Broken Frontier

Finnigan "Finny" Sinister and Ramone "Ray" Dexter are the choice of gunsharks of 2000 AD since 1995 but it ain't untill 1998 that they received their first Downlode-shaken big event epic. Conceived out of a gun barrel by Dan Abnett and David Millgate, the tale of Sinister Dexter is set in the near future and takes place in Downlode, a Russian-like city scrambled over Central Europe.

While inspired by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, Sinister and Dexter are very much their own men. Sinister is the redheaded Irishman, superstitious and quick with a gun, Dexter fancies himself a well dressed ladies man with a "Fony Headcase" television implanted. The two of them form the perfect hitman pair, watching out for another while never afraid of telling each other how it is. Sinister Dexter is a play on words; in Latin sinister means 'on the left side' and dexter means 'on the right side' (thank you, Wikipedia). But some relationships are just to good to stay true forever.

The first Sinister Dexter mega-epic begins and you can be sure that when the last bullet is spent, they'll be hosing the blood from the streets. The city of Downlode is being torn apart by the escalating conflict between the major criminal powers. At the centre of it all is Demi Octavo, Downlode's Queenpin of Crime. She's trying to hold the city together but it all keeps slipping from her grasp. Sinister and Dexter, the two fun-loving hit men will be forever changed by the events that unfold!

Dan Abnett gets up in the morning and before his teeth are brushed and he has examined his stubbled face, chin in the air, he has written his first action sequence with witty dialogue. He then walks down the stairs and while the corn flakes hit the bowl in a slow motion drawl, action scene number 2 forms fully visualized in his mind. He has been awake 10.2 minutes. The day is about to start, he opens his 2000 AD artist book and sets about the task picking the appropriate artist for his tales.

Which in this case would be painter Simon Davis, maybe more known to American audiences from DC Comics JLA Elseworlds:  Riddle of the Beast. He looks like Simon Bisley with a classical stroke. He underpins his paintings with traditional drawings upon which he lets loose his insanely detailed and expressive paints, making everything energetic and character driven. His city of the future consists of textured slashes on the canvas, illuminated by bright spots and angular lines. He draws the complete 'Eurocrash' storyline and it comes off beautifully. His emotional colour work is ideally suited for the roller coast of events that take place. Especially the Irish Sinister comes off very creepy looking but without losing a touch of flair, I must say.

'Eurocrash' has grave ramifications for our titular duo and in that sense it's a weird decision of 2000 AD to include Sinister Dexter stories that do not seem to be in continuity, right after the big finish of 'Eurocrash' in this volume. In effect, they are in continuity but they are just published much later, after a major plot point of 'Eurocrash' has already been settled. Originally, after 'Eurocrash', the tales of Sinister Dexter were put on hold, being published under the banner 'Downlode Tales' but that transition is not apparent in the collected edition and will fly over the reader's head if he hasn't read Dan Abnett's intro first. So Instead off the 'Downlode Tales', we get a few funny one-off tales followed by a larger tale where-in our funky duo goes manga in 'Mangapore'. A tale not set in Downlode but in an Asian supercity, literally built into the ocean floor. Again it's an action packed tale with its cute moments, the resurfacing of Sinister's wife and running a few progs but after 'Eurocrash', everything seems a bit pale in comparison. Maybe it would have been better to put 'Eurocrash' at the end?

That is not to say that 'Mangapore' isn't a good storyline. It is a continuation of an earlier tale and showcases the talent of Andy Clarke. He has clearly staked out a spot next to Paul Gulacy and Gary Frank in terms of figurative drawing styles. He has a good eye for composition and body posturing although it sometimes tends to be a bit stiff, though that is partly due to his chosen style of drawings. He is a good fit for the manga-themed tale though, making expert use of the high tech surroundings to create a fascinating and bright metropolis.

Though a bit uneven taken as a whole, Sinister Dexter: Eurocrash is worth it for the main story alone. It is just so good that the rest pales in comparison and suffers from the non-continuity way of putting volume 04 of Sinister Dexter together. Dan Abnett, together with Simon Davis, create a true fast paced action epic with tragic consequences for the new millennium. Stunning visuals compared with break neck speed storytelling interspersed with well timed emotional moments. 'Eurocrash' indeed.

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Sinister Dexter: Eurocrash, published by Rebellion 2000 AD, is a full color 160 pages TPB, retailing for £13.99. It is available in April from finer bookstores and comic shops everywhere.