Broken Frontier

I wonder what a feminist would think of Big Dog Ink’s Penny for Your Soul. Yes, it’s filled with beautiful women constantly finding themselves in sexually charged situations. But there isn’t one woman in the story who is a victim, unless of course, she is one of the poor saps who signs her soul away for $10,000 and a free stay at the Eternity Hotel.

Therein is writer Tom Hutchison’s craftiness: his story is filled with potential victims, and yet none of them elicit a drop of sympathy. Penny for Your Soul is a series ultimately about choices; humankind exercises its free will in a myriad of ways, but more times than not, it is for selfish reasons. When a woman sells her soul for a shopping spree, who really is going to weep for her salvation? But then again, can’t we relate to her triviality in some way? What a simple but interesting paradox.

The second issue of this wonderful series further explores this theme while also examining more closely its cast of characters. The story picks up where the first installment left off—with Danica, the beautiful and demonic proprietor of the sultry Eternity Hotel, dealing with a surprise visit from her father Damien, who anyone who has seen any of the Omen films will know as the son of the Devil. Then, that would make Lucifer Danica’s grandfather. That’s what I call one hell of a family tree—literally.

But Damien’s visit isn’t one of pleasantries. Danica’s business is cutting into the quota down below, and the powers that be are fed up with being cheated out of their fair share of souls. But Danica is a feisty gal, and when provoked she calls for help from some of her pals in Purgatory. This, of course, doesn’t sit well with the folks.

In addition to all of the celestial family matters in this issue, we catch a glimpse of what exactly happens when a patron of the Eternity dies and it’s time for him (or, in this case, her) to pay up. And funny enough, it’s as bureaucratic as standing in line at the DMV.

I love Penny for Your Soul for several reasons, but ultimately I’m in constant awe of just how well writer Hutchison commands his narrative. The pacing is flawless, the dialogue is smart and funny, and all of the characters are interesting and relatable. This, combined with artist J.B. Neto’s whimsically detailed illustrations and colorist Oren Kramek’s rich palette of shades and textures, gives us one fine book here.

I’m sure Penny will offend some, but who cares? Hutchison, Neto, and Kramek are bold, as bold as writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon were when they wrote and illustrated the legendary Preacher series. But I like bold people, and I respect their attempt to tell solid stories with coherent messages. That’s what we have here. Simply put, don’t miss out on Penny for Your Soul #2: it’s as good as the first issue, and I can only anticipate the third with excitement.