Broken Frontier

The prequel to Raised by Squirrels concludes, with a catastrophic event that inspires the creation of the S.Q.R.L.

Panel Press’ gritty universe of understated espionage and super-powered beings grows one more impressive-sized notch with this final issue of Death, Cold as Steel. Soon to be (or so I’m assuming) member of the Special Qualities Research Laboratory, Aubrey Norris at last solves the death of the ostensibly invincible man, The Steel Solider. His journey leads him to the very shadowed, hidden depths of another super-powered being’s mind, a being whose powers and behavior changes everything about the way the world from that point on views and manages their metahuman individuals.

I’ve been a big fan of the past two issues, but even I wasn’t prepared for the big-big events of this latest and last. The series has proved an absorbing one, and as a mystery tale definitely intriguing, but I hadn’t a clue it would dive so deep into the foundational elements to the Squirrels universe itself. Writer Bram Meehan pens an exceptional finale that pits a non-powered, gimpy private eye against a truly terrifying, out-of-control meta in an unforgettable showdown. This isn’t a Hulk-esque rampage, either, but rather imagine Professor Xavier with Doctor Doom’s aspirations, and whammo – you’ve got the skinny on this book and its antagonist. It’s a fabulous concept and very well executed, with a script that’s buyable, uniquely low-key, and yet manages to exude a fierce theatricality.

The art by Jamie Chase ups the ante even more than the script. While his work on past issues has been gorgeous, brooding, and mixed with an old-school charisma, he pushes himself beyond all previous published pages in imagining the big showdown between Norris and the villain. His depiction of the bad guy’s lair is a wildly original blend of odd designs, utilizing deft flourishes of computer-generated backgrounds, along with a saturation of grey-tones I don’t (honestly) think I’ve ever seen in a comic before.

So the jury’s in like Flynn: Death, Cold as Steel is another must-read by Meehan and Panel Press. For anyone who hasn’t checked their comics out, either Death or Squirrels, go get some 100% free samples at the websites below. Art like you haven’t seen outside of the best of Vertigo, and a story that exploits all the top strengths of the comic book format. Meehan and Chase have crafted a flavor that’s rare to find and also proves a complete success. Currently some of the best independent books out there, certainly the best I’m reading. If you aim to put anything new to your pull list, this title is my best bet for you, bar none.

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To order, go to: www.panelpress.com

For previews and to read the entire first graphic novel of Squirrels online, go to: www.raisedbysquirrels.com