Sid stands there pointing the gun at this sad, pathetic and broken human being, the patron’s of Sooze’s are gathered around chanting “DO IT!” even Black Fury is telling him to do it (“You or some scumbag, that’s no choice, Sid.). Sid quickly flashes back to last night when all his friends were egging and cheering him on to answer “yes” to the mystery suicide text. We are shown the same panel from issue #1 of him looking at the phone with all his friends chanting “DO IT!”, only the panel is far more gray in tone, almost dimmed, instead of using the words “last night”. I thought this was a great use of such a simple sequential art technique as just a change in color tone to show us this is a flashback to last night.

I simply love this book. I think this creative team is simply spectacular. It’s almost too hard to believe this is their first project together. They certainly have a way of telling a story together that is so natural and organic that you’d think that they are seasoned veterans and not just at the beginning of their careers in this industry.  This issue had a lot less humor than the last issue, and certainly had more intense moments, but it in no way took away from the charm of this book. Oliveira’s art style is very simple and to the point, doesn’t try to dazzle you with some kind of new art tricks, but just lays it all out in front of you in a way that makes you feel like he could easily tell you the entire story with no words. Mclean’s character interaction is just very well written with a natural flow to the dialog that just pulls you into this story and leaves you hungry for more. This story is smart and creative and I cannot wait to see where this team takes us from here.

 

The Rating Bit

No More Heroes is telling us a simple story in a simple way. Only, Mclean and Oliveira are doing it on their own, and doing it a lot better than the “Big 2” are. I cannot recommend this book enough. Please visit their website listed below. I am not an advocate of digital comics, but I do understand that shilling out $10 for a comic sometimes isn’t on everyone’s “to do” list, so do yourself a favor and pay for the digital version, and spread the word. I think this issue totally deserves 10 out of 10.

You can order a physical copy or digital copy of No More Heroes #2 by clicking here, or learn more about the comic and read a free preview of it on their website, here.